On this list below my special ops team and I concocted a Top 15, comprehensive list of albums from 2014. Through extensive vetting, listening, and inter-webs research... We present this. My only goal was to do better than Complex. (No shade though,)
15. Broke With Expensive Taste - Azealia Banks (Nov. 7 2014)
This enigmatic hip-hop/rap album has been the start of the beginning of the rest of Banks' career. The production value of the project has been praised and Azealia thanks her very own creative vision as well as the hip hop blogs of the world for helping her find her sound.
14. 1989 - Taylor Swift (Oct. 27 2014)
This is the 5th studio album by the country star turned Pop-princess herself, Tay-Tay Swift! Swift tells her tale of blooming from a young song-writer into a star vocalist. The hit Shake It Off helped propel this album to the best selling spot.
13. X - Ed Sheeran (Jun. 20 2014)
This sonic beauty witholds the bold single Don't. Is the song about Ellie Goulding? I don't care because the producers on this range from Rick Rubin, Pharell, to Benny Blanco! Sheeran puts out, yet another dope project.
12. Beyoncé: Platnium Edition - Beyoncé (Nov. 24 2014)
Okay so the album Beyoncé was so awesome... A box set was re-released with all types of Bey goodies. All of the singles from this album re climbed the charts with 7/11 leading the pack. Only Queen B could release (literally) same thing and we still lose our minds.
11. 2014 Forest Hills Drive - J. Cole (Dec. 9 2014)
Jermaine Cole- you wrote us a story. And laid it on some dope tracks. According to media outlets this album saved a suicidal man's life. Cole continues to keep it 100 and reach his fans through relatable songs like Wet Dreamz. Not that the author of this blog has any about him, ahem.
10. Oxymoron - Schoolboy Q (Feb. 25 2014)
Ex-Gangbanger turned rapper extraordinaire Schoolboy Q dropped his third studio album on the world... And we loved it. The singles Man of The Year and Studio became summer bangers, fueling many a frat party and getting ridiculous air play. For this, and your daughter's dope adlibs, we thank you, Schoolboy Q.
9. LP1 - FKA Twigs (Aug. 6 2014)
How many Trip Hop albums do you listen to? I'd wager one, this one. FKA Twigs kept her audience learning and interested through her contemporary approach at hip-hop and R&B. Her soulful vocals over trippy beats solidified her spot in all of our sonical-hipster hearts. Her face is a bonus too.
8. Ghost Stories - Coldplay (May 16 2014)
The 6th studio album, yes I said 6th, from British rock band Coldplay did the deed. The diversity of production from the likes of Paul Epworth and Rik Simpson are astounding. The content is still relevant and relatable 6 projects later... It was hard not to rank this album higher.
7. My Krazy Life - YG (Mar. 18 2014)
Regardless of how you personally feel about YG as a lyricist, this studio album garnered ridiculous air play, club play, and digital downloads. YG's debut album is certified Platnium by the RIAA and rightfully so- this album doesn't need any skips playing through.
6. You're Dead! - Flying Lotus (Oct. 6 2014)
Some websites label this album as electronic hip-hop, others:Jazz fusion. Here at A.Tico.Take.... We call this pure gold. The musicality, production dexterity, and sheer diversity of sound on this album is genius. Fly Lo does what he does best: give us musical sustenance.
5. Cheek To Cheek - Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett (Sept. 19 2014)
All my music aficionados understand why this album broke the top 5. The vocal powerhouse of Lady Gaga and musical wisdom of Tony Bennett is a match made in production heaven. Much of the album has this authentic noire sound, as if we were sotting in a 1940's club. The emotion behind the songs such as Anything Goes. This album created milestones for Gaga (first female artist to have 3 no.1 albums in 2010 decade) and Bennett (oldest person to achieve no. 1 album).
4. Black Metal - Dean Blunt (Nov. 4 2014)
This album is another mature piece of music in terms of content. I'm still actually processing what I heard. This album is critically acclaimed by all musical outlets... I actually give props to Clash Music (http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/dean-blunt-black-metal) Please allow them to explain.
3. Morning Phase - Beck (Feb. 21 2014)
All of Beck's albums are good for the soul. Tell your mom I said so because their most recent album is no exception. This album is the companion piece to Sea Change (2002) and is up for several Grammys. The big chords and slow melodic build ups are something straight out of movies. Pop some earbuds in, go for a walk after a rain, and you'll go on a spiritual journey.
2. My Everything - Ariana Grande (Aug. 22 2014)
Scooter Braun, Lido, Peter Svensson, Rodney "Darkchild" Jenkins, and Zedd.... put in phenomenonal work on this studio album. This young power vocalist, Grande, has belted out sounds the world hasn't heard since Aguilera in her hey-day. This sophomore album expanded upon her debut and offered her fans more mature R&B themes over pop beats. With My Everything debuting at no. 1 on several charts in several countries, we know that there is nothing cookie cutter about Grande.
1. Salad Days - Mac DeMarco (Apr. 1 2014)
"Salad Days" in literature refers to what Shakespeare ordained as a youthful and inexperienced time [for a character]. On the flip-side, this album focuses on DeMarco's growth as a person. The content of the album is transparent: this man's long- term, short-term, and present realities are put on display with easy listening acoustics on the side. The growth from his past two albums is insane. The viability (or replay-ability) of the album is insane. The critical acclaim is there. Not to mention this project sounds beautiful live. Mac, you were number one in 2014.
Honorable Mentions:
The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale - Eric Clapton
G I R L - Pharell Williams
Sound of A Woman - Kiesza
Sonic Highways - Foo Fighters
The Pinkprint - Nicki Minaj
Personal Favorite:
Sweet Talker - Jessie J
Have a great year peeps; Follow the awesome blogs of my special ops team on tumblr
@4dventuretime
@strawberryshrimp
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