Top 12 Albums of 2014: The Autumn Defense — Fifth

A somewhat hidden gem, compared to many of the end-of-year superstars on here. When I bought a ticket to their show in June, I admittedly couldn’t quite remember which Wilco offshoot/side project this was. (Hey, there were several of them at Solid Sound Festival, and 2011 was a long time ago.) Fortunately, all the Wilco offshoots are good.

This is one of several albums on this list that epitomize “gentle doesn’t mean boring.” The sound conjures up visions of my father’s days as a radio DJ at a Florida soft-rock FM station in the 1970s — a world I only know through dusty old tapes and faded photos. It’s a world of fluffy hair, flared corduroy pants, warm brown leather couches, and the perpetual glow of afternoon sunshine. (A world also inhabited by groups like The Thorns, that Matthew Sweet/Pete Droge/Shawn Mullins side project that was all over triple-A radio in the early 2000s.)

Based on published reviews and interviews, that assessment might not be totally off-base. The strong vocal harmonies, 1970s soft-rock acoustic guitars, little bits of chime-y synths, and hooks galore (this seems even a little tighter and poppier than their previous albums) would’ve worked back then on Dad’s radio shows, and they’re refreshing and welcome now. Sometimes, well-crafted pretty music is all you need. Fair warning: These songs will stick in your head for days. Certainly not a bad thing, though.

Note 1: This Top 12 list is not ranked. It’s generally a good idea to have 2014 coverage be published in 2014. Before Christmas, even. If I had to rank these, we wouldn’t be done until next August.

Note 2: More on the “Put Your Money Where Your Typing Is” selection methodology here. Short version: These are the 12 albums I bought on CD/vinyl/both this year.