I bought, stole, or involuntarily received (cough cough U2 cough) exactly 31 albums that came out this past year.  Some I listened to once, some twice, others dozens of times.  Here are my 10 favorites, in no particular order.

War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream

I really could not get enough of this album this year.  I even bought it twice, both on CD and vinyl.  Really happy these guys have been creeping up on so many top album lists.  I saw them live last spring and was blown away.  I found the feud between Sun Kil Moon and War on Drugs incredibly annoying, but I’m glad that it inevitably led to more album sales.  Most memorable moment of the album: Guitar solo in “Suffering.”  Sweeps me away everytime...

Wye Oak - Shriek

I was introduced to this band through a friend of mine who has never given me a bad musical recommendation (thanks Phil!).  I love pretty much everything about this album--the ethereal synths, cascading arpeggiations, syncopated bass rhythms, vocal melodies, etc etc etc blah blah blah just go listen to the damn thing.

Favorite tracks: “Before” and “Glory”

Beck - Morning Phase

I’ll start by saying that “Sea Change” by Beck would be on my top 10 favorite albums of all time list.  And though I love how eclectic Beck is as an artist, I was beyond stoked when I heard his next album was going to be in the same vein as “Sea Change.”  It does not disappoint!  If you haven’t seen Beck’s performance on SNL this year, I highly recommend it as well.  So damn good.

Thom Yorke - Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes

I bought the $50 deluxe vinyl within 5 minutes of learning that this album was coming out.  I hadn’t even yet heard a snippet, but what can I say, Yorke and company have me by the balls.  It’s just the way she goes…

Favorite Track: “The Mother Lode” and “Nose Grows Some.”  I also highly recommend “Youwouldn'tlikemewhenI'mangry,” which was released as a single the day after Christmas.  

Caribou - Our Love

Love the album art on this one.  Very colorful, which I think represents the music very well.  Great music to get lost to in the city.  Very happy to see Dan Snaith receive more great recognition.  Bummed I missed them live.  

Favorite Track: “Silver”

Real Estate - Atlas

This album is super chill.  Makes you feel like you’re floating on a cloud or lying on a beach living that super chill california lifestyle.  Supah chill Cali lifestlye baby.  Pretty impressive considering they’re from New Jersey.  

Favorite Track: “Past Lives”

Neil Young - Storytone

I love when older artists release new work.  Neil Young released 2 albums this year, the bastard.  Both of them were a first for him.  “A Letter Home” consisted entirely of covers, and “was recorded on a refurbished 1947 Voice-o-Graph vinyl recording booth at Jack White’s Third Man Records recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee.”  (thanks, Wikipedia)  Storytone featured 10 new songs, recorded twice each--one solo and the other with an orchestra or big band.  Neil is incredibly prolific and always honest, and I can’t get enough of him.  

Favorite Tracks: “Plastic Flowers” and “When I Watch You Sleeping”

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye

I love Tom Petty.  I saw him at Fenway Park this year and it was hands-down the best concert I attended all year.  I don’t usually get drunk at concerts, but I guess all the beer ads at Fenway got the best of me.  The new material mixed remarkably well with the classics, so it seemed a win-win for the band and the fans.  Plus they played “Don’t Come Around Here No More” as an encore, which was only played a handful of times on the tour.  Special night indeed.

Favorite Tracks: “Forgotten Man” and “U Get Me High”

St. Vincent - St. Vincent

Annie Clark is the shit.  Incredible voice, mind-bending fuzzed-out guitar licks, quirky songwriting--what more do you want?  She’s incredible live and she has a great backing band.  Her ballads have always stood out to me the most, and I find them stuck in my head at the most random times.     

Favorite Tracks: “I Prefer Your Love” and “ Prince Johnny”

Aphex Twin - Syro

Great blend of electronic music.  Sweetest ear candy you’ll find.  Best experienced very loudly in a dark room or in headphones.  

Other honorable mentions include Flying Lotus’ “You’re Dead,” Mogwai’s “Rave Tapes,” John Frusciante’s “Enclosure,” and Haerts’ debut self-titled.

Also be sure to check our David's top 10 and Matthew's Top 10 records from 2014!