> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://birchtree.me/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Best Music of 2014 - URL: https://birchtree.me/blog/music-2014/ - Published: 2014-11-09T07:53:00.000Z - Updated: 2014-11-09T07:53:00.000Z - Author: Matt Birchler - Tags: #Import 2023-06-01 22:41, #Import 2025-03-29 19:29 ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/music2014.jpg)*Background credit: [DKNG](http://www.dkngstudios.com/?ref=birchtree.me)* 2014 is not quite over, but for all intents and purposes, the year in notable music releases is done. Music is a passion of mine that regular readers of this site will attest. Hell, I tone it down here, actually. If you really want to see my love of music, check out my music blog [Highest Notes](http://highestnotes.com/?ref=birchtree.me) or my tech podcast [Birch Bark](http://www.birchbarkshow.com/?ref=birchtree.me), where each episode is themed after a different musical artist. Below are two top 10 lists. These lists are my 20 favorite albums of the year and they're separated into two camps. The first list is a collection of the albums that I think are safe bets most people would like. The second list is a collection of records I loved and I hope you love too, but honesty you might hate them. The truth is that 2014 was a very, very good year for music. In past years, I've had to stretch to think of even 10 albums worth being on a list like this, but this year, even with twice as many slots open, I had to make some hard cuts. I feel great about the top 3 in each list, but the remaining albums are loosely ranked. Music is extremely personal, and there's no way I hit everyone's favorite music. I want to know what I missed, so [tweet at me](http://twitter.com/mattbirchler?ref=birchtree.me) if you think I missed something amazing! # Safe Bets ## 1\. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Mended With Gold ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-1.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/2dVQkYvWaNf8rFmHKz3CXp?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mended-with-gold/id894740234?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 2\. Spoon - They Want My Soul ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-2.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/55TZx6GWm1hlEbRgkGRjma?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/they-want-my-soul/id883793887?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 3\. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-3.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/2sNidN9oZULfH7gZfoPZ9a?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/brill-bruisers/id885972595?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 4\. The Jazabels - The Brink ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-4.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/4jDv4nQt0P7QxslpOxRrF9?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-brink/id775476089?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 5\. Chromeo - White Women ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-5.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/1rqJZhedmCFNbaoTRQz9Zj?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/white-women/id824496847?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 6\. RAC - Strangers ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-6.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/0pvp7cHQccsevHLhClFbSz?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/strangers/id844000739?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 7\. Stars - No One Is Lost ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-7.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/2J21JfQmm9IcK9aFBZCLGZ?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/no-one-is-lost/id905145704?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 8\. Duck Sauce - Quack ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-8.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/48DMfOJsIFZ6GhcqpHmtzx?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/quack/id839859974?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 9\. Hamilton Leithauser - Black Hours ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-9.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/6okbkXtZuUlbVmADpjxNiA?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/black-hours-deluxe-edition/id826751934?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 10\. Tokyo Police Club - Forcefield ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/1-10.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/2JK70wHaFHeqSkeHTPYHCi?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/forcefield/id793410483?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) --- # Venturing Off the Beaten Path ## 1\. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-1.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/3NNSJt3gWSmPmnjCwZyLA5?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/here-and-nowhere-else/id796039691?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 2\. ODESZA - In Return ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-2.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/5SXT6dwhHX56Sos7KMcMF5?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-return/id897564246?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 3\. James Vincent McMorrow - Post Tropical ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-3.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/5oXfO26Js29rB7FvKFI2Ud?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/post-tropical/id714883679?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 4\. Caribou - Our Love ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-4.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/5r4nz5LZHeGUcZCrWbfWkx?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/our-love/id883739153?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 5\. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Only Run ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-5.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/0tIFG8gVaI5V1IaDsaQeoQ?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/only-run/id843452386?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 6\. Germany Germany - Reconnect ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-6.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/6SY0nRGk5QWYmOtwoGoHIG?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/reconnect/id922657639?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 7\. Tycho - Awake ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-7.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/7HWdGPosPkb9GY5MOgLgSW?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/awake/id793928184?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 8\. TV on the Radio - Seeds ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-8.jpg) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/seeds/id911188443?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 9\. Chet Faker - Built on Glass ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-9.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/68ax7q14w23UTJGKnqXvO0?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/built-on-glass/id807649636?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me) ## 10\. Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World ![](http://birchtree.s3.amazonaws.com/2014best/2-10.jpg) [Hear it on Spotify](https://play.spotify.com/album/22sYnou2SavBZHHFVUTmWs?ref=birchtree.me) Buy it [here](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-physical-world/id895680668?at=10l8rH&ref=birchtree.me)