Top 10 Albums of 2014: Denise of PWV + Staff Picks
Top 10 Albums of 2014
by Denise Borders, PWV Founder
10. Finch – “Back to Oblivion” (released September 30, 2014)
This one was a bit of an inner struggle to “seem cool” and to just be real with myself. I know that Finch gives me no cred at all, but I can’t deny the fact that I have listened to this album multiple times since its release and I have to give it up for these dudes for coming out of the shadows of their early 2000’s fame to release their third album. Give it a whirl! I called it a mix of the Deftones and Incubus in my original album review.
9. Dwarves “The Dwarves Invented Rock N Roll” (released September 23, 2014)
Normally, this band would be at a much better spot on my top ten lists, however, this album didn’t blow me out of the water like their last record (2011). Nonetheless, I can never deny that I love to listen to these weirdos and they have, yet again, released a record that is top ten worthy. I love these ding dongs.
8. Lawrence Arms – “Metropole” (released January 28, 2014)
Brendan Kelly has problems, I think anyone that follows him on Twitter can see that, but he has one hell of an raspy, angelic-man-voice. This is the band’s first release since parting ways with Fat Wreck Chords, but they didn’t lose any of their charm. This is just a damn fun band to listen to and this record is just that.
7. Swingin’ Utters – “Fistful of Hollow” (released November 11, 2014)
I put this album in the middle of my list because they really surprised me with this one. Nothing traumatic, but I just wasn’t expecting to love the new album for whatever reason and when I first hit play, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this record.
6. Comeback Kid – “Die Knowing” (released March 4, 2014)
This band never disappoints me. This record is fast and fun and is everything I love about Comeback Kid. This record could have easily been in the top three on my list, but there were just a few other albums that I’ve had on repeat a bit more than this one.
5. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – “Are We Not Men? We Are Diva” (released May 13, 2014)
Okay seriously, I NEVER expected to have a Me First album even in my top ten list, let alone in the top five… but here we are! Something about this one really just resonated with me and I have to listen to it every once in a while, more than any other Me First record ever has before.
4. Sick of it All – “The Last Act of Defiance” (released September 26, 2014)
My boys! SOIA is the hardcore band of all hardcore bands. They play rad music, they are family men and just all around nice dudes. This album is fucking awesome and it’s, yet another, amazing Sick of it All record that I will listen to forever.
3. Tim Barry – “Lost And Rootless” (released September 14, 2014)
This one really hit me by surprise. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tim Barry (and I loved Avail), but I just wasn’t expecting this record to get quite as many plays as it did. This is actually his second release of the year, the first being “Raising Hell and Living Cheap: Live in Richmond” released in May. I’m not usually big on live albums and it’s good and all, but it definitely wasn’t close to making it to my end of the year list. This man can be really sweet and he can be really sad, but either way, he writes some damn good songs.
2. Lagwagon – “Hang” (released October 28, 2014)
I’m fairly certain everyone thought this was going to be my number one, and for a while, I really thought so, too! However, when it came down to brass tacks, I felt like it fit better at number two. Obviously, being number two in a top ten list is not a bad thing. I fucking LOVE this record and I am blown away by the band’s ability to still blow me away after all these years. The Caper really out did himself vocally on this album and it just fucking rules.
1. PUP – Self Titled (released April 8, 2014)
This album is more than deserving to be number one for so many reasons. First of all, this was my introduction to the band so not only did I listen to a great album, but I discovered a new band. They are so humble and have blown up so much this year, I couldn’t be happier for these dudes. They are fun to listen to, fun to watch live and I look forward to hearing more albums from this band!
Honorable mentions:
Code Orange – “I am King” (released September 2, 2014)
Morning Glory – “War Psalms” (released March 4, 2014)
Iron Reagan – “The Tyranny of Will” (released September 16, 2014)
Check out some of the other PWV staff picks!
Top 10 Albums of 2014
by Brandon Mizar, PWV contributing photographer
10- Jason Cruz and Howl – “Good Man’s Ruin”
9- Rise Against – “The Black Market”
8- You+Me – “rose ave.”
7- Steel Panther – “All You Can Eat”
6- Counterpunch – “Bruises”
5- Only Crime – “Pursuance”
4- The Darlings – “Made of Phantoms”
3- Behemoth – “The Satanist”
2- Lagwagon – “Hang”
1- Against Me – “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”
I had a hard time deciding between this and the new Lagwagon but this album slightly beat it for my favorite album of 2014. After shooting Against Me live on this tour.
Honorable mentions:
Beartooth – Disgusting
Pears – Go to Prison
Slipknot – The Gray Chapter
Royal Bliss – Chasing the Sun
The Lawrence Arms – Metropole
Top 10 Albums of 2014
by Erik Ghint, PWV contributing album reviewer
Top ten lists are very subjective. My personal top ten list of favorite records released in 2014 (or very close to this past year) comes down simply to how much I’ve listened to a certain record. I definitely haven’t listened to everything and people can usually relate to different records for different reasons. Many records may have been fantastic this year, but there are only a few I now personally hate after having listened to them for too many times.
My ten favorite records from the year 2014 in, really, no particular order are :
– Mad Caddies / Dirty Rice / Fat Wreck chords
Mad Caddies are probably the only ska/reggae/punk band with new material that I still totally enjoy. Dirty Rice has some brilliant songs on it, proving that this band can go on for over two decades and do no wrong.
– F.O.D. / Tricks of the Trade / Funtime Records, Effervescence Records, Bird Attack Records, Bells On Records
F.O.D. are from Belgium and this is my pop-punk record of the year. Catchy, melodic, diverse, anthemic, super fun. Destined for greatness.
– The Menzingers / Rented World / Epitaph Records
When Milo from the Descendents mentions he has enjoyed a record of yours very much, then you have made it to punk rock stardom. I liked Rented World even more than On The Impossible Past which, back then, I thought would be…impossible.
– Despite Everything / The Dawn Chorus / Self Released
Despite Everything are my favorite thing to have come out of Greece in the past years and this full length is proof of that greatness. Throaty melodic energetic modern punk rock at its finest.
– Lagwagon / Hang / Fat Wreck Chords
90’s punk rock fans rejoice, this is your record of the year. Musically and lyrically amazing, one of the most distinct voices in punk rock returns and the overall outcome is better than ever.
– Atrocity Solution / Lost Remedies / Self Released
This record actually came out in mid December of 2013, but I stumbled upon this genius group of musicians almost a year after that. Atrocity Solution are the Leftover Crack of 2014 with so many more elements; skate punk, crust, even some black metal to name a few. Lost Remedies is a masterpiece.
– Violent Soho / Hungry Ghost / Side One Dummy Records
Discovering this band was like an epiphany. This record is filled with amazing songs from start to finish and these kids are the coolest thing I’ve come across this year.
– Comeback Kid / Die Knowing / Victory Records
This is my favorite heavy record of the year. Symptoms and Cures was a masterpiece and Die Knowing is very different, but still, Comeback Kid changed hardcore music for the better in my book and keep thriving with this super powerful LP.
– Chris Cresswell / One Week Records / One Week Records, Fat Wreck Chords
This is by far my favorite acoustic record for 2014. I love the Flatliners and, while this is something very unique, I can now say that Chris Cresswell can turn anything he gets his hands on into shining gold. “Meet me in the shades” is in my top three songs of this year.
Fast Response / Welcome To Corruptia / Self Released
Fast Response are a punk rock band from Croatia. When I first listened to them I knew I was on to something great and this record brought so many good feelings from my punk rock upbringing that I just kept coming back to it over and over again. Punk rock done exactly how I’ve imagined it.
Top 10 Albums of 2014
by Olly Hanks, PWV contributing photographer
10. Beartooth – Disgusting
9. Arch Enemy – War Eternal
8. Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
7. Bane – Don’t Wait Up
6. Pears – the band Go To Prison
5. Masked Intruder – M.I.
4. Being As An Ocean – How We Both Wondrously Perish
3. Behemoth – The Satanist
2. Pianos Become The Teeth – Keep You
1. The Ghost Inside – Dear Youth
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About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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