Best of 2014: Other People's Lists

We are but one family, listening to music as a hobby (though admittedly more intently than most). So we always look forward to plumbing through the fuller-time critic's lists and parsing out the best kernels from the year's crop. Here are a few of our favorites.

Leon Bridges - Coming Home
Time capsule soul music reminiscent of Solomon Burke or James Carr. I had to find his Facebook page to figure out that he's from Texas. Leon Bridges is clearly an up-and-comer, with a delectably nostalgic sound.




Yumi Zouma
Her specialty seems to be super pretty rock songs. Superbly dreamy. I've been listening to her 2014 EP, but you should sample "The Brae."

Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness
I heard a few tracks off Burn Your Fire and even saw Angel Olsen at a festival earlier this year (a great show). But I had no idea she was making waves. I took the album for a spin and loved it.




Sales - Getting It On
Great band name, a great album cover, and, turns out, a great sound. Deceptively familiar on the first listen, "Getting It On" is a plucky and infectious (PG-13 rated) tune.

Jamie XX - Sleep Sound
"Sleep Sound" is a slow-burner that snaps and sizzles over six and a half minutes. The vocals are chopped to pieces, and packaged back together 90's style, almost like a drugged-up, underwater "Whoomp! (There It Is)"





Lauren Hill - Black Rage (Sketch)
A loose-leaved, tumbling spoken word done to the tune of "My Favorite Things." Lauren Hill is an important musician and her pleading seems to capture the tone of our tumultuous times.

Father John Misty - Bored in the USA
I did not know that Father John Misty released anything this year. I'm quite taken by this heartfelt (and unsurprisingly cynical) ballad.

Panda Bear - Mr. Noah EP
I also did not know Panda Bear released anything this year. Wild, grungy experiments ensue.