38. Alvvays

38. Alvvays - Alvvays

This is Alvvays (pronounced Always) debut and is the result of two childhood friends, Molly Rankin and Kerri MacLellan, from Toronto making some music. If you've followed this blog in the past, you know that this album making the list is really no surprise. Fuzzed out beach rock is one of my favorite genres and this album is no exception in its beauty and grace. At least they didn't put 'beach' in their band title. Chad VanGaalen produced this album and you'll be hearing from him later in this blog. The band also includes members of 'Two Hours Traffic' as well. A nice first start for a well-deserved band.





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39. Kevin Drew

39. Kevin Drew - Darlings

This is Kevin Drew's second solo album. His first one, Spirit If... was listened to excessively by me. Not using his band, Broken Social Scene to front him and standing on his own this time, he has put out a solid piece of work. I like listening to Kevin and Brendan Canning's solo works, because you really get to see how they influence Broken Social Scene. Kevin also formed another band called KC Accidental, a little more experimental band. I like this album in the background quite a lot, and I have always loved his lyrical interplay with the electronic elements in his music. Best video of the year so far with Leslie Feist and Zach Galifianakis making much welcome guest appearances.

Kevin Drew - You In Your Were from Arts & Crafts on Vimeo.

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40. The New Pornographers

40. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers

Brainchild of Neko Case and A.C. Newman, this band continues to produce amazing music. I've written about them before here. I'm hoping to get to see The New Pornographers again, because the sound was bad last time they played. While this record does not deviate from their formulaic power pop, it certainly does not disappoint and will go into my archives as another heavily listened to album of theirs. As I mentioned in the last post, check out the solo works of these artists, they are quite amazing as well.





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41. Crosses

41. Crosses (†††) - Crosses (†††)

††† is the side project of Deftones lead, Chino Moreno, Far guitarist, Shaun Lopez and a guy with the best name ever...Chuck Doom. They are based out of Los Angeles and both Chino and Shaun are old childhood chums, now neighbors. In addition to The Deftones and this, Chris also produced another side project this year with members of Isis called Palms. This is heavy electronica at its best. Great hooks, dark lyrics and swirling synthesizers create one of my favorite electronic albums of the year.





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42. The Drums

42. The Drums - Encyclopedia

After founding member Connor Hanwick left the group in late 2012, I didn't think The Drums would survive and probably almost didn't. Remaining members Johnathon Pierce and Jacob Graham were just going to work on solo projects, but then at the last minute, went in the studio and produced this beauty. Rather than being their linear style of songwriting, I think they have branched out in the proper direction and created their best album to date. This just barely made it in the Top 50 because of its late release date, but it came on strong and didn't quit. Portamento made the Top 50 back in 2011 here.





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43. Bombay Bicycle Club

43. Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow

This is an English band and they consist of Jack Steadman (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Jamie MacColl (guitar), Suren de Saram (drums) and Ed Nash (bass). I have loved everything they have put out to date and in my humble opinion, this is their best album yet. This is also their first appearance in the Top 50, but a lot of factors, mostly timing, contribute to an album making this list, so that is no surprise. Sometimes I write very cold facts about the bands in the top 50, but truth be known, I wouldn't be posting any of these bands if I didn't think you needed to check them out right now. If you have not listened to these guys yet, do it now. I was fortunate enough to see them in Austin a few years back and look forward to seeing them again. This is their fourth studio album.







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44. Lost In The Trees

44. Lost In The Trees - Past Life

A five piece out of Chapel Hill, North Carolna, Lost In The Trees delivers haunting, avant garde pop. Ari Picker is the band leader and pulled in musicians from the orchestral scene in Chapel Hill. He writes lyrics trying to deal with his mother's suicide and the video below certainly highlights this. This album has depth and complexity and is worthy of numerous plays on a cloudy evening. They performed a small leg of their tour this year with The Head and the Heart.





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45. The Casket Girls

45. The Casket Girls - True Love Kills The Fairy Tale

This has to be one of my favorite rock and roll stories of all time. Ryan Graveface (Graveface Records, Black Moth Super Rainbow) discovered Phaedra and Elsa Greene under a tree one day playing autoharp and singing bizarre songs. They put out an album together in 2012 (which I missed) and he dropped a off a slew of songs at their apartment for this new one. When he came back to check on them, he found Elsa crying and reciting poetry and Phaedra catatonic writing it all down. He didn't know if they dropped acid or what. The next day they handed him a CD and said they didn't know what was on it. He listened to it and started crying, got them in the studio to learn it note for note. They didn't remember a single thing. So, this entire album is produced in some sort of ethereal realm. I tried to see them twice at SXSW this last March to no avail and they played Opolis in August. A quite remarkable album genesis and an incredible listen.





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46. Slow Club

46. Slow Club - Complete Surrender

Slow Club are the musical duo, Charles Watson & Rebecca Taylor out of Sheffield, England. This is their first appearance in the top 50, but had I been doing this in 2009, they most assuredly would have been here before. While their past efforts have been more English folk oriented, this album lends itself to a much more soulful sound. Without losing what makes this such a dynamic pair of musicians, they have struck new ground with Complete Surrender, much more involved song-writing with the same knack for beautiful lyrics. I love the interplay of their vocals and while I loved the sound of Yeah So, I am ecstatic over the new direction. What a fun video to boot.





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47. Gardens & Villa

47. Gardens & Villa - Dunes

Gardens & Villa reside in Santa Barbara, California. Originally a 3 piece, the band now consists of Chris Lynch, Adam Rasmussen, Shane McKillop, Levi Hayden and Dustin Ineman. Their sophomore album finds them looking at the world through a disco lens for this go around. Heavy, synth-driven pop, but not just the usual fare. I really liked their last album and this album has stayed in heavy rotation throughout the year. They put on a great live show and often tour around here, so keep your eyes open.





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48. Ryan Adams

48. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams

It is said that an artist sometimes chooses an eponymous album title because that is the album they believe best represents themselves. This certainly seems the case in Ryan Adam's latest release, for he has been a prolific songwriter covering several genres in the past decade plus. I find this album to square Ryan Adams at the top of his game and had it come out earlier in the year, I believe it would have been higher in my charts. I really look forward to seeing him live next weekend in Tulsa.






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49. John Fullbright

49. John Fullbright - Songs

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to feature an Oklahoma artist on this list. In fact, he is one of two. I have been listening to John Fullbright for quite awhile now and thought he was gold then. I am so grateful that Greg Johnson of the Blue Door thought so as well. His rapid rise includes being nominated for a Grammy for his first album and playing on David Letterman earlier this year. Songs is an amazing album and highlights both his guitar and piano work. His songwriting skills are second to none and the minute I listen to his music, I listen to it all day in my head. If you haven't had the luxury of listening to John Fullbright till now, please, please do yourself a favor and go purchase his album right now.





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50. Hollow & Akimbo

50. Hollow & Akimbo - Hollow & Akimbo

Really, this is one of my favorite finds this year. Ann Arbor, Michigan based duo, Jonathon Visger and Brian Konicek, have debuted an infectious, elaborately entwined electronic pop album. From the opening song, "Trunk of a Dead Tree", it starts you on a whirlwind of layered, textured cavalcade of music. After giving this another listen, I'm picking up their EP's right now off their Bandcamp page. This is a great way to kick off the top 50.





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The Top 50 of 2014

Holy smokes, it's that time already. I didn't think I listened to enough music to justify a top 50, but in true form, while it's less than previous years, there was more than 50 noteworthy albums I listened to this year. Lots of return guests made the list this year as well as a lot of first timers. As always, there were quite a few bands on here that I have only discovered this year. This list is only a listing of my top 50 listened to albums, not necessarily who I think had the most artistic album, which I think is indicative of how my listening has changed. As in years past, I will be listing these one by one as opposed to a long list. Two reasons for this. One, I enjoy focusing on each band and getting back into their album again for a couple hours each day. Two, if there is an issue with a post, I don't have to figure out who the offender is out of a long list, I only have to correct one offending post. There was an amazing amount of great music that came out this year, so sit back and enjoy.

Honeylark

My goal with this blog is to post sporadically, but life keeps getting in my way. I had a minute to come up for air and thought I'd talk about this great band here in Oklahoma City. They are called Honeylark and they have a new(ish) record called Heavy and it is definitely that. They released their first LP back in December. If you like Eastern European folk, then this is the album for you. Think Beirut and Brown Bird, they even invoke some Squirrel Nut Zippers on a couple tracks. The blend of Eastern European folk with Appalachian folk with rock make for an irresistible listen. It is currently my number one LP in rotation and I find myself singing their songs as I'm driving down the road. I had the good fortune to have them come on the show for our birthday party and they just killed it, in addition to getting to watch the band play along with a mandolin and guitar to Noah & the Whale's Yacht Remix of Blue Skies. They will be playing the Bluebonnet stage at Norman Music Festival this Saturday night at 8:00PM before the main event. This is the sunset show and is always magical, plus it gives you plenty of time to make the main event. If you haven't had a chance to check this band out yet, get their new LP and catch their live show at either NMF or Schwartzstock. You will not be disappointed. You can pick up their album at their website linked below.

Honeylark + Fiawna Forte - "Afternoon" (Official Music Video) from Nathan Poppe on Vimeo.

Learn how to get a song on itunes at ReverbNation.com

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