Badgalkiki’s Top Albums of 2014

by Kirsten Becker

2014 was an incredible year of great rock and roll music. Here are some of my favorite albums, in kind of an order, but not really.*~~

1.Aphex Twin- Syro
Kool album following a long period of just about nothing from this guy. Bonus points for being the only Aphex Twin album to not make me have a panic attack.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUAJ8KLGqis&w=480&h=200]

2. FKA Twigs- LP1

What a year for powerful women makin music. Lots of cool collabs featuring Dev Hynes, Sampha and company.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpNz5ZL1YvQ&w=480&h=200]

3. Actress- Ghettoville

Favorite album cover this year. Glitchy, minimalist techno vibes. Ninja Tune goodness.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z7q08-nEH8&w=480&h=200]

4. Die Antwoord- Donker Mag

Wowie, nothing was quite better than catching Die Antwoord playing at 2AM at Bonnaroo this year. I still don’t understand the zef side but I am forever in luv.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elYyW7npt5s&w=480&h=200]

5. Caribou- Our Love

THIS ALBUM IS SO FREAKIN GOOD. Reflective pop album about loss and love. Guaranteed to get u dancin.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDVyqgaAFo&w=480&h=200]

6. Quilt- Held in Splendor

Throwback to 60’s psychy-folky stuff.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS2dWLiU-uM&w=480&h=200]

7. Cibo Matto- Hotel Valentine

I never thought I would ever see another album from this crazy Japanese duo. Sp00ky stories about ghosts, trip hop, lo-fi funk.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3zX_AT0Xco&w=480&h=200]

8. Hookworms- The Hum

The first track is such a good intro, haven’t stopped listening to this album just yet. The people describe this as “scuzzy,” I think that’s a good word for it.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMKVl15-t7Y&w=480&h=200]

9. Azealia Banks- Broke With Expensive Taste

FINALLY. I have been holding out for almost 4 years for this album to come out<3

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UcqNHdHdxs&w=480&h=200]

10. Temples- Sun Structures

Still a pretty new band, this release follows in Tame Impala’s footsteps in the psych rock revival genre,

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjkpVHvoeOY&w=480&h=200]

11. King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard- I’m In Your Mind Fuzz

Nothing compares to randomly seeing this band during this year’s CMJ. GREAT ROCK MUSIC.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH2WlZ3zQ70&w=480&h=200]

12. London Grammar- If You Wait

Swooning female vocals and reverb-heavy pop stuff.