I have handpicked 20 albums that I feel reflect the year fairly well for alternative music. Also, these are records that I have been jamming to a lot over the past year. I may be a little late to the party, but here they are:
20. Hozier – Hozier (For fans of: Vance Joy, Matt Costa, & Jose Gonzalez)
“Take Me To Church” is just the beginning of this album. Hozier’s style bounces back and forth from irish-folk to raw blues and anywhere else in between.
Recommendations: “Take Me To Church” “From Eden” “Jackie And Wilson”
19. Clouded – This Wild Life (For fans of: City & Colour, Iron & Wine, and Dashboard Confessional)
This acoustic duo has made waves this past year in the undergound music/Warped Tour scene. Which is a hard place for softer music to flourish, but This Wild Life came through with their debut of ten incredibly catchy tunes that are both heartfelt and accessible.
Recommendations: “History” “Roots and Branches (Meant To Be Alone)” “405”
18. All You Can Do – Watsky (For fans of: Hoodie Allen, Childish Gambino, and Logic)
Slam poet champion/San Francisco rapper Watksy came out swinging this summer with his fourth studio album, All You Can Do. His previous album, Cardboard Castles, was met with great approval from both critics and fans and this album only furthers George Watksy’s ability to craft insanely catchy hooks and melodies. This is an unconventional hip-hop album for the unconentional hip-hop fan.
Recommendations: “Whoa Whoa Whoa” “Right Now (Feat. Lisa Vitale)” “Tear To Diamonds (Feat. Raquel Rodriguez)”
17. Strange Desire – Bleachers (For fans of: The Killers, Neon Trees, and New Politics)
Jack Antonoff’s (guitarist of Fun.) second project, Bleachers, delivers the perfect 80s soundtrack for the modern generation. Strange Desire is full of bright, synth-infused indie-pop melodies and hooks that can make each song off this album become your next summer anthem.
Recommendations: “Like A River Runs” “Rollercoaster” “I Wanna Get Better”
16. Broken Compass – Sleepwave (For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, Underoath, and Smashing Pumpkins)
After the fallout of Underoath, Spencer Chamberlain grabbed mutli-instrumentalist, Stephen Bowman, to form Sleepwave and create Broken Compass. Every song from this album is something that you would expect to hear from 90s alt-rock giants like Nine Inch Nails or Smashing Pumpkins. This albums bounces from pulsating heavy rock to industrial alternative tunes that Trent Reznor probably wished he would’ve written.
Recommendations: “The Wolf” “Paper Planes” “Rock And Roll Is Dead And So Am I”
15. Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey (For fans of: The Black Keys, alt-J, and The Neighbourhood)
For her sophomore effort, Lana Del Rey recruited the help of Dan Auerbach (Singer/guitarist of The Black Keys) as a producer and songwriter for the Ultraviolence – which would explain the more psychedelic and bluesy vibe on this album. If you’re fan of the latest material from The Black Keys, then you will dig this record.
Recommendations: “Brooklyn Baby” “West Coast” “Money Power Glory”
14. Pop Psychology – Neon Trees (For fans of: The killers, The Bravery, and Grouplove)
Another album that can become your next summer anthem. On this record, Neon trees fully embraced their 80s pop side. Their fusion of 80s pop and new-wave indie rock has given them their most commercially successful album yet.
Recommendations: “Text Me In the Morning” “Unavoidable” “First Things First”
13. Disgusting – Beartooth (For fans of: A Day To Remember, Memphis May Fire, and Being As An Ocean)
Combining Pop-punk and metalcore elements isn’t anything new, however, this metalcore outfit from Colombus, Ohio has pulled it off with great style. Their ability to combining hard-hitting verses with catchy hook and choruses that are larger than life have had a lot of people in the underground scene taking notes.
Recommendations: “In Between” “Body Bag” “Keep Your American Dream”
12. Lift A Sail – Yellowcard (For fans of: Foo Fighters, The Ataris, and American Hi-Fi)
In this album, Yellowcard have traded in their sugary-sweet pop-punk melodies for something much harder. In Lift A Sail, Yellowcard has embraced their inner 90s rock roots and have created a record following guidelines set by bands like the Foo Fighters, Filter, Soundgarden, and others. They do have a couple track that bring in their signature electric violin, but expect heavy guitar rock for most of the album.
Recommendations: “Transmission Home” “Make Me So” “Deepest Well (Feat. Matty Mullins)”
11. Mind Over Matter – Young The Giant (For fans of: Grouplove, Walk The Moon, and Cage The Elephant)
A more aggressive expansion for Young The Giant. A much more diverse and dynamic album than their self-titled was.
Recommendations: “It’s About Time” “Firelight” “Mind Over Matter”
10. Place To Be – Eyes Lips Eyes (For fans of: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Strokes, and Talking Heads)
The first and last full-length studio album from these guys. A very dynamic and vibrant mix of Indie, punk, and funk that will remind anyone of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the end, Eyes Lips Eyes set out to be what they wanted, a fun funk-rock band whose music would be able to get anyone to bounce their head and crack a smile.
Recommendations: “Hollywood” “Old” “Tickle”
9. Ixora – Copeland (For fans of: Lana Del Rey, From Indian Lakes, and Lydia)
Copeland announced their return earlier in April and if this album is an indication of anything, it’s that they are here to stay. Reunion album don’t often get a lot of love, but this album has become and essential in Copeland’s discography. Ixora is a solid continuation of You Are My Sunshine.
Recommendations: “Disjointed” “Lavender” “Chiromancer”
8. Through Art We Are All Equal – Slaves (For Fans of: Jonny Craig, Emarosa, and Isles & Glaciers)
Jonny Craig has bounced around from multiple bands, so I sincerely hope he has found a place in Slaves because this band has a lot of potential. A melodic post-hardcore outfit that combines elements of soul and R&B.
Recommendations: “The Fire Down Below” “My Soul Is Empty and Full Of White Girls” “Starving For Friends (Feat. Vic Fuentes)
7. Versus – Emarosa (For fans of: Paramore, Jimmy Eat World, and Circa Survive)
With each new singer, Emarosa have changed their direction and style. First was metal with Chris Roetter, then post-hardcore with Jonny Craig, and now they gone a more pop-sensible approach with Bradley Walden. Bradley’s vocals give the band a much needed spirit of revival and renewed energy. Versus is, by far, the most cohesive effort by Emarosa.
Recommendations: “People Like Me, We Just Don’t Play” “I’ll Just Wait” “Cliff Notes”
6. Get Hurt – The Gaslight Anthem (For Fans of: Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and Rise Against)
Get Hurt is the raw Rock N’ Roll album that I’ve been searching for this past year. Combining elements of heartland rock, punk and grunge, The Gaslight Anthem have gone in a much heavier direction with this album.
Recommendations: “Stay Vicious” “Get Hurt” “1,000 Years”
5. Outliers – Better Taste Bureau (For fans of: Twenty One Pilots, Ab-Soul and G-Eazy)
Salt Lake City’s Better Taste Bureau may have released the most ambitious hip-hop album of 2014. This album will not only appeal to the average hip-hop/rap consumer, but it has the ability to cross genres appeal to fans of indie and alternative rock.
Recommendations: “Rise(Noose II)” “Pretenders (Feat. Mason Porter) “Dreams & Drums (Feat. Luna Lune)”
4. Happiness Is… – Taking Back Sunday (For fans of: Brand New, The Used, and Matchbook Romance)
Their last effort may have been a little lackluster, but Happiness Is… proves to be some of Taking Back Sunday’s best work. They have managed to take their old sound from albums of Tell All Your Friends and Where You Want To and combine it with their new mature lyrics.
Recommendations: “Flicker, Fade” “Beat Up Car” “Better Homes & Gardens”
3. Restoring Force – Of Mice & Men (For fans of: Memphis May May Fire, Bring Me The Horizon, and Stone Temple Pilots)
It may not be as “heavy” as The Flood, but Restoring Force is a lot more of a dynamic record with stronger songwriting, in my opinion. This album has more of a grunge feel to it, than a metalcore feel, which makes it one of the most unique metalcore albums in the past year.
Recommendations: “Feels Like Forever” “Bones Exposed” “Would You Still Be There”
2. Lowborn – Anberlin (For fans of: Muse, Depeche Mode, and Thrice)
This may not be the perfect closer to Anberlin’s career, but this is a very impressive and enjoyable album. The overall vibe of the album is very calm and atmospheric, giving a late 80s goth-rock/electronica feel to it. Anberlin took some notes from Muse and added a pinch of dubstep to a few of their songs. They still hold to their hard rock roots in half of the album, the other half is very experimental for them as a band.
Recommendations: “Stranger Ways” “Velvet Covered Brick” “We Are Destroyer”
1. Descensus – Circa Survive (For fans of: Thursday, Thrice, and Every Time I Die)
Perhaps the most aggressive and raw albums from Circa Survive’s collection. Circa Survive draws on alot of their different strengths to create this album, soft delicate guitar work, hard-hitting pulsating percussion, and Anthony Green’s other-worldly vocals.
Recommendations: “Schema” “Child of the Desert” “Nesting Dolls”
