Here be my top 10 for 2014:
10. The New Basement Tapes - Lost on the River - Produced by T-Bone Burnett and features previously unrecorded Bob Dylan songs interpreted by Jim James, Marcus Mumford, Rhiannon Giddens, Elvis Costello and Taylor Goldsmith. Check out "Kansas City" and "Hidee Ho #11."
9. Alt-J - This Is All Yours - English duo with hip hop flavored pop songs. Check out "Left Hand Free" and "Hunger of The Pines."
8. Glass Animals - Zaba - Debut full-length album from English band, similar to Alt-J. Check out "Pools" and "Gooey."
7. New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers - Canadian Power pop group headed by songwriter A.C. Newman and stars singer Neko Case. Not one bad track on this excellent album. Check out "Brill Bruisers," "Wide Eyes" and "Dancehall Domine."
6. The Secret Sisters - Put Your Needle Down - Laura and Lydia Rogers are sisters from Muscle Shoals, Alabama and born with the soul music that permeates that place. Great harmonies like the Everly Brothers. Check out "Rattle My Bones" and "Iuka."
5. Spoon - They Want My Soul - This is the eighth studio album for this Austin based band and one of their best yet. Check out "Do You" and "Rent I Pay."
4. Bahamas - Bahamas is Afie - Finnish-Canadian singer/songwriter Afie Jurvanen is Bahamas and put out a fantastic record this year. Check out "All The Time" and "Little Record Girl."
3. Beck - Morning Phase - 12th studio album for Beck and a gorgeous one at that. Mellower than usual but brilliant as always. Check out "Blue Moon" and "Heart Is A Drum."
2. Highasakite - Silent Treatment - is a Norwegian Indie pop band fronted by Ingrid Helene Håvik who is the primary songwriter. Fell in love with this band because of the single "Since Last Wednesday" but the whole record is great. Also check out "Darth Vader."
1. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold - Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Soderberg are the duo First Aid Kit. This is their third studio album and produced by Monsters of Folk's Mike Mogus. Superb harmonies and songwriting, melodic and lovely arrangements, First Aid Kit gets the top spot for me this year. Check out "My Silver Lining" and "Cedar Lane."
Thanks for listening and Happy New Year! Laura