Year-End Lists

Jim DeRogatis: Top 40 Albums of 2014, as published by WBEZ and aired on Sound Opinions

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

1. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
   Against Me!
2. Rips
   Ex Hex
3. Cry is for the Flies
   Le Butcherettes
4. Syro
   Aphex Twin
5. Dude Incredible
   Shellac
6. Poor People Are Revolting
   The Gotobeds
7. Glass Boys
   Fucked Up
8. Food
   Kelis
9. Sunbathing Animal
   Parquet Courts
10. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
11. Seeds
    TV on the Radio
12. Tweens
    Tweens
13. Just Be Free
    Big Freedia
14. Everyday Robots
    Damon Albarn
15. Brill Bruisers
    The New Pornographers
16. Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone
    Lucinda Williams
17. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
18. The Breaks
    Martin Carr
19. I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss
    Sinead O’Connor
20. Run the Jewels 2
    Run the Jewels
21. Nikki Nack
    Tune-Yards
22. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
23. Whoop Dee Doo
    The Muffs
24. Lost In Alphaville
    The Rentals
25. Lazaretto
    Jack White
26. Blue Planet Eyes
    Preatures
27. V for Vaselines
    Vaselines
28. Sound Mirror
    Syd Arthur
29. Someday World
    Eno • Hyde
30. All Under
    Edvard Graham Lewis
31. I Love You But I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now
    Got A Girl
32. Everything Will Be Alright In the End
    Weezer
33. Bathtub Love Killings
    Olivia Jean
34. Beauty & Ruin
    Bob Mould
35. Somewhere Else
    Lydia Loveless
36. After the Disco
    Broken Bells
37. Underneath the Rainbow
    Black Lips
38. I Never Learn
    Lykke Li
39. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
40. Popular Problems
    Leonard Cohen

Greg Kot: Top 20 Albums of 2014, as published by The Chicago Tribune and aired on Sound Opinions

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

1. Food
   Kelis
2. Under Color of Official Right
   Protomartyr
3. Benjamin Booker
   Benjamin Booker
4. The London Sessions
   Mary J. Blige
5. Attica!
   Wussy
6. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
7. LP1
   FKA twigs
8. Somewhere Else
   Lydia Loveless
9. Blue Planet Eyes
   Preatures
10. Warpaint
    Warpaint
11. Beauty & Ruin
    Bob Mould
12. Commune
    Goat
13. The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas
    Courtney Barnett
14. Grass Punks
    Tom Brosseau
15. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts
16. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
17. Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone
    Lucinda Williams
18. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
    Sturgill Simpson
19. Wild Onion
    Twin Peaks
20. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen

Gorilla vs. Bear: 35 Favorite Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Lese Majesty
   Shabazz Palaces
2. Ruins
   Grouper
3. Pom Pom
   Ariel Pink
4. Picture You Staring
   TOPS
5. Rival Dealer
   Burial
6. Doss + remixes
   Doss
7. L’amour/Romantic Times
   Lewis
8. Piñata
   Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
9. Loom
   Fear of Men
10. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
11. Faith In Strangers
    Andy Stott
12. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
13. Sketches from an Island
    Mark Barrott
14. Yumi Zouma
    Yumi Zouma
15. Music for the Uninvited
    Leon Vynehall
16. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
17. For Seven Nights This Island Is Ours
    Ana Caprix
18. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
19. Friend of Mine
    DJ Dodger Stadium
20. Mr Noah
    Panda Bear
21. Drown Me Up
    Recycle Culture
22. Tough Love
    Jessie Ware
23. Rarities & Unreleased
    Johnny Jewel
24. Aquarius
    Tinashe
25. Careers
    Beverly
26. Under the Skin
    Mica Levi
27. Alvvays
    Alvvays
28. Sales
    SALES
29. Cassette
    Viet Cong
30. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
31. Favors
    Vesuvio Solo
32. Oxymoron
    Schoolboy Q
33. Mr Twin Sister
    Mr Twin Sister
34. Second Comin’
    Korallreven
35. Adorn
    You’ll Never Get to Heaven

Stereogum: 50 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
2. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
3. Benji
   Sun Kil Moon
4. Shriek
   Wye Oak
5. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
   Angel Olsen
6. Deep Fantasy
   White Lung
7. Are We There
   Sharon Van Etten
8. Nux Vomica
   Nux Vomica
9. LP1
   FKA twigs
10. After the End
    Merchandise
11. Clearing the Path to Ascend
    YOB
12. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
13. To Be Kind
    Swans
14. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
    Against Me!
15. My Krazy Life
    YG
16. The Future’s Void
    EMA
17. The Voyager
    Jenny Lewis
18. The Outsiders
    Eric Church
19. Atlas
    Real Estate
20. HEAL
    Strand of Oaks
21. Tha Tour Part 1
    Rich Gang
22. 1989
    Taylor Swift
23. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
24. Teenage Retirement
    Chumped
25. As The Stars
    Woods of Desolation
26. Tough Love
    Jessie Ware
27. Here and Nowhere Else
    Cloud Nothings
28. Glass Boys
    Fucked Up
29. Pom Pom
    Ariel Pink
30. It’s Album Time
    Todd Terje
31. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
32. Singles
    Future Islands
33. Syro
    Aphex Twin
34. “What Is This Heart?”
    How to Dress Well
35. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
36. Tomorrow’s Hits
    The Men
37. Bury Me at Makeout Creek
    Mitski
38. Ecdysis
    Horrendous
39. Our Love
    Caribou
40. Aquarius
    Tinashe
41. Hell Can Wait
    Vince Staples
42. Melana Chasmata
    Triptykon
43. Hoodwink’d
    Lvl Up
44. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
    Sturgill Simpson
45. Keep Doing What You’re Doing
    You Blew It!
46. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
47. Heathen
    Thou
48. Picture You Staring
    TOPS
49. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
50. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
2. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
3. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
4. Black Moon Spell
   King Tuff
5. Alvvays
   Alvvays
6. Sylvan Esso
   Sylvan Esso
7. Morning Phase
   Beck
8. Are We There
   Sharon Van Etten
9. Stay Gold
   First Aid Kit
10. The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas
    Courtney Barnett
11. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
12. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
13. Atlas
    Real Estate
14. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
15. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
    Sturgill Simpson
16. The Voyager
    Jenny Lewis
17. Brill Bruisers
    The New Pornographers
18. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
19. Worship the Sun
    Allah-Lahs
20. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
21. Half the City
    St. Paul & The Broken Bones
22. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
23. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
24. I Never Learn
    Lykke Li
25. Singles
    Future Islands
26. Our Love
    Caribou
27. Small Town Heroes
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
28. Divisionary
    Ages and Ages
29. Give the People What They Want
    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
30. Voices
    Phantogram
31. Sukierae
    Tweedy
32. …And Star Power
    Foxygen
33. Under Color of Official Right
    Protomartyr
34. Ryan Adams
    Ryan Adams
35. LP1
    FKA twigs
36. English Oceans
    Drive-By Truckers
37. Shattered
    Reigning Sound
38. Lese Majesty
    Shabazz Palaces
39. HEAL
    Strand of Oaks
40. Lazaretto
    Jack White
41. The Lights from the Chemical Plant
    Robert Ellis
42. Too True
    Dum Dum Girls
43. Typical System
    Total Control
44. Sun Structures
    Temples
45. My Favourite Faded Fantasy
    Damien Rice
46. The River & the Thread
    Rosanne Cash
47. Here and Nowhere Else
    Cloud Nothings
48. Single Mothers
    Justin Townes Earle
49. Rooms of the House
    La Dispute
50. Trouble
    Hospitality

Rolling Stone: 50 Best Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Songs of Innocence
   U2
2. High Hopes
   Bruce Springsteen
3. Turn Blue
   The Black Keys
4. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
5. Platinum
   Miranda Lambert
6. SUCKER
   Charli XCX
7. Ultraviolence
   Lana Del Rey
8. Run the Jewels 2
   Run the Jewels
9. Salad Days
   Mac DeMarco
10. 1989
    Taylor Swift
11. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
12. Sonic Highways
    Foo Fighters
13. More Than Any Other Day
    Ought
14. Everything Will Be Alright In the End
    Weezer
15. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
    Against Me!
16. LP1
    FKA twigs
17. The Voyager
    Jenny Lewis
18. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
    Sturgill Simpson
19. Standing In the Breach
    Jackson Browne
20. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
21. The Outsiders
    Eric Church
22. Recess
    Skrillex
23. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
24. Popular Problems
    Leonard Cohen
25. My Krazy Life
    YG
26. Hypnotic Eye
    Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
27. This Is All Yours
    alt-J
28. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts
29. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
30. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes
    Thom Yorke
31. Black Portland
    Young Thug & Bloody Jay
32. Everyday Robots
    Damon Albarn
33. Midnight Sun
    The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
34. Art Official Age
    Prince
35. Strut
    Lenny Kravitz
36. Alvvays
    Alvvays
37. Benjamin Booker
    Benjamin Booker
38. Small Town Heroes
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
39. Our Love
    Caribou
40. Lazaretto
    Jack White
41. Syro
    Aphex Twin
42. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
43. Honest
    Future
44. El Pintor
    Interpol
45. The Future’s Void
    EMA
46. Sukierae
    Tweedy
47. Gary Clark Jr. Live
    Gary Clark Jr.
48. Ghost Stories
    Coldplay
49. Emmaar
    Tinariwen
50. Clearing the Path to Ascend
    YOB

NME: Top 50 Albums of 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
2. Salad Days
   Mac DeMarco
3. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
4. Syro
   Aphex Twin
5. Our Love
   Caribou
6. Trouble in Paradise
   La Roux
7. After the End
   Merchandise
8. Carry On the Grudge
   Jamie T
9. Divide and Exit
   Sleaford Mods
10. Rips
    Ex Hex
11. Singles
    Future Islands
12. The Physical World
    Death from Above 1979
13. Everyday Robots
    Damon Albarn
14. Run the Jewels 2
    Run the Jewels
15. Eagulls
    Eagulls
16. Plowing Into the Field of Love
    Iceage
17. It’s Album Time
    Todd Terje
18. Everybody Down
    Kate Tempest
19. Royal Blood
    Royal Blood
20. Lazaretto
    Jack White
21. LP1
    FKA twigs
22. To Be Kind
    Swans
23. 13
    Black Sabbath
24. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
25. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
26. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
27. Jungle
    Jungle
28. World Peace Is None Of Your Business
    Morrissey
29. Alvvays
    Alvvays
30. Warpaint
    Warpaint
31. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
32. Lacuna
    Childhood
33. Present Tense
    Wild Beasts
34. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
35. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts
36. Commune
    Goat
37. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes
    Thom Yorke
38. This Is All Yours
    alt-J
39. Under Color of Official Right
    Protomartyr
40. So Long, See You Tomorrow
    Bombay Bicycle Club
41. Futurology
    Manic Street Preachers
42. The Hum
    Hookworms
43. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
44. Say Yes To Love
    Perfect Pussy
45. Honeyblood
    Honeyblood
46. Wild Onion
    Twin Peaks
47. American Interior
    Gruff Rhys
48. Sun Structures
    Temples
49. El Pintor
    Interpol
50. Tyranny
    Julian Casablancas+The Voidz

Mojo Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2014

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

1. Morning Phase
   Beck
2. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
3. Divide and Exit
   Sleaford Mods
4. Lazaretto
   Jack White
5. St. Vincent
   St. Vincent
6. Way Out Weather
   Steve Gunn
7. Rooms With Walls And Windows
   Julie Byrne
8. Everyday Robots
   Damon Albarn
9. LP1
   FKA twigs
10. Angels & Devils
    The Bug
11. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
12. Our Love
    Caribou
13. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
14. The Take Off And Landing Of Everything
    Elbow
15. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
    Sturgill Simpson
16. Present Tense
    Wild Beasts
17. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
18. Everybody Down
    Kate Tempest
19. lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar
    Robert Plant
20. Futurology
    Manic Street Preachers
21. Syro
    Aphex Twin
22. Singles
    Future Islands
23. Soused
    Scott Walker & Sunn O)))
24. When The Cellar Children See The Light Of Day
    Mirel Wagner
25. GIRL
    Pharrell Williams
26. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
27. Total Strife Forever
    East India Youth
28. Atlas
    Real Estate
29. Beware The Fetish
    Kasai All Stars
30. Popular Problems
    Leonard Cohen
31. World Peace Is None Of Your Business
    Morrissey
32. Sun Structures
    Temples
33. Songs of Innocence
    U2
34. Turn Blue
    The Black Keys
35. First Mind
    Nick Mulvey
36. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
37. Cold World
    Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens
38. A Turn Of Breath
    Ian William Craig
39. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
40. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
41. KOCH
    Lee Gamble
42. To Be Kind
    Swans
43. End Times Undone
    David Kilgour And The Heavy 8s
44. Going Back Home
    Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey
45. A Letter Home
    Neil Young
46. Tied To A Star
    J Mascis
47. Dead
    Young Fathers
48. Indie Cindy
    Pixies
49. From Scotland With Love
    King Creosote
50. Ske-Dat-De-Dat…The Spirit Of Satch
    Dr. John

American Songwriter: Top 50 Albums of 2014

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

1. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
   Sturgill Simpson
2. Lost in the Dream
   The War on Drugs
3. HEAL
   Strand of Oaks
4. 1989
   Taylor Swift
5. Ryan Adams
   Ryan Adams
6. Small Town Heroes
   Hurray for the Riff Raff
7. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
   Angel Olsen
8. Lateness of Dancers
   Hiss Golden Messenger
9. Songs
   John Fullbright
10. Stay Gold
    First Aid Kit
11. Give My Love to London
    Marianne Faithfull
12. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
13. The Lights from the Chemical Plant
    Robert Ellis
14. The Avenues
    Lera Lynn
15. Upside Down Mountain
    Conor Oberst
16. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
17. Favorite Waitress
    The Felice Brothers
18. The Way I’m Livin’
    Lee Ann Womack
19. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
20. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
    Against Me!
21. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
22. Rips
    Ex Hex
23. Boxers
    Matthew Ryan
24. Popular Problems
    Leonard Cohen
25. The Voyager
    Jenny Lewis
26. The River & the Thread
    Rosanne Cash
27. Sukierae
    Tweedy
28. Wig Out At Jagbags
    Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
29. Single Mothers
    Justin Townes Earle
30. American Middle Class
    Angaleena Presley
31. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
32. Platinum
    Miranda Lambert
33. Lazaretto
    Jack White
34. Blind Water Finds Blind Water
    Adam Faucett
35. The Outsiders
    Eric Church
36. Hypnotic Eye
    Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
37. Bahamas Is Afie
    Bahamas
38. Most Messed Up
    Old 97’s
39. Warpaint
    Warpaint
40. Hozier
    Hozier
41. Strong Feelings
    Doug Paisley
42. Atlas
    Real Estate
43. Remedy
    Old Crow Medicine Show
44. Tarpaper Sky
    Rodney Crowell
45. A Reasonable Amount of Trouble
    Jesse Winchester
46. Morning Phase
    Beck
47. Brill Bruisers
    The New Pornographers
48. Make My Head Sing…
    Jessica Lea Mayfield
49. English Oceans
    Drive-By Truckers
50. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten

Crack Magazine: Albums of the Year 2014

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012]

1. Black Metal
   Dean Blunt
2. Angels & Devils
   The Bug
3. Plowing Into the Field of Love
   Iceage
4. Present Tense
   Wild Beasts
5. Soused
   Scott Walker & Sunn O)))
6. Tha Tour Part 1
   Rich Gang
7. LP1
   FKA twigs
8. It’s Album Time
   Todd Terje
9. More Than Any Other Day
   Ought
10. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
11. Run the Jewels 2
    Run the Jewels
12. To Be Kind
    Swans
13. Bestial Burden
    Pharmakon
14. Workshop 19
    Kassem Mosse
15. Where We Come From
    Popcaan
16. Black Light Spiral
    Untold
17. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
18. So It Goes
    Ratking
19. Ruins
    Grouper
20. Wildest Dreams
    DJ Harvey's Wildest Dreams
21. Faith In Strangers
    Andy Stott
22. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
23. Eagulls
    Eagulls
24. Happiness Is Happening
    Roman Flügel
25. Divide and Exit
    Sleaford Mods
26. The Satanist
    Behemoth
27. That’s Harakiri
    Sd Laika
28. Ghettoville
    Actress
29. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
30. Singles
    Future Islands
31. The Power and the Glory
    Perc
32. Here and Nowhere Else
    Cloud Nothings
33. Da Mind Of Traxman Vol. 2
    Traxman
34. My Krazy Life
    YG
35. American Intelligence
    Theo Parrish
36. DSU
    (Sandy) Alex G
37. Drop The Vowels
    Millie & Andrea
38. High Life
    Eno • Hyde
39. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
40. Asiatisch
    Fatima Al Qadiri
41. A U R O R A
    Ben Frost
42. Commune
    Goat
43. Through Force Of Will
    Torn Hawk
44. International
    Lust For Youth
45. Submit X
    Gesloten Cirkel
46. Say Yes To Love
    Perfect Pussy
47. Aquarius
    Tinashe
48. Our Love
    Caribou
49. Moodymann
    Moodymann
50. Syro
    Aphex Twin
51. Familiars
    The Antlers
52. Tied To A Star
    J Mascis
53. Biology
    Young Marco
54. Luck
    Tom Vek
55. Annabel Dream Reader
    The Wytches
56. Seek Warmer Climes
    Lower
57. Flatland
    Objekt
58. If Anything
    Greys
59. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
60. Love Letters
    Metronomy
61. The Hum
    Hookworms
62. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
63. Oxymoron
    Schoolboy Q
64. See You When You Get There
    Session Victim
65. Nabuma Rubberband
    Little Dragon
66. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
67. Yellow Memories
    Fatima
68. Mess
    Liars
69. Nothing Important
    Richard Dawson
70. Atlas
    Real Estate
71. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
72. Gay Dog Food
    Mykki Blanco
73. Total Strife Forever
    East India Youth
74. Dude Incredible
    Shellac
75. Xen
    Arca
76. Snakes & Ladders
    Wiley
77. Welcome to Fazoland
    Lil Herb
78. Celestite
    Wolves in the Throne Room
79. Blank Project
    Neneh Cherry
80. Full Time Freaks
    White Fang
81. Rave tapes
    Mogwai
82. Deep Fantasy
    White Lung
83. After Forever
    Joey Anderson
84. Warpaint
    Warpaint
85. Futurology
    Manic Street Preachers
86. Silver Album
    Philipp Gorbachev
87. Psychic 9-5 Club
    HTRK
88. After the End
    Merchandise
89. Red Tide Opal In The Loose End Womb
    Olivia Wilde
90. El Pintor
    Interpol
91. Niggas on the Moon
    Death Grips
92. Alternate / Endings
    Lee Bannon
93. Picture You Staring
    TOPS
94. NehruvianDoom
    NehruvianDoom
95. Rivers of the Red Planet
    Max Graef
96. Revelation
    The Brian Jonestown Massacre
97. Diploid Love
    Brody Dalle
98. Kiasmos
    Kiasmos
99. Black Silk
    Spooky Black
100. Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse
     Mariah Carey