The U & U's Best Albums of 2014 & Show 388

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20 | Foxygen : Cosmic Vibrations : … And Star Power (2014)

-          3rd full length.

-          Their 2^nd, We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, was my 2^nd favorite of 2014.

-          Funkier Rolling Stones feel.

BandCamp : Amazon : HypeMachine : @FoxygenTheBand

19 | Ages and Ages : Our Demons : Divisionary (2014)

-          2^nd full length.

-          One of the catchiest songs out this entire year.

-          Oregon indie poppers.

Official Site

18 | Steve Gunn : Milly's Garden : Way Out Weather (2014)

-          Latest album.

-          Also did a collaborative EP with Hiss Golden Messenger entitled Golden Gunn in 2013.

-          2nd album with a full band.

-          Experimental, jammy, classical acoustic guitarist.

Official Site

17 | Cold Specks : Absisto : Neuroplasticity (2014)

-          2nd album.

-          Powerful, fuller track from one of the best vocalists in all of music.

-          An awesome video for the track 'Holland' can be found HERE.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine : @ColdSpecks

16 | Horse Feathers : Old Media : So It Is With Us (2014)

-          5^th full length.

-          Oregon indie folk rock bringing their biggest and fullest album yet.

-          Incredibly powerful live show.

Official Site

15 | Courtship Ritual : Abuela : Pith (2014)

-          Debut album

-          Electronic indie-pop.

-          RIYL Wet or the XX.

Official Site

14 | Mark McGuire : In Search of the Miraculous : Along the Way (2014)

-          Debut full length after at least 8 minor releases. All available on his BandCamp.

-          Plays very jammy, elaborate, psychedelic guitar tracks.

-          Guitarist for the band the Emeralds.

-          A highlight performance at SXSW 2014

BandCamp

13 | Wooden Wand : Adie : Farmer’s Corner (2014)

-          James Jackson Toth project's forthcoming album.

-          His last album, Blood Oaths of the New Blues, was a Best of the U & U 2013.

-          His track ‘No Bed For Beatle Wand/Days This Long’ was my favorite song of 2013.

MySpace : Amazon : HypeMachine

12 | Hiss Golden Messenger : Mahogany Dread : Lateness of Dancers (2014)

-          4^th album. More polished than anything else they’ve done.

-          3^rd album, Bad Debt, was their latest and most stripped back, almost demo quality, warm tracks.

-          ‘Jesus Shot Me In the Head’ is their highlight track to date.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

11 | Mac DeMarco : Salad Days : Salad Days (2014)

-          3^rd album

-          Got a lot of indie press and praise for 2012’s 2.

BandCamp

10 | Sun Kil Moon : Ben's My Friend : Benji (2014)

-          6^th LP

-          First Sun Kil Moon proper album since 2012’s superb LP, Among the Leaves.

-          Led by the most wonderfully sleepy vocals of Mark Kozelek.

-          SXSW 2014

Official Site

9 | Yellerkin : Solar Laws : Yellerkin EP (2014)

-          Debut EP

-          Brooklyn based electronic folk pop.

-          RIYL Yeasayer.

Soundcloud

8 | Ty Segall : Manipulator : Manipulator (2014)

-          7^th solo album. Double album.

-          The once obscure SF garage rock master is now one of the biggest faces of the rock music scene now.

-          Mix of the sounds he put forth on 3 different albums in 2013.

Official Site

7 | Heart-Ships : Heart of a Wrestler : Foil (2014)     

-          Debut LP.

-          Debut EP, EP1 was a highlight of 2013.

-          Reminiscent of Modest Mouse and Frog Eyes, but most for the still-wounded Wolf Parade fans.

Official Site : Facebook

6 | The War On Drugs : Under The Pressure : Lost In The Dream (2014)

-          3^rd full length.

-          Kurt Vile’s former outfit is still providing long time Vile fans sounds more in the vein of his older, soaring, drone- heavy work.

Official Site

5 | Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks : Houston Hades : Wig Out at Jagbags (2014)

-          6^th album with the Jicks

-          Leader of the incredibly influential indie band Pavement.

-          2008’s Real Emotional Trash is one of my all-time favorite albums.

Official Site

4 | J Mascis : Every Morning : Tied to a Star (2014)

-          First single from forthcoming solo album

-          Latest solo album was 2011's brilliant Several Shades of Why.

-          Dinosaur Jr. leader, but I think I like him better in this role.

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine

3 | Benjamin Booker : Violent Shiver : Benjamin Booker (2014)

-          Debut LP

-          Sounds like it’s even just demo quality, but the potential for something good is definitely there.

-          Best of SXSW 2014

Facebook

2 | Perfume Genius : Grid : Too Bright (2014)

-          3^rd full length

-          Best song of 2014 so far.

-          This track burst out away from the delicate, piano-only tracks that filled most of his first 2 LPs.

-          Project led by Mike Hadreas.

Facebook

1 | Future Islands : A Song for Our Grandfathers : Singles (2014)

-          4th full length.

-          Upbeat beach pop with more power here than ever before.

-          Baltimore band.

-          SXSW 2014

Official Site : Amazon : HypeMachine