Year-End Lists

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

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