20 albums from 2014

I was going to do a list of the best albums from 2014, but everyone does that these days, and they publish them in November, confident in the knowledge that nothing decent is ever released beyond that. As you may have noticed.

So in lieu of a best of list (subjective), here's a list of the albums I listened to most in 2014 (I think). They are not in any order, but every one of them is worth your time, but if I were to pick a favourite three, or even one, I may do so by the time I get to the end of the list. I have also created a spotify playlist with one track from each album, a little sampler if you like, which you really should listen to - if only to decide whether to continue to read this blog throughout 2015, or to dismiss and forget it as the ramblings of...


...well, a middle-aged man.


The list:


Young Fathers - Dead: Anne and I went to see them back in 2013 as I was curious to hear what a Scottish hip hop band sounded like. There were about 30 of us hipsters there, all obviously in on the big secret, that these three Edinburgh boys were going to do things. They sounded like a cross between an angry boy band and a melodic Public Enemy with a really scary stage presence. Anyway since then, they've scored a 2013 Scottish Album of the Year (with Tape 2) and a 2014 Mercury Music Prize with Dead. I knew all along!


Perfume Genius - Too Bright: The first two albums from Perfume Genius were all angsty sparse piano based tunes from a fragile and shy gay singer who wouldn't say boo to a goose. Whilst they were both excellent this one, however, is more of the same but with added attitude, scuzzy guitars and heavy synth. It's, frankly, brilliant.


Jamie T - The Prophet: I'm a fan, a big fan, of Jamie T, it's just that I would feel a bit out of place at one of his gigs. How did someone who is a cross between Joe Strummer and Damon Albarn get such a teen following?


New Build - Pour It On: A bloke from Hot Chip & LCD Soundsystem and another bloke do stuff made for the cool clubs. The ones that don't allow shallow celebs in.


Glass Animals - Zaba: A band from Oxford (probably posh boys) who are the first signing on Paul Epworth's record label. Given that all he touches turns to gold these days, I expected them to be massively popular by now - that they're not is not down to their music - it's dancy, woozy modern indie class of 2014 stuff - which they also do perfectly live. Go and see them if you get the chance, they're nice people.


The Phantom Band - Strange Friend: Talking of nice people... I have seen these guys 3 (three) times in 2014 which is a silly thing to do. The first time I saw them they were playing The Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen (told you I was hipster) and I got a late offer of a ticket to see Prince at the Roundhouse that night. I don't regret my choice*. The second time they were playing in the woods at Latitude and had just had their van broken in to in Nottingham and lost all their equipment, so they were playing with borrowed guitars (from Mogwai) and a Moog synth that was malfunctioning in the heat, yet they were the best received act I saw all festival. The final time I saw them this year was in Cambridge, at the junction and there was a crowd of around 30 there - what is wrong with you Cambridge?! This is a band that deserves to sell out every single gig.


*on reflection, if I'd known I would get the chance to see The Phantom Band twice more within a few months, I may have chosen Prince at The Roundhouse.


The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Days of Abandon: Big line-up changes and borrowed musicians for touring has not altered the straightforward joys of this jangly guitar based indy pop band from New York. They make me smile.


Pixies - Indy Cindy: Panned by most critics for not being better than their albums of 20 years ago, this is a decent album, no a very good album, and if the worst that can be thrown at it is that it's only the third best album from the Pixies, then it must be a very good album indeed.


East India Youth - Total Strife Forever: Probably made in the bedroom, but it sounds like the best soundtrack to your favourite film. If any album on this list deserves a set of headphones and your undivided attention, it's this one.


Future Islands - Singles: I was standing by the mixing desk at the small tent in the woods at Latitude watching Eagulls when I noticed a bloke standing next to me and to the untrained eye he was just your average looking Latitude dad, spending a bit of time away from the kids watching the latest bunch of rowdies do their stuff. He wasn't though, he was Samuel T Herring, the greatest living frontman, and extraordinary dancer, of Baltimore based megastars Future Islands. Look them up on Youtube, and marvel at his moves.

I nodded at him, and he nodded back.


Slow Club - Complete Surrender: My most played album of the year and in earlier times this would have been the sort of album that everyone would buy and would play to death, yet never get sick of it. There's not a duff track on it. How does Adele, Florence et al get so huge yet these two remain in the background? Beats me.


Caribou - Our Love: A man who has a PhD in Maths from Imperial College makes a perfect album. Some folks eh!


St Vincent - St Vincent: I'm not allowed to go and see a St Vincent gig, as they are apparently full of middle aged men worshipping at the altar of Annie Clark; guitar hero, songwriter, visionary tunesmith and to top it all, she's a bit good at football. This album topped a lot of end of year lists, and it's hard to argue against that judgement.

Mogwai - Rave Tapes: Everyone's heard a lot of Mogwai, although you may not know it. They soundtrack everything; Attenborough, Top Gear, Premier League Football, French Supernatural Drama, Chelsea Flower Show etc. If you listen to this, or any of their albums, play it loud. If you go and see them, stand near the front and prepare for the onslaught. And the intro "hi we're Mogwai, and we're from Glasgow, Scotland".

Ásgeir - In The Silence: Ásgeir Trausti is the Icelandic version of Michael Jackson. Not because he's dead, changed colour, had a disastrous nose-job, sings with his brothers, or is even a particularly good dancer. In fact he's only similar because every house has a copy of this album. The English language version was released early 2014, with translation by the great John Grant, and every time I listen to it I want to go to Iceland a little bit more. See you there in 2015,

Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness: American folk singer picks up an electric guitar and rocks.

FKA Twigs - LP1: The only album I've found this year that's a little bit different, and it's mesmerising. Most people's favourite for the 2014 Mercury Prize, and it was probably a split decision between this and the eventual winners, Young Fathers. Should be huge in 2015.

The 2 Bears - The Night is Young: Disco goodness from another Hot Chip spin-off, this is the 2nd album from Joe Goddard and his pal Raf Rundell. They've ditched the bear costumes but kept the cheesy disco tunes. Put your medallions on and dance like it's 1978.

Fat White Family - Champagne Holocaust: Remember when Thatcher died and a bunch of Brixton anarchists put a banner up in the town hall declaring the witch was dead? That was the Fat White Family. Their gigs are crazy, messy even, but there's proper tunes in amongst the carnage.

Jenny Lewis - The Voyager: Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service, Jenny & Johnny delivers her 3rd solo album and it's a fine example of American FM radio type music. With class and bite. Just One of the Guys is probably my favourite track from 2014, it's pretty much timeless.

And I'm finished!

My favourite? Probably Slow Club.

Stick with me through 2015, it will be irregular :)

Spotify playlist: One track from each