As a result, any well-known album not listed below is likely missing because I don’t think it’s worth your time. I tried to listen to every 2014 album that got substantial press attention. In 2014 I proved conclusively, once again, that no one can hear everything that comes out. You might conclude from scanning this list that I heard every indie album released. Does anyone seriously think there are only a few albums released each year that are worth recommending and hearing? I’ve attempted to include every good album released this year, not just an inherently arbitrary Best Of. Since I haven’t discriminated against or ignored Europe-only releases, this list includes a lot of great music missing from other year-end lists.įinding Quality Via Quantity – Most year-end lists include a limited number of albums. Albums released only in Europe are instantly available for us to hear, and to buy as downloads, just like American releases. Their probable justification, that there is no point listening to and recommending albums that are not available here, is nonsensical and silly. My list differs from other year-end lists in three important ways:Įurope – Since the internet gives everyone around the world instant access to all albums released anywhere, it makes no sense for these other lists to ignore albums released in Europe but not the U.S. I thought if I organized and listed all the bands with good 2014 albums I’ve heard this year it might be helpful to others.
It is now so easy and inexpensive to record and distribute music that far too many albums are released each week for anyone to hear them all.
This has been a mammoth undertaking, which has occupied way too much of my life.