TOP 5 2014 ALBUMS

[Sacul]

Jordan Rudess - Explorations   

I'm quite surprised nobody mentioned it before. Killer album.

[Evermind]

While that Judas Priest release wasn't great, the biggest disappointment for me is definitely Ian Anderson's new record.

Edit: ugh, I forgot that Allen/Lande thing. This can rival Homo Erraticus alright.

[wolfking]

off the top of my head

Edguy - Space Police
Dynazty - Renatus
H.E.A.T - Tearing Down The Walls
MindMaze - Back fROM tHE Edge
Red Zone Rider - S/T

Lots of good stuff bubbling under - Winger, Age Sten Nilsson's Ammunition, Primal Fear, Flying Colors, Accept, Threshold, Unisonic, Ace Frehley, Silent Force (was that this year?), MAsterplan, Stryper, Project Arcadia. I thought it was a good year.

Still deciding on the Harem Scarem, Rated X, Lynch Mob

Biggest disappointment - Judas Priest (liked it at first but... I was wrong),

Forgot about HEAT, that would definitely make top 10.

My biggest disappointment also is Judas Priest, by a long long margin.  Definitely the worst album I've heard all year.

Also, Masterplan was last year along with Silent Force.

[lonestar]

Yes was easily my biggest disappointment.

[ZKX-2099]

1.) Every Time I Die - From Parts Unknown (This band keeps getting better. Flawless release.)
2.) Destrage - Are You Kidding Me? No. (Another flawless release. Just barely missed making my number 1.)
3.) DragonForce - Maximun Overload (Surprise hit of the year for me)
4.) Slipknot - .5: The Gray Chapter
5.) Devin Townsend - Z² (I'm counting them both)

[Lowdz]

off the top of my head

Edguy - Space Police
Dynazty - Renatus
H.E.A.T - Tearing Down The Walls
MindMaze - Back fROM tHE Edge
Red Zone Rider - S/T

Lots of good stuff bubbling under - Winger, Age Sten Nilsson's Ammunition, Primal Fear, Flying Colors, Accept, Threshold, Unisonic, Ace Frehley, Silent Force (was that this year?), MAsterplan, Stryper, Project Arcadia. I thought it was a good year.

Still deciding on the Harem Scarem, Rated X, Lynch Mob

Biggest disappointment - Judas Priest (liked it at first but... I was wrong),

Forgot about HEAT, that would definitely make top 10.

My biggest disappointment also is Judas Priest, by a long long margin.  Definitely the worst album I've heard all year.

Also, Masterplan was last year along with Silent Force.

Jeez, time flies!

[Fluffy Lothario]

Fire! Orchestra - Enter (the only album from this year I've heard in full)
Ben Howard - I Forgot Where We Were (have this, still haven't played it start to finish)
Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy (have this, still haven't played it start to finish)

Two albums I was really anticipating, but upon sampling them, found them average to shite, and never bothered looking further, were Kimbra's and Coldplay's.

[PuffyPat]

I could probably do 10, but I'm sure about these 5. Got a tie for the one spot. I tried to decide which I liked better, but I couldn't, so I just stuck 'em both at the top.

1. Bear Hands - Distraction
1. The Guru - Pretty Things
3. The Black Keys - Turn Blue
4. Antemasque - Antemasque
5. Future Islands - Singles
5. Jack White - Lazaretto

I forgot that after being disappointed by Lazaretto, that I actually love it. Singles is still up there, though.

[TAC]

I seriously have not heard of half of the bands listed in this thread. Maybe more.

[bl5150]

off the top of my head

Edguy - Space Police
Dynazty - Renatus
H.E.A.T - Tearing Down The Walls
MindMaze - Back fROM tHE Edge
Red Zone Rider - S/T

Lots of good stuff bubbling under - Winger, Age Sten Nilsson's Ammunition, Primal Fear, Flying Colors, Accept, Threshold, Unisonic, Ace Frehley, Silent Force (was that this year?), MAsterplan, Stryper, Project Arcadia. I thought it was a good year.

Still deciding on the Harem Scarem, Rated X, Lynch Mob

Biggest disappointment - Judas Priest (liked it at first but... I was wrong),

Forgot about HEAT, that would definitely make top 10.

My biggest disappointment also is Judas Priest, by a long long margin.  Definitely the worst album I've heard all year.

Also, Masterplan was last year along with Silent Force.

Jeez, time flies!

Stryper was 2013 too 

[The Letter M]

Compared to the last few years, 2014 was a bit of a slow year for me (as I've stated before around here). So these are my Top 5, in no real order (although it might be SLIGHT preference):
Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
Flying Colors - Second Nature
Anathema - Distant Satellites
IQ - The Road Of Bones
Kaipa - Sattyg

Pretty much this, although the last two I have NOT listened to as much as I should, although IQ's album is pretty damn good, I've yet to give a good listen to Kaipa's latest, but my initial listen was pretty positive. Only the top 3 have gained a lot of play from me this year.

Honorable mentions to Enchant's The Great Divide, Neal Morse's Songs From November, Pink Floyd's The Endless River, Opeth's Pale Communion, and Andy Tillison's Multiplex. And while it's not a full album, I'd like to give a shout-out to Haken's Restoration EP.

There were a few good live albums out this year, like part 2 of Tiles' Off The Floor in-studio live album, Dream Theater's Breaking The Fourth Wall and Transatlantic's KaLIVEoscope.

-Marc.

[wolfking]

off the top of my head

Edguy - Space Police
Dynazty - Renatus
H.E.A.T - Tearing Down The Walls
MindMaze - Back fROM tHE Edge
Red Zone Rider - S/T

Lots of good stuff bubbling under - Winger, Age Sten Nilsson's Ammunition, Primal Fear, Flying Colors, Accept, Threshold, Unisonic, Ace Frehley, Silent Force (was that this year?), MAsterplan, Stryper, Project Arcadia. I thought it was a good year.

Still deciding on the Harem Scarem, Rated X, Lynch Mob

Biggest disappointment - Judas Priest (liked it at first but... I was wrong),

Forgot about HEAT, that would definitely make top 10.

My biggest disappointment also is Judas Priest, by a long long margin.  Definitely the worst album I've heard all year.

Also, Masterplan was last year along with Silent Force.

Jeez, time flies!

Stryper was 2013 too 

Maybe he meant the live album haha.

[TL]

This has been a really weird year for me as far as albums go. Before making any effort at a top 5 list, I'd definitely have to go back and check what actually came out this year, as well as probably listen to some albums I missed.

Second Nature by Flying Colors would definitely be on there. Phenomenal album.
Kaleidoscope by Transatlantic would definitely have a chance at a spot.

I've gone back and forth on whether or not Xscape by Michael Jackson would make the list. Largely because, for most of the songs, the 'original' versions are good, while the reworked main album versions are almost all garbage.

I'd probably put Little Secret by Nikki Yanofsky on there. Catchy as hell, with some good song writing and some real talent to back it up. Finding out that Quincy Jones was involved wasn't at all surprising. Fun jazzy pop with a bit of substance.

Mandatory Fun by Weird Al was quite good, and I'd probably lean toward including it, since his original compositions that make up half of the tracks are the strongest material on there. Jackson Park Express alone makes this album worth a consideration.

Sonic Highways by Foo Fighters is good. It is absolutely a solid Foo Fighters record. This one is still finding its place with me, and didn't click as quickly as Wasting Light did, but I have enjoyed it quite a bit so far.

Commonwealth by Sloan probably doesn't make the top 5, but there are enough tracks I really liked that it would probably net an honorable mention.

Carry On the Grudge by Jamie T is something I'll have to spend more time with before forming an opinion. I just recently discovered that he had actually finally released a new album.

[The Cat Of Tuscany]

1. The Quantum Enigma by Epica
2. Restoration by Haken
3. Second Nature by Flying Colors
4. Broken Crown Halo by Lacuna Coil
5. The Hunting Party by Linkin Park

[SoundscapeMN]

blurbs and a lot of other records included there. I mean to film a video soon as well.

https://allmediareviews.blogspot.com/2014/12/2013-2014-albums-countdown.html

21. The Dang ol' Tri ole - Rise and Shine
20. Archive - Axiom
19. Big Wreck - Ghosts
18. Imogen Heap - Sparks
17. Genders - Get Lost
16. Clone - Clone
15. Brice Plays Drums - ProgTagonist
14. Nomia - Iron and Rust
13. Dream the Electric Sleep - Heretics
12. iamthemorning - Belighted
11.  Marketa Irglova - Muna
10. Team Me - Blind as Night
9. Kimbra - The Golden Echo
8. Major Parkinson - Twilight Cinema
7. Grimus - Emergence
6. The Mercury Tree - Countenance
5. The Family Crest - Beneath the Brine
4. The Tea Party - The Ocean at the End
3. Anathema - Distant Satellites
2. Bend Sinister - Animals
1. Fjokra - Thoughtsteps [EP]
 
extra:
Nordic Giants - Build Seas / Dismantle Suns

[pain of occupation]

awesome to see Bend Sinister mentioned (finally)!
and to see someone that listens to so much music rank em so high?! ...even better. 

[SoundscapeMN]

yeah, I love Bend Sinister, so go figure. Great to notice someone else around here. The tours with BigElf and Flying Colors probably has helped them with exposure more than any others in recent years. Although Animals and their other records have next to no ratings/reviews on rateyourmusic for some strange reason still.

[Zantera]

If it's just 5, then I'm going with:

1. Swans - To Be Kind
2. Kimbra - The Golden Echo
3. Low Roar - 0
4. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else
5. Musk Ox - Woodfall

My full list is here though: https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?mode=1&listid=154081

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Dang, I still haven't the new Low Roar. I need to get on that, I loved the first one.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

*snip*

After letting some more records sit in with me, I'd revise my top 5 to

1. Swans - To Be Kind
2. Have a Nice Life - The Unnatural World
3. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra - Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything
4. Behemoth - The Satanist
5. Agalloch - The Serpent & the Sphere

Not a huge change, but it somehow slipped over my head how awesome the new Silver Mt. Zion album was.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

1. Swans – To Be Kind
2. St. Vincent – s/t
3. Kairon; IRSE – Ujubasajuba
4. Aphex Twin – Syro
5. Kayo Dot – Coffins on Io

[fadetoblackdude7]

In order:

1. Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds
2. Opeth - Pale Communion
3. Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun
4. U2 - Songs Of Innocence
5. In Flames - Siren Charms

Honorable Mentions:

Foo Fighters - Sonic Highways
Unearth - Watchers Of Rule

[Jamesman42]

Still have a couple to listen to a bit more, but pretty sure Archive - Axiom is my runaway favorite for 2014.

[SoundscapeMN]

Axiom is quite a good record/soundtrack. Just in case you or others didn't know, they have a new record dropping next month titled "Restriction."

3 or 4 of the tracks are up online in fact.

[WebRaider]

Pooled a list together after lots o' listening...


2014 Album Rankings

1.Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun
2.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel
3.Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool
4.The Contortionist - Language
5.Animals As Leaders - The Joy of Motion
6.Devin Townsend - Z²
7.Prince - Art Official Age
8.Nothing More - Nothing More
9.Destiny Potato - Lun
10a.Skyharbor - Guiding Lights
10b.Pink Floyd - The Endless River


Just missed the cut:

Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed
Big Wreck - Ghosts
Royal Blood - Royal Blood
Prince & 3rdEyeGirl - PLECTRUMELECTRUM

[?]

In approximate order:

Nightingale - Retribution
IQ - The Road of Bones (thanks Evermind! )
Opeth - Pale Communion
Delain - The Human Contradiction
KYPCK - Imena Na Stene

Overall, this was a good year with plenty of great releases, but not as awesome as 2013. On the other hand, I was a lot busier this year and didn't have as much time for listening.

[TimelessSymphony]

Sad to see 2014 go already but man it was an awesome year for music! 

My top 5 albums for this year:

1. The Quantum Enigma - EPICA
2. Sunset of The Golden Age - Alestorm
3. Shadows of The Dying Sun - Insomnium
4. Earthbound Revolution - Beyond Creation
5. For The Journey - Threshold

[Calvin6s]

Can't really put them in order. 

KXM - KXM
Nothing More - Nothing More
Pharrell Williams - GIRL
Starset - Transmissions
The Amity Affliction - Let the Ocean Take Me

Honorable Mentions: (Actually equal to the above, but I had to make it 5 and these two bands are less new to me than the other 5)
Mastodon - Once More Round the Sun
Periphery - Clear

Good lists.  Full of bands I hadn't heard before that I sampled and liked; or I had heard before but overlooked them this year.

[Nick]

Here is the top 10 (and other goodies) from Mason (Dr. DTVT) and myself. : https://www.wpapu.com/2014.html

As always there is audio commentary for anyone who wants to get a better idea of why the picks were made.

And yes, I realize in hindsight that (for my commentary at least) this year's drinking game can revolve around the word "solid". Drink responsibly!

[KevShmev]

I'll go with a top 7 of:

1. Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool
2. Flying Colors - Second Nature
3. Devin Townsend - Sky Blue
4. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
5. Pink Floyd - The Endless River
6. U2 - Songs of Innocence
7. Opeth - Pale Communion

[rumborak]

1. Opeth - Pale Communion
2. Die Fantastischen Vier - Rekord
3. The Sixxis - Hollow Shrine
4. Pomplamoose - Season 2

[adace]

1. Opeth - Pale Communion
2. Devin Townsend - Sky Blue
3. Mastodon - Once More Round the Sun
4. Scar Symmetry - The Singularity Phase I
5. Anathema - Distant Satellites

And too many honorable mentions to list.

[kirksnosehair]

For 2014, let's see....in no particular order, except for #1:


1. Opeth - Pale Communion (my favorite Opeth to date!)
2. Flying Colors - Second Nature
3. Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope
4. Threshold - For The Journey
5. Appearance of Nothing - A New Beginning (attention frustrated Opeth fans!    )

[kirksnosehair]

Honorable mentions:


Flaming Row - "Mirage: Figures of Portraits of Some Completely Indecipherable and Convoluted Concept Lyrics Woven Into a Good Instrumental Album"

IQ - The Road of Bones

[LightCurves]

Cea Serin - The Vibrant Sound of Bliss and Decay
Opeth - Pale Communion
Cynic - Kindly Bent To Free Us
Tim Bowness - Abandoned Dancehall Dreams
and, for nostalgic reasons:
AC/DC - Rock or Bust