2014 was a year rich with music. With a number of jam bands releasing studio albums after long delays, some classic rock groups with high profile releases, and excellent albums in the indie, hip-hop, and dance genres.

We had a hard time narrowing down our selections, but, without further ado, here is part one of L4LM’s Top 20 albums of 2014.

20. Pink Floyd – Endless River [Review]

Some twenty years ago, Pink Floyd released The Division Bell, a largely-instrumental album, and the second Floyd album not to feature Roger Waters. Back then, PF members David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright recorded a wealth of unused instrumental music, but, when Wright died in 2008, the music was all but lost. Four years later, Gilmour and Mason decided to revisit the material, ultimately culminating in the release of The Endless River. While the album itself is mostly ambient and instrumental, the calming music serves as a posthumous swan song for Wright. Only in the album’s final track, “Louder Than Words,” do we hear Gilmour’s iconic vocals. Listen below:

As Richard Wright’s swan song, as a soothing instrumental offering, and as the final release from Pink Floyd, The Endless River earns its place among the top 20 albums of the year.

19. Turkuaz – Future 86 [Review]

Brooklyn-based Turkuaz is a funk army. A nine piece ensemble, this is a band that brings a no-holds-barred dance party, wherever they may travel. Their third LP truly captures their live energy, with funky tracks like “Bubba Slide” and more spacey offerings like “Electric Habitat.” One thing is for sure: when Turkuaz come to town, you know it’s time to get down.

Check out the title track below:

18. Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways [Review]

While Sonic Highways may not be the best album released by The Foo Fighters, the process behind its creation is certainly worthy of praise. Dave Grohl and co. traveled around the country, integrating the varied styles of traditional US music into their rock and roll sound. With stops in Austin, New Orleans, Chicago, and New York, The Foo Fighters pack a whole country’s worth of rock into one compact disc. Be sure to check out the making-of documentary series on HBO, and listen to the album streaming below:

17. Aqueous – Cycles [Review]

Coming straight out of Buffalo, NY, these energetic rockers worked their musical magic on their third studio album, Cycles. This is a band that has assuredly made a name for themselves in the Northeast, playing at festivals like moe.down and Peach Music Festival, among many others, in 2014. These guys are talented musicians, building on rich harmonies and melodies to construct an elaborately smooth album. All of the tracks are streaming via the band’s YouTube, but you can check out “Skyway” below:

16. Lotus – Gilded Age [Review]

Coming out over the summer of 2014, Gilded Age was the 8th LP from Lotus, the group that has come to define their live, experimental, jamtronica sound over the years. Gilded Age is the hallmark of a mature band, confident with their own abilities, pushing their boundaries and exploring new themes. This album includes an interesting twist; after the first six original tracks, the album includes remixed counterparts. Each half of the album is strong enough on its own, but together, they show the band at their finest.

Check out Gilded Age, streaming for free via YouTube:

15. Dopapod – Never Odd Or Even [Review]

Dopapod are one of the brightest newer bands on the live music scene, having performed and toured tenaciously since 2007. Never Odd or Even, the band’s fifth palindromic release (including the live I Saw Live Dopapod, Evil Was I) is a smashing success, with infectious tunes like “Picture and Picture” and “Present Ghosts” kicking off a fun, futuristic rock and roll album. The band’s music gets serious at times, but can also be quite comical, as the song “Nerds” features guitarist Chuck Jones imitating a drunk girl who wants a shot of tequila. All in all, with excellent instrumentation and intricate compositions, Never Odd or Even is a great listen.

Check out the album in full below:

14. Aphex Twin – SYRO

Perhaps one of the biggest comeback stories of 2014 was that of Aphex Twin, the electronic music producer who pioneered the genre throughout the nineties, before essentially disappearing from the music scene. The British composer announced his return to the music scene in style, flying a blimp over London with his signature logo. Shortly thereafter, Aphex Twin released the album SYRO, which thoroughly lived up to the hype. SYRO is electronic music perfection, balancing experimentation and danceable beats.

Check out the leading single, “minipops 67 [120.2] [source field mix],” below:

13. Railroad Earth – Last of the Outlaws [Review]

One of the most delicate bluegrass/folk releases of 2014 was Last of the Outlaws, Railroad Earth’s sweeping studio contribution in 2014. The album dives into the band’s more thoughtful side, with a 21-minute long composition divided into six unique sections. The flow from the songs “All That’s Dead May Live Again” to “In Paradisum” is eloquent, capturing the intricacy of bluegrass music in the 21st century. Last of the Outlaws was definitely one of our favorite bluegrass releases this year.

Check out a live rendition of the title track below:

12. Flying Lotus – You’re Dead! [Review]

Musician and producer Flying Lotus has crafted some of the most intricate electronic music for nearly ten years now, and his experience shines through on You’re Dead! FlyLo recruited a number of top-notch musicians as collaborators on the album, including Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and many others. You’re Dead! dips into some dark territory, but it does so fearlessly, creating a thoroughly unique listening experience.

Check out “Never Catch Me” ft. Kendrick Lamar below:

11. Primus – Primus & The Chocolate Factory [Review]

When Les Claypool, Larry LaLonde, and Tim Alexander get to playing together, there’s just no telling what’s going to happen. This year, the band’s classic lineup decided to release a fundamentally bizarre interpretation of the soundtrack from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. To be fair, the story does have a bit of a demented undertone, but, through the filter of Primus…

The only way to truly experience this album is to listen to it. Here’s their version of “Pure Imagination,” from Primus & The Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble:

 

That wraps up the first part of our top 20 album feature. Stay tuned for part two, and see who YOU voted for as the #1 album in 2014!