*** Reaper's Favorite Albums of 2014 ***

[Reaper16]

I'm really late with the list this year guys. Sorry about that. I've had a massive cold and I've been unable to concentrate on things, so writing these lil write-ups was much more difficult than normal. If anything here doesn't make sense you can blame it on the illness.

As always, this is a list of my personal favorite albums of the year. It's not meant to be an objective "best-of" list, because while I listen to hundreds of new albums each year I still fall far short of listening to enough to feel comfortable making an objective claim. As always, my general preferences for hip-hop & heavy metal mean that you probably won't see your favorite punk album or twee indie rock album. Probably. Hopefully you'll find some albums you will come to dig through this list.

I'll be posting the write-ups & youtube embeds throughout the evening. The main list will be updated here in the OP.

30. Flying Lotus – You’re Dead!
29. Jason Feathers – De Oro
28. Mike Mictlan - Hella Frreal
27. Glass Animals – Zaba
26. Robert Plant (& the Sensational Space Shifters) – Lullaby…and the Ceaseless Roar
25. Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel
24. Mr. Twin Sister – Mr. Twin Sister
23. Ces Cru – Codename: Ego Stripper
22. D’Angelo (and the Vanguard) – Black Messiah
21. Angeleena Presley – American Middle Class
20. Panopticon – Roads to the North
19. Taake – Stridens Hus
18. Devin Townsend – Sky Blue (Z2 disc 1)
17. Alcest – Shelter
16. tUnE-yArDs – Nikki Nack
15. Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
14. TV on the Radio – Seeds
13. Agalloch – The Serpent & the Sphere
12. Behemoth – The Satanist
11. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye
10. Freddie Gibs & Madlib – Pinata
09. Opeth – Pale Communion
08. G-Side – GzIIGodz
07. Death Grips – the powers that b, pt. 1: ****as on the Moon
06. Sturgill Simpson – Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
05. Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires – Dereconstruction
04. Killer Mike & El-P – Run the Jewels 2
03. St. Vincent – St. Vincent
02. Sun Kil Moon – Benji
01. Swans – To Be Kind

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Try some recommendations from other posters in this thread too.

BTW - what were some albums in years past that you discovered through my annual list? I can try to recommend things based on that.

Maybe i was a little harsh, i went back through it again and did like the stuff from Killer Mike...I found that Jason Feathers track you posted interesting as well as the tracks from Alcest and TV On the Radio, though Killer Mike and the track posted by NewChief will likely be the only ones that i'll sample the entire album.

In the past, i really liked that first Death Grips album, Killer Mike, Red Fang, Ces Crue (The new one just isn't doing it for me)......Fidlar? Not sure if i discovered them through you or not....a few more but those are the main ones that come to mind.

You'd probably know more than anyone, but im REALLY looking for something that sounds like this:



I tried more of Shawn James' stuff, but none of the rest of his work that i found sounded like THAT track.

[KCUnited]

That Pallbearer is legit.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Pablo

Been jamming the **** out of some Sturgill Simpson the last couple of days.

Me too!

Only albums I have are High Top Mountain and Metamodern sounds in Country Music.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

That Pallbearer is legit.

I liked the first single, but never found the time to go grab the album.
One of these days.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

How does 'To be kind' stack up against 'White Light'?

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

What did you guys listen to this year?

Surprised this didn't make your cut. May not be your thing though:

[Coochie liquor]

It is a far cry from the majority of artists on your list, and not that anyone on this site even listens to reggae besides a small handful of us, BUT....
Here's my Top 5 in the reggae genre for 2014

5) Purple Reggae by Radio Riddler
I was waiting for this release from the moment I heard they were doing it. Purple Rain by Prince has always been a pretty amazing album to me. Maybe in part to it being released when I was in an impressionable age, and part because Price is a pimp!
Radio Riddler has taken this classic album and reimagined it in reggae form. Fusing together elements of dancehall, dub, roots, with the funky RnB styling a of Prince, and then adding guest vocalists to each song. Ali Campbell of UB40 vocals on the title track are just amazing. Sinead O Connor also lends vocals on I Would Die 4 U along with other members of the reggae community.

4) Fly Rasta by Ziggy Marley
Had the opportunity to see Ziggy this past year. Probably about as close to seeing Bob as you can get. This is a typical Ziggy album with lots of good reggae/rock music on it. The song Lighthouse is not your average song from the genre. It is one of the standout songs to me as it's musically different from the rest of the cd.
3) Back2Sqare1 by Sun Dried Vibes
This band hails from North Carolina, and this is their sophomore release. This 3 piece have really honed in on the sound they create, which is a blend of reggae, rock, funk, alternative, and a little hip hop. They also use local musicians/vocalists on a few of their tracks. Standout tracks are Waiting For (which has a very funky breakdown in the middle), and the title track. If this cd had label recognition it could not only make some big radio hits, but also a much bigger fan base for these east coasters.
2) Representing by Tribal Seeds
This is the 3rd full length album from Tribal Seeds, which also has a few EPs to their credit. Definitely one of the bigger bands on the reggae circuit. This album is a good mix of reggae/rock, roots, and a little dancehall. It offers collaborations with Mykal Rose, Slightly Stoopid, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite, and reggae legend Don Carlos. Not one bad song on the cd, with standout tracks being Rock the Night Away, and Bloodclot.
1) A Miracle by Groundation
These guys have been around since '98 and are a 9 piece band with a horn section. This is a roots album with lots of heavy jazz influences. Musically it's off the charts, they do so many things well. Being a bassist I can sometimes be lost in the bass line and have to start the track over to catch the sheer beauty of the rest of the musicians contributions. One listen is just scratchin the surface, and you will hear more layers with more spins. This album is dedicated to the female spirit, and the miracle of birth. Standout tracks are Defender of Beauty featuring some amazing guest vocals from Marcia Griffiths of the legendary I -Threes, and also has a bass, and horn solo, and Riddim Hold Dem. but the whole cd is nothing short of magical.

Honorable mentions go to
Count Me In by Rebelution
Amid the Noise and Haste by SOJA
Steady by Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

That Pallbearer is legit.

My man

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

My man

The wife and I were out of town for our anniversary last month when they played KC. Marriage is truly a sacrifice.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

The wife and I were out of town for our anniversary last month when they played KC. Marriage is truly a sacrifice.

That's a shame... Especially considering how much better the lead singer's live vocals have gotten.
Love is a wonderful thing.

[Molitoth]

Just found this 2014 album and it is amazing!
Think a Mashup of: Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Porcupine Tree, U2, Anathema

https://dtes.bandcamp.com/album/heretics

[DMAC]

I really enjoyed Casualties of Cool. It's another Devin Townsend project. Very laid back, folky, ambient.

[DMAC]

Oh yeah...and Dope Body. This song and video just kick so much ass.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by DMAC

I really enjoyed Casualties of Cool. It's another Devin Townsend project. Very laid back, folky, ambient.

I wanted to love that album with all of my heart (ambient country!) but only sorta liked it.

[KCUnited]

Fast forward to December 2015.