Greetings from Laurel Canyon!
As I say, what’s the use of being a blogger if you can’t publicly boost your favorite artists and songs of the year? This ritual used to happen at the end of the year—but fuck that. The gold rush of people declaring “what rules” started as soon as Thanksgiving leftovers were made into turkey soup.
Today, I’m not sure what the music of 2014 said to us. Maybe I’ll have resolution next week when I bring you my Top 25 Idelic Hits. In the meantime, here are my top 50 thru 26 Idelic Hits of 2014:
Sturgill Simpson for being a redneck who writes songs about turtles.
Sharon Van Etten for making refined love songs with passion.
John Fullbright for being a bad ass piano man in a honky-tonk.
Death Vessel for strangeness, a gorgeous voice and album.
White Fence for being the low-key god of west coast psychedelic.
Real Estate for making constant indie blogger albums.
J Mascis for a great acoustic album and 21st century guitar hero.
Lia Ices for one great song can make a day “idelic.”
FREEMAN for an amazing post Ween solo album and tour.
Art Department for a charming EDM album.
Arthur Ahbez for my favorite bedroom recordings of 2014.
Caribou for a great single and album.
Fat White Family for being the most fun doper band in many years.
Allah-Las for keeping indie rock groovy like the ’60s.
Thurston Moore for his best album in many years.
Angel Olsen for being indie rock’s toughest new chick.
Sean Rowe for having soul and the most amazing voice.
Broncho for truly one of the best songs of the year.
Tune-Yards for great and unpredictable songs and style.
The Vines for shocking us with some of your magic of old.
Iceage for staying rad and a new musical direction.
Parquet Courts for being that band both young and singing about New York City.
Twin Shadow for the giant sounds of an urban “PBR” power ballad.
Raury for the very rare ability to make rap fresh in 2014.
Julian Casablancas & The Voidz for being brave enough to create a new sound and band in public.
