Our Favorite Albums of 2014 2014
Nicole RomanNicole
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Lana del Rey
Ultraviolence
Filled with haunting, beautiful, and often disturbing songs, Lana Del Rey’s third album was my nighttime sidekick during intense coding sessions. The musical reference to Romeo and Juliet in Old Money gets me every time.
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Angus & Julia Stone
Angus & Julia Stone
After working on solo albums in 2012, this lovely brother sister duo reunited to create their rocky/folky, eponymous album. Musical sibling reunions are the best kind of reunions.
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Hozier
Hozier
This was a very late discovery for me, but I fell hard for Hozier’s album after watching this surprise choir video. His reaction to his fans is adorable, and he seems so humble and gracious! Wouldn’t have guessed that from his booming voice and subversive lyrics.
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Sylvan Esso
Sylvan Esso
This peculiar album is filled with hidden gems. The songs are mellow yet utterly danceable. I didn’t know that my ears were missing sparse beats and dissonant, layered vocals until I heard them here.
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Kishi Bashi
Lighght
That Kishi Bashi! Always making his violin do crazy things...This upbeat, poppy album features next-level looping and eccentric lyrics. I can’t help but smile and dance around when I hear it.
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Banks
Goddess
It took me a minute, but after listening to this album, I became more-or-less obsessed. It’s raw, haunting, and very catchy.
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Avi Buffalo
At Best Cuckold
Sparkling instrumentals, weird (sometimes questionable) lyrics, and Avi’s signature high voice. This album was made for random dance parties.
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First Aid Kit
Stay Gold
The Swedish sisters are at it again with beautiful harmonies and golden, folk goodness. This aptly titled album sounds like warm sunshine on a road trip through the California desert. Roll down the windows and sing along like no one else is around!
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Passenger
Whispers
Passenger’s gravelly yet vulnerable voice shimmers through this album, which ranges from upbeat and hopeful to melancholy and cynical. It packs a critical, lyrical punch.
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Stromae
Racine Carrée
Every time I hear this album, I feel the need to dance and learn French. The incredible beats mesh exquisitely with Stromae’s voice. I love how he inhabits a dual-gendered identity in his Tous Le Mêmes music video. This album technically came out in 2013, but it seems like America and I were late to the party.
Roman
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Element of Crime
Lieblingsfarben und Tiere
My favorite German band was back with their 13th studio album. While musically not a big surprise, it is as gorgeous as ever, and the lyrics are so snotty and so good.
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First Aid Kit
Stay Gold
The Swedish sisters keep adding gems to their young but impressive catalog. This record might be slightly over-produced (and I wonder if their next one could be completely stripped down), but their beautiful harmonies and dark lyrics always win me over.
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Angus & Julia Stone
Angus & Julia Stone
I’m mostly drawn to Angus and Julia’s softer side, but they can be quite the rockers. This album has a rhythmic urgency, especially the first four songs, which takes hold and doesn’t let go.
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Sylvan Esso
Sylvan Esso
A surprising revelation as their twitchy, electronic, dissonant sound isn’t what I usually listen to. Thanks for expanding my musical horizons, Sylvan Esso! Coffee is one of my favorite songs of the year.
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Luluc
Passerby
I only discovered this record a few weeks before the end of the year and fell in love instantly. The hauntingly beautiful melodies sparked a listening-to-it-every-day obsession.
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Tom Brosseau
Grass Punks
At a mere 28 minutes (the vinyl record was cut as a 45-speed) this album sneaks in and out of your consciousness like a thief in the night. It woos with old-timey simplicity, melodies that sway into surprising directions, exquisite guitar playing, and peculiar lyrics. When it ends, I want to start it over again.
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Stromae
Racine Carrée
When I first listened to Stromae, I wondered if I could make it through the poppy, electronic assault of the opening track. Then I was dancing and I haven’t stopped since. It also doesn’t hurt that he sings in French. So what if the record technically came out in 2013? It was a big one for me this year.
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Kishi Bashi
Lighght
While I don’t like sugar in my coffee, I certainly like it in my music, and Kishi Bashi’s music is steeped with it.
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Passenger
Whispers
My summer record of the year. I fell in love with Passenger’s heart-felt storytelling and luscious arrangements.
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Avi Buffalo
At Best Cuckold
One of the few occasions this year where I felt that a follow-up album clearly surpassed the predecessor. Avi Buffalo combines viciously divine hooks with bizarre lyrics (a murderous oxygen-tank-carrying man?) into this grandiose record.
