Paul's 2014 Favourites

Below 11 of my favorite albums/songs of 2014.

Royksopp & Robyn - Do it again

This is just an incredibly catchy song. 

Good production, good beat, very addictive. 

I don`t know what else to say about it.

I just want to Do It Again. 

The Dø - Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy 

I`ve been following this group for almost 10 years now and this is the first single of their third album. Their new album still has to be released in the UK and the US. I hear a lot more synthesizers and a catchy beat. It's a short song and at the end I only want more. Success!

Parquet Courts - Black & White

The Parquet Courts are a bunch of rock 'n rollers from the U.S of A who write pointy songs about the frustrations of modern (city) life. Their second album is a bit less focused than their first effort, but it certainly grew on me. The start of this song, when the guitar goes "chkchkchkchk" is  one of my favorite moments recorded on any album this year. Remind me of Devo. 

Mac DeMarco - Blue Boy

The pepperoni playboy. Don`t let his slacker image distract you. The songs he writes are some of the most delicate and beautiful tunes published in 2014. He reminds me of a hopelessly romantic Bob Dylan. 

Blue boy, worried 'bout the world's eyes
Worried every time the sun shines
Worried about his haircut
Calm down, sweetheart, grow up

Blue boy, older than the world knows
Honey, that's the way that life goes
No use acting so tough
Come down, sweetheart, grow up

 

  Admiral Freebee - Nothing Else to Do

Favorite song from the low countries this year. 

Just a nice, relaxing song, demonstrating the Admiral's nice gritty voice and solid songwriting. 

Seeing I`m live is also something I can recommended to anyone.

St Vincent - Birth In Reverse

Her music and performances are becoming more mechanic and less organic with every album, but she's still a hell of a guitar player and a musician with a vision. She gave me a chill down the back of my spine when I saw her open her live performance in the Paradiso with "Rattlesnake". I`m hoping that in one of her next moves she'll let a bit more air into her music and her performance.

 
 Tune-yards - Water Fountain

Tune-yards bring fun and experimentation back into music and their live performances are a joy to watch and very powerful. Lot's of drums, strong vocals and a funky bass to finish it off. One of my favorite acts of this decade.

Death from Above 1979 - Right On, Frankenstein

Back from the death, death from above. I saw them live in 2005 and I saw them live in 2014. 

Just like wine they got better with age.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - I`m in your mind. I`m not in your mind. Cellophane. I`m in your mind fuzz.

Just listen to the first four songs on this album and you'll hopefully understand why this band is one of my greatest discoveries this year. It just blows your mind. Excellent music for head-banging or for when you just need to lose some excess energy (by jumping around like an insane mad-man!)

Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting for you)

In the 3voor12 poll for song of the year, this one ended on my list. I have not listened to anything else this band has produced, or care for the singer's dance-moves, but this song just proves that with a bit of Stevie Wonder you can get a beautiful song about longing for someone or something...

TOPS - Way to be loved

Smoky room. Lot's of people dancing..see her through the haze.
I like the atmosphere this song radiates and the delicate guitar work on it.
One of the bands I hope to see live in 2014.