A mixtape has been made with a song from each album, but this is not to take away from the fact that this is a list of favorite albums. Here at Still Love the Old World one of our guiding principles is the belief in music in the long form--the album form. Ideally, then, this mixtape will help readers jump off and have some new experiences.
I included 26 albums this year because I just couldn't leave this one off the list. I know as soon as I go for a road-trip this one will vault up the list. Certainly it gets best title of the year.
Playlist track: What We Loved Was Not Enough
Genre: Post-Rock
Record label: Constellation
Playlist track: Two Weeks
Genre: R&B
Record label: Young Turks
24. Spider Bags - Frozen Letter
A punky garage album with surprising range.
Playlist track: Back With You Again in the World
Genre: Garage Rock
Record label: Merge
23. Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy
22. Caribou - Our Love
I love the personality of this girl. She's cool in my book. A collection of little, well-crafted songs.
Playlist track: Sad 2
Genre: Singer-Songwriter/Lo-fi
Record label: Double Double Whammy
Stylish and grooving.
Playlist track: Can't Do Without You
Genre: Electronic
Record label: Merge
21. How to Dress Well - "What is This Heart?"
How to Dress well cleaned up his sound and got slightly cheesy, but I'm loving the results. This really works as an album.
Playlist track: Precious Love
Genre: R&B
Record label: Domino
Guilty pleasure and tons of fun, but maybe I shouldn't feel guilty. This album and Tony Molina's were two that I immediately hit repeat when the album finished.
Playlist track: Christmas Card
Genre: Pop Punk
Record label: Epitaph
Feels like the days when I found out about Al Green.
Playlist track: Betray My Heart
Genre: Soul
Record label: RCA
Very dynamic with a bit of smooth. Despite being ripped to shreds by my guy Anthony Fantano, Johnny and Mary is one of my favorite songs this year.
Playlist track: Johnny and Mary (feat. Bryan Ferry)
Genre: Electronic
Record label: Olsen
Great flows and funny stuff.
Playlist track: Doug Stamper (Advice Raps) (feat. Hannibal Buress)
Genre: Nerd Rap
Record label: Mello
Punky and jazzy--a nice mix. These guys and girls have chops.
Playlist track: Crockpot
Genre: Garage Rock
Record label: Bada Bing Records
I guess punk rockers think this is soft, I, on the other hand, love this.
Playlist track: I Stare at Floors
Genre: Post-Punk
Record label: Hardly Art
Former member of The Books, this guy is super creative and entertaining at the same time.
Genre: Experimental
Record label: Temporary Residence
For me indie pop is a style to itself. Slumberland records shares my obsession with this 80's and 90's movement. (I'm overdue on an indie pop mixtape by the way). Gold-Bears carry on this tradition admirably. "Hey, Sophie" is one of my songs of the year. It's all about tone and texture. Lot's of energy here too.
Playlist track: Hey, Sophie
Genre: Indie Pop/Rock
Record label: Slumberland
12. Mogwai - Rave Tapes
I got stuck in this world while studying for a few weeks. Mogwai goes synthy and I'm liking the results.
Playlist track: Remurdered
Genre: Post-Rock
Record label: Sub Pop
Eerie, whispery lo-fi. Just chill out and listen to some folks songs. Found some comfort in these songs on days when I was working too much.
Playlist track: Marmalade
Genre: Folk
Record label: Ordinal
Love the urgency that comes through here. Although he works with depressing themes, at times he's so excited that he needs to let out a "Whoo!". This a great album, too bad Mark Kozelek had to pick this band to mess with.
Playlist track: Burning
Genre: Indie Rock
Record label: Secretly Canadian
Just a bunch of fun. Probably the album I listened to most in 2014.
Playlist track: Archie, Marry Me
Genre: Garage Rock
Record label: Polyvinyl/Transgressive
Beautiful vocals with some interesting songwriting. We're left with a delicate, contemplative world open for our exploration.
Genre: Folk
Record label: Sub Pop
An unexpected modern dance album. Feels like classic Brian Eno/Brian Ferry. Great grooves.
Playlist track: FATHERS
Genre: Electronica/New Wave
Record label: DFA
A chill attitude with lots of style, my favorite mix.
Playlist track: Zone
Genre: Garage/Indie Rock
Record label: Beating a Dead Horse
Allo Darlin' gave me my favorite concert of 2014. Elizabeth has an amazing voice. Really nice lead guitarist as well. Inevitably, I am invested by the end of each song. They have become flag bearers for modern indie pop. Straightforward in some ways but it feels so authentic. Sometimes I'm a big softy and can't help but feel emotional when this band plays.
Playlist track: Bright Eyes
Genre: Indie Pop
Record label: Fortuna Pop!/Slumberland
Dynamics. This band is always moving. Impressive musicianship on top of some angsty teenage emotions. A sing along for sure. This emo revival is a lot of fun.
Playlist track: Take Back Today
Genre: Emo/Indie Rock
Record label: 6131 Records
Like most, I was entranced when I heard this album. There is sadness, for sure, but it is also so thoughtful while on surface dealing with mundane detail. Beautiful guitar playing and a fresh take on songwriting. It is addicting like Karl ove Knaussgaard.
Playlist track: Micheline
Genre: Singer/Songwriter
Record label: Caldo Verde
This is an album. Ideas last and are given time to develop. They morph in new and interesting ways. I am quite happy to enjoy this world. Besides a futuristic landscape, he creates some incredibly touching moments. The tape of a surprise birthday party for his Dad is the centerpiece of my experience.
Playlist track: For Friendships (Along the Way)
Genre: Electronic/Ambient
Record label: Dead Oceans
Every song is masterful in my opinion. I love the idiosyncrasy but also the emotion in his voice. I'm even down with the goat sounds. Great fun as a sing along. The tones are beautiful. Plenty of mood changes but all firmly grounded in some weird country-folk world. Each song has a sense of purpose even though I still haven't actually followed the narrative of any.
Playlist track: Lonely Richard
Genre: Psych Folk
Record label: Sacred Bones Records
Playlist
DOWNLOAD HERE
- Amen Dunes - Love
- Mark McGuire - Along the Way
- Sun Kill Moon - Benji
- Dads - I'll Be The Tornado
- Allo' Darlin - We Come from the Same Place
- Posse - Soft Opening
- Museum of Love - Museum of Love
- Luluc - Passerby
- Alvvays - Alvvays
- War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream
- Julie Byrne - Rooms With Walls and Windows
- Mogwai - Rave Tapes
- Gold-Bears - Dalliance
- Zammuto - Anchor
- Protomartyr - Under Color of Official Right
- Slothrust - Of Course You Do
- Open Mike Eagle - Dark Comedy
- Todd Terje - It's Album Time
- D'Angelo and The Vanguard - Black Messiah
- Joyce Manor - Never Hungover Again
- How to Dress Well - ``What is This Heart?''
- Caribou - Our Love
- Frankie Cosmos - Zentropy
- Spider Bags - Frozen Letter
- FKA Twigs - LP1
- Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band - Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything
