Wednesday 31 December 2014

Top 10 albums of 2014

Right! Time for my top ten albums of the year. In no particular order:

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Are we not men? We are diva!
More fun covers by the punk supergroup.


Antemasque - Antemasque
Omar and Cedric hugged and made up and put out something new and different. I dig the new style.


Shellac - Dude Incredible
Wait?! Shellac released a new album this year? Yep!


OFF! - Wasted Years
Another great energetic raw album, perfect for your next gym workout or prison riot.
(skip to 3:!5 in the video for the music)


Karma to Burn - Arch Stanton
Wait! Karma to Burn are back? And it's awesome? Yep!


Fu Manchu - Gigantoid
Best Fu Manchu album in years. This album is tops!


Weezer - Everything will be alright in the end
Best Weezer album in years. Some great songs on here. Fun for the whole family!


Orange Goblin - Back from the Abyss
Best OG album in years! I rate it right next to my favourite of theirs 'Coup de Grace'.


Wovenhand - Refractory Obdurate
Whilst knowing about Wovenhand for years I don't recall giving them a listen. It's the main guy from '16 Horsepower' if you remember them. This album is brilliant; dark, brooding, and heavier than anything else he's done.



And for those with keen observations skills, yes you correct there are only 9 albums above. Instead of a normal release for #10 I want to pay special mention two Swedish bands and one Aussie, while they didn't release anything this year they've had significant play time on my stereo.

  • First up, The Hives: While I'd always known about these guys I never really gave them a chance. We saw them in Japan and were blown away by their music and live show. Instant fans, just add water (beer)! The most recent album Lex Hives is garage rock at it's finest.
  • Second 'I Are Droid': a little known Swedish band that I randomly came across this year. They have a great unique sound that you need to hear for yourself rather than me explain it. Both albums are solid and a new one is due soon.
  • Finally Aussie punk band 'Bodyjar': I used to listen to these guys a lot back in the day and even saw them live last year. But somehow a new album release in mid 2013 slipped past me (i blame Palau). 'Role Model' is a great album and I'd go as far as saying it's their most complete effort to date.