Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 1-25)

25.)

Lost Stars by Adam Levine (From Begin Again soundtrack)

(Still not seen the movie. I wouldn't be surprised if the song gets an Oscar nomination)

24.)

Enough by Homeboy Sandman ft J-Live and Kurious

(The president is half listening)

23.)
Sunsets by Aunts
(Reminds me of Joy Division. A dark low-fi gem, and you feel his pain. It's almost fitting that the lyrics end in confusion. Feels longer than it actually is. The band have released several EPs)

22.)
Dark Comedy Late Show by Open Mike Eagle 

(Such an imaginative idea, which in a humorous way comments on news events in 2014. The year when I started listening to hip hop/rap music, having also played Kate Tempest's new album, and a few others)

21.)

Archie, Marry Me by Alvvays
(Not in love with the album, but a single that you remember)

20.)
Fancy (ft. Charli XCX) by Iggy Azalea
(A popular summer tune, that defined 2014. I like the chorus, the keyboard is unforgettable. The summer of 2014 also had the unavoidable Problem by Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea

19.)

Every Girl by Allah Las
(I love the opening guitar riff. Worship the Sun is a throwback to the 1960s, and similar to what Temples did this year on their album Sun Structures)

18.)
I Need You by M83 
(From Divergent soundtrack)

17.)

Morning by Beck

(A soothing album to listen to on those morning journeys)

16.)
Sugah Daddy by D'Angelo & The Vanguard
(Black Messiah was a surprise release in December, he had not put out an album in 14 years. I can hear Prince in the music. Favorite lyric: "And I just wish that I could open her up, to this deeper place of love")

15.)

Meet The Foetus Oh The Joy (feat. Shirley Manson of Garbage and Emily Kokal of Warpaint) by Brody Dalle

14.)

Down in The Hole by Bruce Springsteen

War On Drugs pretty much made the best Springsteen album of the year, but The Boss did deliver with this powerful track)

13.)

Choices (Yup) by E-40

(They manage to say a lot with the "Yup" "Nope" approach.  E-40 dropped Corner 1 and 2 in December, and have the albums Corner 3 and 4 scheduled for release in 2015)

12.) Rude by MAGIC!

(Bringing back reggae to the mainstream. With over 250 million youtube hits on the official video, an inescapable pop song of 2014)

11.)
Be Free by J. Cole
(Tribute to Ferguson, Missouri. Said the Gramophone list Be Free as their no 1 song of 2014)

10.)
Shelter Song by Temples

9.)

Chandelier by Sia

8.)

Johnny and Mary (Robert Palmer cover) by Bryan Ferry and Todd Terje 

(Best cover song of the year)

7.) 
Digital Witness by St. Vincent

6.)

Shake It Off by Taylor Swift

(Love it or hate it, arguably the best song of Swift's career thus far)

5.)
Coming of Age by Foster the People

4.)

Brooklyn Baby by Lana Del Rey

3.)

Disappearing by The War On Drugs

(My favorite album of the year, tough to pick a favorite track as there are so many)

2.)

Seasons (Waiting on You) by Future Islands

(A Dream Of You and Me and Back in the Tall Grass are other highlights from the album) 

1.)

Happy by Pharrell Williams

(Also listen to Marilyn Monroe. Pharrell’s new album is not as great as his work on 2013's Random Access Memories. Still, there are a number of catchy tunes, and Happy is probably the most iconic song of  2014. As a critic wrote: "it's a lot better than most crap on the pop radio nowadays")

Thanks for following my top 100! Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? Did I miss any great music? As always, comments are welcome. Next, I'll share my favorite Christmas music. Stay tuned!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 26-50)

50.)

The Best Thing by Electric Youth 

(From the group who brought us the amazing A Real Hero from Drive soundtrack. They finally put out their first full length album Innerworld, which is a collection of tracks from the last few years. Innocence and Runaway are other stand-outs)

49.)

Girls Talk by Garbage (featuring Brody Dalle)

(So passionate, I love the beginning especially)

48.)

Ascension by I Break Horses
(A dreamy song which can make you forget your problems)

47.)

Hope For The Future by Paul McCartney 

(His best song in a long time. From the video game Destiny)

46.)

All of The People by Panama Wedding

(From the EP Parallel Play. A pop song that just works)

45.)

That's My Man by Liz 
(Very catchy, from Amazing Spiderman 2 soundtrack)

44.)
Perfect World by Broken Bells

(The first half of the album is impressive)

43.)

Summer by Calvin Harris

(To be honest, most of his songs sound the same. I think this is his best. A summer party anthem)

42.)

How About I Be Me by Sinéad O'Connor (2014 version)

41.)

Pickles From The Jar by Courtney Barnett

(Fun lyrics, about being different to your partner, in various ways)

40.)

Fall in Love by Phantogram

(I'm still wondering how they created those weird sounds)

39.)

Just A Little Boy For Chester Burnett by Swans (Listen on spotify)

(A creepy 12 minute journey. The singer is like a grown man who is as scared as a baby. Perhaps he is remembering ugly experiences from his life. The most haunting moment perhaps is when he sings "I need love" which is followed by laughter)

38.)

Boom Clap by Charli XCX

(From The Fault In Our Stars soundtrack)

37.)

Jealous (I ain’t with it) by Chromeo

(The keeper from the album, the other tracks just lack that special something)

36.)

Always in My Head by Coldplay

(The opener on the album, and the only track that continues to haunt me. If only the song was slightly longer.

The singles Magic, Midnight, True Love, and A Sky Full of Stars are decent, just a bit too repetitive, so I grew tired of them quickly)

35.)

Head Underwater by Jenny Lewis (Listen on spotify)

(With a title like that you would expect a suicidal song. Instead it’s very optimistic celebrating that we all have magic inside us)

34.) 
I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love by Sun Kil Moon

(A song most people can relate to)

33.)

High Ball Stepper by Jack White

(His new album has really grown on me. Would You Fight For My Love? is the other track I love.

Favorite lyric: ”But I can't kiss you 'til you lift up your chin. You have to want to stop being alone”)

32.)

Turn Blue by The Black Keys

("I got to stay on track just like Pops told me to". Fever is another great track from the album)

31.)

Nevermind by Leonard Cohen

(A catchy tune, and the Arabic sections are a nice touch. The lyrics are the usual mix of personal and fiction. Almost Like The Blues is the single, and quite haunting. The album may grow on me over time, at the moment I think it's good but not great)

30.)

World Peace is None of your Business by Morrissey

Istanbul is the other stand-out for me. His vocal seems different now compared to The Smiths)

29.)

Passing Out Pieces by Mac DeMarco

(Other highlights from the album are Salad Days and Chamber of Reflection. The album is addictive, and at only 30 minutes, a quick listen. Apparently his previous output is supposed to be just as good or even better, so I'll be seeking that out )

28.)

The One That Lives Too Far by John Fullbright 

(The lyrics are the main reason why he’s placed in the top 100. Here are a few examples from the album:

”Maybe it’s the wind blowing us together, maybe it’s the world blowing me away”

"Some folks make something out of nothing, some people have to cry too long. While others wait beside the window, wondering why the wind would blow so strong”

"I’ll admit I’m feeling cold and naked, just like I’m standing in the rain, with nothing left out here to hide behind, and I wonder if you feel the same")

27.)

Iron Sky by Paolo Nutini

(An epic song that still gives me goose bumps. Features a sample from Charlie Chaplin's speech in his Hitler–lampooning 1940s film, The Great Dictator ("You are not machines! You are not cattle!").

Fashion (feat. Janelle Monae) is also a great track from the album)

26.)

Heal by Strand of Oaks (Listen on spotify)
(Woke Up To The Light is the other stand-out for me. Half the songs on the album Heal are above average. So it’s half a great album.
In a way, a companion to The War on Drugs album this year, with a similar, less polished, production)

Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 1-25 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 60-51)

60.)

Palo Alto by Devonté Hynes 
(From Palo Alto soundtrack)

59.)

Blackbird by Noni

(Thanks Ruth at Flixchatter for telling me about Beyond The Lights soundtrack)

58.)

FIXURLIFEUP by Prince and 3rd Eye Girl  

( From 2014’s PlectrumElectrum, you should also check out Whitecaps, thanks to Cristi B from The Sound and The Screen for the recommendation)

57.)

What Would You Do by Joan as Policewoman 

(The single Holy City is the most upbeat song on the album, and perhaps the catchiest as well. What Would You Do is my favorite for the feeling it gives me)

56.)

The Riverbed by Owen Pallett

(Epic is the best way to describe the sound. From same album, I Am Not Afraid is also a notable song about such diverse things as giving up smoking, whether to have children, and salvation)

55.)

Last Words by Hospitality

(Not a great album, but I love that song and that beat)

54.)

Saturn Song by Beach House

(Drifting off into space...)

53.)

Hey Now (Tensnake Remix) by London Grammar

(For me, the remix is an improvement on the original) 

52.)
Cherish by Ballet School
(A last minute addition from the album The Dew Lasts an Hour. A fantastic 80s throwback song, which I stumbled upon at Stereogum here. I'm also loving Heartbeat Overdrive(the shorter 3 min version from 2013 I prefer)
If you're wondering what got cut, it was Cosmo Black by Dynatron, from the soundtrack to COLD IN JULY)

51.)

It Takes A Lot To Know A Man by Damien Rice

(It’s quite gloomy, yet also thought-provoking about relationship issues. Was a toss-up between this or the track Colour Me In)

Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 50-26 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 70-61)

70.) 

The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) by U2 

(The single got stuck in my head, especially the intro. The second track Every Breaking Wave is good too, even if it is reminiscent of the U2 classic With Or Without You.

I found the rest of the album to be a forgettable and unemotional listen, which was unexpected, considering Bono said the lyrics are very personal. He explained in an interview on Graham Norton that all the new songs are first journeys: Going to London, going to LA, first love)

69.)

No Fate Awaits Me (feat. Faux Fix) by Son Lux
(The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Soundtrack)

68.)

Lonely Richard by Amen Dunes

(The singer has been described as a male Mazzy Star)

67.)

minipops 67[120.2][source field mix] by Aphex Twin

(I don’t usually listen to Aphex Twin so I’m not sure I understand how to listen to this type of music. I liked the single, the rest of album is a blur right now. I sort of treat it as background music even though it deserves better. An acquired taste)

66.)

Glass by Kasabian

(The spoken word last section of the song hit me in a "Trainspotting choose life" kind of way)

65.)

Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson (feat. Justin Timberlake)

(The single, which is so upbeat, and just makes me happy. Among Jackson’s best posthumous tracks)

64.)

I Played a Role by El May

(An underrated singer. I previously enjoyed her self-titled 2010 album El May)

63.)

Time Forgot by Conor Oberst

(While he does sound like he is in pain, I like what he has to say)

62.)

My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit 
(The single, I like the orchestral production, and probably the catchiest tune from album. On 2014's Stay Gold, the opening 3-4 tracks are the strongest for me)

61.)

Creation by The Pierces

(An uneven album, the second half of which is skippable. Believe In Me and Kings are the other memorable tracks)

Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 60-51 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 80-71)

80.)

Sugar Storm by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (Gone Girl Soundtrack)

(For me, along with Appearances, Sugar Storm is the most soothing track from the score.

Like Home is good too. Thanks to Sati at Cinematic Corner for pointing me towards the highlights from the score!)

79)

Son of Placenta Previa by Cliff Martinez (The Knick Soundtrack)

(I haven’t seen the show, so thanks to Jaina at Time Well Spent for the music recommendation)

78.)

Love by Mica Levi (Under the Skin Soundtrack) 

(Among the most creepy and atmospheric film scores of the year. Also check out the track Death. Mica Levi has crafted an original piece of music, in an age when many of the scores sound the same)

77.)

If It Wasn't True by Shamir 

(His debut EP Northtown has been rated as one of the best releases by a new artist in 2014. The second track I Know It's A Good Thing is good too, if you can get past he sounds like a a male Jennifer Lopez)

76.)

It's Good To Be Alive by Imelda May 

(Can get your spirits up)

75.)

Marshall Law by Kate Tempest 

(Debut album, she is a British poet/rapper. Impressive lyrics. Apparently she is currently writing a novel about the album characters. Lonely Haze and The Beigeness are a couple of other tracks to check out from the album. I recommend reading the lyrics while you listen because of the speed of her rap)

74.)

Hot Dreams by Timber Timbre

(A slow-paced album with few weaknesses that I don't get bored of. I don't skip over any of the tracks. Has been described as the bands strongest album to date. Atmospheric, brooding sound. To do the album justice, you really have to listen to the whole thing in its entirety)

73.)

You Can't Get Us Off Your Mind (feat. Lisa Collins) by Music Super Circus

(The opening of this song I’ve heard so many times advertised on youtube. I guess ads do work!)

72.)

The Upsetter by Metronomy

(Love the first half of the album. I'm pretty certain Aquarius (Let the Sunshine in) by The Fifth Dimension was an influence for the band)

71.)

Fuckers by Savages

(Kind of a female Joy Division. Opening 4 min wow, the rest is just...noise)

Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? Which are your favorite scores of the year?

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 90-81)

The countdown continues...

90.)

Don't by Ed Sheeran

(The singles are quite enjoyable, especially Don't and Sing. I find the album overrated. In an era of great pop music like the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s I doubt Ed Sheeran would have a big following. His music is good but not great)

89.)

Rimbaud Eyes by Dum Dum Girls 

(Very retro 80s. The chorus will get stuck in your head)

88.)

Love Is To Die by Warpaint

(Love is To Die is the single from their second LP. Disco/Very and Biggy are the other stand-outs. Not quite as strong as their debut album)

87.)

Pretty Girls by Little Dragon 

(Addictive tune)

86.)

Goddess by Banks

(“Cause she's a goddess” is an unforgettable lyric)

85.)

Uptight Downtown by La Roux

(While La Roux’s new singles may only be fluffy nonsense, there’s no denying this is a pop tune that will appeal to many)

84.)

Tough Love by Jessie Ware

(Not as memorable as the singles on 2013’s Devotion, but most of the new album is consistently good)

83.)

Funnel Of Love (featuring Madeline Follin) by SQÜRL (From Only Lovers Left Alive soundtrack)

My favorite from the disc. Incidentally, Jozef Van Wissem who features on the soundtrack is putting out his own album on December 2, It Is Time For You To Return)

82.)

What Is To Be Done? by Stars (listen at Spotify)

(I’m highlighting the ballad, which can bring a tear to your eye. The band have created an album with plenty of variety in both vocal delivery and production. Trap Door is good too and could have been sung by Morrissey. The single From The Night has a catchy chorus and I love the change of tempo halfway through the song)

81.)

Way Back Home by Prince

(The only track I go back to from ART OFFICIAL AGE. His vocal is so different here, he should do more songs where he speaks the lyrics. A haunting ballad that could be autobiographical)

Agree or disagree? Which are your favorites from these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 80-71 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 100-91)

I said last year I wouldn't do a top 100 songs from 2014 because it's time-consuming. In the end I listened to a lot of new albums during the year, so I would be doing a disservice to myself and the blogging community if I didn't share what I discovered. If any great music should be released in December I can always do an overlooked post in Jan. So what did 2014 have to offer? Let's see:

100.) 
My Enemy by Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams and Johnny Marr

(From Amazing Spiderman 2 soundtrack)

99.) 
Day Go By by Karen O

(Moon Song from Her soundtrack was beautiful. The new album by the singer consists of acoustic recordings. Day Go By is the track I have played the most)

98.)

Ring Off by Beyoncé

(From the deluxe edition of her self-titled album, out Nov 24)

97.)

FALLINLOVE2NITE by Prince and Zooey Deschanel

(Very catchy tune, why is it missing from his two new albums?)

96.)

Hunger of the Pine by alt-J

(Wowed me on first listen. Still good after a few plays. The video is a bit Hunger Games-esque)

95.)

Spiritual Leather by Sean Rowe

(While I don’t rate Madman as his best album, his deep baritone vocal has presence and is instantly recognizable. A beautifully written song.  The “Desiree” video is a fun departure from his usual melancholy style. “Shine My Dog” is another strong track. The lead single “Madman” is just ok, and not my favorite.

Lyrics: “Toes that dent the sand, melancholy feelings, I am still your man, feeling is believing, wars come into my dreams, they needle me awake. The road is long and wider than forever, I hope we’re that strong spiritual leather. Time, she was never such a friend she never cried for me. Time, she was never a friend, she never waits for me. What is the answer to every question, what is the reason for every direction, if we burn the answer for our protection, would that be ok? The sun is filled with lies promises and laughter, now I can’t be that wise, but I have seen the after. Slow, slow, that mamma down, I gotta get back home, slow, slow that mamma down, I gotta get back home”)

94.)

Gunshot by Lykke Li

A melancholy breakup album, so a bit of a downer, though it does have moments of beauty. The vocal has been reverbed so much though, that it at times undermines the emotional impact she is going for. I love the chorus in Gunshot)

93.)

Tomorrow by The Roots

(Not a fan of the album except this track)

92.)

American Dream Plan B by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

(Love the guitar)

91.)

Wanderer Wandering by Slow Club

(A dreamy track, which builds up to a beautiful ending)

Listened to any of these albums? Which are your favorites of the year? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 90-81 coming soon!