2014 Staff Picks

Josh Lory Top 20 2014

1. Bill Mallonee & the Darkling Planes – Winnowing – Underrated, underappreciated, consistent, amazing, heart on the sleeve, lyrics cut deep, these are a few words that come to mind when I think of Bill Mallonee. Winnowing holds my two favorite songs of 2014, both expressed a lot of what’s been on my mind lately, “Got Some Explaining To Do (gotta give the devil his due)” and “In The New Dark Age (The only lamp burning bright is you)”. Mallonee dipped back into his later VOL and early solo past bringing back some of his 60’s British Invasion influence on a few of these tunes, bravo Bill! Self-produced and handling most of the instrumentation, the man really out did himself as he does every album. Get this album, support this artist!!!
2. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Revelation and the + – EP – One of my top all time bands, I got to see them early on this year in Oakland, they are truly amazing! Each new album is getting closer and closer to their early sound that I love so much. If you have the discography, it’s been quite an adventure in music. Anton is one of the few true musical geniuses walking this planet. A mix of Garage, Shoegaze, Psychedelic, Kraut Rock, and beyond, an album you should relax and take the time to explore.
3. Nothing – Guilty Of Everything – Shoegaze is back!!! This is hands down one of the best Shoegaze albums I have ever heard! All the best parts of early Starflyer 59 and “You’d Prefer an Astronaut” era Hum. Heavy distortion, pounding drums, whisper vocals, droning guitars, beautiful!!! Get this album!!!
4. Say Anything – Hebrews – Wow, just, Wow! In my opinion Max Bemis is the best arrangers and lyricists out there. He pulls a twist on this album, no guitars! All the guitars are replaced with orchestration, and it works, rock drums, rock bass, keyboards, a ton of great layered vocal harmonies, outstanding album! I’m amazed that not many have caught on to how great this band truly is, I think the early “Emo” label has hurt them. Bemis really lets you into his life at an almost uncomfortable level, bring on the drama!
5. Chuck Ragan – Till Midnight – My second favorite Americana artist next to Bill Mallonee. I can’t be happier that I got to see Chuck play solo and with Hot Water Music in the same year! On this release Ragan brings in a little more Rock into his Country. This guy’s voice gets better and better with every album. Chuck walks the walk of a true Americana artist, a mountain man like myself, just found out that he lives pretty close to me in the Sierra Nevada’s, maybe I’ll run into him fishing someday! Of all the punk singers (and there are a lot) to go the alt Country/Americana direction, he is the best hands down. Check out all his albums and get into Hot Water Music, you will not regret it!
6. Lagwagon – Hang – Holy crap did I miss this band! 9 years since their last full length and 6 since the last EP released. Like all their albums, this one takes pieces of the previous releases and adds a new twist. These guys have been around since 1992, so by now you’ll know if you like them or not. One of the greatest melodic Punk Rock bands ever. I find no faults with them, strong in every department.
7. Banner Pilot – Souvenir – Great Post Hardcore/Pop Punk in the vein of Jawbreaker and Samiam, super solid release, digging it more with every listen. Gritty vocals, grinding bass, melodic guitar, mid tempo heavy drums. I need to go back and listen to their previous releases, I think these guys are worth checking out.
8. Joyce Manor – Never Hung Over Again – Amazing band! This is their longest release topping off at 20 min! 10 songs, all under two and a half minutes, short songs that accomplish more than most bands do in twice that length. One of the newer Noise Pop/ Punk bands to keep your eyes on and your ears open!
9. C.J. Ramone – Last Chance To Dance – Ramones are my all-time favorite band, C.J. did his brothers proud on this release!
10. The Altar Billies – Headin’ Out West – Mike Stand and company are back with their first full length and it is amazing! 2014 was a good year for new Rock-a-Billy, this, the new Brian Setzer, and the Dave & Phil Alvin albums were all beyond good, but this one topped them for me! Any fan of Sun Studios era Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison or early Stray Cats will dig this. Not that their EP was bad, it is great, but I think Stand really found his inner crooner vocally on this one. All the instrumentation is fantastic, Chuck Cummings can swing, and Johnny X is the man on the upright!
11. The Lawrence Arms – Metropole – Chi-Town Punk favorites. I like this one a lot, but I don’t think they’ll ever top Oh! Callcutta!. Great 3 piece, 2 singer/songwriters, big fans of Jawbreaker. This is their debut on Epitaph from Fat Wreck, production is higher quality than other releases by the Larry Arms. Both front men are good lyricists and arrangers, they get a lot done in under 3 minutes. Hope the next one doesn’t take as long to come out!
12. The Menzingers – Rented World – Great Pop Punk band that has a heavy Gruff side to them. These guys get a little better with each release. When I think of the Menzingers, I think of passion, it just pours out of the vocals, lyrics, and instruments. I’ve yet to see them live, but look forward to it someday, heck maybe Western Grace will open up!
13. 7 Seconds – Leave A Light On – Yes, that 7 Seconds, the 80’s Hardcore pioneers are back with their 10th studio album and it rocks start to finish! Everything you would want out of a 7 Sec album is here, blistering riffs, pounding hyper beats, positive lyrics, and a few wo-oh’s! They were my first Punk show and hold a special place for me!
14. Smashing Pumpkins – Monuments To An Elegy – The next to last installment of the “Teargarden By Kaleidyscope” series, which has been by far my favorite albums Corgan has made since the early Pumpkins days. Tommy Lee played drums on this and did an amazing job, he is still one of the best! 9 songs around 33 mins, good beginning to end, most of it has a classic SP vibe to it. From heavy to spacey, this album covers the range.
15. Elephant Stone – Three Poisons – A little heavier and darker feel in comparison to their previous releases, pulling into BRMC territory at times. A lot more dance beats as well, reminding me of bands like the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, and Primal Scream. This band nails it on every album, I’m hooked on anything they produce! Psychedelic, Shoegaze, World, Garage Rock, top notch!
16. Stranger Kings – Stranger Kings – Been waiting a long time for this album, and it was well worth the wait! Equal parts Lush, New Order, and the Cure, done to perfection! All-star lineup (in my book) can’t go wrong! I want more!
17. Antemasque – Antemasque – Former At The Drive In/Mars Volta members blast on the scene with this incredible new project! When ATDI split two bands formed, Sparta, whom I love, and Mars Volta, they were always a bit much for me, like a modern Santana, great, but not my thing. This release gets the MV boys back into a more straight forward and stripped down Post Punk sound much like early At The Drive In albums. Oh and Flea played bass on much of the album, so yeah, the bass is good!
18. Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues – The band’s first release since Tom Gabel went through a transformation to Laura Jane Grace and that’s what the album’s theme focuses on. I like this album and think it’s a great thing for the trans gender community, something I can never understand or relate to, being uncomfortable in one’s own skin, a lot of pain and confusion throughout the lyrics on this album. The new band line up is great. Fat Mike played bass on the album. Solid record. But what made me a fan of Against Me! is not on this album, it should have been a solo album. Against Me!, to me, is an intense Anarchist Folk Punk act and that is just not there on this release. It has been one crazy ride with this group!
19. Deni Gauthier – Quiet Town – A wonderful, reflective, mellow, relaxing, album. Deni is one of those guys like Justin McRoberts that could tread into the adult contemporary zone, but remain edgy and rock enough for punks like me to enjoy. Great production, so clean! Deni has an incredible voice to treat your ears to. By far my favorite release of his!
20. The Rentals – Lost In Alphaville – The Rentals are back! This album solidifies the importance that Matt Sharp had in the early years as a member of Weezer. Just compare this to Weezer’s new album, this will blow it out of the water! Soft vocals, heavy drums, distorted bass, killer synth work. Huge sweeping melodies cover this record. A mix of Power Pop, New Wave, and Pop Punk, it’s really a brilliant album! 

Doug Peterson Top 6 2014

1. White Lighter – White Lighter
2. Vekora – Vekora
3. Woven Hand – Refractory Obdurate
4. Stranger Kings – Stranger Kings
5. Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil – Goliath
6. Unteachers – A Human Comedy

Matt Crosslin Top 21 2014

This is more like my favorite album of the year and then Top 20 that are impossible to rank in alphabetical order J

U2 – Songs of Innocence (Deluxe Edition) – Lot of hate for this album, but I find it to be the best one of 2014 by far. The deluxe version has two bonus songs that totally push it over the edge.

Nate Allen & The Pac-Away Dots – Take Out The Trash – Not out yet, but I heard the pre-release and this rocks.

The Altar Billies – Headin’ Out West – Mike Stand & Co. continue to improve on each release. And I’m not even a rockabilly fan.

Atash – Music is Everything – World music that focuses on Middle Eastern but mixes many more influences in.

The Bombay Royale – The Island of Dr. Electrico – Bollywood Funk that is one of the coolest world music albums this year.

Champion Leader – 4st – Major throw back to the 80s that showcases why that decade was so awesome by J. Bozeman of Luxury fame.

Elephant Stone – Three Poisons – They continue to go down the psychedelic indie rock path… and they continue to impress.

Deni Gauthier – Quiet Town – Deni continues to grow on each release. This one is deep and worth the trip.

Gov’t Hate Mail – Gov’t Hate Mail – Loud, raw, and in your face

Jagged Doctrine – Electrocuted – I can never get enough of industrial metal, and Jagged Doctrine is still one of the best.

Jupiter 6 – Moveable Walls – Jimmy Brown does Pink Floyd!

Luxury – Trophies – Got the pre-release, but trust me: this is really good. The Luxury guys still got it.

Secret Archives of the Vatican – Storytellers – World electronic music that never disappoints.

ShiSho – The Sisters EP – Massive growth in songwriting since the last EP, these sisters are major contenders.

Stranger Kings – Stranger Kings – They took their time on this and it shows. Everything that you like about alternative and none of the things you don’t.

Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil – Goliath – Taylor & Co. deliver on the hype. Possibly one of Taylor’s best efforts ever.

Swimsuit Grandma – Barely There – Mike Indest continues to grow and push boundaries.

Unteachers – A Human Comedy – This album will make your jaw drop. A serious consideration for album of the year. They pick up where Tantrum of the Muse left off and go way beyond!

White Lighter – White Lighter – Another contender for album of the year. Mark Saloman and Steve Dail will kick your teeth in, and you will like it.

Woven Hand – Refractory Obdurate – Woven Hand just can’t be stopped. They never disappoint. But they will scare you a bit.

Writ on Water – The Greyest Day – They finally recorded their sophomore album, but the result shows they still have it.