Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways Producer – Butch Vig Let me preface this review for people who don’t know the concept of this album. Sonic Highways is eight songs each recorded in a different city and iconic studio that were collectively important in shaping american music. Each city and song was featured in an eight…
Category: 2014
#2 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties – We Don’t Have Each Other Producer – Ace Enders Hands down, this is the greatest concept album ever written. Aaron West is broken down after finding out his wife has left him. He ends up leaving town to get away from the pain of losing the love of…
#3 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye Producer – Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Ryan Ulyate First listen of this album I shunned it. I had to check it out because it’s Tom Petty but the first listen was not what I was expecting. Second listen, I got it. I had to give it another…
#4 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Royal Blood – Royal Blood Producer – Tom Dalgety, Mike Kerr, Ben Thatcher The debut album from this British duo group rocks harder than anything The White Stripes have ever done. This is raw pure rock music much like the original Nirvana album was. It’s not overproduced yet has an amazing sense of direction. Bass and…
#5 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Nickel Creek – A Dotted Line Producer – Eric Valentine On their first album since 2007 Nickel Creek have easily picked up right where they left off. Bluegrass songs infused with pop arrangements and melodies performed by three virtuosic musicians. You will never find more talent in a three piece group then you do in…
#6 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt Producer – Mike Crossey The last time Gaslight Anthem were on my list they were number one with 2010’s American Slang. Their new album Get Hurt is every bit as good. This new album stays true to their Jersey sound but also explores some new territories. “Stay Vicious” is…
#7 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright In The End Producer – Ric Ocasek Weezer put out some of their best work this year. Jam packed with great hooks and clever lyrics, this is their best album since the original blue record. Lead single “Back to the Shack” sums it all up best singing “Back to…
#8 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Maroon 5 – V Producer – Max Martin (exec), Ammo, Astma & Rocwell, Benny Blanco, Johan Carlsson, Cirkut, Jason Evigan, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Adam Levine, Andre Lindal, The Monsters and the Strangerz, OzGo, Shellback, Stargate, Ryan Tedder, Noel Zancanella I have a love hate relationship with Maroon 5. Let me start with the hate. I became…
#9 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Counting Crows – Somewhere Under Wonderland Producer – Brian Deck I have been waiting so long for an album of new music from Counting Crows. One of my all time favorite bands did not disappoint me this year. Adam Duritz’ vocal ability and lyrical content is so original. He has a unique rhythm and phrasing…
#10 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
O.A.R. – The Rockville LP Producer – Gregg Wattenberg, Marc Roberge, Jerry DePizzo, Nathan Chapman OAR gets everything right on their 8th studio album The Rockville LP. Every single song on this album jams with great grooves and incredibly infectious melodies. The standout track “Caroline The Wrecking Ball” showcases Marc Roberge’s amazing ability to craft…
#11 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Pvris – White Noise Producer – Blake Harnage Pvris’ comparisons to Paramore are fair and just but I can’t get enough new music from Paramore so this fills the lulls exceptionally well. Powerful songs laced with electronic landscapes are so incredibly well written. Lead singer Lyndsey Gunnulfsen’s voice is so strong and a joy to…
#12 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Scars on 45 – Safety In Numbers Producer – Will Jackson, Jeff Peters, Scars On 45 I have never heard a male and female duo fronted band sound so beautiful together than on this album. The two voices mesh and harmonize together so perfectly like they were made for each other. The first single “Crazy…
#13 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams Producer – Ryan Adams Before the release of this album I had never listened to any of Ryan Adams’ thirteen previous albums. I knew of him but just never got around to checking his music out. I finally decided to give him a listen with this new self titled album….
#14 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Hozier – Hozier Producer – Rob Kirwan File this album under Indie Alt R&B if there is such a genre. Irish Singer/Songwriter Hozier’s debut album is a luscious mix of soulful and seductive songs that resonate impressively. Lead track “Take Me To Church” alone is good enough to put put this album on my list,…
#15 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Billy Idol – Kings & Queens Of The Underground Producer – Trevor Horn, Greg Kurstin Here is how this one went… Browsing iTunes back in October I noticed Billy Idol had a new album and said to myself “new Billy Idol, I guess I will have to give it a listen.” I honestly didn’t expect…
#16 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Royal Bliss – Chasing The Sun Producer – Matt Winegar I am a gluten for a good Post-Grunge Hard Rock album. These bands remind me of the Poison/Warrant/Slaughter days of Hard Rock. This collection of songs is built upon infectious melodies and hooks that will resonate in your head for days. Favorite Tracks – Cry…
#17 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Finch – Back To Oblivion Producer – Brian Virtue I had no idea who Finch was before I gave this album a listen. I had noticed it popping up on numerous music sites I follow so I figured I would check it out. I was greeted with a Post-Hardcore masterpiece that drives from beginning to…
#18 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Sixx A.M. – Modern Vintage Producer – James Michael The third album from Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx’s side project is an absolute masterpiece of Hard Rock. With this album they are no longer a companion to a book and are able to experiment with their sound more. Guitarist DJ Ashba really shows off how…
#19 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Phillip Phillips – Behind The Light Producer – Gregg Watenberg, Dereck Fuhrmann and Phillip Phillips American Idol winner Phillip Phillips really impressed me with his sophomore album Behind The Light. It sounds almost too much like Dave Matthews but thats not a bad thing. Phillips still has enough originality to make it his own sound. Plain…
#20 – My Favorite Albums Of 2014
Jenny Lewis – The Voyager Producer – Ryan Adams Former front woman of Rilo Kiley released her third solo album this year and this time it’s as good as anything she has ever done with her former band. I hold a high admiration for Rilo’s 2007 album “Under The Blacklight” so much so that it…
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