Top Ten Albums of 2014 - 5 through 1

5. Lydia Loveless - Somewhere Else - This got my attention in the middle of the year.  She is slotting into the Lucinda Williams genre, but with a little more rock to her country and not as world weary.  I enjoy women doing original country rock with a bit of an edge.

4. Bob Mould - Beauty & Ruin - On first listen, I thought, "Look, it's another Bob Mould album." And I wrote it off because there is nothing new here.  Except, at the end of the year, I don't think anyone is playing this type of music with this much passion.  He's not as angry as he used to be, but, he is still able to play as hard as he always has.

3. The Hold Steady - Teeth Dreams - One of the two best bar bands in the country (and Lucero put out a live album this year), their previous release was not up to snuff and they admit it now.  They are back, doing that Springsteen/Replacements thing that they do.  But mostly, they are still making you believe in the old fashioned rock and roll show.






2. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music -Most of the time, I enjoy my country music traditional.  I saw this on a bunch of best of lists at the end of the year and I decided to chase it down.  It sounds like traditional country music, but the songs have elements that place them in modern times.  Plus, it is just good music.

1. Elbow - The Take Off and Landing of Everything - I don't know how they do it.  The last three albums have all been different and all been great.  I originally thought this album was too quiet and slow.  It's not.  It just doesn't feel the need to hit you over the head to get your attention.  As always, with Elbow, great melodies, excellent song construction, just enough meaning in the lyrics to get your attention. And, at the end of it all is Guy Garvey's voice, probably the best in the business.

Top Ten Albums of 2014 - 10 through 6

I know, it's actually 11 this year.  I just couldn't decide between the two number tens.

10 (tie). St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Half the City - I first hear this and thought, "Who in their right mind would recreate Booker T and the MGs back Otis Redding?"  Then I saw the video and it is a bunch of awkward, white guys, very respectfully doing their version of Memphis soul.  The passion they bring to is makes it fresh again.

10 (tie). James Bay - Hold Back the River - I know, I am a sucker for anthemic rock and this album hit right in the middle of everything I love.  It is new and different and I enjoyed it.

9. Real Estate - Atlas - While we are on the topic of things I love, I really enjoy these guys.  They play a quiet, ambient form of music that I find really calm and relaxing.  I originally though that my copy of The Meadowlands would be enough, but I needed this one too.

8. Jessie Ware - Tough Love - I love Jessie Ware's voice and her approach to music.  Everything I read refers to her as a dubstep singer.  I don't really understand what dubstep is.  I just thinks she has a great voice and does a great job projecting the emotion in her songs.

7. Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin - Common Ground (Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin Play and Sing the Songs of Big Bill Broonzy) - It's the Alvin brothers doing Americana and doing it better than anyone else.  These are traditional folk/blues songs and they do it with the proper respect while bringing them to life.

6. Sam Smith - In the Lonely Hour - It's actual pop music that is actually played on the radio and it is actually on my list.  This was the go to album of the summer when we sat outside.  It is difficult to find something that everyone enjoys and this was it.  I know it was everywhere, but, fortunately, I only listen to those stations when my children are in the car.