Here are my picks for 2014. Well, most of them are from 2014…
Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Not only one of the hottest tracks of the year, but her double EP, A Sea of Split Peas is definitely one of the best albums of the year. (I know Fran Man posted this first, but I introduced him to it so screw him!)
Only Real – Cadillac Girl
Cadillac Girl was my song of the summer this year. I predict big things for this London based wishes-he-was-living-in-California-surf-rapper when his debut album ‘Jerk At The End of The Line’ drops in 2015.
Foxygen – How Can You Really
Foxygen put on what was probably one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever seen. This track is pretty hot too…
Kurt Vile – Wakin on a Pretty Day
My current favorite summer walking song. It’s winter now, but when this track is rolling it’s summer for me.
Allah-Las – “No Werewolf”
If you look up the word Cool in the dictionary all that should be there is this song (and video).
2014 was the year we moved our weekly email suggestions to this blog, and i think we learned a lot along the way. But most importantly, there was some really good music featured here. Speaking for myself, I liked 2014’s musical output, and I’m looking forward to what 2015 has to offer, in terms of new material, live shows, and in the hidden or revisited gems that Derek, Jay, and our guest contributors highlight.
My resolutions for this blog include:
-listen to more rap (I like the genre, but it is barely represented in my list of Honourable Mentions)
-post on time more often (WAY more often, if at all possible)
Meanwhile, here are my picks and a few extras.
The Top 5 Tracks of 2014* (According to Fran)
5) Ty Segall – The Faker
A great, rocking tune, and if you ever get a chance to see Ty Segall perform, go for it. Probably the best live show of last year, IMO.
4) Courtney Barnett – Avant Gardener
Part of me is shocked: How is this song only #4?! Stiff competition, that’s how. No knock against Barnett, though. The way she weaves together a story about having trouble breathing, making it interesting both lyrically and sonically…, well, there’s a reason it’s been on just about all of my playlists since the first time I heard it. I look forward to more great music from her.
2) TIE
Vance Joy – Riptide, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – The Heat of the Moment
Riptide looked like a mortal lock for #1 for months; the ukelele, the catchy tune, the heartfelt lyrics, and that break for “the closest thing to Michelle Pfieffer that I’ve ever seen.” But… overplay. Is it cruel to lock a song down a peg for so many people liking it, playing it, covering it, and humming it? Well, this is a subjective list anyway, so I say it goes to #2…
…where we also meet the new song from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and it’s a good one. This might actually be my most played song of the year. (More infectious than Vance Joy AND T-Swift! When’s the last time I found ANYTHING by a Gallagher this good? Um… I’m gonna say its been years.)
1) The Rural Alberta Advantage – Terrified
Another song that had me hooked from the start, and here I was thinking they couldn’t top the heartache of Tornado ’87. I can’t turn this song up enough. Cheers, RAA. You’re #1 in my books for 2014.
Honourable Mention (In alphabetical order)
Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me, Arctic Monkeys – Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?, Ariana Grande, feat. Iggy Azalea – Problem, Benjamin Booker – Violent Shiver, The Beverleys – Hoodwink, Dear Rouge – I Heard I Had, Ex Hex – Don’t Wanna Lose, Foster the People – Coming of Age, Jake Bugg – Lightning Bolt, Jason Derulo, feat. 2 Chainz – Talk Dirty to Me, July Talk – Guns and Ammunition, MØ – Don’t Wanna Dance, MS MR – Hurricane, Taylor Swift – Shake It Off, Tove Lo – Habits (Stay High), Vampire Weekend – Unbelievers
*Yes, some tracks were on albums released in mid-to-late 2013. You get a gold star for noticing.
Hot Tracks Fridays 