50. Josh Record ‘PILLARS’
Upon the release of debut single ‘Bone’ at the tail end of 2013, Brit school graduate and all round good guy Josh Record (he runs a production studio for underprivileged kids and has carried out aid work in Kenya) was heralded in some quarters as Britain’s answer to Justin Vernon. Unperturbed by the pressures of such heady comparisons, the Brixton-based singer songwriter took it in his stride to deliver what was one of the most atmospheric and vocally refined records of the year. Since then, he has gone on to tour with the likes of Lorde and Sixto Rodriguez. Who said there’s no such thing as Karma?
Listen: SoundCloud
49. Julian Casablancas & The Voidz ‘Tyranny’
Eschewing the glossy pop of his 2009 debut ‘Phrazes for the Young’, Tyranny saw the Strokes chieftain hook up with The Voidz in what was his most wild, abrasive and all out madcap record to date. In the months preceding its release, Casablancas had spoken of his disenchantment and ennui with The Strokes, bemoaning the mundanity of routine which had attached itself to the band over the past few years. Over 60 minutes, ‘Tyranny’ features everything from an electronic track seemingly inspired by Bollywood, to lyrics such as “I love being weird, it’s so weird”. Polarizing? Definitely. Mundane and routine? Not remotely.
Listen: SoundCloud
48. Carnivores ‘Let’s Get Metaphysical’
Carnivores’ 2014 album Let’s Get Metaphysical is an album that’s difficult to pigeonhole. One track goes down an angular indie rock route, another track may venture towards hardcore genres and another may lean towards post-punk. ‘Scottish Football’ is the sixth track from the album and combines influences from all the above. It’s chord progression and vocals are not unlike an At the Drive-in style of post-punk, it’s discordant bridges born from hardcore rock and the intermittent melodic harmonies are indie rock influenced. The band’s ability to incorporate the member’s eclectic influences is a feat in itself, and one which results in a diverse album.
Listen: YouTube
47. Dan Croll ‘Sweet Disarray’
The debut release from Liverpudlian Dan Croll is an accomplished affair which is proficient beyond his years as a musician. Incorporating all manner of genres such as indie rock, pop, electro and almost classic elements in its composition, it makes for a very intriguing listen which doesn’t rest on its laurels at any point. Sweet Disarray features Croll himself for the most part, as he is a renowned multi-instrumentalist who can turn his hand to almost anything. Highlights include the folk influenced guitar strut of ‘Compliment Your Soul’ and the immersive ‘From Nowhere.’
Listen: Tenement TV Session
46. Bombay Bicycle Club ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’
Bombay Bicycle Club have refused to stand still when approaching each album. After exploring indie rock, acoustic and dreamy synth pop in their previous three albums, the fourth continues to explore but with an amalgamation of it’s predecessor’s strengths. As one of the singles to come from the album, ‘Luna’ encapsulates this with it’s use of indie grooves and dreamy pop synth whilst taking full advantage of Lucy Rose’s guest vocals. Bombay Bicycle Club continue to impress with each album as they change their direction, evolve and give each album it’s own identity.
Listen: SoundCloud
45. Hozier ‘Hozier’
Hozier glided onto the music scene with his deeply affecting song ‘Take Me To Church’, which captured the heart of listeners around the globe. For a lot of people that is as far as their knowledge of the Irishman goes, but his eponymous debut album actually has a lot more to offer. Songs like ‘Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene’ is lyrically clever, and ‘From Eden’ is longingly gentle. Despite the overtone of sadness that prevails on this album, it is still incredibly ‘poppy’ and very easy listening, making for a deep and haunting album.
Listen: Tenement TV Session
44. Real Estate ‘Atlas’
Real Estate are a four piece indie band from New Jersey. They formed in 2008 and their eponymous debut album received high praise. Their follow up also attracted plaudits and in 2012 they played the esteemed Coachella music festival. The band rarely, if ever, rise above the decibel level of ‘super laid-back’, and track ‘Talking Backwards’ from their album Atlas is no exception. It opens with a lovely picked chord progression on the acoustic guitar that sets the tone for the rest of the song. The vocals whisper out a song of quiet frustration, “and I might as well be talking backwards, am I making any sense to you?” Despite the lyrics it’s a really pleasant song that offers an image of lazing around on a summer’s day.
Listen: YouTube
43. The Horrors ‘Luminous’
The Horrors have come a long way since their early heavy rock tracks in 2007. Now approaching their ninth year as a band, they are on to their fourth album. There’s been Mercury Music Prize nominations along the way, but its agreed by most that their current work is of their most impressive. The XL Recordings album Luminous dropped worldwide in May 2014. A progression on from tracks like Still Life and I Can See Through You that done the rounds on the last album in 2011, the atmospheric sound they so perfectly coined with Skying is very apparent in the new record, with symbolic synths and pounding drums ever present.
Listen: YouTube
42. Childhood ‘Lacuna’
Four piece Childhood released their debut album Lacuna earlier this year reaching the number one spot in the Official Record Store Chart. They have supported Temples and Interpol and most recently hit the road with Johnny Marr. Childhood have mastered dreamy pop with jangling guitar riffs and buttery vocals. The band recently worked with Dan Carey on their track ‘Blue Velvet’ who has worked with the likes of TOY and Bat For Lashes to name a few.
Listen: ‘Falls Away’ (via YouTube)
41. The Black Keys ‘Turn Blue’
While the Black Keys status at the top table of rock superstardom was never truly in doubt prior to the release of “Turn Blue”, the albums almost universal success only served to cement their position there – this their first to hit number 1 in the US and their 2nd to be nominated for a Grammy award. Again hooking up with Dangermouse, the record never commits the sin of being obvious or desperate in its attempt to capture that “big” arena sound, and whether it’s in the form of the ambitious 6 minute opening track or the pervading and more prominent psychedelica throughout, it instead showcases a band who are not just getting bigger and bigger, but better and better.
Listen: YouTube
40. Thom Yorke ‘Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes’
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke rattled the relationship between the music industry and the internet once again when he released his second album Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes through peer-to-peer file sharing site, BitTorrent. Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes follows in it’s predecessor’s footsteps with electronic samples, reverberated keys and haunting vocals. ‘The Mother Lode’, the central track in the album, is a six minute long prime example of Yorke’s ability to create atmospheric and adventurous music that is removed from his work in Radiohead. Without any clear structures or melodies within the songs, the album focusses less on enjoyment at face value, and more on engagement and experience.
Listen: YouTube
39. Beck ‘Morning Phase’
His first album since 2008, “Morning Phase” was described by Beck as a “companion piece” (aka a sequel) to 2002’s “Sea Change”, one of the earlier records which saw him veer from the typical Beck aesthetic of modern blues, instead replacing it with a stripped back collection of folk inspired by the likes of Nick Drake and Serge Gainsbourg. While not necessarily new, the album is never bland and showcases Beck’s continued ability to not only innovate, but to craft and hone straightforward rock.
Listen: YouTube
38. Band of Skulls ‘Himalayan’
The third record from Southampton trio Band of Skull dropped earlier this year, a furious mix of electric blues and rock ‘n’ roll laced with hooks and riffs that wouldn’t be out of place on a Black Key or Queens of the Stone Age record. Stealing riffs from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, tracks like ‘Hoochie Coochie’ are so dark and dirty, they leave you in a bit of a trance. This band transcend this sound beautifully live too, the bass and guitar combo of vocalists Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson setting them apart from the recent wave of serious guitar bands.
Listen: SoundCloud
37. Jungle ‘Jungle’
Jungle proved the hype was justified with the release of their self-titled debut album in July, throwing at us a host of catchy, hypnotic grooves. Taken from their debut, track ‘Busy Earnin’, was chosen as a leading mobile phone advert throughout the summer throwing them further into the spotlight. They toured with Haim in the Spring and have already played at SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Synths and horns flood their sound, sell-out shows top their biggest achievements of the year so far.
Listen: Busy Earnin’ (Via YouTube)
36. Wild Beasts ‘Present Tense’
Following three acclaimed albums prior to its release; anticipation was high for the return of Kendal’s premier outfit Wild Beasts. What emerged was a departure from the sound that they had honed over many years and a new set of influences; however, Present Tense retains the high standard that they had established on their previous outings. Beginning with the 80s synth pop indebted ‘Wanderlust’, it is an album which delves into the realms of the modern day climate more than any other record from the band to date, as exemplified by ‘A Simple Beautiful Truth.’ Other standout tracks include the dark, Nick Cave inspired ‘Daughters’ and the swirling synth lines of closer ‘Palace’
Listen: ‘Wanderlust’ (Via YouTube)
35. Gruff Rhys ‘American Interior’
Ex Super Furry Animals and Neon Neon member Gruff Rhys released his second solo album at the start of May this year. As always with Rhys it wasn’t a simple case of writing and recording songs, instead American Interior came on the back of an investigative concept tour around the US that Rhys did back in 2012. Produced alongside the album is a film, book and app. Taken from that release, ‘Liberty (Is Where We’ll Be)’ is a piano led track with a string section flittering in and out, and a pronounced and up-beat chorus that catches and holds the word . Rhys has enjoyed a tour on the back of this release, bringing his conceptual entertaining to the masses.
Listen: ‘American Interior’ (Via SoundCloud)
34. Manchester Orchestra ‘Cope’
Within the first few bars of Cope opener ‘Top Notch’ it is clear that Manchester Orchestra have gone back to the heavier and more energetic sound displayed in their second album Mean Everything to Nothing. The massive guitars, intricate low bodied drums and Andy Hull’s vocals that are on the cusp of their breaking point lend themselves to create one of the band’s most addictive songs. The album continues with the same amount of confidence as the riffs, harmonies and hooks come in abundance. The album was also followed up this year with Hope, an acoustic version of Cope.
Listen: Tenement TV Session
33. King Creosote ‘From Scotland With Love’
King Creosote’s latest album of sentimental folk songs is thick in lyrical narrative as they tell tales of Scotland’s past. Originally commissioned to accompany the documentary film From Scotland With Love, the album which is also entitled From Scotland With Love, peaked at number one on the UK Record Store chart; becoming the highest charting album of Creosote’s career. The opening track ‘Something To Believe In’ which features a melancholic drone of an accordion and a cello before bringing the full band in introduces the listener to what’s ahead; personal lyrics over beautiful compositions.
Listen: ‘Miserable Strangers’ (Via YouTube)
32. Death From Above 1979 ‘The Physical World’
Death From Above 1979 returned this year with their follow-up album The Physical World, a mere 10 years after their debut. They had reformed in 2011, and then took their time to iron out their sound, and it certainly paid off as The Physical World is as brilliant as their first. It disdainfully shuns the modern world that it springs into, and keeps all the brilliant aspects from before – crafty, heavy riffs, punk attitude and sincere songwriting. ‘White Is Red’ is the track of the album.
Listen: YouTube
31. The Family Rain ‘Under the Volcano’
Extracting modern blues influences such as the Black Keys and White Stripes through a mid 00’s indie prism, appropriately named Bath trio The Family Rain (they are brothers) wear their heart on their sleeves on debut album, ‘Under the Volcano’. Produced by Jim Abiss (Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys) there’s no pretensions or gimmicks here, just heavy distortion, big riffs and catchy hooks.
Listen: Tenement TV Session
30. Future Islands ‘Singles’
After several albums released on the 4AD imprint that flew under the radar, Baltimore’s Future Islands finally lived up to their promise with the accomplished Singles. Led by the heart wrenching vocals of Samuel T, this year has saw the Baltimore based band play to sell out crowds throughout the UK and appear on many high profile shows. Their latest offering is an inspiring collection which teeters between 80s synth pop and immersive new wave whilst creating something entirely unique. Standout tracks out include the reminiscent ‘Back in the Tall Grass’ and its undisputed masterpiece ‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’ which has propelled the band into the mainstream consciousness.
Listen: ‘Seasons (Waiting On You)’ (Via YouTube)
29. Damon Albarn ‘Everyday Robots’
Best known for his roles in Blur and Gorillaz, Damon Albarn took a different route this year and released his first solo album. Albarn described Everyday Robots as his most personal record to date. It certainly leaves him exposed far more than any other work, with his touch notable all over the album. It’s eclectic, intricate and draws on many different styles making for a fascinating LP.
Listen: YouTube
28. Cloud Nothings ‘Here And Nowhere Else’
Starting as a much poppier outfit and the sole work of Cleveland born Dylan Baldi, Cloud Nothings morphed into a raucous lo fi punk band on 2012’s outstanding Attack On Memory, showing signs of a band that were blossoming into uncharted territory. After relentless touring, 2014 saw the release of Here And Nowhere Else, their most cohesive and accomplished record to date. Driven by a conflict of idealism between the band’s original hook laden tracks and their more discordant incarnation, it is an intriguing listen from start to finish. Highlights include ‘Psychic Trauma’, which begins with a new wave riff before descending into a more riotous affair, Baldi channelling Iggy Pop on ‘Giving Into Seeing’ and album closer ‘I’m Not Part Of Me’ which utilises all their influences to create something truly special.
Listen: YouTube
27. Augustines ‘Augustines’
Augustines swap their sombre tales of struggle and personal trauma for optimistic stadium rock for the band’s self-titled sophomore album. The track ‘Nothing To Lose But Your Head’ leads with a stomping bass drum that will dare those at live shows to join in. This is followed by vocalist Billy McCarthy’s gravelly vocals carrying the verse before the chorus steps up with it’s anthemic backing vocals and uplifting chord progression. The album is littered with big hearted ballads like these to lift the spirits of it’s listeners.
Listen: Tenement TV Session
26. Aphex Twin ‘Syro’
The king of electronic music Richard D James (aka Aphex Twin) released Syro this year, his first album under that moniker for 13 years. Although the British musician has released tracks under the name ‘The Tuss’ in the intervening years, it was Syro that gained all the attention – probably due to being released by Warp Records. Anyway, despite the inflated buzz around it, it is still a brilliant album, and exactly what you would expect from James. As mad, disorientating and subtly intricate as ever, Syro might not have redefined the genre, but it is still a class act.
Listen: YouTube
25. Interpol ‘El Pintor’
After a phenomenal start to their career with the acclaimed and gold certified 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights, Interpol were on track to become a massive band on the scale of contemporaries such as The Strokes. However, after a slew of lacklustre albums, solo endeavours and the departure of enigmatic bassist and key figurehead Carlos D, it appeared it was all but over for The New York natives. This year’s El Pintor has changed those perceptions, with the band developing a highly enjoyable new incarnation of the gloomy post punk that made their debut so special. Highlights include the slinking guitar work of ‘My Desire’, the rapidly paced ‘Ancient Ways’ and new live favourite ‘Anywhere.’
Listen: ‘All The Rage Back Home’ (Via YouTube)
24. Paulo Nutini ‘Caustic Love’
Paulo Nutini started out in 2006 with his debut album These Streets, which charted at number 3 and propelled the Paisley-born man into the limelight. He followed that up with the much more diverse and musically interesting Sunny Side Up, which trumped his first attempt and charted at number 1. Then five years passed, and not a sound from the Scotsman until finally 2014 saw the arrival of Caustic Love. Prior to the album’s release we got some beautiful tasters in the form of ‘Iron Sky’ and ‘Scream (funk up my life)’, which showed another side to Nutini. But the album had form throughout, songs like ‘Diana’, ‘Better Man’ and ‘Fashion’ are all hits in their own right. The suspense was worth it, as Caustic Love is comfortably one of the best albums of the year.
Listen: YouTube
23. Mac Demarco ‘Salad Days’
Slacker pop hero Mac Demarco’s third album Salad Days is in keeping with the majority of his material, which is generally centred on his signature lofi rock ‘n’ roll sound with intricate guitar parts and a swagger all of his own. Taking a reflective and slightly more melancholic approach from a lyrical and musical standpoint than on previous records, The Canadian native produces thought provoking work on tracks such as ’Brother’, in which he insists that “you’re better off dead when your mind’s been set From nine until five.” Other interesting tracks include the cautionary ‘Let Her Go’, the synth laden ‘Passing Out Pieces’ and the wistful ‘Go Easy’ over which Demarco weaves shoegazey guitar lines.
Listen: YouTube
22. Twin Peaks ‘Wild Onion’
Cutting and recording music in their basement and selling it on the road just two years ago, Twin Peaks have still managed to keep that raw and organic sound on new album Wild Onion following inking a new deal with Communion Records. Creating a sound to rival the finest bands to come out of Chicago’s flourishing scene (Strange Faces, The Lemons, The Sueves), Twin Peaks cut themselves alongside the likes of international bands The Black Lips and Tame Impala: but their passion and love for British rock ‘n’ roll is also speckled throughout their 16 track LP: almost double the size of their previous record. They underline their passion for British rock ‘n’ roll with ‘Beatles arrangements present on ‘Mirror of Time’. This particular track jangles through echoing riffs and psychedelic melodies, showing sophistication and understanding of the 1960’s scene, way beyond their 20 years.
Listen: Via SoundCloud
21. Hookworms ‘The Hum’
After recently signing with Domino Records, Hookworms released their second album The Hum. The album blends modern psychedelic rock with lo-fi garage punk by incorporating delayed vocals and fuzzy guitars with keyboards and repetitive rhythms. Sometimes calm and sometimes ferocious, The Hum creates a hypnotic effect on the listener. ‘Radio Tokyo’ is an example of the more upbeat area of the album with a constant drive and build. It’s unrelenting bass and guitar feedback over the happy tambourine creates a juxtaposition that is peaking interests and giving The Hum a great deal of positive attention.
Listen: ‘On Leaving’ (Via YouTube)
20. Run The Jewels ‘Run The Jewels 2’
Having risen from separate, albeit revered spheres of the hip hop community, the indelible partnership of Atlanta born Killer Mike and Brooklyn native EL-P is a strange premise. However, all notions of pensiveness regarding their ongoing Run The Jewels project are dissipated by the consistency and creativity of their collective output. After the release of their stellar eponymous LP last year, 2014 saw them follow it up with what is already being regarded as a classic, in the form of Run The Jewels 2. The record is incendiary from its first utterance, with Killer Mike proclaiming as “The jewel runners, top tag team for two summers” over a dark and brooding EL-P production on ‘Jeopardy’. Other standout tracks include the Zach De La Rocha featuring ‘Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)’, the socially conscious ‘Early’ which addresses police brutality and rousing album closer ‘Angel Duster’ on which the rappers take turns outlining the manifesto of their seemingly unstoppable duo.
Listen: Close Your Eyes (Via SoundCloud)
19. Jamie T ‘Carry On The Grudge’
Jamie T was MIA for 5 years before he released this year’s Carry On The Grudge. With the new album came a new sound, and a new level of maturity. Sure it’s still got that London local feel to it, but this time with an added edge. ‘Don’t You Find’ is a reflective piece, but Jamie T carries it off beautifully. Then there’s the huge hit ‘Zombie’ which has barely been off the airwaves since its release. All round this album surpasses any of his previous work, which is certainly a good sign.
Listen: ‘Zombie’ (Via YouTube)
18.Bass Drum of Death ‘Rip This’
Bass Drum of Death released their third album this year titled Rip This. In keeping with their messed-up sound it is full of fuzzy guitars, distorted overtones, pounding drums and garage / punk rock tendencies. This release is a little more polished, defining their sound further and has seen the band tour America, the UK and Europe. The band have perfected a deafening fuzz that transfixes their fans and has them crowned the kings of balls-to-the-wall rock ‘n’ roll for the underground masses.
Listen: ‘Left For Dead’ (Via SoundCloud)
17. PAWS ‘Youth Culture Forever’
With a sound that incorporates the catchiness of indie and 90s alt rock with the visceral nature of punk, Glasgow’s own PAWS have been making waves within the music industry since emerging in 2010. The trio’s tour with bands such as Ty Segall, Bleached and the legendary Breeders has resulted in a fervent fanbase on many continents. Their latest album Youth Culture Forever is a solid record with tracks that exemplify their exquisite songwriting and grasp of various genres. Its best compositions include the tender ‘Erreur Humaine’; which flits between rhythm led lamentations to cacophonous moments with ease, the relentless ‘Someone New’, a punk track reminiscent of Japandroids and the bizarre love song ‘Owls Talons Clenching My Heart’.
Listen: ‘Tongues’ (Via YouTube)
16. Parquet Courts ‘Sunbathing Animal’
Punk inspired four-piece Parquet Courts released their first album Light Up Gold in 2013 to critical acclaim. The follow-up, Sunbathing Animal, dropped in June this year. The album shows the band’s love for anarchic and disjointed sounds. 2014 was a very busy year for the band, musically. Parkay Quarts formed and released a record whilst some of the members of the usual outfit Parquet Courts are absent. Andrew Savage and Austin Brown producing a LP pretty far to the right of Sunbathing Animal, though its dedication to producing substantial music, still at its core.
Listen: YouTube
15. St Vincent ‘St Vincent’
Multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist St Vincent dropped her fourth album this year. It was commercially her most successful to date, and arguably also her most successful musically. Tracks like ‘Digital Witness’ and ‘Birth In Reverse’ had music critics all over salivating and demanding more of her disturbing pop mashup. Heavy in the bass, and danceable in the chorus’, it is certainly one of the most intriguing albums of 2014.
Listen: ‘Digital Witness’ (Via SoundCloud)
14. Eagulls ‘Eagulls’
Leeds-based band Eagulls started out back in 2010 and released a series of EP’s that grabbed the media’s attention. However it was just this year that they dropped their self-titled debut album. The album is a mire of anger, frustration and hate, creating an incredible escapist album for anyone else who is pissed off at the world. Their northern, lo-fi, punk-inspired indie rock throwing them into a tour of unpredictable antics and wild stage presence.
Listen: ‘Tough Luck’ (Via SoundCloud)
13.Royal Blood ‘Royal Blood’
Royal Blood’s debut album charted at number 1 in the UK, became the fastest selling rock album in three years, and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize award. Not a bad haul for a band just containing bass guitar and percussion. Royal Blood specialise in the heavy, pounding riff, which makes songs like ‘Figure It Out’ and ‘Little Monster’ instant classics.
Listen: ‘Little Monster’ (Via SoundCloud)
12. Young Fathers ‘Dead’
To say it’s been a huge year for Edinburgh’s Young Fathers is potentially the biggest understatement of the year. They nabbed the Scottish Album of the Year award in the Spring, beating the likes of Hector Bizerk and Biffy Clyro to then go on and scoop The Mercury Music Prize a few months later. Their record Dead is renowned for their uncategorisable and eclectic sound. A stand-out from that release is ‘Soon Come Soon’, driven by a dub influenced beat, it features excellent rapped verses followed by a heartfelt chorus.
Listen: ‘Low’ (Via SoundCloud)
11. The War On Drugs ‘Lost In The Dream’
One of 2014’s truly great records, Lost In The Dream, showed The War On Drugs as elite songwriters. An LP where rock and psych magnificently collide, more than half of the tracks on this release clock in at over six minutes each giving you listener ample offerings of guitar solos, keyboard intros and prog rock snippets. Gem tracks like ‘Red Eyes’ cementing a sound made for long drives and international music festivals.
Listen: ‘Red Eyes’ (Via SoundCloud)
10. Honeyblood ‘Honeyblood’
Glasgow’s Honeyblood have had a huge year. They have played all over the place, released their debut album, and lost drummer Shona MacVicar. Sticking with the album, it is an extraordinary piece. A mixture of pop, rock, grunge and something else, it teases and tantalises while all the while throwing punches and kicks. A great breakthrough act who have hailed from the grassroots stage of T Break at T in the Park in 2013, to packing out iconic venues around the UK.
Listen: ‘Super Rat’ (Via SoundCloud)
9.Twin Atlantic ‘Great Divide’
Twin Atlantic returned this year with Great Divide. It is a masterful mix of rock and pop carried along by Sam McTrusty’s heavily accented voice. ‘Heart and Soul’ has a nostalgic feel of rock n roll’s heyday about it, sounding a little like a Scottish Def Leppard, it is a big track with a sing-along chorus. ‘Brothers and Sisters’ is a more inward sounding, sombre track that plays on some nice lyrical lines. This album charted at 6 in the UK charts, 1 in Scotland and 1 in the US Rock charts – so it’s clearly very popular.
Listen: ‘Heart & Soul’ (Via YouTube)
8. Jack White ‘Lazaretto’
Two years after his first solo album Blunderbuss, Jack White this year offered us Lazaretto. Once again he lived up to expectation, and produced another musical master class. Titular track Lazaretto is a brilliantly strange song that skips between old-fashioned rock and something entirely more diverse – there is an interlude for an Eastern sounding string section. The album constantly delivers treats such as ‘I think I found the Culprit’, and then the keys-led riff on ‘Would You Fight For My Love’.
Listen: YouTube
7. Mogwai ‘Rave Tapes’
Mogwai reinforced their position as the premier post-rock band this year with their 8th album Rave Tapes. The album is arguably one of their finest pieces of work to date, with songs like ‘Remurdered’, ‘Repelish’ and ‘Deesh’ all standing out. If you give it a chance, this album will consume you like an addiction.
Listen: ‘Remurdered’ (Via SoundCloud)
6.Temples ‘Sun Structures’
Temples lead the way this year with a mini 60’s Psychedelic revival. Their debut album Sun Structures could have been a lost album from any of the decade’s major players – The Kinks, The Doors etc. What was great about it was how refreshing it felt, despite its obvious influences. ‘Shelter Song’ is a small magical journey, ‘The Guesser’ will drag you back in time in hazy, colourful spirals, and ‘The Golden Throne’ doesn’t sound like anything else around at the moment.
Listen: ‘Mesmerise’ (Via SoundCloud)
5. Catfish and the Bottlemen ‘The Balcony’
Catfish and the Bottlemen finally jumped into the musical spotlight this year with their debut album The Balcony; a throwback to the classic indie guitar rock that has worked so well for the likes of Arctic Monkeys and The Enemy before them. The album is essentially a collection of perfectly crafted indie rock tracks, ‘Homesick’, ‘Kathleen’, ‘Cocoon’, and ‘Pacifier’ are among the best, telling familiar tales of teenage love, nights on the town that show frontman Van McCann as a fantastic songwriter.
TTV Session:
4. Warpaint ‘Warpaint’
Warpaint returned this year with their second, self-titled album, a follow up to their debut The Fool. Like its predecessor it captured a soothing, distant and minimal sound, but this time round they took that to new levels. Warpaint is sparse, more keys-orientated, more spacious and bolder. Tracks like ‘Love Is To Die’ and ‘Biggy’ are confidently subtle tracks that leave room for the listeners imagination. All round a fantastic follow-up album.
Listen: ‘Disco/Very’
3. The Twilight Sad ‘Nobody Wants To Be Here and Nobody Wants To Leave’
The Twilight Sad launched their fourth LP this year, with the gangly title Nobody Wants To Be Here and Nobody Wants To Leave. It was dark, brooding and very much how you want The Twilight Sad to sound. It also felt like a culmination of all their previous work, more rounded and complete. Once you fall into this album it is absolutely stunning, and you’ll probably not drag yourself out of it for weeks. This album doesn’t make for easy listening. It captures a mood perfectly, and if you delve into that mood you will be amazed at the depth and beauty of the music here. But it is a big ask to find that mood, and to find the right level of intensity that is required to make the best out of this album. It is worth it though, because the more you listen to this album, the more you will be affected by its dark and stirring sound.
TTV Session:
2. Rival Sons ‘Great Western Valkyrie’
Rival Sons are one of the best modern blues-rock bands in the world right now. Up there with the consistently brilliant Gary Clark Jr, they provide a fresh take on the old style. Their first album came out in 2009, but it was 2011’s effort Pressure & Time that grabbed Tenement TV’s interest. This year they released their fourth record Great Western Valkyrie, which continued the form that we initially fell in love with. Upbeat grooves, scintillating guitar solos, and squealing vocals all contribute to an utterly brilliant album, and their highest UK chart position to date. Look out for the track ‘Open My Eyes’.
Listen: ‘Open My Eyes’
1. The Amazing Snakeheads ‘Amphetamine Ballads’
Firstly let’s just say that The Amazing Snakeheads are one of the best live bands in the UK right now. Their show isn’t just filled with energy, it is the epitome of energy. It carries a visceral power about it that is the equivalent to being punched in the eardrum by mayhem, and finding out it feels brilliant. Secondly, by some miracle, they managed to channel that energy into the studio and onto the recording of their debut album Amphetamine Ballads. This album is a force of nature. Shut out the world and plunge head first into the carnage that is this record. When you return you will be a different person.
Listen: ‘Nighttime’
