Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.
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Music
2014 Music

Aquarium Drunkard: 2014 Year in Review

15 December 2014

Rips - Ex Hex

Aquarium Drunkard: 2014 Year in Review, an "unranked list of albums that caught, and kept, our attention"

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2013 • 2012]

2014 Music

Slate: Carl Wilson: Top 14 Albums of 2014

15 December 2014

1989 - Taylor Swift

Carl Wilson: Top 14 Albums of 2014, in alphabetical order by artist, published by Slate in their 2014 edition of The Music Club

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

2014 Music

Magnet: Top 25 Albums of 2014

15 December 2014

Rips - Ex Hex

Magnet Magazine: Top 25 Albums of 2014

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

  1. Rips
    Ex Hex
  2. Freeman
    Aaron Freeman
  3. The Both
    The Both
  4. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
  5. Transgender Dysphoria Blues
    Against Me!
  6. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
  7. Somewhere Else
    Lydia Loveless
  8. Singles
    Future Islands
  9. Brill Bruisers
    The New Pornographers
  10. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
  11. Seeds
    TV on the Radio
  12. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
  13. Cool Planet
    Guided By Voices
  14. Motivational Jumpsuit
    Guided By Voices
  15. Way Out Weather
    Steve Gunn
  16. Nikki Nack
    Tune-Yards
  17. Teeth Dreams
    The Hold Steady
  18. Here and Nowhere Else
    Cloud Nothings
  19. Syro
    Aphex Twin
  20. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts
  21. To Be Kind
    Swans
  22. Ultraviolence
    Lana Del Rey
  23. Commonwealth
    Sloan
  24. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
  25. Ryan Adams
    Ryan Adams
  26. Do to the Beast
    The Afghan Whigs
2014 Music

Guardian: 40 Best Albums of 2014

15 December 2014

St. Vincent - St. Vincent

The Guardian: 40 Best Albums of 2014

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

  1. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
  2. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
  3. LP1
    FKA twigs
  4. Syro
    Aphex Twin
  5. Our Love
    Caribou
  6. Trouble in Paradise
    La Roux
  7. Run the Jewels 2
    Run the Jewels
  8. Morning Phase
    Beck
  9. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
  10. Divide and Exit
    Sleaford Mods
  11. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
  12. 1989
    Taylor Swift
  13. Everybody Down
    Kate Tempest
  14. Singles
    Future Islands
  15. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
  16. Present Tense
    Wild Beasts
  17. Dead
    Young Fathers
  18. The Voyager
    Jenny Lewis
  19. Souled Out
    Jhené Aiko
  20. In Conflict
    Owen Pallett
  21. So It Goes
    Ratking
  22. After the End
    Merchandise
  23. Small Town Heroes
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
  24. Goddess
    Banks
  25. Ghettoville
    Actress
  26. Aquarius
    Tinashe
  27. Otherness
    Kindness
  28. Everyday Robots
    Damon Albarn
  29. Pom Pom
    Ariel Pink
  30. Total Strife Forever
    East India Youth
  31. Popular Problems
    Leonard Cohen
  32. Lese Majesty
    Shabazz Palaces
  33. Soused
    Scott Walker & Sunn O)))
  34. Carry On the Grudge
    Jamie T
  35. Everything Changes
    Peggy Seeger
  36. Rips
    Ex Hex
  37. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
  38. Toumani & Sidiki
    Toumani Diabaté & Sidiki Diabaté
  39. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
  40. Adrian Thaws
    Tricky
2014 Music

Under the Radar: Top 140 Albums of 2014

12 December 2014

Lost in the Dream - The War on Drugs

Under the Radar: Top 140 Albums of 2014 (in which they list 100 albums)

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

  1. Lost in the Dream
    The War on Drugs
  2. St. Vincent
    St. Vincent
  3. Singles
    Future Islands
  4. Atlas
    Real Estate
  5. Burn Your Fire For No Witness
    Angel Olsen
  6. Our Love
    Caribou
  7. They Want My Soul
    Spoon
  8. Are We There
    Sharon Van Etten
  9. Shriek
    Wye Oak
  10. This Is All Yours
    alt-J
  11. Salad Days
    Mac DeMarco
  12. Run the Jewels 2
    Run the Jewels
  13. LP1
    FKA twigs
  14. You’re Dead!
    Flying Lotus
  15. The Voyager
    Jenny Lewis
  16. Total Strife Forever
    East India Youth
  17. Syro
    Aphex Twin
  18. Brill Bruisers
    The New Pornographers
  19. I Never Learn
    Lykke Li
  20. The Future’s Void
    EMA
  21. Sunbathing Animal
    Parquet Courts
  22. To Be Kind
    Swans
  23. Alvvays
    Alvvays
  24. Stay Gold
    First Aid Kit
  25. Complete Surrender
    Slow Club
  26. Too Bright
    Perfume Genius
  27. Pom Pom
    Ariel Pink
  28. Wonder Where We Land
    SBTRKT
  29. Racy
    Hooray for Earth
  30. More Than Any Other Day
    Ought
  31. “What Is This Heart?”
    How to Dress Well
  32. Here and Nowhere Else
    Cloud Nothings
  33. Ruins
    Grouper
  34. Gist Is
    Adult Jazz
  35. Too True
    Dum Dum Girls
  36. Loom
    Fear of Men
  37. Lose
    Cymbals Eat Guitars
  38. The Take Off And Landing Of Everything
    Elbow
  39. Love Letters
    Metronomy
  40. Luminous
    The Horrors
  41. Benji
    Sun Kil Moon
  42. Morning Phase
    Beck
  43. It’s Album Time
    Todd Terje
  44. La Isla Bonita
    Deerhoof
  45. Time Is Over One Day Old
    Bear In Heaven
  46. Nikki Nack
    Tune-Yards
  47. Sand + Silence
    The Rosebuds
  48. Nausea
    Craft Spells
  49. The Shadow of Heaven
    Money
  50. Zaba
    Glass Animals
  51. Ices
    Lia Ices
  52. Present Tense
    Wild Beasts
  53. Tough Love
    Jessie Ware
  54. Plowing Into the Field of Love
    Iceage
  55. The Hum
    Hookworms
  56. Manipulator
    Ty Segall
  57. Days of Abandon
    The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
  58. Typical System
    Total Control
  59. The Moon Rang Like a Bell
    Hundred Waters
  60. In Conflict
    Owen Pallett
  61. Piñata
    Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
  62. Clark
    Clark
  63. Neuroplasticity
    Cold Specks
  64. Chiaroscuro
    I Break Horses
  65. Lazaretto
    Jack White
  66. Not Art
    Big Scary
  67. HEAL
    Strand of Oaks
  68. Ryan Adams
    Ryan Adams
  69. Wig Out At Jagbags
    Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
  70. Sun Structures
    Temples
  71. Conversations
    Woman's Hour
  72. Breakfast
    Teleman
  73. Sea When Absent
    A Sunny Day In Glasgow
  74. Portico
    The Mary Onettes
  75. American Interior
    Gruff Rhys
  76. Galore
    Thumpers
  77. El Pintor
    Interpol
  78. This Is My Hand
    My Brightest Diamond
  79. Everyday Robots
    Damon Albarn
  80. The Dew Lasts An Hour
    Ballet School
  81. Seeds
    TV on the Radio
  82. Mandatory Fun
    "Weird Al" Yankovic
  83. Arcadia
    Ramona Lisa
  84. Sukierae
    Tweedy
  85. Jungle
    Jungle
  86. Encyclopedia
    The Drums
  87. Hell Can Wait
    Vince Staples
  88. Warpaint
    Warpaint
  89. Soft Friday
    Coves
  90. Mess
    Liars
  91. …And Star Power
    Foxygen
  92. Sylvan Esso
    Sylvan Esso
  93. Sound Mirror
    Syd Arthur
  94. Futurology
    Manic Street Preachers
  95. World Peace Is None Of Your Business
    Morrissey
  96. Rave tapes
    Mogwai
  97. Honeyblood
    Honeyblood
  98. Wild Onion
    Twin Peaks
  99. Lacuna
    Childhood
  100. Cheatahs
    Cheatahs
2014 Music

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2014

12 December 2014

Lost in the Dream - The War on Drugs

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
2014 Music

Billboard: 10 Best Albums of 2014

12 December 2014

1989 - Taylor Swift

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
2014 Music

Clash: Top 40 Albums of 2014

11 December 2014

LP1 - FKA twigs

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
2014 Music

Fact: 50 Best Albums of 2014

09 December 2014

Benji - Sun Kil Moon

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
2014 Music

The Wire: Top 50 Albums of 2014

09 December 2014

Syro - Aphex Twin

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

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Year-end lists are fingerprints; aggregate statistics are smudges. Therefore, I make no tallies.