47. Rollercoaster - Bleachers - Strange Desire






A discovery from holyground's highly acclaimed and influential YTT. Unlike fun. Bleachers are actually a good time. They have a really unique 80s inspired style complete with huge hooks and synths and even bigger choruses. Rollercoaster is as fun as you could hope a track called Rollercoaster could be and sounds like it could soundtrack the end credits to an iconic 80s movie in the best possible way. Note: for my hints last time, I only wanted to use a GIF of a Rollercoaster, that is all.




46. He Ain't Goin' Nowhere (feat. Iggy Azalea) - Jennifer Hudson - JHUD






Before this year, I had never heard a Jennifer Hudson song. But I checked out her most recent album this year (I guess that makes me the opposite of everyone else). Anyway, the album is incredibly solid. Best of all, is this cash in on Iggy Azalea's name collaboration between academy award winning Jennifer Hudson and song-of-the-summer recipient Iggy Azalea. The production of the track sounds like what disco would sound like if it was invented in 2040 and the track has a chorus that will stick with you for days. Try and solve the mystery of who "he" is. My theory: it refers to the song itself.



45. Raging Fire - Phillip Phillips - Behind The Light






Don't make fun holyground . His album was really good and filled with some of the best mainstream rock I've heard in awhile, so in other words, it was all adequate. Actually, this song is great. The strings are nice and add warmth, the backing guitars sound like crackling fire, the chorus is explosive. It's a great pop-rock track.




44. Attak (feat. Danny Brown) - Rustie - Green Language






Danny Brown has the tendency to sound like a cartoon character that's being strangled and that's no different here. Here though, it definitely works within the world Rustie created. Attak is a banger of the highest order, seeming beamed in from a F-Zero game and sold with a rap as frantic. One of the best producer/rapper teams out there.


43. Take Me To Church - Hozier - Hozier






Possibly the best debut single of the year, Take Me To Church is a masterpiece of a song. Hozier came out with a fully formed sound somewhere between The Lumineers and The National. Something about the record is so Irish, and, who would have predicted a year or two ago this would be one of the biggest chart success of the year? Really though how could anyone dislike this? The way the amens raise to the high heavens and reverb like they're bouncing off the vaulted ceiling of a Gothic cathedral...perfect.

Sorry Superpower, I couldn't listen to this as much as I should've so it didn't rank higher. Still great.

51. Broken Bells - After The Disco







One of the year's most slept on releases to be sure. Broken Bells is a collaboration between Justin Mercer, the man behind the rock band The Shins, and Danger Mouse, the producer. For some reason, critics hate Danger Mouse and always rate his productions and non-Grey(-t) albums poorly, but some of his work is excellent and has this lonesome, slightly psychedelic dusty quality, few other producers can achieve. Justin Mercer remains one of rock's best songwriters, he can write an incredibly catchy and meaningful little song that doesn't rely on cheap hooks and he does just that throughout the album.




50. Basement Jaxx - Junto







They're so far into their career but remain severely and unjustly underrated. Basement Jaxx are an electronic duo from England responsible for some of the most chaotic and frantic dance cuts of the past couple decades. Maybe it's their playfulness and sense of humor that keeps them from the critical praise and cannozation they deserve. It's also that playfulness and sense of humor that makes them great and puts them above other more staid and robotic producers. Junto is a fantastic album, par for the course for the Jaxx.

It should be higher, but I wasn't able to listen as much as I wanted due to ongoing computer issues and lack of a physical copy of the album. But, it's a highlight of the year and would be of any year. The Jaxx continue with their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to their songs, throwing in latin jazz, house beats, steel drums, brass instruments, throbbing baselines, it's a great album.



49. Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways







The Foo Fighters are on their way to being canonized as one of rock's greatest bands. They're ok and it's probably deserved, I have yet to figure out why when you have one of rock's greatest drummers in your band, you make him singer and use another guy (who's still competent) as drummer instead. Still, the Foo Fighters have some of modern rock's greatest singles (not that there is much competition) and they know how to write a catchy, people-pleasing song. I'd kind of call them the Katy Perry of the rock world, they don't really push the envelope but are so good at what they do, they really don't need to (and probably shouldn't, and both should keep away from Deadmau5).

Sonic Highways is not really a typical Foo Fighters album, it's not as oriented toward singles and was recorded on the, somewhat gimmicky, premise of recording each of its 8 songs in 8 distinctive U.S. cities known for their unique music (hence the condensed model of the U.S. on the cover). It's somewhat apparent in the songs and lyrics, but mostly it's a cut and dry Foo Fighters album with slightly larger songs. Luckily, they're pretty good at what they do and most songs lock into a good groove.



48. Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots






One of the early signs this year would be a strange one. Damon Albarn is the frontman for Blur and Gorillaz. I hadn't checked out any of his solo material before (I believe he had an album he wrote for an opera and a collab album with Flea and maybe someone else???) but I was pretty hyped for Everyday Robots and expected it to be animated like his Gorillaz work (I need a follow-up to Plastic Beach soon ), instead Everyday Robots is a downtempo and gloomier piece of work.

It's vaguely political and kind of about how modern life is encroaching on us and making everything rootic and dull; in a Warholian experience, much of the album is also mechanistic and dull. I'm selling it short though, it's a strong and consistent album that slowly grows on you if you give it time. You have to be in a certain mood for this one, but it is a solid album that's pretty interesting and I do always love to hear his voice and weirdly enough I swear I hear some Janelle Monae influences there.


47. Obliterations - Poison Everything






One of the ways I discover new music is through interesting cover art or band names, Not gonna lie, I often judge by the covers. Poison Everything is one of my favorite names for an album and it's one of my favorite covers of the year. Obviously it wouldn't be here if I didn't like the music though, and like the cover suggests, the album is filled with caustic rock. Not sure whether to quite call it metal (punk metal? I'm sure there's an annoying genre name out there for it), but it's quick and loud. The album works quickly and most songs are under 3 minutes (2 even!), but you feel every second of it. The singer sounds absolutely demented, and I imagine him looking like one of those tar spitting dinosaurs from Jurassic Park, and that just makes me like the album even more.

42. Supernatural - Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah. The Long-Titled Album.






Her album title became kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy as her album quickly became elusive in people's minds and musical discussion, but it's a shame because it is an incredibly solid album and very thoughtfully played out. Supernatural is a bright and joyful as anybody could hope a song dedicated to children could be. I'm a bit of a softy, but the bright sound and unbridled joy, kind of is infectious; the random outburst 3/4ths of the way into it is the highlight.




41. Number 1 (Featuring Brandy and Nile Rodgers) - Mystery Skulls - Forever






Continuing right along with bright R&B singles, Number 1 is a danceable ode to having a number 1. Nile Rodgers is here so you know that it's got a disco bounce to it and Brandy makes the track as sweet as it is.



40. Shotgun Rider - TimMcGraw - Sundown Heaven Town






Everything a country single should be. Critics and music fans need to start paying attention to what is going on in country music right now, or not, and they can just leave all the magic for the rest of us. There was no single in 2014 as breezy, as romantic, as effortless as Shotgun Rider. It's summer set to song and every bit as perfect and dreamy as Teenage Dream. Heck, not even just country, Shotgun Rider is everything a single should be full stop.




39. Bated Breath - Tinashe - Aquarius






The finest moment on Aquarius. The whole track just serenely moves at its own pace, every note taking its time, gently sinking in and flowing calmly. Perfect.




38. 6 God - Drake - Random Soundcloud Release (Views From The 6 is coming though )




https://soundcloud.com/octobersveryown/drake-6-god



He didn't release an album this year, but his presence was all over from his Soundcloud releases to his sound basically becoming the sound of non-DJ Mustard urban music. His co-signs made songs that would never be hits, hits. 6 God is justt one of his random releases up to Soundcloud, but you can see him playing with his sound, it's endlessly interesting and his allusions to his other songs (WORST!) are always welcome.



37. Promises (feat. Namiko & Miyagi) - Jhené Aiko - Souled Out






Alright, I've come to terms with being a softy Promises is just so sweet. The production is so soft and delicate, the lyrics are sweet and using a child to deliver a hook that would be ordinarily too sweet is just a great move. It's also arguably the catchiest and sunniest song on the album.



36. Can't Do Without You - Caribou - Our Love






Caribou's music is the best. He always knows just when to switch things up on a song, to add a little something, to take something away, to change the pitch slightly, whatever he needs to to keep his tracks shifting and interesting. Can't Do Without You mostly repeats the title phrase, but the music twists and turns around it like you're viewing the song through a Kaleidoscope.

46. Chris Brown - X








Yes. Yes he is a terrible person. It's overlong and has slightly too many eurodance songs (shouldn't have them to begin with) and R. Kelly should not be on any tracks that allude to water of any kind. But, Chris made a strong album. The album is cohesive, but varied. The non-R.Kelly and Akon guests deliver, the production is tight. Add Me in traffics in some of the worst (in the best possible way) math methphors, Loyal is white hot, Autumn Leaves is vivid enough to attract confused New Yorkers, the only thing not to like here is Chris himself.



45. Blake Shelton - Bringing Back The Sunshine








Country is definitely moving from the bro-country rut it was stuck in for a bit and is adapting lighter touches all around. Evidence here is part-time Pistol Annie and full-time solo artist Ashley Monroe on "Lonely Tonight" kind of one of the most heartbreaking singles of the year. Most of Bringing Back The Sunshine has this weird almost downbeat melancholy that surrounds it, even on the peppier and more swampy cuts. Blake remains his goofy himself, especially on "Buzzin'" where he brings up twerking, he's kind of hilarious in a goofy uncle kind of way though. It's a solid album, it runs out of steam near the end, but is more than a pleasant listen.

It should be higher, but I wasn't able to listen as much as I wanted due to ongoing computer issues and lack of a physical copy of the album. But, it's a highlight of the year and would be of any year. The Jaxx continue with their everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to their songs, throwing in latin jazz, house beats, steel drums, brass instruments, throbbing baselines, it's a great album.



44. Jason Derulo - Talk Dirty








Talk Dirty is kind of amazing as an album. He did release the best mainstream dance-pop album of the year. Really, I don't get why he gets overlooked while the Prisms and My Everythings of the world get praised. Talk Dirty is a collection of hits, it's people pleasing, it's catchy all-around, Jason can sing well, he's a skilled performer/dancer, he deserves more. Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle!



43. Raspberry Bulbs - Privacy







Scuzzy guitar rock at its best. It's another short album, but tightly focused and controlled. Unlike Poison Everything, it doesn't take a scorched earth approach to its music. Instead, Privacy is a lot more groovy and has a more controlled chaos surrounding it. It's an enjoyale listen and danceable if you're into rough-edged scuzzy punk.


42. Aphex Twin - Syro






What an impressive album! I got it a little later on in the year and kind of slept on it a little bit, so I haven't listened as much as I would have liked, but it's made an impression. I only have Richard D. James Album from him, but just comparison-wise, Syro feels a lot less explosively noisy and abrasive. Syro is a pretty likeable album and I'd say even relatively accessible even though there is nothing too close to pop structure here. These tracks have more substance than say, something more caffeinated like Anamanaguchi, but still are borderline dancey, made with a lighter touch, and not overbearing or overly dense.

The tracks are too annoying to type out into Youtube, so I only posted the first example that came up, and Syro works better as a whole anyway, so just check out the whole album.