SHARK SANDWICH!
2014 is coming to a quick end and it is time to look back at all the best tunes that came our way during the year. There will be no pandering to the Taylor Swift’s, Iggy Azelea’s, and all the fluffy homogenized corporate constructed pop drivel that came out this year, we are definitely no “all about that bass.” We believe in artistry on this site!
So with no further ado…
100. Godflesh- Ringer
A solid return for these thrash industrialists.
99. Trash Talk- The Hole
Two burning thrash punk minutes.
98. Total Slacker- Super Big Gulp
A super melodic trip to the 7 Eleven for everybody’s favorite beverage.
97. Creative Gold- War Music
The young rapper takes hip hop to task.
96. La Dispute- Woman (In Mirror)
Is there such a thing as literary punk? La Dispute just invented it.
95. Tove Lo- Stay High
This Swedish singer will probably rule the charts very soon. This is how pop should be done. Check out the Hippie Sabotage remix as well.
94. The Wytches- Gravedweller
Stomping blues punk fury.
93. The Afghan Whigs- Parked Outside
Criminally under appreciated return of monster songwriter and all around full on beast Greg Dulli.
92. Sleaford Mods- Smithy
An electro stream of conscience ramble by the British duo.
91. Broncho- What
Great slice of tuneful garage rock.
90.Kitty- BrB ( ˘ ³˘)❤ (prod. pat lukens)
The internet heavy has moved from dropping rhymes into a more EDM pop arena and is still stopping traffic.
https://soundcloud.com/kittaveli/brb-prod-pat-lukens
89. Sleeper Agent- Waves
This song is so catchy, can’t believe it wasn’t heard more.
88. Speedy Ortiz- Plough
This noisy indie rock gem rewards after repeated listens with its 90’s throwback groove.
87. Bob Mould- Hey Mr. Grey
Another criminally under appreciated veteran still blowing almost everyone else away.
86. Sam Smith- Lay Me Down
Smith was the voice of the year for sure.
85. Mind Spiders- Suicide
Is it 1979? The new wave sound of Mind Spiders certainly thinks so on this peppy number.
84. F*cked Up- Paper The House
More careening madness from these Canadians, always threatening to go completely off the rails.
83. Wo Fat- Read The Omens
How do you like your rock? Heavy, slow and low, that’s how you like it!
82. Ex- Hex- Beast
The great and mighty Mary Timony gets up another band and does magic again.
81. United Nations- Between Two Mirrors
No one can scream like Geoff Rickly, of the band Thursday, the principal member of this furious group.
80. Saints Of Valory- Twenty Six
Shimmering anthem from the band’s debut.
79. Ought- Waiting
Montreal band’s sturdy debut album was a meaty and tasty treat this year.
78. Hundred Waters- Murmurs
Orchestral wonder.
77. Vulture Shit- Sweat Lodge
Herky, jerky punk masterpiece. Hope they get to that window and find that breeze.
76. Tef Poe- Hennessy
St. Louis rapper spent most of this past year on the front lines of the Ferguson, MO. story. His album Cheer For The Villian was a highlight.
75. Eels- Lockdown Hurricane
Mark Everett’s big break this year was a co starring role in Steve Perry’s resurrection viral video. His long running band’s album was a pure treat this past year.
74. Ruu Campbell- The Call
Quiet melodic and beautiful.
73. Serengeti- Tickled Pink
On the riotous Kenny Dennis III album this track has Kenny reminiscing old school about them hard times when he fought Shag Diesel, and had breakfast with Ted Winkler.
72. Roadkill Ghost Choir- No Enemy
Rolling breezy tune from these fine Florida boys.
71. The Night Party- Look Out!
Their debut Get To You is a solid blues party rocker featuring this great song.
70. St. Vincent- Prince Johnny
St.Vincent killed it all year long with her self titled album and amazing live shows.
69. Athletics– III
Shapely guitar play on this flowing song.
68. CHILDBIRTH- I Only F*cked You As A Joke
Aiming straight to bruise.
67. Bryan Ferry- Loop De Li
Bryan Ferry can do no wrong.
https://soundcloud.com/mmmusic/bryan-ferry-loop-de-li
66. Operators- Cruel
Very cool synth pop sound.
65. Strange Talk- Young Hearts
Ah, the trials of youth.
64. Thou- Into the Marshlands
Heavy, slow and low. Horns up!
63. Joanna Gruesome- Graveyard
Fast, punky, and smart.
62. Hozier- Take Me To Church
This song would not be denied
61. Danny Brown (feat. Purity Ring)- 25 Bucks
Brown laments the toll of drug use, and also this is the only spotting of Purity Ring this year.
60. Ron Littlejohn & The Funk Assembly- Seems Like Yesterday
This throwback sound was a great find this year.
59. White Lung- Drown With The Monster
As scary as it is good.
58. The Phoenix Foundation- Bob Lennon John Dylan
This indie pop gem zips along delightfully.
57. SOHN- Lights
Slow building wonder from SOHN.
56. Argentina- Bad Kids
Synth pop was big this year.
55. Tinsley Ellis- Kiss Of Death
Bluesman deals a mesmerizing seven minutes of blues heaven.
54. Black 47- US of A 2014
Irish American Celtic rock band return with this spot on take.
53. The Hold Steady- Wait A While
Love hearing Craig Finn spin stories.
52. Prince & THIRDEYEGIRL- ANOTHERLOVE
Prince and his all girl band brew up a swirling rocker.
51. ZHU- Faded
Better than most all the other EDM that hit the speakers this year.
50. Drowners- A Button On Your Blouse
Plucky number recalling the glory days of Britpop.
49. Nothing- Bent Nail
Powerhouse rocker.
48. The New Pornagraphers- Spyder
Minimal wonder from the NP’s ace in the hole Dan Bejar.
47. Pixies- Greens And Blues
The legendary band released a new album this year Indie City featuring this top notch song.
46. Skating Polly- Alabama Movies
One fuzz punk blister of a song.
https://soundcloud.com/skating-polly/01-alabama-movies-5
45. Strand Of Oaks- Shut In
Frustration never sounded better.
44.Dawn Golden- All I Want
This sleepy tune sneaks up on you.
43. Protomartyr- Scum, Rise!
Dark and stormy post punk banger.
42. Beck- Blue Moon
Beck rules all.
41. Drive By Truckers- When Walter Went Crazy
Grim tale by one of America’s best band’s.
40. Spoon- New York Kiss
No one was as cool, or can hit a groove like Spoon can.
39. Wovenhand- Hiss
David Eugene Edwards beefs up his sound from his days in 16 Horsepower, but still retains the southern gothic.
https://soundcloud.com/deathwishinc/wovenhand-hiss
38. Hard Working Americans- Down To The Well
Super group led by Todd Snider work up a sour alt country song about being fed up.
37. Phantogram- Bill Murray
Flowing, languid, trip hop imbued daydream.
36. Damon Albarn- Everyday Robots
Albarn’s always reinventing and exploring.
35. Torres- New Skin
Super talented Nashville artist will rake your soul over the coals.
34. Robyn Hitchcock- San Francisco Patrol
Hitchcock references San Francisco again and borrows a line from Damien Rice.
33. The Both- You Can’t Help Me Now
Aimee Mann and Ted Leo team up for a superb album.
https://soundcloud.com/kutx-austin/the-both-you-cant-help
32. Disclosure/Friend Within- The Mechanism
Hot U.K. house sibling duo score again.
31. Dum Dum Girls- Rimbaud Eyes
A tasty slab of 80’s alt goth.
https://soundcloud.com/subpop/dum-dum-girls-rimbaud-eyes
30. OFF!- Void You Out
Keith Morris and Co. can do no wrong!
29. Style Of Eye-Kids
They’re right we’re all just “generic hipsters with no sex appeal“
28.Kendrick Lamar- i
The hip hop superstar blazed the house down with this funky jam.
27. Tweedy- Low Key
Jeff Tweedy enlists his son to play drums and they recorded a great album dedicated to his wife and her struggle through a serious medical issue.
26.Sharon Von Etten- Every Time The Sun Comes Up
No one takes apart a failed relationship as emotionally as Von Etten does.
25. Lydia Loveless- Head
What country music should sound like.
24. U2- Raised By Wolves
Their best album in years was overshadowed by all the negative hype of their free giveaway. you should have just gave it a listen.
23. Flying Lotus- Coronus, The Terminator
Jazz freak out!
https://soundcloud.com/flyinglotus/coronus-the-terminator
22. Jessie Ware- Tough Love
From Ware’s excellent sophomore album.
21. Alt-J- Hunger Of The Pine
Fantastic spacey wig out from plucky Brits.
20. The Shrine – Bless Off
Straight riffin’ rock jam! Horns up again!
19. The New Basement Tapes- Spanish Mary
T-Bone Burnett lends his gold touch to this super combo of Elvis Costello, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons), Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), and Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) to record unearthed Dylan songs and magic ensues.
18. The Chain Gang Of 1974- Sleepwalking
Kamtin Mohager does such great stuff, he should be bigger and more known.
17. Big Ups- Wool
New York band rolls slowly into a crashing crescendo of punk rock fury.
16. The Chainsmokers- #SELFIE
Like when Anthony Bourdain single handedly took down all of the Bro’ tude and club pixie EDM club culture, so too does this silly club anthem.
15. Wild Beasts- Wanderlust
“Don’t confuse me with someone who gives a f*ck” Line of the year?
14. Weird Al Yankovic- Word Crimes
Weird Al’s final album contained this internet ruling spoof of “Blurred Lines”, it was the cap piece on an awesome album. Who’s going to take your place Al?
13. Caribou- Can’t Do Without You
Daniel Snaith’s slow building house jam that builds into an irresistible force.
12. Frankie Cosmos- Birthday Song
Lovely little acoustic indie song.
11. Röyksopp- I Had This Thing
Although this Norwegian electronic band have been recording for over 15 years, I still cannot pronounce their name! It is to bad The Inevitable End is their final album. We want more!
10. The War On Drugs- Red Eyes
So, Mark Kozalek went all crazy mouth insane because this excellent band’s set bled into his at a music festival. And WOD leader Adam Granducial just kept his mouth shut and let it pass. Guess who’s showing up on more best of list by my count?
9. Catfish And The Bottlemen- Kathleen
Welsh band’s debut album’s lead single was this pistol fire crackling good tune.
8. Tokyo Police Club- Argentina Parts I,II, III
Amazing song suite from this indie rock band out of Canada.
7. Perfect Pussy- Driver
Noise punk at its best.
6. Mas Ysa- Why
We beat each other up so well don’t we?
5. Electric River- This Garden Will Grow
Perfect driving, big guitar, Springsteenish rocker.
4. Echosmith-Cool Kids
L.A. sibling band of mostly teens make a John Hughes soundtrack winner if I ever heard one.
3. Ryan Adams- Kim
Adams self titles album released this year was his best in the last few years featuring had this highlight.
2. Seahaven- Silhouette (Latin Skin)
This beautiful song worries about hanging out on the wrong side of town while basking in the summer warmth.
1. Future Islands- Season’s (Waiting On You)
Future Islands were the MVP’s of all of rock this year. Their album Singles was amazing, they tore up Letterman, and their live show was the must see of the year because Sam Herring is the second coming of Freddie Mercury levels of charisma.
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