Year-End Lists

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
2. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
3. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
   Angel Olsen
4. Here and Nowhere Else
   Cloud Nothings
5. Our Love
   Caribou
6. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
   Against Me!
7. LP1
   FKA twigs
8. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
9. They Want My Soul
   Spoon
10. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
11. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
12. In Conflict
    Owen Pallett
13. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
14. HEAL
    Strand of Oaks
15. I Never Learn
    Lykke Li
16. Everything Will Be Alright In the End
    Weezer
17. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
18. Beyoncé
    Beyoncé
19. It’s Album Time
    Todd Terje
20. Welcome to Fazoland
    Lil Herb
21. Dude Incredible
    Shellac
22. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
23. Lateness of Dancers
    Hiss Golden Messenger
24. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
25. Oxymoron
    Schoolboy Q
26. Bestial Burden
    Pharmakon
27. My Favourite Faded Fantasy
    Damien Rice
28. To Be Kind
    Swans
29. Badillac
    Together Pangea
30. Syro
    Aphex Twin
31. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
32. Singles
    Future Islands
33. No Mythologies to Follow
    MØ
34. Tomorrow’s Hits
    The Men
35. Xen
    Arca
36. My Krazy Life
    YG
37. Pup
    PUP
38. Wonder Where We Land
    SBTRKT
39. You’re Gonna Miss It All
    Modern Baseball
40. Same Sex Symbol
    Cameron Esposito
41. More Than Any Other Day
    Ought
42. Word O.K.
    Kool A.D.
43. Ryan Adams
    Ryan Adams
44. Blue Planet Eyes
    Preatures
45. DSU
    (Sandy) Alex G
46. Cadillactica
    Big K.R.I.T.
47. Seek Warmer Climes
    Lower
48. Faith In Strangers
    Andy Stott
49. Warpaint
    Warpaint
50. After the End
    Merchandise

Billboard: 10 Best Albums of 2014 (as voted by Billboard staff)

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. 1989
   Taylor Swift
2. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
3. In the Lonely Hour
   Sam Smith
4. The Voyager
   Jenny Lewis
5. X
   Ed Sheeran
6. Strange Desire
   Bleachers
7. I Never Learn
   Lykke Li
8. Syro
   Aphex Twin
9. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
10. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Clash Magazine: Top 40 Albums of 2014

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

1. LP1
   FKA twigs
2. You’re Dead!
   Flying Lotus
3. Dead
   Young Fathers
4. Angels & Devils
   The Bug
5. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
6. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
7. Piñata
   Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
8. Syro
   Aphex Twin
9. Love Letters
   Metronomy
10. Total Strife Forever
    East India Youth
11. A U R O R A
    Ben Frost
12. Soused
    Scott Walker & Sunn O)))
13. Hozier
    Hozier
14. Jungle
    Jungle
15. Our Love
    Caribou
16. Tremors
    SOHN
17. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
18. III
    BADBADNOTGOOD
19. Built on Glass
    Chet Faker
20. CLPPNG
    clipping.
21. Islands
    LV & Joshua Idehen
22. More Than Any Other Day
    Ought
23. To Be Kind
    Swans
24. Lazaretto
    Jack White
25. Nikki Nack
    Tune-Yards
26. Snakes & Ladders
    Wiley
27. Ruins
    Grouper
28. lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar
    Robert Plant
29. Stay Gold
    First Aid Kit
30. Dude Incredible
    Shellac
31. Petals Have Fallen
    DELS
32. Sun Structures
    Temples
33. Mess
    Liars
34. My Krazy Life
    YG
35. Kiasmos
    Kiasmos
36. Rave tapes
    Mogwai
37. Strange Friend
    The Phantom Band
38. Lese Majesty
    Shabazz Palaces
39. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
40. Present Tense
    Wild Beasts

Fact Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2014

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

1. Benji
   Sun Kil Moon
2. Parallel Memories
   Mr. Mitch
3. PC Music x DISown Radio
   PC Music
4. Faith In Strangers
   Andy Stott
5. Superimpositions
   Lorenzo Senni
6. My Krazy Life
   YG
7. Where We Come From
   Popcaan
8. Under the Skin
   Mica Levi
9. Super Saiyan Vol. 2
   Sicko Mobb
10. Butterfly Effect
    Shinichi Atobe
11. Ruins
    Grouper
12. Pom Pom
    Ariel Pink
13. Miseri Lares
    Valerio Tricoli
14. Tomorrow Was the Golden Age
    Bing & Ruth
15. Damsel in Distress
    Lotic
16. LP1
    FKA twigs
17. Black Portland
    Young Thug & Bloody Jay
18. Endgame
    Ital
19. Grime Album!! R&G Katie Pearl (2002 ish)
    DaVinChe
20. Angels & Devils
    The Bug
21. Wilderness of Mirrors
    Lawrence English
22. Black Light Spiral
    Untold
23. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
24. Black Metal
    Dean Blunt
25. Dangerous Game
    Via App
26. Young Hot Ebony
    Father
27. Workshop 19
    Kassem Mosse
28. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
29. Meshes of Voice
    Jenny Hval & Susanna
30. Gangsta Stripper Music 2
    Beat King
31. Music for the Uninvited
    Leon Vynehall
32. Lese Majesty
    Shabazz Palaces
33. Western Beats
    Kane West
34. Shelter
    Moiré
35. Beautiful Pimp II
    Rome Fortune
36. That’s Harakiri
    Sd Laika
37. Unfidelity
    Ekoplekz
38. Divine Ecstasy
    Supreme Cuts
39. Flourish
    The Cyclist
40. Allegra Bin 1
    Angel 1
41. Lownt God Rising
    Kit
42. HR Giger’s Studiolo
    HR Giger’s Studiolo
43. Truly Blessed
    SD
44. I Am The DMR
    Mix-O-Rap
45. w h o r e c o r e
    l s d x o x o
46. You Go Girl
    Frank & Tony
47. Friend of Mine
    DJ Dodger Stadium
48. Celestial Trax production mix for Mixmag
    Celestial Trax
49. Aquarius
    Tinashe
50. Insultes (hommage à John Cage)
    Charles Barabé

The Wire: Top 50 Albums of 2014

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

1. Syro
   Aphex Twin
2. Nothing Important
   Richard Dawson
3. To Be Kind
   Swans
4. Soused
   Scott Walker & Sunn O)))
5. Ghettoville
   Actress
6. Divide and Exit
   Sleaford Mods
7. Lese Majesty
   Shabazz Palaces
8. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
9. Beware The Fetish
   Kasai All Stars
10. Asiatisch
    Fatima Al Qadiri
11. Primitive and Deadly
    Earth
12. Way Out Weather
    Steve Gunn
13. Ruins
    Grouper
14. Miseri Lares
    Valerio Tricoli
15. Naldjorlak I, II & III
    Eliane Radigue
16. Hidden Tapes
    Marc Baron
17. The Abyss
    Kevin Drumm and Jason Lescalleet
18. An Air Swept Clean Of All Distance
    Rhodri Davies
19. Continuum Unbound
    Michael Pisaro
20. Place sub. v.
    AMM
21. Thumbscrew
    Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek & Tomas Fujiwara
22. Persona
    Puce Mary
23. Wait ’til Night
    Cooly G
24. Despairs Had Governed Me Too Long
    Skogen
25. Boy
    Carla Bozulich
26. Black Metal
    Dean Blunt
27. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
28. Ground of Being
    Annea Lockwood
29. The Great Lakes Suite
    Wadada Leo Smith
30. Suzi Ecto
    Call Super
31. Melodies for a Savage Fix
    Steve Gunn & Mike Gangloff
32. Meshes of Voice
    Jenny Hval & Susanna
33. I’ve Been To Many Places
    Matthew Shipp
34. Chorus
    Holly Herndon
35. Chamber Works 1992-2009
    Laurence Crane
36. Freezing Opening Thawing
    Shackleton
37. Sais.
    Klaus Lang
38. Bitchin Bajas
    Bitchin Bajas
39. Something Shines
    Laetitia Sadier
40. Gold
    Drcarlsonalbion
41. The Hollow Organ
    Helm
42. Roadless Travel
    Joseph Hammer
43. Quixotism
    Oren Ambarchi
44. Quick Sparrows Over the Black Earth
    Laura Cannell
45. To Be Continued
    Howard Riley
46. In Conflict
    Owen Pallett
47. Pom Pom
    Ariel Pink
48. ma ta ta bui
    Akio Suzuki & Aki Onda
49. Bestial Burden
    Pharmakon
50. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus

The A.V. Club: 20 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
   Angel Olsen
2. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
3. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
4. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
5. Are We There
   Sharon Van Etten
6. LP1
   FKA twigs
7. Under Color of Official Right
   Protomartyr
8. Here and Nowhere Else
   Cloud Nothings
9. You’re Dead!
   Flying Lotus
10. Cilvia Demo
    Isaiah Rashad
11. HEAL
    Strand of Oaks
12. Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2
    Vince Staples
13. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
14. Morning Phase
    Beck
15. 1989
    Taylor Swift
16. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
17. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
18. To Be Kind
    Swans
19. Deep Fantasy
    White Lung
20. Faith In Strangers
    Andy Stott

NPR Music: 50 Favorite Albums of 2014 (alphabetical)

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

• This Is All Yours
  alt-J
• Vengo
  Ana Tijoux
• American Middle Class
  Angaleena Presley
• Burn Your Fire For No Witness
  Angel Olsen
• Syro
  Aphex Twin
• Sibelius & Adès: Violin Concertos
  Hanna Lintu, Autustin Hadelich & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
• Landmarks
  Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
• Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath
  Brownout
• La Edad de la Violencia
  Ceci Bastida
• LP1
  FKA twigs
• Floating
  Fred Hersch Trio
• Piñata
  Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
• The Gloaming
  The Gloaming
• Ruins
  Grouper
• Small Town Heroes
  Hurray for the Riff Raff
• Cilvia Demo
  Isaiah Rashad
• Time’s Tales
  Jeff Ballard
• The Voyager
  Jenny Lewis
• Bailar en La Cueva
  Jorge Drexler
• Stella di Napoli
  Joyce DiDonato, Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Lyon & Riccardo Minasi
• Workshop 19
  Kassem Mosse
• All the Things You Are
  Leon Fleisher
• Si Se Puede!: Los Lobos And Friends
  Los Lobos
• Passerby
  Luluc
• Live at the Village Vanguard
  Marc Ribot Trio
• Courting Strong
  Martha
• The London Sessions
  Mary J. Blige
• Platinum
  Miranda Lambert
• Moodymann
  Moodymann
• Tzenni
  Noura Mint Seymali
• Foundations of Burden
  Pallbearer
• Too Bright
  Perfume Genius
• Where We Come From
  Popcaan
• Janacek: Glagolitic Mass, The Eternal Gospel
  Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Lukas Vasilek & Tomáš Netopil
• The Lights from the Chemical Plant
  Robert Ellis
• lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar
  Robert Plant
• Run the Jewels 2
  Run the Jewels
• John Luther Adams: Become Ocean
  Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony Orchestra
• A Long Way To the Beginning
  Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
• They Want My Soul
  Spoon
• St. Vincent
  St. Vincent
• Racine carrée
  Stromae
• Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
  Sturgill Simpson
• Sylvan Esso
  Sylvan Esso
• Paperwork
  T.I.
• 1989
  Taylor Swift
• VII
  Teyana Taylor
• Sign Language
  Ty Dolla $ign
• Lost in the Dream
  The War on Drugs
• My Krazy Life
  YG

Flood Magazine: Best Albums of 2014

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

• The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas
  Courtney Barnett
• Morning Phase
  Beck
• Burnt Offering
  The Budos Band
• Our Love
  Caribou
• Eagulls
  Eagulls
• Singles
  Future Islands
• Manipulator
  Ty Segall
• Lese Majesty
  Shabazz Palaces
• Run the Jewels 2
  Run the Jewels
• Lost in the Dream
  The War on Drugs

Entertainment Weekly: 10 Best Albums of 2014

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

1. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
2. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
3. Too Bright
   Perfume Genius
4. Ultraviolence
   Lana Del Rey
5. Salad Days
   Mac DeMarco
6. You’re Dead!
   Flying Lotus
7. Manipulator
   Ty Segall
8. Morning Phase
   Beck
9. LP1
   FKA twigs
10. The Outsiders
    Eric Church

Time Out London: 30 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2015]

1. Trouble in Paradise
   La Roux
2. Everyday Robots
   Damon Albarn
3. It’s Album Time
   Todd Terje
4. Commune
   Goat
5. Nabuma Rubberband
   Little Dragon
6. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
7. LP1
   FKA twigs
8. Ibibio Sound Machine
   Ibibio Sound Machine
9. Our Love
   Caribou
10. In Conflict
    Owen Pallett
11. Jungle
    Jungle
12. Warpaint
    Warpaint
13. The Hum
    Hookworms
14. Royal Blood
    Royal Blood
15. 1989
    Taylor Swift
16. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
17. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
18. Everybody Down
    Kate Tempest
19. Under the Skin
    Mica Levi
20. Luminous
    The Horrors
21. Singles
    Future Islands
22. DSU
    (Sandy) Alex G
23. Syro
    Aphex Twin
24. My Favourite Faded Fantasy
    Damien Rice
25. Morning Phase
    Beck
26. Total Strife Forever
    East India Youth
27. Love Letters
    Metronomy
28. Nothing Important
    Richard Dawson
29. Wonder Where We Land
    SBTRKT
30. In the Lonely Hour
    Sam Smith