Best Albums of 2014

Staff Picks

Al Mannarino: 5. Twin Forks – Twin Forks,  4. Bleachers – Strange Desire, 3. 311 – Stereolithic, 2. Interpol – El Pintor, 1. Royal Blood – Royal Blood

Lauren Stern: 5.  tUneYards – Nikki Nack, 4. Future Islands – Singles, 3. St. Vincent – St. Vincent, 2. Bleachers – Strange Desire, 1. Andrew McMahon and The Wilderness – Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness

Bill Bodkin: 5. (tie) Nicole Atkins – Slow Phaser/Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe – New Ammo, 4. Those Mockingbirds – Penny the Dreadful, 3. Jack White – Lazaretto, 2. Royal Blood – Royal Blood, 1. Crobot – Something Supernatural

Ann Hale:  3. Circa Survive- Descensus,  2. Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence 1. Tori Amos – Unrepentant Geraldines

Nick Porcaro: 5. Duck Sauce – Quack, 4. Casualties of Cool – Casualties of Cool, 3. Coldplay – Ghost Stories, 2. Foster the People – Supermodel, 1. Devin Townsend Project – Sky Blue

Luke Kalamar: 5. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic – Mandatory Fun, 4. tUnE-yArDs – Nikki Nack, 3. Beck – Morning Phase, 2. The Black Keys – Turn Blue, 1. St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Max Freedman: 5. Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire for No Witness,  4. Makthaverskan – II,  3. Ava Luna – Electric Balloon,  2. Cloud Nothings – Here and Nowhere Else, 1. St. Vincent – St. Vincent 

Allison Lips: 5. New Found Glory – Resurrection, 4. Betty Who – Take When You Go By, 3. 5 Seconds of Summer – 5 Seconds of Summer, 2. Brian Setzer – Rockabilly Riot: All Original, 1. McBusted – McBusted

Marisa Caprico: 5. Warrington – Scenic Route to Alaska, 4. Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love, 3. Kelis – Food, 2. Taylor Swift – 1989, 1. Tycho – Awake

Chris Panico: 5. Sonnder – Thief, 4. Flyleaf – Between the Stars, 3. Gerard Way – Hesitant Alien, 2. Twin Forks – Twin Forks, 1. Lights – Little Machines

Dylan Brandesma: 5. Nico Vega – Lead To Light, 4. Slipknot – .5: The Grey Chapter, 3. Alestorm – Sunset on The Golden Age, 2. Babymetal – Babymetal, 1. Pink Floyd – The Endless River

Dana Mansbart: 5. Foxing – The Albatross, 4. Manchester Orchestra – Cope, 3. PVRIS – White Noise, 2. Circa Survive – Descensus, 1. Bayside – Cult

Laura Dengrove: 5. Bleachers- Strange Desire, 4. Taylor Swift – 1989, 3. Alt-j- this is all yours, 2.  The Black Keys – Turn Blue, 1. Coldplay – Ghost Stories

Matt DeBenedetti: 5. Romp – Sorry Not Sorry, 4. Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt, 3. Beach Slang – Cheap Thrills on a Dead End Street, 2. Cheap Girls – Famous Graves, 1. Gates – Bloom & Breathe

Erica Batchelor: 5. Jack White – Lazaretto, 4. Skrillex – Recess, 3. Lights – Little Machines , 2. Circa Survive – Descensus, 1. Manchester Orchestra – Cope

Justin Matchick: 5. The New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers, 4. Mastodon – High Road, 3. Todd Terje – Alfonso Mukedunder, 2. Run the Jewels – Close Your Eyes, 1. Flying Lotus – Never Catch Me

Lisa Pikaard: 5. Sixx AM – Modern Vintage, 4. Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown, 3. Timeflies – After Hours, 2. OAR – The Rockville LP, 1. Hunter Hayes – Storyline

Saidy Lopez: 5. Hozier – Hozier, 4. Johnnyswim – Diamonds, 3. Rubblebucket – Survival Sounds, 2. Bear’s Den – Islands, 1. Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Asia Martin: 4. Romeo Santos – Formula Vol 2, 3. Pharrell – G I R L, 2. Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour, 1. J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hill Drive

Anthony Toto: 5. Taking Back Sunday – Happiness Is, 4. Mastodon – Once More ‘Round The Sun, 3. Bayside – Cult, 2. Slipknot – .5 The Gray Chapter, 1. Crobot – Something Supernatural

DJ Chapman: 5. Psychostick – IV Revenge of the Vengeance, 4. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic – Mandatory Fun, 3. Childish Gambino, Kauai, 2. Rise Market – The Black Market, 1. U2 – Songs of Innocence

Greg Kennelty: 5. Haken – Restoration, 4. Scar Symmetry – The Singularity, Phase One: Neohumanity, 3. Imogen Heap – Sparks, 2. Opeth – Pale Communion, 1. Ne Obliviscaris – Citadel

Jason Stives: 5. The New Pornographers- Brill Bruisers, 4. Tigers Jaw – Charmer, 3.Taylor Swift- 1989, 2. The Hotelier – Home, Like NoPlace is There,  1. St Vincent – St. Vincent 

Matt Kelly: 5. OK GO – Hungry Ghosts, 4. Bastille – Bad Blood, 3. U2 – Songs of Innocence, 2. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic – Mandatory Fun, 1. Various Artists-  Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix (Volume 1)

Brent Johnson: 5. The New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers, 4. St. Vincent – St. Vincent, 3. The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger – Midnight Sun, 2. Spoon – They Want My Soul, 1. Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright In The End

Jason Kundrath: 5: Taylor Swift – 1989, 4: Sharon Van Etten – Are We There, 3: St. Vincent – St. Vincent, 2: Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams, 1: Spoon – They Want My Soul

Mallory Delchamp: 5. Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence, 4. Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour, 3. Ed Sheeran – X, 2. Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett – Cheek to Cheek, 1. One Direction – Four

Lucas P. Jones: Pink Floyd – The Endless River, 4. Mastodon – Once More Round the Sun, 3. Steel Panther – All You Can Eat, 2. Exodus – Blood In Blood Out, 1. Judas Priest – Redeemer of Souls

Erin Mathis: 5. Chiodos – Devil, 4. Bleachers – Strange Desire, 3. The Colourist – The Colourist, 2. Magic Man – Before the Waves, 1. Modern Baseball – You’re Gonna Miss It All

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