Happy New Year! (or "My Favorite Albums of 2014")

While I stand by my previous statement that this is not the best place to keep up with me (for that, try social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or stand in the street outside my house and wave as we come and go!) I couldn't pass up my annual tradition/habit/neuroses of posting my favorite Albums of 2014. Shortly to follow is the list in no partcular alphabetical order, by artist. This year was unique musically in that there were several releases from bands I love (U2, Foo Fighters, Coldplay) that simply failed to excite the way a Top 10 List item ought to.

Without further ado, my picks for Top 10 Albums of 2014:

Anberlin - Lowborn
Their final record returns to form that would do their of Friendship/Cities heyday proud.


The Black Keys - Turn Blue
Shouldn't we all be tired of the "guitar+drums+Danger Mouse=hit record" formula by now? Maybe, but I'm not.


Copeland - Ixora
They went away 5 years ago, and announced their return to much joy/consternation on April Fool's Day. Ixora's release was like a meal with an old friend you haven't seen in years.


Foster the People - Supermodel
Their Torches was quite likely my most-played album of 2011. Supermodel lacked some of that contagion, but showed growth  in crafting an album, not just a series of singles.


Kye Kye - Fantasize
Perfect music for driving at night, summer or winter. Haunting, beautiful.


Manchester Orchestra - Cope
First introduction to MO came at a festival performance, 4 PM on a rainy Sunday in September. Cope has been in heavily circulation since.


Needtobreathe - Rivers in the Wasteland
I found 2012's The Reckoning to be a disappointment - whether of its own merits or simply in comparison to 2009's The Outsiders - but Rivers brought me back into the fold and did not disappoint.


Saint Paul & The Broken Bones - Half the City
Make yourself comfortable, because you're going to want to watch all 20 minutes of this live radio set.

(Also, I didn't figure you'd believe a bunch of white guys could make music like this if you didn't see it for yourself.)

Switchfoot - Fading West 
Fading West doesn't stand up as well as some of Switchfoot's outings as albums go - almost fell in with this year's disappointments - until I realized how many of the songs I absolutely love. It's no Hello, Hurricane - but it clearly earned a spot on my list.


TV on the Radio - Seeds
Another discovery via our fall festival outing. I'll forever remember dancing in the September rain with Krystal to TV On the Radio's funky grooves.


That's it. Excited for a new year, new opportunities, new challenges, new music. Looking forward to more time in the studio, hopefully a calendar with room to put a couple shows on the agenda, motivate some serious production. Until next time - adios.