By Eden van der Moere
2014 was a very diverse year, musically speaking. It was the year of amazing debuts, from artists such as Hozier and Royal Blood. It was the year Ed Sheeran released his second album and succeeded in establishing himself at the top of the contemporary music scene, but also the year Ben Howard’s second album found its way into the hearts of its listeners. It was the year that it (finally…) became socially acceptable to sing along with Taylor Swift, but also the year both Foo Fighters and The Black Keys released their eighth album—and still were able to surprise.
It has been a year of musical highlights, one even reaching for the sky, as we selected the top 10 albums of 2014. The question remains, which album is the best?
10.) Dotan, 7 Layers
(Source photo: www.musicspotters.net)
Dotan Harpenau, a young, Dutch singer-songwriter, is surrounded by the greatest musical achievements of the year—or at least, on this list. Rightfully so, because his second album, which was released earlier this year, is a jewel. 7 Layers sounds timid and small, like secrets whispered into your ear, and is just as precious. Dotan’s hit single, Home, has been the anthem of this summer, with its bombastic drums and its sing-a-long refrain. This singer-songwriter might not be recognized outside of The Netherlands, but with this album, he sure has the talent and the potential.
9.) James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical
(Source photo: www.wikipedia.org)
In the cold winter months of January, James Vincent McMorrow released his second album, Post Tropical. Ever since the release of his first album in 2012, the Irish singer-songwriter has had an indie following, as he travelled across Europe and the smaller and more bohem
ian festivals. His most recognizable treats are the humble songs, accompanied by an epic and fragile voice. With Post Tropical, James Vincent McMorrow thinks bigger, with complex and bigger-than-life compositions. The results is breathtakingly beautiful album that reminded its listeners of the orange sunset during the coldest nights of winter.
8.) Alt-J, This Is All Yours
(Source Photo: www.stereogum.com)
Alt-J is impossible to define. Their first record, An Awesome Wave, seemed to be the result of surfer boys being incredibly talented with synths and beats. The rhythms, the patterns, the pauses, the echoes, the repetition; it all seemed
almost accidental. The second album, This Is All Yours, is more focused and more disciplined. The pounding beats are still there, along with the haunting voices and the dramatic build-ups (such as in “Every Other Freckle”), but the sounds are more mature and deeper and darker. With This Is All Yours, Alt-J has created a hypnotizing and surprisingly danceable record, which is definitely one of the best of 2014.
7.) Ben Howard, I Forget Where We Were
(Source Photo: www.muzify.nl)
Ben Howard gained worldwide success with his debut album, Every Kingdom, which was released in 2011. Three years later, the singer-songwriter released his second record, but this time, he tells a different story. With his first album, Ben Howard painted sunlit pictures of surfing, of waves gent
ly rolling and of laughter around campfires. Every Kingdom was an idyllic summer, but I Forget Where We Were, is the dark and lonely winter. The songs are slowly paced, with softly sung lyrics and echoing guitar sounds. Ben Howard’s second album will not bring him the international fame his first record had brought him, but it is still one of the most beautiful and memorable albums of the year.
6.) Hozier, Hozier
(Source Photo: www.musikplease.com)
2014 was the year Hozier appeared and won over the music scene. It all started with his hit single, Take Me To Church, the epic and bombastic ballad about love and desire that both haunts and fascinates its listeners. His debut album wa
s highly anticipated and did not disappoint. The self-titled record is of the same quality and tone as Take Me To Church; melancholic like blues, with the strength of rock and the melodies of a highly talented singer-songwriter. All of this combined with stunning lyrics and subtle hints of sensuality, makes for a magical album.
5.) Taylor Swift, 1989
(Source Photo: www.ticketcrusader.com)
In October, Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, titled after her year of birth, 1989. This record is more pop-focused than her previous albums and, although not everyone can appreciate the fact that the artist drifted away from the country genre, critics and listeners across the globe can. 1989 is everything Taylor Swift promised us: poppy and catchy, but also heartfelt
and true. Taylor Swift might have changed her tune, but her talent has only evolved in the process. Whereas one year ago, Taylor Swift may have been the guilty pleasure of many, it is now entirely socially acceptable to listen to 1989. It is a qualitatively good record, with clever songs, catchy melodies and honest lyrics.
4.) Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways
(Source Photo: www.trendytron.com)
Sonic Highways is the eighth album by the Foo Fighters and this time around, frontman Dave Grohl wanted to do something different. An ambitious project was born, which included a documentary of the band traveling across the United States, visiting cities such as Chicago, Seattle and New York City. In every city, Dave Grohl and his consorts visited f
amous recording studios and musical landmarks. To accompany the album, Foo Fighters released a documentary in cooperation with HBO, full of interviews with producers, icons and artists. The results of this journey is Sonic Highways, an album as energetic and fierce and powerful as all the cities Foo Fighters visited together.
3.) Ed Sheeran, X
(Source Photo: www.billboard.com)
Ed Sheeran has ruled the international music scene since his hit single The A Team stormed the charts in 2011. Despite the fact that the debut album that followed, +, received mixed critical reviews, Ed Sheeran became one of the most beloved and well-known singer-songwriters. By the time the release date of his second album was announced, the expectations were as high as the Empire State Building. With his
second album, X, Ed Sheeran can prove that he is here to stay. X is even bigger and better than his first record was. It is stronger and more mature, which results in both heartbreakingly beautiful songs, such as “I’m A Mess” and “Bloodstream”, as confident songs, such as the singles “Sing” and “Don’t”. Only this month, Ed Sheeran was crowned the king of Spotify, when he was named the most streamed artist in the world. Ed Sheeran’s star is still rising and X is his space ship.
2.) The Black Keys, Turn Blue
(Source Photo: www.wikipedia.org)
The Blacks Keys is a band that has always been the underdog of the music scene—by choice. The band was found in 2001, but did not gain commercial success until 2010, when they released their seventh studio album, Brothers. This record meant The Black Keys’ breakthrough and they became very welcome festival performers, but never
headliners. With the release of their latest album, Turn Blue, the band has established itself as a band worthy of being a headlining name on festival posters. The eighth album is quite different from previous records. The Black Keys always wrote garage rock. It was energetic, raw and all over the place, while still being complex and qualitatively good. But with Turn Blue, The Black Keys deliver a more polished, more stylized album, difficult and compelling. It is a true musical masterpiece, full of raw emotions delivered in beautifully polished rock songs with a blues taste.
1.) Royal Blood, Royal Blood
(Source Photo: www.wikipedia.org)
The story of Royal Blood is a story of luck, talent and entering the music scene at the exact right moment. The band, consisting of two young lads from Worthing, England, was founded in 2013 and even before their first single was released, they were the talk of the underground music scene. It was when the drummer of Arctic Monkeys wore a t-shirt from Royal Blood at a festival performance that meant their breakthrough. By the time Royal Blood did release their first single, “Out Of The Black”, they were already famous. Out of nowhere, Royal Blood was everywhere. Their self-titled debut album was only the cherry on top. Not only was the album well received by music critics, it was also a major commercial success. Inspired by previous icons of the rock genre, such as Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro and Led Zeppelin, this young band offers something new and fresh. Royal Blood’s sound is a brilliant and thought-out mess with heavy guitar riffs, sharp drums and catchy melodies. “It’s just great to see a you
ng band out there with serious aggression and knowledge of rock music, none of this kind of nonsense soft rock,” says Biffy Clyro’s frontman Simon Neil in an interview with NME about Royal Blood. Also Jimmy Page, the frontman of Led Zeppelin, said: “I went to hear them in New York. They were fantastic. Absolutely riveting, they’re such fine musicians. Their album has taken the genre up a serious few notches. It’s so refreshing to hear, because they play with the spirit of the things that have preceded them, but you can hear they’re going to take rock into a new realm – if they’re not already doing that. It’s music of tremendous quality.” It seems as if Royal Blood had the perfect timing to storm the music scene and they are rewarded with an absolutely perfect album, a tour with Foo Fighters and the title “Best Album of 2014”—according to yours truly.
Eden van der Moere, class of 2017, is an Arts & Humanities major from Goes, The Netherlands.
