As a disclaimer: there are a lot of albums that
I didn’t have a chance to listen to this year (Ed Sheeran, Hozier, Tony Bennet,
etc.) This list represents what I’ve heard and what my favorites are from the
year. So enjoy and let me know if you agree with any of them!
HONORABLE MENTION: Nick
Jonas
Nick Jonas
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I do my best to always shine light on an album every year
that was a highlight and didn’t quite make my personal top 10. This year I have
to give it up to Nick Jonas for his teen star sendoff. Now he’s all grown up,
grabbing his crotch, starring in his own sex scenes, and above all else making
some great music! With a lot of influence from people like Justin Timberlake
& Prince, this album was a great departure into R&B and pop combined.
The combination was explosive and this album is amazing from start to finish!
Favorite Song: “Chains” (The beat-tastic first single
and first track to open the album, it has a great Kanye West “Power” feel to it
and it’s just epic and strong for his first step back into his solo career!)
10.) My Everything
Ariana Grande
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Her 2013 debut Yours Truly was one of the Top 5
albums for me last year: a strong debut infusing a lot of great R&B and pop
music together. While this album seemed to be a bit more popular than her
debut, I don’t feel it was as good. She went in a more pop direction for more
worldwide success, but it’s the R&B tracks on this album that are the real
stand out.
Favorite Song: “Best Mistake” (She went back to what
made her so great on the last album, and it just happens to be another
collaboration with Big Sean. It’s a sick beat, great vocals that don’t strain
or go too far. It’s perfect the way it is without trying too hard at all.)
9.) 1989
Taylor Swift
I might not be able to handle Taylor Swift when she does
interviews and especially whenever she sings live or lip synchs to every song
someone else is performing…but damn her and her genius songwriting, her catchy
hooks, and her fantastic hits! It was great to finally hear her embrace pop
100% and this ode to the year 1989 musically sounds great from beginning to
end. Every song is hit single material and it’s all still written from the
heart after every fizzled relationship.
Favorite Song: “Shake It Off” (The infectious first
single will get anyone to shake, shake, shake wherever they find themselves
when this song comes on.)
8.) The Hunger
Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
Various Artists
Thank you very much to whoever it was at Lionsgate that
suggested the idea of Lorde being in charge of putting together a soundtrack
for Mockingjay. The end result is an eclectic mix of dance, pop,
hip-hop, and much more, bringing together artists you would never think could
be on the same album together.
Favorite Song: “Meltdown” (Stromae, Lorde, Pusha T, Q-Tip,
and HAIM. What an opener!)
7.) The Pinkprint
Nicki Minaj
After a dismal sophomore album that may have brought bigger
hits, Nicki went back to basics in this personal and heartfelt third album. She
opens up more, she still brings out that great personality, she still gets
sassy and sexy, but all in all she pours her heart and soul into every song. It’s
breathtaking to hear.
Favorite Song: “The Crying Game” (The simple fact that
she has Jessie Ware on this track easily made it my favorite!)
6.) Me. I Am
Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse
Mariah Carey
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Poor Mariah. She just can’t catch a break! This album (along
with her 2009 Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel) are two of the most
underrated albums in her catalog, especially for her newer generation stuff. It’s
a solid R&B album, filled with excellent production and nothing that ever
goes over the top in any way. It’s unfortunate that she’s overshadowed by poor
live performances, a less than flattering stint on American Idol, and all the
talk about her personal life because this is one of the best albums of the year
that certainly didn’t get the attention it deserved. Although she could've done without the long-ass title...
Favorite Song: “Faded” (Mike Will Made-It in his
producing prime again bringing out a softer side of Mariah with a gentle beat,
strong lyrics, and those beautiful whistle tones!)
5.) Xscape
Michael Jackson
After a very disappointing posthumous album with Michael back
in 2010 that shed everything we loved about the King of Pop, Epic records
enlisted a lineup of superstar producers that didn’t let their egos get in the
way. Timbaland, Darkchild, & Stargate came together to bring back what we
loved about Michael: that effortless in his voice, the groove, the funk, and
the sincerity in every note he sang. It’s amazing to also hear the original
tracks in their entirety on the deluxe edition just to be able to hear firsthand
what these producers had to work with. It’s like he never left us!
Favorite Song: “Loving You” (This song alone gets my
choice for favorite on the album when you hear what it sounded like originally
to what it was transformed into thanks to Timbaland. The scratches, the warped
vocals, the unintentional changing keys, a forgotten Bad leftover track
updated and brought into 2014…you never could guess!)
4.) G I R L
Pharrell Williams
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Pharrell has been in his prime for quite some time with his
production group The Neptunes and his band N*E*R*D, but unfortunately when it
came time for him to go solo, it was all sunshine and rainbows. Something just
didn’t click. But giving him a couple years to figure things out musically and
a worldwide hit with “Happy” from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, the
time was right for him to come back into the spotlight solo. He ditched the
rapping and went all in with his cooing voice to sing on this amazing second
solo album. It’s a groove that starts in “Marilyn Monroe” and flows all the way
until the end with “It Girl”. He has some great collaborators here with Miley,
Timbaland, JT, Daft Punk, and Alicia Keys, but he still takes front and center
for an album to be proud of.
Favorite Song: “Freq” (It may be attached as the
second half to the song “Lost Queen”, but it is without a doubt the most
relaxing and beautiful moment on the whole album. Not to mention that he gives
the beautiful JoJo and chance to shine once again!)
3.) The London
Sessions
Mary J. Blige
Sure, the whole America and London crossover thing has been
done so many times already, but never has it ever sounded this great and this
organic! Mary J. Blige seemed to get into a slump working with the same “IT”
producers for the time being the last couple of albums. Here she strips
everything down and starts from scratch, working with a different sound,
different writers, and different producers to give us all a new perspective in
her already impressive collection! Sam Smith, Disclosure, Emeli Sandé, Eg
White, Jimmy Napes…it’s a star-studded affair that never overshadows the
emotion and grit Mary brings to any song of hers.
Favorite Song: “Nobody But You” (It’s a dance song
above all else, but the beat has an amazing groove and great feel from start to
finish. It’s upbeat, fun, and brings so much joy when listening to it!)
2.) 1000 Forms of
Fear
Sia
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I was genuinely scared at first when Sia announced a couple
years back that she was done writing albums for herself. I mean it’s great to
give us gems like “Diamonds” or “Pretty Hurts” for other artists, but Sia has
one of my favorite and one of the best voices. Her voice is distinct and
different from anything else. So imagine how surprised and thrilled I was to
hear that she was coming out of the dark and bringing us another album! She may
not have shown her face or promoted using her image, but that didn’t matter.
Fans like me just wanted to hear her music and that alone was enough to make this
a hit album and her first number one in the US!
Favorite Song: “Chandelier” (This deceiving first
single sounds like a party anthem but it really is a cry for help. It still is
a great song, genius, and beautiful all at the same time!)
1.) In the Lonely
Hour
Sam Smith
To the man that took my breath away in music last year with “Latch”
and his Nirvana EP, he broke into the world bigger and stronger with his
debut album! The songs may not be as upbeat as “Latch” or “La La La”, but it’s
heartfelt, poignant, and above all else personal. It’s a genuine album filled
with heartbreak over a man who broke his heart. It’s beautiful. Every song gets
me teary-eyed, and I’ve never had that before in an album! There’s so much
feeling in his voice and so much strength. It’s astounding and takes my breath
away every time.
Favorite Song: “Lay Me Down” (Leave it to SNL to pave
the way for another great artist and introduce them to the world. First ADELE,
then Jessie J, and earlier this year with no album released or ready to promote,
they brought out Sam Smith to take everyone’s breath away. “Stay With Me” was
great, but it was his acoustic performance or “Lay Me Down” that brought the
house down. It’s a beautiful track to close this stellar debut.)
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