Smashley's Best Music of 2014

Welp, Here we are again! After temporarily migrating this post to the Sony Entertainment Network blog last year, I'm back on this poor neglected blog that I've promised to revive more than once. :/ But, I digress . . . 

It was a weird year for me as far as discovering new tunes. Halfway through 2014, I left my post at Sony where I had received release schedules every week for nearly a decade. With my new job mostly working with top tier artists, I had to work extra hard to find "my" jams, and I think that in turn made me a better fan. 

Per tradition, I'll summarize my favorite albums in 140 characters or less, followed by my Top 100 favorite songs list. Ready, set, rock. 

2014 Favorite Albums

10) Beck - Morning Phase
Why it Rules: I love dance party Beck as much as the next guy, but this is far & away my favorite Beck ever. Such a masterful songwriter, in either form. 



9) Jeremy Messersmith - Heart Murmurs
Why it Rules: Disarmingly calming, catchy & consistent songwriting w/ some Rufus Wainwright sassiness here & there. A very 2.0 version from his last album.



8) Baywood - Everything We Know, All at Once
Why it Rules: One of many Spotify discover suggestions, but this one really stuck. Too bad they seem to have dropped off the planet . . . anyone there?


7) A.C. Newman - What If: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 
Why it Rules: A.C. Newman is a BEAST. Not only did New Pornographers release an album, but he wrote this score that made a mostly "meh" film sound amazing.

*Since they are short songs, there are no videos, but an added bonus was this contribution from Patrick Watson.

6) The Tree Ring - Ten Rivers
Why it Rules: This album lights up every part of my brain. Sometimes, I worry I'll burn out on music, then sometimes I hear songs like these. 

*Couldn't get the Bandcamp embed to work, which is a drag My Type A personality wants consistency, so I pulled the only proper YouTube vid available. 
Here's a link to my favorite track though: http://music.treeringmusic.com/track/tunnel-view-2

5) Kris Orlowski - Believer 
Why it Rules: An example of the necessity to have a great team. His manager's constant posts piqued my curiosity and boy am I glad. What a voice! 


4) Kishi Bashi - Lighght 
Why it Rules: I nearly missed his set at a SXSW party I went to, but my friends insisted I stick around. Unreal live show & excellent album to back it up.



3) Manchester Orchestra - Cope & Hope
Why it Rules: Don't think it's a coincidence that "Cope" hit amdist a tough year & it's acoustic sibling "Hope," came to carry me through the rest of it. 



2) Noah Gundersen - Ledges
Why it Rules: Where has this kid been hiding? Absolutely incredible voice & undeniable electricity. He is truly something special. 



1) Desert Noises - 27 Ways
Why it Rules: If Desert Noises has a release, it will be in my Top 10 that year. Just when I think I have them pegged, they push their limits flawlessly.

2014 Favorite Songs

100) The War on Drugs - "Burning"
99) Jamestown Revival - "California (Cast Iron Soul)"
98) Samuel L Cool J - "Slip & Slide"
97) Oh Honey - "Be Okay"
96) Margot & the Nuclear So & So's - "Lazy"
95) Jay William Hendersen - "I Won't Beg"
94) The Orwells - "Who Needs You"
93) The New Basement Tapes - "Down on the Bottom"
92) Trampled by Turtles - "Nobody Knows"
91) Death Vessel - "Ilsa Drown (ft. Jonsi)
90) Wake Owl - "Candy" 
89) Bleachers - "I Wanna Get Better" 
88) Clean Bandit - "Rather Be" 
87) Bad Suns - "Cardiac Arrest" 
86) This Century - "Talk to Talk" 
85) Miniature Tigers - "Swimming Pool Blues" 
84) S. Carey - "Apenglow" 
83) James Bay - "Hold Back the River: 
82) ARMS - "Ballad of Big Nothing (Elliott Smith cover)" 
81) The Decemberists - "Make You Better" 
80) Act As If - "L.A. Kid" 
79) The Belle Brigade - "When Everything Was What it Was" 
78) The Far West - "Walk Light on This Poor Heart" 
77) Future Loves Past - "Earth" 
76) KONGOS - "This Time I Won't Forget" 
75) Nashville Cast - "It Ain't Yours to Throw Away" 
74) Robert Ellis - "Good Intentions" 
73) Seahaven - "Solar Eclipse" 
72) Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "Chartjunk" 
71) Waters - "Got to My Head" 
70) Big Sean - "I Don't Fuck With You" 
69) Margot & the Nuclear So & So's - "Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie cover)" 
68) The Antlers - "Parade" 
67) Augustana - "Remember Me" 
66) Boy & Bear - "Three Headed Woman" 
65) Brian Lopez - "Crossfire Cries"
64) Cold War Kids - "First" 
63) Grizfolk - "Hymnals" 
62) MisterWives - "Vagabond" 
61) The New Pornographers - "Fantasy Fools "
60) Ray LaMontagne - "Airwaves" 
59) Young the Giant - "Firelight" 
58) Foster the People - "Fire Escape" 
57) Greg Laswell - "Embrace Me" 
56) Johnny Flynn - "Einstein's Idea" 
55) Stephen Steinbrink - "Brand New Manic Brain Holder" 
54) Water Liars - "Let it Breathe" 
53) Bombay Bicycle Club - "Eyes Off You" 
52) Kina Grannis - "This Far"
51) Run River North - "Growing Up" 
50) Nick Mulvey - "Fever to the Form"
49) New Found Glory - "Ready & Willing" 
48) SKATERS - "Deadbolt" 
47) The Menzigers - "Sentimental Physics" 
46) Augustines - "Weary Eyes" 
45) Braid - "Many Enemies
44) Gates - "Not My Blood" 
43) Strange Talk - "Young Hearts" 
42) Zak Waters - "Pony (Ginuwine cover)" 
41) The Chain Gang of 1974 - "Sleepwalking" 
40) alt-J - "Left Hand Free" 
39) Chuck Ragan - "Wake With You" 
38) The Family Crest - "There's a Thunder" 
37) The Strypes - "Blue Collar Jane"
36) Fanfarlo - "Myth of Myself (A Ruse to Exploit Our Weaknesses)" 
35) Mogwai - "Master Card" 
34) Passenger - "27"
33) Yellow Ostrich - "You Are the Stars" 
32) Vacationer - "The Wild Life" 
31) William Tyler - "Whole New Dude" 
30) A Great Big World - "There is an Answer" 
29) American Authors - "Oh, What a Life" 
28) Against Me! - "Two Coffins" 
27) Seryn - "Disappear" 
26) Tokyo Police Club - "Tunnel Vision" 
25) Tove Lo - "Habits (Stay High)" 
24) Tycho - "Montana" 
23) Benjamin Booker - "Always Waiting" 
22) Party Gardens - "Highwaves" 
21) Ryan Adams - "My Wrecking Ball" 
20) Shakey Graves - "Dearly Departed" 
19) James Vincent McMorrow - "Gold" 
18) Hozier - "From Eden" 
17) Death From Above 1979 - "White is Red" 
16) Matthew & the Atlas - "Nowhere Now" 
15) Matt Pond - "These Days (Jackson Browne cover)" 
14) The Autumn Defense - "Under the Wheel"
13) Conor Oberst - "Artifact #1" 
12) Damien Jurado - "Metallic Cloud: 
11) The Apache Relay - "Katie Queen of Tennessee" 1
10) Incan Abraham - "All You Want"

9) Vance Joy - "Mess is Mine"
8) Outsides - "Seesaw"
7) Cloud Nothings - "I'm Not Part of Me"
6) Bahamas - "Can't Take You With Me"
5) The Griswolds - "Aurora Borealis"
4) The Barr Brothers - "Even the Darkness Has Arms"
3) Real Estate - "Talking Backwards"
2) Mimicking Birds - "Bloodlines" 
1) The Hold Steady - "Spinners" 

Until Next Year . . .