Category Archives: 31 days of good

2014, 31 days of good, best of 2014, favorites of 2014, music

Favorite Albums of 2014

December 15, 2014 Concrete Opinions 20 Comments

30 – Various Artists//The Space Project

♩ Youth Lagoon – Worms (via soundcloud)
[lefserecords.com]

29 – Young Fathers//Dead

♩ Am I Not Your Boy
[young-fathers.com]

28 – Painted Palms//Forever

♩ Spinning Signs
[paintedpalms.net]

27 – Mapei//Hey Hey

♩ Don’t Wait
[mapeiofficial.com]

26 – LCD Soundsystem//the long goodbye

♩ Losing My Edge (Live at Madison Square Garden)

[lcdsoundsystem.com]

25 – The Acid//Liminal

♩ Creeper
[wearetheacid.com]

24 – Mr Little Jeans//Pocketknife

♩ Heaven Sent
[mrlittlejeansmusic.com]

23 – ODESZA//In Return

♩ Memories That You Call (feat. Monsoonsiren)
[odesza.com]

22 – Various Artists//Cut Copy Presents: Oceans Apart

♩ Ara Koufax – Brenda
[cutcopy.net]

21 – We Plants Are Happy Plants//Songs About the Unspeakable

♩ Euphrosyne
[wpahp.com]

20 – I Break Horses//Chiaroscuro

♩ Heart to Know
[ibreakhorses.se]

19 – Perfume Genius//Too Bright

♩ Queen
[perfumegenius.net]

18 – Gem Club//In Roses

♩ Hypericum
[iamgemclub.com]

17 – Sia//1000 Forms of Fear

♩ Eye of the Needle
[siamusic.net]

16 – FKA twigs//LP1

♩ Two Weeks
[f-k-a-twigs.tumblr.com]

15 – RAC//Strangers

♩ Cheap Sunglasses (ft. Matthew Koma)
[rac.fm]

14 – Deptford Goth//Songs

♩ The Loop
[deptfordgoth.com]

13 – Halls//Love to Give

♩ Walls
[hallsmusic.net]

12 – Alvvays//Alvvays

♩ Archie, Marry Me
[alvvays.com]

11 – God Help The Girl//God Help The Girl (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

♩ God Help The Girl
[godhelpthegirl.com]

10 – Slow Club//Complete Surrender

♩ Suffering You, Suffering Me
[slowclubband.com]

9 – St. Vincent//St. Vincent

♩ Digital Witness
[ilovestvincent.com]

8 – Röyksopp//The Inevitable End

♩ Something In My Heart- Prologue
[royksopp.com]

7 – Run the Jewels//Run the Jewels 2

♩ Blockbuster Night Part 1
[runthejewels.net]

6 – Phantogram//Voices

♩ Fall in Love
[phantogram.com]

5 – Sisyphus//Sisyphus

♩ Calm it Down
[sisyphusmusic.com]

4 – King Tuff//Black Moon Spell

♩ Black Moon Spell
[kingtuffworld.com]

3 – Blackbird Blackbird//Tangerine Sky

♩ More Beautiful (Spotify Exclusive)
[birdblackbird.net]

2 – Future Islands//Singles

♩ Seasons (Waiting On You)
[future-islands.com]

1 – Kishi Bashi//Lighght

♩ Q&A
[kishibashi.com]

#31days2014

2014, 31 days of good, best of 2014, music

(31) Days of Good//12.15.14

December 15, 2014 Concrete Opinions 1 Comment

After four LPS, and a handfull of EPs and Singles, Future Islands is finally garnering the attention, acclaim, and high praise they’ve always deserved. Their latest LP, Singles, is one of the best albums of the year and some of the Baltimore band’s best work to date. I recently lost my Grandmother and though the title refers to “grandfathers”, I can’t help but think of my Grammy whenever I listen to this particular track.

♩ Future Islands – A Song For Our Grandfathers [from Singles]

[future-islands.com]

Panda Bear will release his latest LP (Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper) early next year. Lucky for us, he was kind enough to drop a little preview in the form of the Mr Noah EP. All four tracks are brilliant, but the easy flowing “Faces in the Crowd” is without a doubt my favorite of the bunch.

♩ Panda Bear – Faces in the Crowd [from Mr Noah EP]

[pbvsgr.com]

Talos is the music of Irish native Eoin French. The perfect blend of R&B, electronica and beat production. I predict Talos will blow up in the near future. I for one can’t wait to hear more.

♩ Talos – Tethered Bones [from Tethered Bones EP]

[talostalos.com]

People shat all over her SNL performance earlier this year, but I for one thought it was fantastic. As always, Ms. Clark shreds all over this album and proves once again why she is one of the best guitarists in the biz.

♩ St. Vincent – Birth In Reverse [from St. Vincent]

[ilovestvincent.com]

I was super surprised to get a new Rentals album this year. Not surprised at all with how good it is.

♩ The Rentals – It’s Time to Come Home [from Lost In Alphaville]

[therentalsmusic.tumblr.com]

#31days2014

2014, 31 days of good, best of 2014, music

(31) Days of Good//12.14.14

December 14, 2014 Concrete Opinions 1 Comment

Over a shuffling drum beat, the track builds to a climax of buzzing guitars and a large, wordless vocal melody. (via Miles Bowe, Stereogum).

♩ The Rural Alberta Advantage – On The Rocks [from Mended With Gold]

[theraa.com]

“…delicate ‘Small Window’ heavy in gentle guitar strumming and angelic vocals. (Zoë) Randle says the song ‘was drawn from the sometimes enchanting space between dreaming and waking’ and we couldn’t think of a more appropriate description.” (via My Old Kentucky Blog)

♩ Luluc – Small Windows [from Passerby]

[lulucmusic.com]

“There are tracks that can be compartmentalized. They fit within a genre, tucked neatly within a tab at the record store. This Hundred Waters‘ melancholic, angelic song sprawls itself openly, abstractly – with patience and grace. It is soul and ghost pop and R&B and all the nuances you want it to be, with each listen.” (via Abby Yemm, Turntable Kitchen)

♩ Hundred Waters – Murmurs [from The Moon Rang Like a Bell]

[hundred-waters.com]

“Paradise Girls” is bright and upbeat, defined by fluttery percussion and syncopated guitar lines. The song was inspired by the band’s long roster of female heroes, including ‘Joan Jet, Janet Jackson, [and] Kim Gordon.’ (via All Songs Considered)

♩ Deerhoof – Paradise Girls [from La Isla Bonita]

[deerhoof.net]

#31days2014

2014, 31 days of good, best of 2014, music

(31) Days of Good//12.13.14

December 13, 2014 Concrete Opinions Leave a comment

Quintessential indie pop from the quintessential indie pop super group.

♩ The New Pornographers – War on the East Coast [from Brill Bruisers]

[thenewpornographers.com]

“Drummer Pat Mahoney was the backbone of LCD Soundsystem. For his new project, Museum of Love, he partners with Dennis McNany and the duo’s self-titled debut features a little ditty we love called ‘In Infancy’.” (via KCRW: Morning Becomes Eclectic)

♩ Museum of Love – In Infancy [from Museum of Love]

[museumoflove.net]

“GRMLN’s ‘Of Nothing’ is a bold but contemplative song that’s perfect for windows-down listening and solitary thought.” (via All Songs Considered)

♩ GRMLN – Of Nothing [from Soon Away]

[grmlnband.tumblr.com]

London-based dance-pop sidetrack of Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell. This track is 7+ minutes long (13+ if you count the secret song attached) with a gradual instrumental buildup. Hold on ‘til the end, this track is marvelous.

♩ The 2 Bears – The Night Is Young [from The Night Is Young]

[the2bears.co.uk]

“Album opener ‘Talk About’ is a solid introduction to Les Sins’ sound. While some have eagerly followed his singles released over the past few years, it’s a welcoming track for new listeners and debut-anticipating fans alike. Wavering synths reminiscent of Disclosure build around a choppy vocal sample for a warm, house sound.” (via Alex Vickery, The 405)

♩ Les Sins – Talk About [from Michael]

[toroymoi.blogspot.com]

#31days2014

2014, 31 days of good, best of 2014, music

(31) Days of Good//12.12.14

December 12, 2014 Concrete Opinions 1 Comment

Such a fun sound. The way these Brooklynites use horns and synthesizers is magical.

♩ Rubblebucket – Carousel Ride [from Survival Sounds]

[rubblebucket.com]

Music makes movies memorable. Even more so when the film is the passion project of Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch.

♩ God Help The Girl – God Help The Girl [from God Help The Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

[godhelpthegirl.com]

Again…music make movies memorable. Be sure to also check out “April’s Daydream”, “Teddy Rides Home”, and “Fred Drives”. Hopefully this is the first of many scores from Mr. Hynes.

♩ Devonte Hynes – Palo Alto [from Palo Alto: Original Motion Picture Score]

[paloaltomovie.tumblr.com]