10 songs from 2014
I’ve gotten in the habit of writing up my top 10 songs every year. It’s a nice retrospective on what I’ve been listening to, and hey, maybe it’ll introduce you to something new!
Songs are grouped by genre, and are in no particular order.
Rock
Fresh Start Fever — You Me At Six (Cavalier Youth)
Great for revisiting all your gritty 90s pop-rock angst. It’s catchy, gritty, and flows smoothly into the rest of the album. Cavalier Youth is a solid offering all around. If you prefer something a little more mellow and melodic, check out Cold Night from the same album.
Pretend — I Fight Dragons (The Near Future)
I’ve been following I Fight Dragons for a while, and I really enjoy their nerdy chiptunes-flavored sound. Their latest album, The Near Future, is a solid evolution of their sound and Pretend is a standout track. The bass line is sick, the vocals are catchy, and the lyrics actually have depth. What’s not to love?
Rap
Vengo — Ana Tijoux (Vengo)
French-Chilean rapper/singer Ana Tijoux is amazing, and Vengo is an excellent album start to finish. The titular track, which opens the album, is catchy and a great example of Tijoux’s work. It’s catchy, without leaving behind meaning. Mi Verdad is another great track from the album, with similarly fantastic lyrical content.
* Pop
Everytime — Broods (Evergreen)
I’ve been waiting for Broods to drop an album since their EP came out in January. They’re phenominally talented and when Jeffrey and I caught them in Seattle it was clear that this whole fame thing is just starting to hit them (they were refreshingly humble and slightly overwhelmed by the enthusiasm from the audience). It was a close tie between Everytime and Coattails, which sadly didn’t make it from their EP onto Evergreen.
Yellow Flicker Beat — Lorde (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1)
I wasn’t in love with where Pure Heroine went after The Love Club EP, but if this is the direction Lorde is taking for her next album, I’m totally on board. Yellow Flicker Beat is deceptively stripped down, dark, and gripping.
Scream My Name — Tove Lo (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1)
Another standout from the Mockingjay companion album, which was great from start to finish. Scream My Name ports over the catchiness of Stay High and Not On Drugs while improving dramatically on the content. I really disliked Mockingjay as a book, but the tracks it has inspired more than make up for it. Animal, by XOV, barely missed the cut.
Shut Up and Dance — WALK THE MOON (Talking Is Hard)
Shut Up and Dance is brilliant pop that makes you want to, well, shut up and dance. I liked their debut album, Walk The Moon, more than Talking Is Hard, but they’re a fun listen regardless. If you like concerts with dancing, happy music, and positivity, you should definitely make a point of seeing them live.
R&B
All Hands On Deck — Tinashe (Aquarius)
If you like R&B at all, you should definitely give Aquarius a listen. It’s surprisingly introspective given that the main single from the album is about getting high. Regardless of your feelings about R&B as a genre, All Hands On Deck is a solid listen that’s poppy enough for broad appeal.
Electronica
Portal — LIGHTS (Little Machines)
LIGHTS gets better every year, and Little Machines is probably the best album I’ve heard all year. Portal kicks off the album, immediately drawing you in. The ambiance is rich, the vocals are solid, and the lyrics are appropriately mysterious. If you prefer something poppier and more danceable, check out Up We Go.
Feel Good (Go Periscope Remix) — GOLDHOUSE
Go Periscope hasn’t put out as much original music this year, but they’ve debuted some awesome remixes. Their reworking of GOLDHOUSE’s Feel Good is brilliant, darkening up the sound just enough to add some much-needed depth. For something a little more acoustic, check out their remix of Eastside’s Ellie (Don’t x Loyal).
