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.

Records of 2014 - 29. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kinds - Give The People What they Want

29. SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS - GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT

This was one of the first great records this year. It was a nice, tender soul album that invited one into 2014 with an exceptional musical manifesto.Sharon's voice binds everything together really nicely in a soul stew that smells like vanilla. I love the way The Observer said it:

"The 50-something from Brooklyn is her own diva and sounds at once wounded, defiant and exuberant. Producer-bassist Bosco Mann runs a tight band with its own tricks and which purrs along so joyously the influences fade to leave a core of unadulterated soul."

It's stellar, Vanilla. Thriller .Listen to it will ya?

Records of 2014 - 30. EMA - The Future's Void

30. EMA - THE FUTURE'S VOID

Entering into the Top 30 now, this sophomore album from EMA really distills angst into a pop masterpiece. Wikipedia says it is noise folk and I say that that's not too far wide of the mark. It really packs a big punch.

This is a much more aggressive assertion that technology can be harmful and derogatory than, say Damon Albarn's luscious Everyday Robots, also released this year. It's really heavily and well produced. All the instrumentation and her often double tracked voice are turned right up in the mix.

I never made a good cake before but enjoyed mixing together the flour, milk and eggs a few times.

Records of 2014 - 31. Actress - Ghettoville

31. ACTRESS- GHETTOVILLE 

This artist pops up frequently it seems on Spaghetti Blogonese and he's all good for it. Darren J. Cunningham has had four excellent albums now. He's from Wolves in England and this album is all bleeps and bass and not much melody. I love it. It's definitely nothing like Baby Gaga.

There's a theme of ghetto on this list. There's five albums that go all gangsta and I won't name them all now that are  referencing the life of a thug and this electronica stabs and succeeds at it. I'm in loving with it. Just everything all about at it is nice at the seams. It's hard to get to the centre but I know how to do it. Just go downtown to Ghettoville by listening closely. On headphones.

Records of 2014 - 32. Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser

32. TAYLOR MCFERRIN - EARLY RISER 

A brilliant signing onto the Brainfeeder label, this multi-talented jazz schmoozy beatboxer is so glossy and produced but in a great way. If it was an animal it would be a synth, or a trumpet. Pitchfork went and said on their review that some songs feel like sand slipping through your grasp. I disagree. This album is a lovely jazzy tide to float on. I think it was weak writing. I do weak writing. Just not every week.

The review goes on to say that this album isn't an early riser for morning running and that it's better for lying in bed in the morning. I think this album is best when I'm blue and eating berries but not when I'm in mourning. Sloppy as these reviews on here. It says there's no anchor on the the songs and that most of the album slips away into the atmosphere without you even noticing. I think that I'm not on a dinghy in the water anyway and that it's only a bit deep, so I won't be needing an anchor.  Shit, hand me a contract Pitchfork.