Year-End Lists

Cokemachineglow assembles a variety of ways to find some of the music their staff loved most this year. Below are the albums labeled “Unison” — representing the staff as a whole — but browse also their “Harmony” of individual voices.

[see also 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

• Lese Majesty
  Shabazz Palaces
• LP1
  FKA twigs
• Are We There
  Sharon Van Etten
• The Moon Rang Like a Bell
  Hundred Waters
• Run the Jewels 2
  Run the Jewels
• Thirst 48
  Boogie
• To Be Kind
  Swans
• You’re Dead!
  Flying Lotus
• Gist Is
  Adult Jazz
• A Turn Of Breath
  Ian William Craig

Darren Hughes: 10 Favorite Films of 2014 (as published at his site, Long Pauses, where he also has lists of favorite unreleased films, experimental shorts, and discoveries)

[see also 2021 • 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012]

1. The Immigrant
   James Gray
2. The Strange Little Cat
   Ramon Zürcher
3. Jealousy
   Philippe Garrel
4. What Now? Remind Me
   Joaquim Pinto
5. Norte, the End of History
   Lav Diaz
6. Goodbye to Language
   Jean-Luc Godard
7. Night Moves
   Kelly Reichardt
8. Stray Dogs
   Tsai Ming-liang
9. The Last of the Unjust
   Claude Lanzmann
10. Closed Curtain
    Kambuzia Partovi and Jafar Panahi

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
2. My Krazy Life
   YG
3. Ultraviolence
   Lana Del Rey
4. 2014 Forest Hills Drive
   J. Cole
5. Black Messiah
   D’Angelo and The Vanguard
6. Days Before Rodeo
   Travis Scott
7. My Everything
   Ariana Grande
8. 1989
   Taylor Swift
9. Our Love
   Caribou
10. LP1
    FKA twigs
11. Where We Come From
    Popcaan
12. Tha Tour Part 1
    Rich Gang
13. Hell Can Wait
    Vince Staples
14. The Pinkprint
    Nicki Minaj
15. Broke With Expensive Taste
    Azealia Banks
16. Life After Deathrow
    Boosie Badazz
17. Trigga
    Trey Songz
18. No More
    Jeremih & Shlohmo
19. Seen It All: The Autobiography
    Jeezy
20. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
21. Underground Cassette Tap Music
    Gangsta Boo & Beatking
22. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
23. Cadillactica
    Big K.R.I.T.
24. In the Lonely Hour
    Sam Smith
25. Oxymoron
    Schoolboy Q
26. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
27. Tough Love
    Jessie Ware
28. Cloud 19
    Kehlani
29. Sign Language
    Ty Dolla $ign
30. Cilvia Demo
    Isaiah Rashad
31. PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO
    PARTYNEXTDOOR
32. SUCKER
    Charli XCX
33. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
34. Anomaly
    Lecrae
35. X
    Ed Sheeran
36. I Never Learn
    Lykke Li
37. GIRL
    Pharrell Williams
38. Cozz & Effect
    Cozz
39. Ferg Forever
    A$AP Ferg
40. Atlas
    Real Estate
41. Body High
    Lucki Eck$
42. No Label II
    Migos
43. Xen
    Arca
44. Sex Playlist
    Omarion
45. Under Pressure
    Logic
46. Tony
    King Louie
47. Shady XV
    various artists
48. Aquarius
    Tinashe
49. EP 1
    Low Pros
50. Neon Icon
    Riff Raff

Steve Erickson: 20 Best Films of 2014, as published by Gay City News

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015]

1. Boyhood
   Richard Linklater
2. What Now? Remind Me
   Joaquim Pinto
3. Night Moves
   Kelly Reichardt
4. Actress
   Robert Greene
5. Stray Dogs
   Tsai Ming-liang
6. The King of Escape
   Alain Guiraudie
7. Goodbye to Language
   Jean-Luc Godard
8. The Immigrant
   James Gray
9. Nightcrawler
   Dan Gilroy
10. Selma
    Ava DuVernay

Runners-up (alphabetically)

• The Babadook
  Jennifer Kent
• Beyond the Lights
  Gina Prince-Bythewood
• The Dog
  Allison Berg, Frank Keraudren
• John Wick
  Chad Stahelski
• The Naked Room
  Nuria Ibañez
• National Gallery
  Frederick Wiseman
• Two Days, One Night
  Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
• Under the Skin
  Jonathan Glazer
• Vic + Flo Saw a Bear
  Denis Côté
• We Are Mari Pepa
  Samuel Kishi Leopo

Brian Darr: 10 Best Feature Films of 2014, as published by Fandor’s Keyframe blog. See also this list of documentaries.

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013]

1. Goodbye to Language
   Jean-Luc Godard
2. Citizenfour
   Laura Poitras
3. Interstellar
   Christopher Nolan
4. Vic + Flo Saw a Bear
   Denis Côté
5. The Immigrant
   James Gray
6. Abuse of Weakness
   Catherine Breillat
7. The Grand Budapest Hotel
   Wes Anderson
8. The Dance of Reality
   Alejandro Jodorowsky
9. MANAKAMANA
   Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez
10. Stray Dogs
    Tsai Ming-liang

Pretty Much Amazing: 60 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Beyoncé
   Beyoncé
2. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
3. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
4. Benji
   Sun Kil Moon
5. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
6. LP1
   FKA twigs
7. Too Bright
   Perfume Genius
8. To Be Kind
   Swans
9. Syro
   Aphex Twin
10. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
11. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
12. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
13. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
14. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
15. It’s Album Time
    Todd Terje
16. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
17. 1989
    Taylor Swift
18. Lese Majesty
    Shabazz Palaces
19. Plowing Into the Field of Love
    Iceage
20. Present Tense
    Wild Beasts
21. Singles
    Future Islands
22. Here and Nowhere Else
    Cloud Nothings
23. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
24. Nikki Nack
    Tune-Yards
25. Mr Twin Sister
    Mr Twin Sister
26. Familiars
    The Antlers
27. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
28. More Than Any Other Day
    Ought
29. Blank Project
    Neneh Cherry
30. Morning Phase
    Beck
31. HEAL
    Strand of Oaks
32. In Conflict
    Owen Pallett
33. A U R O R A
    Ben Frost
34. “What Is This Heart?”
    How to Dress Well
35. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts
36. Ruins
    Grouper
37. Our Love
    Caribou
38. Broke With Expensive Taste
    Azealia Banks
39. III
    BADBADNOTGOOD
40. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
    Against Me!
41. Do It Again
    Röyksopp & Robyn
42. Deep Fantasy
    White Lung
43. Atlas
    Real Estate
44. The Moon Rang Like a Bell
    Hundred Waters
45. Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything
    Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra
46. Northtown – EP
    Shamir
47. Brill Bruisers
    The New Pornographers
48. No Mythologies to Follow
    MØ
49. Pom Pom
    Ariel Pink
50. 1000 Forms of Fear
    Sia
51. So It Goes
    Ratking
52. Mess
    Liars
53. My Krazy Life
    YG
54. Say Yes To Love
    Perfect Pussy
55. The Physical World
    Death from Above 1979
56. My Everything
    Ariana Grande
57. I Never Learn
    Lykke Li
58. Joyland
    Trust
59. White Women
    Chromeo
60. Oxymoron
    Schoolboy Q

Wesley Morris: Top 30 Movies of 2014, as published by Grantland

[see also 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Norte, the End of History
   Lav Diaz
2. Selma
   Ava DuVernay
3. Citizenfour
   Laura Poitras
4. Land Ho!
   Martha Stephens & Aaron Katz
5. Inherent Vice
   Paul Thomas Anderson
6. Edge of Tomorrow
   Doug Liman
7. Whiplash
   Damien Chazelle
8. The Babadook
   Jennifer Kent
9. Nymphomaniac
   Lars von Trier
10. Stranger by the Lake
    Alain Guiraudie

20 more that easily could be one of the 10

• Actress
  Robert Greene
• Birdman
  Alejandro G. Iñárritu
• Bird People
  Pascale Ferran
• Boyhood
  Richard Linklater
• Dear White People
  Justin Simien
• The Double
  Richard Ayoade
• Ida
  Pawel Pawlikowski
• The Last of the Unjust
  Claude Lanzmann
• Love is Strange
  Ira Sachs
• MANAKAMANA
  Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez
• Mr. Turner
  Mike Leigh
• National Gallery
  Frederick Wiseman
• Non-Stop
  Jaume Collet-Serra
• The Overnighters
  Jesse Moss
• Pride
  Matthew Warchus
• The Raid 2
  Gareth Evans
• Snowpiercer
  Bong Joon-ho
• Two Days, One Night
  Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
• Under the Skin
  Jonathan Glazer
• Wild
  Jean-Marc Vallée

Michael Phillips: 30 Best Movies of 2014, as published by The Chicago Tribune

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Boyhood
   Richard Linklater
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
   Wes Anderson
3. Winter Sleep
   Nuri Bilge Ceylan
4. Whiplash
   Damien Chazelle
5. The Lego Movie
   Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
6. Listen Up Philip
   Alex Ross Perry
7. Force Majeure
   Ruben Östlund
8. Mr. Turner
   Mike Leigh
9. Dear White People
   Justin Simien
10. Heaven Knows What
    Ben Safdie and Joshua Safdie

Nos. 11-30 (in alphabetical order)

• The Babadook
  Jennifer Kent
• Black Box
  Stephen Cone
• Finding Vivian Maier
  John Maloof & Charlie Siskel
• Frank
  Lenny Abrahamson
• Get on Up
  Tate Taylor
• Goodbye to Language
  Jean-Luc Godard
• Ida
  Pawel Pawlikowski
• Inherent Vice
  Paul Thomas Anderson
• Le Week-End
  Roger Michell
• Life Itself
  Steve James
• Love is Strange
  Ira Sachs
• Low Down
  Jeff Preiss
• The Missing Picture
  Rithy Panh
• National Gallery
  Frederick Wiseman
• Obvious Child
  Gillian Robespierre
• The Overnighters
  Jesse Moss
• Selma
  Ava DuVernay
• Snowpiercer
  Bong Joon-ho
• The Tribe
  Miroslav Slaboshpitsky
• Under the Skin
  Jonathan Glazer

Dana Stevens: Top 20 Movies of 2014, as published by Slate

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

Top Ten, in alphabetical order

• The Babadook
  Jennifer Kent
• Boyhood
  Richard Linklater
• Force Majeure
  Ruben Östlund
• Gone Girl
  David Fincher
• Ida
  Pawel Pawlikowski
• The Lego Movie
  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
• Mr. Turner
  Mike Leigh
• The Missing Picture
  Rithy Panh
• Selma
  Ava DuVernay
• We Are the Best!
  Lukas Moodysson

10 Runners-Up (alphabetically)

• Blue Ruin
  Jeremy Saulnier
• Child’s Pose
  Cãlin Peter Netzer
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
  Wes Anderson
• Happy Valley
  Amir Bar-Lev
• Life Itself
  Steve James
• Locke
  Steven Knight
• Night Moves
  Kelly Reichardt
• Obvious Child
  Gillian Robespierre
• Only Lovers Left Alive
  Jim Jarmusch
• Snowpiercer
  Bong Joon-ho

Ben Sachs: 30 Favorite Films of 2014, as published by The Chicago Reader

[see also 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. The Wind Rises
   Hayao Miyazaki
2. Rambleras
   Daniela Speranza
3. Mood Indigo
   Michel Gondry
4. Starred Up
   David Mackenzie
5. Boyhood
   Richard Linklater
6. What Now? Remind Me
   Joaquim Pinto
7. Breakfast with Curtis
   Laura Colella
8. Jimmy P.
   Arnaud Desplechin
9. Thy Womb
   Brillante Mendoza
10. Gone Girl
    David Fincher
11. Only Lovers Left Alive
    Jim Jarmusch
12. The Golden Era
    Ann Hui
13. Level Five
    Chris Marker
14. Clouds of Sils Maria
    Olivier Assayas
15. Camille Claudel 1915
    Bruno Dumont
16. The President
    Mohsen Makhmalbaf
17. The Amazing Catfish
    Claudia Sainte-Luce
18. The Stuart Hall Project
    John Akomfrah
19. The Homesman
    Tommy Lee Jones
20. Listen Up Philip
    Alex Ross Perry
21. Beyond the Lights
    Gina Prince-Bythewood
22. Timbuktu
    Abderrahmane Sissako
23. Non-Stop
    Jaume Collet-Serra
24. Words and Pictures
    Fred Schepisi
25. Exhibition
    Joanna Hogg
26. The Grand Budapest Hotel
    Wes Anderson
27. Gloria
    Sebastián Lelio
28. Corner Stores
    Amina Waheed
29. Nymphomaniac
    Lars von Trier
30. National Gallery
    Frederick Wiseman