Records of 2014 - 26. Strand Of Oaks - Heal

26. STRAND OF OAKS - HEAL
This band's previous 3 albums were folky and lead singer Tim Sholwater felt the natural urge to step up and make a rock record because he cannot write when he is on the road. When he returned to Indiana in 2013 after two years of constant touring, he went home and wrote over thirty songs in a fortnight. Some of them were executed as seven minute epics, of course some were discarded, but the ones that remained made up this mix-tape esque beauty.It's the most honest, forthright and personal thing that Sholwater has ever put out and it's soaked in summertime ginger beer, played by ginger beards.

Records of 2014 - 27. Land Observations - The Grand Tour

27. LAND OBSERVATIONS - THE GRAND TOUR
This concept is an absolute winner and their Roman Roads album got top 10 here in 2012. The follow-up is more of the same lush instrumental guitar tracks that sound so crisp through the effects pedals and like this fictional tour suggests, parts are mesmeric and super-noteworthy and others tide along, which is part of the process of travelling through and through and through. Absolutely best best absorbed absorbed best best absorbed absorbed in one whole in one whole. :) :) :)

Records of 2014 - 28. Beck - Morning Phase

28. BECK - MORNING PHASE

I stuck something on my Facebook in 2014 about how Beck's slow music appeals to me more than his faster Devil's Haircut style, and got quite a good response. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like his upbeat indie-pop - but I feel that his slower, tender side has got a lot more depth to it. It's hardly paper-weight and I feel like I'm listening to the music equivalent of not being interested in Kanye West giving shite to the very same artist for winning a Grammy. I'm done with bombast aplomb, unless it tastes fresh like Thai food. sorry Kanye, but go and listen to the whole of Beck's catalog, especially his mellow stuff and maybe then you can calm down.