2014 The Year In Music: Top 20 Records

Writing things is hard when it's not your job. I made a list of my top 20 records for 2014. I made a playlist. I just never shared it with anyone. So here, a year late, with no comment, is the list.

#20 Tweedy"Sukirae"

Jeff Tweedy from Wilco and his son on drums. It's a nice record.

#19 Bob Mould "Beauty and Ruin"

Intensely personal record, from the most intensely personal punk rocker.

#18 Diplo "Random White Dude Be Everywhere"

#17 Ryan Adams "Ryan Adams"

In the year since I made this list, this record should probably be higher.

#16 Prince "Art Official Age"

Prince is back.

#15 Apex Twin "Syro"

Richard James is also back.

#14 Weezer "Everything Will Be Alright In The End"

This is a nice later period Weezer record. Hindsight, this is probably lower. 

#13 Benjamin Booker "Benjamin Booker"

Best debut on the list. 

#12 Jenny Lewis "The Voyager"

#11 Tom Petty "Hypnotic Eye"

Tom Petty is back. 

#10 Pixies "Indie Cindy"

Pixies are back. Theme of 2014.

#9 The Hold Steady "Teeth Dreams"

#8 Foo Fighters "Sonic Highways"

Dave Grohl is the mayor of rock 'n roll, and that's a good thing. 

#7 Spoon "They Want My Soul"

#6 T.V. On The Radio "Seeds"

#5 Jack White "Lazaretto"

This year is so top heavy that Jack White is number 5!?!?!?

#4 Taylor Swift "1989"

Let's be honest. This is the number 1 record of the year. Of this year. Of any year. 

#3 Dennis "Don't Fall In Love"

In 2014 all the tracks from this record were in my top 25 most played songs. Yes, I know the band. But I legit like this record a lot. 

#2 Run The Jewels "RJ2" 

#1 D'Angelo and The Vanguard "Black Messiah"

This surprise release came out in mid-December. So making this my number 1 was probably an over reach, especially with the best record off the decade in '1989'. I dig this record, it's just not 'Brown Sugar" or 'Voodoo", or "1989". 

2013 Year In Music: Top 20 Songs

This was a lot harder than I anticipated when I started running my mouth in my Albums post. I don't feel like racking my brain and trying to rank these., but there are 20 songs from 2013 that I love. I can tell you that "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk is far and away my favorite song of 2013. Enjoy. I have also included a handy Spotify playlist for your convenience. 

Get Lucky--Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams

Retrograde--James Blake

Blurred Lines--Robin Thicke featuring TI and Pharrell Williams

Royals--Lorde

We Can't Stop--Miley Cyrus

Follow Your Arrow--Kacey Musgraves

We Sink--Chrvches

Tom Ford--Jay-Z

Fuckin Problems--A$AP Rocky featuring 2 Chainz, Drake and Kendrick Lamar

Bitter Rivals--Sleigh Bells

Step--Vampire Weekend

Breakfast Can Wait--Prince

Closer--Tegan and Sara

Started From The Bottom--Drake

Mirrors--Justin Timberlake

Blood On The Leaves--Kanye West

Where Are We Now?--David Bowie

Rose Tattoo--Dropkick Murphys

Same Love--Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert

The Woodpile--Frightened Rabbit

Reflektor--Arcade Fire