Albums of 2014
The records from 2014 that made our lists.
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1Burn Your Fire for No WitnessAngel Olsen
Burn Your Fire for No Witness
A raw, electric indie-folk peak of fierce emotion. Bold and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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2SyroAphex Twin
Syro
A warm, melodic comeback after years away. Inventive and acclaimed. A Grammy-winning return.
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3My EverythingAriana Grande
My Everything
A hit-laden pop peak that broadened her sound. Polished and big. A breakthrough.
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4Our LoveCaribou
Our Love
A warm, emotional dance peak of melodic invention. Hypnotic and acclaimed. A high point.
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5Black MessiahD'Angelo and the Vanguard
Black Messiah
A dense, politically charged comeback after 14 years, layered and live. Bold and acclaimed. A triumphant return.
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6LP1FKA twigs
LP1
An avant-R&B debut of fragile vocals and glitchy, sensual production. Singular and acclaimed. A striking arrival.
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7You're Dead!Flying Lotus
You're Dead!
A frenetic, jazz-fusion-meets-beats peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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8PinataFreddie Gibbs & Madlib
Pinata
A gritty, soulful collaboration of tough rhymes over Madlib's dusty loops. Cohesive and acclaimed. A modern boom-bap gem.
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92014 Forest Hills DriveJ. Cole
2014 Forest Hills Drive
An introspective, samples-driven record that went platinum with no features, a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Earnest and acclaimed. His defining album.
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10UltraviolenceLana Del Rey
Ultraviolence
A darker, guitar-leaning peak produced with Dan Auerbach. Atmospheric and acclaimed. A creative high.
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11Salad DaysMac DeMarco
Salad Days
A woozy, laid-back indie record of slacker charm. Mellow and beloved. A defining lo-fi-pop record.
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12FacesMac Miller
Faces
A sprawling, jazzy mixtape of dark introspection. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.
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13Foundations of BurdenPallbearer
Foundations of Burden
A melodic, mournful doom-metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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14Run the Jewels 2Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels 2
A ferocious, politically charged peak of the El-P and Killer Mike partnership, hard-hitting and sharp. Urgent and acclaimed. Their best.
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15In the Lonely HourSam Smith
In the Lonely Hour
A soulful, heartbroken pop debut, home to 'Stay with Me'. Tender and huge. A breakthrough.
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161000 Forms of FearSia
1000 Forms of Fear
A dramatic, belting pop peak, home to 'Chandelier'. Powerful and huge. A breakthrough.
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17St. VincentSt. Vincent
St. Vincent
A jagged, art-pop peak of guitar fireworks and wit. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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18Metamodern Sounds in Country MusicSturgill Simpson
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
A trippy, traditional-yet-psychedelic record that reframed what modern country could be. Bold and soulful. A genre highlight.
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191989Taylor Swift
1989
Swift's clean break from country into glossy 1980s-leaning synth-pop, packed with hits and sharp writing. It reset her career and proved her pop instincts. The most immediate place to meet her as a pop star.
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20Lost in the DreamThe War on Drugs
Lost in the Dream
A widescreen, heartland-indie peak of motorik drift and emotion. Lush and acclaimed. Their breakthrough.
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21Clearing the Path to AscendYOB
Clearing the Path to Ascend
A monumental, transcendent doom-metal peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A modern high point.