Hello, music fans!
Whew. Where did 2014 even go? I feel like every year just goes by even faster and more breathlessly than the last. I hope your 2014 was full of good memories and good times and that you’re getting excited for the new year!
2014 was certainly a big year for music. Names like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran and U2 and Ariana Grande were on everyone’s lips. I couldn’t go anywhere without hearing tunes like “All About That Bass” and “Stay With Me” and “Steal My Girl.” And that’s all fine and good, but in case you hadn’t noticed with my playlists and other music posts, I’m not about following and sharing what’s popular or the stuff you might already know about. I’m after the music that popular radio doesn’t play and artists that you might not see at the Grammy’s, because I believe that music deserves an audience as much as the music that we can’t get away from.
With that in mind, today I’m sharing a few albums from this year that you may have missed but that are definitely worth a listen.
- The Apache Relay, The Apache Relay. Nashville indie-folk outfit The Apache Relay’s 2011 debut was pretty darn solid. The band has since had a few years to tour with both big names and up-and-coming folk rockers, as well as to sharpen their musical skills, resulting in a sophomore album that barely sounds like it’s from the same band. It’s got a fuller, more soulful sound (as exemplified by its first single, “Katie Queen of Tennessee,” which has a cool retro feel to it), and it’s a little less rock n’ roll and a lot more acoustic than their debut.
- Bear’s Den, Have I yakked enough about how much I love Bear’s Den yet? These guys make some darn pretty music, though. My yakking is totally justified, I promise. After a few mighty fine EP’s, these London lads released their much-anticipated debut album Islands this October, and it’s a triumph. Those familiar with their “Agape” EP will recognize a few of the tunes (and those who were lucky enough to get their hands on their “Pompeii” EP at live shows will recognize even more), but new songs like “Elysium” and “Magdalene” make the album refreshing for veteran Bear’s Den fans, as do the more airy sounds of old favorites like “Agape” and “Above the Clouds of Pompeii.”
- Ben Howard, I Forget Where We Were. After his magnificent debut Every Kingdom, British singer/songwriter Ben Howard is back with his beautifully chilling sophomore album I Forget Where We Were. Howard’s moody, haunting narratives are as stunning as always, but my favorite part of this album is the jangly, echo-y electric guitar work, which is somewhat reminiscent of U2’s early music for me (check out “End of the Affair” and “Small Things” to see what I mean).
- PHOX, Heck yeah, Midwest bands! PHOX is a six-piece band hailing from Baraboo, Wisconsin, just north of Madison. They’ve made it big in their home region and they’ve also garnered fame as far away as the UK. And this album is only their debut. Their sound is an interesting and captivating mix of minimalist pop and banjo-plucked folk, made even more potent with the smoldering soul of lead singer Monica Martin’s voice. Skeptical of this eclectic blend? At least give “Slow Motion” a spin. You’ll be hooked.
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye. Yes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are still making music. And yes, it’s still pretty gosh darn good. Hypnotic Eye has all the rock and roll swagger of Petty’s older material (thanks in part to Mike Campbell’s electric guitar) and the refinement you’d expect from a band who’s been at it for decades.
- The New Basement Tapes, Lost on the River. What happens when never-before-seen (or heard, more accurately) Bob Dylan lyrics from 1967 are uncovered? The New Basement Tapes happen. Under the direction of T Bone Burnett, The New Basement Tapes is a collective consisting of Elvis Costello, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), who put their heads together for two weeks to write and record music for several long-lost Bob Dylan lyrics. And the results would probably make Mr. Dylan proud.
What about you? What were some of your favorite albums of 2014? Feel free to leave your picks in the comments, and tweet us your thoughts @TheWriteTeach + @Erind90!
Live, Laugh, Learn,
Erin +