2014 comes to its end... But for us, the music enthusiasts, this year has ended since early December. We gathered, listened and evaluated all - or almost all - of the albums released from December 2013 to December 2014.
Eighteen of our editors locked themselves in their rooms, listened repeatedly to their favourite music from 2014, and finally, they voted for the top 50 albums of this year.
We are going to present to you ten albums each day, until we reach the top on Friday. Today the bottom 10...
41. U2 - Songs of Innocence
'Songs of Innocence' is a part of the band's artistic continuity. It couldn't be any other way. After the relative experiment of 'No Line On The Horizon', U2 are back home fresh and refreshed, with 11 songs different one from another, good or not-so-good, but with their original identity. - [Vivi Toma].
42. The Drums - Encyclopedia
'Encyclopedia' is the third album from The Drums, and the one that was most ignored by people and the press. This time, even though they experiment much more, they do not leave their surf-indie pop style, but also try to approach different styles (electropop) and become more adventurous. They do not succeed all the way, but they do present a very interesting group of songs. Listen to “Kiss me again”, “There is nothing left”, “Face of God” & “I can’t pretend”. - [Dimitris Kampouris]
43(-). Arch Enemy - War Eternal
Their first album without Angela Gossow, but with a worthy replacement, Alissa White-Gluz, vocalist of Agonist. When Alysa was announced, I was sure that their new album would not have anything to fear from their past releases. And, War Eternal is a megaton bomb. A real nuclear weapon. An album with no sagging. All of the tracks are great, but 'No more regrets' got me from the first listen and I think it's top. - [Loukas Kakos]
44. Broken Bells - After the Disco
More cohesive than their first album, this one by Brian Burton (a.k.a. Danger Mouse) and James Mercer (vocalist of The Shins) loses points because of just that. The differences of the two artists is the main interesting point and what has made them successful in the first place. In this album their differences were met halfway and the result is flat enough to not get them into a higher spot in this list, as each of them separately deserves. Standing out: 'Holding On For Life' and 'After The Disco' - [Eleni Pefani]
45. Ben Howard - I forget Where We Were
This young British is no longer a music rookie. Since the two BRIT Awards in 2013 for his debut album 'Every Kingdom', many were waiting for him to slip. But in his second step, he easily manages to overcome all obstacles. 'I Forget Where We Were' is an album that crawls into your heart from the first listen. It comes with beautiful songs, but is much more beautiful as a whole. It just needs a little bit of time for it to hug your soul. That's a rare thing! - [Orestis Kazasidis]
46. Machine Head - Bloodstone and Diamonds
Since 2007 and the release that marked the metal world, until this year's 'Bloodstone and Diamonds', Machine Head go through a period of excellent maturity. Twelve diamond, 71 minutes-long with the signature of the band mixed with experimentalism. Endless shifts between harmonies, amazing matches - vocals and of course metal. That means: clear vocals, growls, violins, keyboards, harmonic solos and anything you could ask for. Tracks that stand out: Now We Die', 'Sail Into The Black', 'In Comes The Flood'. But beware! 'Bloodstone and Diamonds' may be rejected or falsely judged just by one hearing. Listen to it many times. You'll discover a lot of things! - [Loukas Kakos]
47. The Twilight Sad - Nobody Whats To Be Here and Nobody Wants To Leave
Mogwai's prominent offspring hit the jackpot this year. With their special sound, their cohesive, melodic and powerful music and outstanding lyrics, 'Nobody Wants To be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave' is not just their best albums, nor just the best Scottish album of the year as Any Decent Music? thought. It's a work of a lifetime that is going to give a whole new meaning to post rock in the next years. - [Orestis Kazasidis]
48 (-). Ty Segall - Manipulator
Anyone might ask why an album with blatant influences from an artist is so good. The answer is that in such cases, you can seperate the wheat from the chaff. Ty Segall is not copying nor relying on the retro madness like some others do. All of the compositions, regardless of influence or source is something personal. Is a recipe that a few know and fewer can execute. - [Dimitris Dimopoulos]
49 (-). SOHN - Tremors
In 2012, Christopher Taylor released his first EP as SOHN, in 2013 he signed with 4AD and in April 2014 the first studio album naturally followed. All of these in my ignorance. As I travelled south last May, he was travelling west and somehow we met in the middle. (Maifeld Derby). A dark figure over the consoles lifting up the crowd. I noted his name, searched for him, listened to 'Tremors' and I must admit I craved for it throughout the year. When 'Artifice' finally left the repeat, 'Ransom Notes', 'Veto' and 'Tremors' rose to the occasion. - [Orestis Kazasidis]
50. Pink Floyd - The Endless River
The 15th and last (?) album of the British legendary rock band contains recordings of the late keyboardist Richard Wright. It was based on 1993 recordings in Britannia Row Studios and Gilmour's floating studio, Astoria. Any material left off 'The Division Bell' (1994), was to be released as a collection under the title 'The Big Spliff', but that was cancelled after the death of Wright in 2008. The title of the albums comes from the line "The water flowing / The endless river / Forever and ever" from the lyrics of "High Hopes" found in 'The Division Bell'.
Tommorrow we'll be here again with the albums that reached the spots 31-40.
Eighteen of our editors locked themselves in their rooms, listened repeatedly to their favourite music from 2014, and finally, they voted for the top 50 albums of this year.
We are going to present to you ten albums each day, until we reach the top on Friday. Today the bottom 10...
41. U2 - Songs of Innocence'Songs of Innocence' is a part of the band's artistic continuity. It couldn't be any other way. After the relative experiment of 'No Line On The Horizon', U2 are back home fresh and refreshed, with 11 songs different one from another, good or not-so-good, but with their original identity. - [Vivi Toma].
42. The Drums - Encyclopedia
'Encyclopedia' is the third album from The Drums, and the one that was most ignored by people and the press. This time, even though they experiment much more, they do not leave their surf-indie pop style, but also try to approach different styles (electropop) and become more adventurous. They do not succeed all the way, but they do present a very interesting group of songs. Listen to “Kiss me again”, “There is nothing left”, “Face of God” & “I can’t pretend”. - [Dimitris Kampouris]
43(-). Arch Enemy - War EternalTheir first album without Angela Gossow, but with a worthy replacement, Alissa White-Gluz, vocalist of Agonist. When Alysa was announced, I was sure that their new album would not have anything to fear from their past releases. And, War Eternal is a megaton bomb. A real nuclear weapon. An album with no sagging. All of the tracks are great, but 'No more regrets' got me from the first listen and I think it's top. - [Loukas Kakos]
44. Broken Bells - After the Disco
More cohesive than their first album, this one by Brian Burton (a.k.a. Danger Mouse) and James Mercer (vocalist of The Shins) loses points because of just that. The differences of the two artists is the main interesting point and what has made them successful in the first place. In this album their differences were met halfway and the result is flat enough to not get them into a higher spot in this list, as each of them separately deserves. Standing out: 'Holding On For Life' and 'After The Disco' - [Eleni Pefani]
45. Ben Howard - I forget Where We WereThis young British is no longer a music rookie. Since the two BRIT Awards in 2013 for his debut album 'Every Kingdom', many were waiting for him to slip. But in his second step, he easily manages to overcome all obstacles. 'I Forget Where We Were' is an album that crawls into your heart from the first listen. It comes with beautiful songs, but is much more beautiful as a whole. It just needs a little bit of time for it to hug your soul. That's a rare thing! - [Orestis Kazasidis]
46. Machine Head - Bloodstone and Diamonds
Since 2007 and the release that marked the metal world, until this year's 'Bloodstone and Diamonds', Machine Head go through a period of excellent maturity. Twelve diamond, 71 minutes-long with the signature of the band mixed with experimentalism. Endless shifts between harmonies, amazing matches - vocals and of course metal. That means: clear vocals, growls, violins, keyboards, harmonic solos and anything you could ask for. Tracks that stand out: Now We Die', 'Sail Into The Black', 'In Comes The Flood'. But beware! 'Bloodstone and Diamonds' may be rejected or falsely judged just by one hearing. Listen to it many times. You'll discover a lot of things! - [Loukas Kakos]
47. The Twilight Sad - Nobody Whats To Be Here and Nobody Wants To LeaveMogwai's prominent offspring hit the jackpot this year. With their special sound, their cohesive, melodic and powerful music and outstanding lyrics, 'Nobody Wants To be Here And Nobody Wants To Leave' is not just their best albums, nor just the best Scottish album of the year as Any Decent Music? thought. It's a work of a lifetime that is going to give a whole new meaning to post rock in the next years. - [Orestis Kazasidis]
48 (-). Ty Segall - Manipulator
Anyone might ask why an album with blatant influences from an artist is so good. The answer is that in such cases, you can seperate the wheat from the chaff. Ty Segall is not copying nor relying on the retro madness like some others do. All of the compositions, regardless of influence or source is something personal. Is a recipe that a few know and fewer can execute. - [Dimitris Dimopoulos]
49 (-). SOHN - TremorsIn 2012, Christopher Taylor released his first EP as SOHN, in 2013 he signed with 4AD and in April 2014 the first studio album naturally followed. All of these in my ignorance. As I travelled south last May, he was travelling west and somehow we met in the middle. (Maifeld Derby). A dark figure over the consoles lifting up the crowd. I noted his name, searched for him, listened to 'Tremors' and I must admit I craved for it throughout the year. When 'Artifice' finally left the repeat, 'Ransom Notes', 'Veto' and 'Tremors' rose to the occasion. - [Orestis Kazasidis]
50. Pink Floyd - The Endless River
The 15th and last (?) album of the British legendary rock band contains recordings of the late keyboardist Richard Wright. It was based on 1993 recordings in Britannia Row Studios and Gilmour's floating studio, Astoria. Any material left off 'The Division Bell' (1994), was to be released as a collection under the title 'The Big Spliff', but that was cancelled after the death of Wright in 2008. The title of the albums comes from the line "The water flowing / The endless river / Forever and ever" from the lyrics of "High Hopes" found in 'The Division Bell'.
Tommorrow we'll be here again with the albums that reached the spots 31-40.
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