Music *** Reaper's Favorite Albums of 2014 *** - Page 4

**Reaper16** · 05:06 PM

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

**Reaper16** · 12-27-2014, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

That Koz just KEPT trolling them is what annoyed me. Yes, that the bloggers kept taking the troll bait was equally annoying, but that Koz just kept going.. and kept going after WoD when they clearly wanted no part of some feud is what annoyed me. At a certain point, it really started to feel like bullying to me.

Now, I think that Koz was completely doing it just for kicks and to keep his name in the hype cycle, but that the "feud" was so one-sided made it feel a little icky after a bit.

I have a theory that Kozelek didn't like all the extremely positive attention the music press was giving him after releasing Benji so he sabotaged his own hype. He seems like a guy who'd be like "You're just NOW getting around to praising me this much? I've been putting out albums for 20 years. **** you."

NewChief · 12-27-2014, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I have a theory that Kozelek didn't like all the extremely positive attention the music press was giving him after releasing Benji so he sabotaged his own hype. He seems like a guy who'd be like "You're just NOW getting around to praising me this much? I've been putting out albums for 20 years. **** you."

That's very possible. He's a damned middle-aged curmudgeon. The dissonance between a guy who can write some of the most sensitive, gut wrenching soul searching lyrics also penning "the war on drugs can suck my dick" is pretty entertaining and surely points to something meaningful.

NewChief · 12-27-2014, 07:14 PM

By the way, and I'm sure you listened to this already, but did you listen to Sivyj Yar From the Dead Villages' Darkness?

The Gum best of Metal list turned me on to it when they said that "Distant Haze was Arising" was the best metal song of 2014. I confess that the song does hit me on a lot of different levels.

**Reaper16** · 12-27-2014, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

By the way, and I'm sure you listened to this already, but did you listen to Sivyj Yar From the Dead Villages' Darkness?

The Gum best of Metal list turned me on to it when they said that "Distant Haze was Arising" was the best metal song of 2014. I confess that the song does hit me on a lot of different levels.

I haven't heard of it until now, probably because I'm not in the habit of reading metal reviews on the big sites. Looking at the Stereogum metal list, I'm reminded of what's always been neat about the metal scene to me: there's SO MUCH small label stuff that individual recommendations carry a lot more weight than with most other genres. That track was very nice, if a little familar. I'll listen to the whole album.

I see that Stereogum put the new Blut Aus Nord album at #1. Truthfully, when I was ranking my albums I put that one at #28. But I thought I was writing up too many metal albums as is, and wanted to highlight a bit more diversity.

NewChief · 12-27-2014, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I haven't heard of it until now, probably because I'm not in the habit of reading metal reviews on the big sites. Looking at the Stereogum metal list, I'm reminded of what's always been neat about the metal scene to me: there's SO MUCH small label stuff that individual recommendations carry a lot more weight than with most other genres. That track was very nice, if a little familar. I'll listen to the whole album.

I see that Stereogum put the new Blut Aus Nord album at #1. Truthfully, when I was ranking my albums I put that one at #28. But I thought I was writing up too many metal albums as is, and wanted to highlight a bit more diversity.

Yeah. That metal list is like an indie metal list (a lot of metal fans I showed it to said they recognized like 3 bands in the list). It's cool though that in a small genre that much breadth and depth exists.

Oz_Chief · 12-28-2014, 03:24 PM

I think AC/DC "Rock or Bust" should be on your list.

I actually think their run of albums from 2000 - 2014 is some of their best material, right behind the Bon Scott years.

Your list is very well put together. I appreciate it and enjoy it. Thanks especially for taking the time to include all of the material.

**QuikSsurfer** · 12-28-2014, 04:58 PM

I'd remove Agalloch and Opeth. Releases were forgettable.
I'd add Dark Fortress, The Contortionist and Pallbearer (seriously) in there.
Ne Obliviscaris should be higher, IMO.

And I love Alcest

NewChief · 12-28-2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

I'd remove Agalloch and Opeth. Releases were forgettable.
I'd add Dark Fortress, The Contortionist and Pallbearer (seriously) in there.
Ne Obliviscaris should be higher, IMO.

And I love Alcest

You liked Pallbearer's album better than YOB's in the doom category?

NewChief · 12-28-2014, 05:04 PM

Oh! I remember another album that I had on my best of the year that didn't appear here:

This Will Destroy You, Another Language.

**QuikSsurfer** · 12-28-2014, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

You liked Pallbearer's album better than YOB's in the doom category?

So tough!
I wore both of them out.. I'd probably give Pallbearer the edge.

edit: I agree about "year of Doom" -- some great ones this year; Electric Wizard, Sun O)))

**QuikSsurfer** · 12-28-2014, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molitoth

I didn't listen to much this year, but My top 4 contained releases from some of my fav bands that I thoroughly enjoyed.

1) Skyharbor - Guiding Lights

Great release. Had The Contortionist not blown it out of the water with Language, Skyharbor would take the progressive metal/djent throne.
I'm glad the singer has gone back to Tesseract -- i missed his harsh vocals.

The Contortionist

**QuikSsurfer** · 12-28-2014, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

Oh! I remember another album that I had on my best of the year that didn't appear here:

This Will Destroy You, Another Language.

There were some good Post-Rock albums released this year too.
This Will Destroy You, Helios, and Lowercase Noises -- all fantastic releases

NewChief · 12-28-2014, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

There were some good Post-Rock albums released this year too.
This Will Destroy You, Helios, and Lowercase Noises -- all fantastic releases

Your post reminded me how much I liked the Lantlos album.

Molitoth · 12-28-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Great release. Had The Contortionist not blown it out of the water with Language, Skyharbor would take the progressive metal/djent thrown.
I'm glad the singer has gone back to Tesseract -- i missed his harsh vocals.

The Contortionist

ahhh yes, The Contortionist would have been #5 on my list. Forgot about it.

Dan going back to Tesseract is going to be awesome.
He is my vocal instructor. =)

Best singer in rock/metal today imo.

**QuikSsurfer** · 12-28-2014, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

Your post reminded me how much I liked the Lantlos album.

Are you me?
I was listening to Melting Sun driving back from Arkansas yesterday.

12-26-2014, 04:14 PM
Reaper16 Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dystopia Casino cash: $10017397	* Reaper's Favorite Albums of 2014 * 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 Last edited by Reaper16; 12-26-2014 at 05:06 PM..
Posts: 33,369

12-27-2014, 07:14 PM	#48
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $9730204	By the way, and I'm sure you listened to this already, but did you listen to Sivyj Yar From the Dead Villages' Darkness? The Gum best of Metal list turned me on to it when they said that "Distant Haze was Arising" was the best metal song of 2014. I confess that the song does hit me on a lot of different levels. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,758

12-28-2014, 03:24 PM	#51
Oz_Chief Starter Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: USA Casino cash: $1565101	I think AC/DC "Rock or Bust" should be on your list. I actually think their run of albums from 2000 - 2014 is some of their best material, right behind the Bon Scott years. Your list is very well put together. I appreciate it and enjoy it. Thanks especially for taking the time to include all of the material.
Posts: 405

12-28-2014, 04:58 PM	#52
QuikSsurfer Got swag? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Madison, MS Casino cash: $10008287	I'd remove Agalloch and Opeth. Releases were forgettable. I'd add Dark Fortress, The Contortionist and Pallbearer (seriously) in there. Ne Obliviscaris should be higher, IMO. And I love Alcest __________________
Posts: 11,847

12-28-2014, 05:04 PM	#54
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $9730204	Oh! I remember another album that I had on my best of the year that didn't appear here: This Will Destroy You, Another Language. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,758