Getintothis’ Top 50 Albums of 2014: 50-31

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Ballet School

Ballet School – part of Getintothis‘ Albums of 2014

Our countdown of the best albums of 2014 continues with Getintothis editor Peter Guy reflecting on Nigerian grooves, Scottish pride and classic rock & roll from the Wirral peninsula.

Last Friday we revealed albums 100-51 from our end of year countdown and we continue all week with the final 50.

Today’s selection includes legends of pop and rock, fresh new favourites and a band who introduced the insult ‘tit rifle’ into our consciousness.

As ever, we look forward to hearing your recommendations in the comment section below, or alternatively join in the discussion on Facebook or Twitter.

The countdown continues…

 

Ibibio_Sound_Machine

50. Ibibio Sound MachineIbibio Sound Machine

Soundway

Infectious, riotous and impossibly funky – this was groove with all kinds of heart.

Lust_For_Youth_International

49. Lust For Youth: International

Sacred Bones Records

What on first listen appears detached and wrapped in arch cool gradually unravels into an emotive piece of art-pop containing one of the singles of the year, the irresistible Armida.

Getintothis on Lust For Youth

New_Build_Pour_It_On

48. New Build: Pour It On

Sunday Best

DFA beats via London – Hot Chip-assisted electronica with a hefty dollop of soul and an epic closing title track that The Juan Maclean would be proud of.

By_The_Sea_Endless_Days

47. By The Sea: Endless Days Crystal Sky

War Room

Sure there was a mild evolution but at it’s heart, Endless Days Crystal Sky, once again emphasised just how good the Wirral quintet’s song-writing skills are. Almost effortless in its savoir faire magnificence.

Getintothis on By The Sea

FKA_Twigs_lp1

46. FKA Twigs: lp1

Young Turks

Recalling the likes of Tricky, The Weeknd and Janelle Monae, yet Twigs‘ vision was singularly twisted, sexual and for a debut, ridiculously ambitious. Centre-piece Pendulum backed up the hype emphasising the sense that this is the start of something very special indeed.

Getintothis on FKA Twigs

Pallbearer_Foundations

45. Pallbearer: Foundations Of Burden

Profound Lore

If it’s been a good year for heavy rock records then we must have missed it. Pallbearer were one of few who absolutely nailed it.

Swans_To_Be_Kind

44. Swans: To Be Kind

Young God Records

I think we used up all hyperbole with regard to Swans in 2012.

Getintothis on Swans

sleaford_mods_divide

43. Sleaford Mods: Divide And Exit

Harbinger Sound

To quote Bananarama: ‘It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it.’ Sleaford Mods get results. You fucking tit rifle.

Getintothis on Sleaford Mods

Phantom_Band_Strange_Friend

42. Phantom Band: Strange Friend

Chemikal Underground

Business as usual for Rick Anthony‘s Glaswegian collective; a cauldron overflowing with organ-drenched tribal-folk imbued loveliness. Strange Friend simply felt like a good friend returning from the wilderness.

Getintothis on Phantom Band

young_fathers_dead

41. Young Fathers: Dead

Big Dada

A justifiable Mercury winner – and at last something to rock the boat. Rooted in hip hop this gnarly rapid-fire attack also contained lashings of pop, soul and lots more in between. To witness them play live was something else, too.

Getintothis on Young Fathers

Ballet_School_The_Dew_Lasts

40. Ballet School: The Dew Lasts An Hour

Bella Union

Far more than the sum of their notable influences, Ballet School are Grade A primal acrobatic pop with Rosie Blair one of finest new voices around and in Ghost and Heartbeat Overdrive they’ve two of the tunes of 2014.

Getintothis on Ballet School

Prince_Art_Official_Age

39. Prince: Art Official Age

Warner Bros

The soulful electronic yin to PlectrumElectrum’s guitar-heavy yang, Art Official Age oozed P-Funk class and some of his finest ballads in years.

Getintothis on Prince

St_Vincent_Digital_witness

38. St Vincent: Digital Witness

Republic

Indebted to BowieDigital Witness saw Annie Clark evolve into robo-electro guitar-fuelled glam. A very good record became something truly great when transmitted live suggesting it won’t be long before her ideas are executed onto very big stages indeed.

Getintothis on St Vincent

The_Brian_Jonestown_Massacre_Revelation

37. The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Revelation

A Recordings

Anton Newcombe‘s collective delivered by far their most consistent racket in some time, a glorious sprawling rock & roll hit which lived up to its name.

Getintothis on The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Damien Jurado_Brothers_And_Sisters

36. Damien Jurado: Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Sun

Secretly Canadian

Deftly brushed Americana with sprawling stylistics from another cosmos.

Getintothis on Damien Jurado

Jack_White_Lazaretto

35. Jack WhiteLazaretto

XL

You suspect Jack White could toss out an album a month. What an absolute bastard.

Getintothis on Jack White

Jesse_Ware_Tough_love

34. Jessie Ware: Tough Love

Island

Jessie sounded pretty bummed out on her follow up to Devotion but that didn’t stop her from penning some of the year’s best soul-pop numbers; Say You Love Me had us in bits, Champagne Kisses was slicker than Bret The Hitman Hart‘s hair-do while You & I (Forever) was seriously massive.

Getintothis on Jessie Ware

King_Creosote_From _scotland

33. King Creosote: From Scotland With Love

Domino

Kenny Anderson‘s ode to his homeland was dripping in passion and pride – and resonated even more poignantly in 2014.

Getintothis on King Creosote

Kate_Tempest_Everybody_down

32. Kate Tempest: Everybody Down

Big Dada

The new kid on the block nails 12 pop fables which were as unique as they were unshakeably infectious.

Getintothis on Kate Tempest

Mogwai_Rave_Tapes

31. Mogwai: Rave Tapes

Rock Action

More in keeping with their Zidane or Les Revenants soundtracks, Rave Tapes oddly became Mogwai‘s biggest commercial success despite it being their most tranquil.

Getintothis on Mogwai

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