Best of 2014 Part 7

We're here at last! Somehow the year has come and gone. I haven't done nearly as many awesome things as I would have liked, but there were a few highlights. Silent disco at FollyFest was great, the weekend in TO, and I had all kinds of fancy new craft beers. I'm guessing this coming year will be a little more eventful, if only because there's so much I didn't get done this time.

Only one EP ended up getting finished this year, which is slightly annoying considering I've got a few that are really close to done. Think I'm just gonna sneak them out instead of promising dates that don't happen. Some changes in store for the blog as well, nothing revolutionary but it might make it a little more interesting to random observers.

Anyway here's my top 3 albums of the year, all loads of fun, and a great EP worth digging into. Hope your evening is swell, I'm sure mine will be hazy. 

#3

Mariachi El Bronx

III

Is it really that hard to pick a name for an album? Come one guys. Seriously. Urgh. So this one had a bit of hype behind it, or maybe just from me, because I love these guys, I think even more than their hardcore identity, The Bronx, but I'll probably change my mind again tomorrow. 

So this is actually what it should be. Mariachi rock. At its best. The first album from 2009 was great, the second three years ago wasn't quite as flash, this one takes the cake. Every song stands on its own, with a dash of epic tossed around liberally. It's upbeat and cynical at the same time, but a total blast throughout its 37 minutes, which is really my only complaint. I want more. Hell ya!

Wildfires

High Tide

New Beat

#2

Jungle

Jungle

I give up. Album titles are out. Disco is in. Remember their EP? It was my runaway favorite of last year. Soon as this album was announced I knew it would be the business. I've read complaints that they're just rehashed Bee-Gee's. And...? Who cares, they've done it so, so well, how can you complain? Their videos are the best of the year, and they've done a very commendable job on their live show. Needs a little work, but it's a great start.

It was a little disappointing to see all four tracks from the EP on this album, but they're all killer tracks so I guess it was inevitable. For me the most pleasing aspect was that the songs that aren't dance floor smashers are also great, if not my favorites. I can't say enough good things about this record. Go check it out and have yourself a good time.

Busy Earnin'

Julia

Crumbler

#1

La Roux

Trouble In Paradise

Finally! A proper album title, and with it go the spoils. Yesterday I said that any of the top 6 or so albums could be put in any order, and I stand by that, sorta. To be fair this was definitely my favorite of the year, even against stiff competition. It wasn't mind blowing, but it was really, really good. The whole disc has an unmistakably 80's feel to it, but in a good way, with just enough edge to keep it fresh. I loved the first single, "Let Me Down Slowly", and the opening track, "Uptight Downtown", is surely the best dance track of the year. How is there no video to that song?

That's really the gist of it. Eight tracks are just the type you want to play over, and over, and over. It's flighty and vibrant without sounding too pretentious. I also like that Elly has put substance in her songs, they're not 3-minute radio buzzer beaters. My biggest complaint is that the 9th track sounds like it was just thrown on, like it's not finished. It just doesn't belong, but the first 8 are so good it doesn't matter. Discounting that final letdown, it's 38 of the most engaging minutes of audio you'll find anywhere from the last 12 months. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Cruel Sexuality

Kiss And Not Tell

Tropical Chancer

EP #1

Black Milk

Glitches In The Break

Thought it would be something bouncy, didn't you? Nope, gotta hand it to one of the best hip hop artists in the biz. Curtis Cross kills it every time, and this EP is right up there with his best work. Phat beats, dope lyrics, and one of my favorites of the year, "Cold Day". Good one to end with.

G

1 For Dam

Cold Day

Catch ya on the flipside.

Best of 2014 Part 6

A slight spoiler: for me there was no runaway winner this year, so at this point I feel like the order of the last few albums could be jumbled up and justified in any fashion. They're all really good, and basically I just picked albums I liked a little more to come up with the final order. Anyway let's get down to business, here is the beginning of the very best albums of 2014.

#6

Run The Jewels

Run The Jewels 2

Killer Mike! El-P! Run The Jewels! Yaaaa sucka! This record is just hype personified. I liked the first album, I loved this one. The production, as expected, is fuggin awezum. Kind of sounds like Death Grips, only less manic. This is the new wave gangsta shit.

I should of course mention that the lyrics are seriously PG-13, or maybe more appropriately rated R for some less-than-savoury tracks, which is most of them. Ha. Don't look for radio hits, there are none. It's just badass hip hop ground up with dirty electro grime and fried in a dope step pancake. So far ahead of the curve. Keep runnin' fellas.

Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)

Blockbuster Night Part 1

Early

#5

FKA Twigs

LP1

What good is an album title anyway? I guess when you're busy writing tunes you can't be bothered about with unimportant things like that. So this is the new R&B. Or so I've been told. I have no idea where this fits in the traditional genre spectrum, and to be honest I don't care. Downtempo, a bit glitchy, trippy and intense. Tahliah's voice just kind of floats around in the background, far far away from the over-the-top self indulgence of today's bloated pop divas.

FKA stands for 'formerly known as'. Good to know. I saw the video for "Two Weeks" and did my best impression of Keanu Reeves. Totally awesome. Thankfully it wasn't a one-off, the whole album is great. Just the right mix of weird and catchy. Very excited to see where she takes this in the future. Let's hope that means sooner rather than later.

Hide

Video Girl

Lights On

#4

The War On Drugs

Lost In The Dream

I have to admit I really didn't want to bother with this album. I hate the band name, and just about everything about them exudes hipster in the worst possible ways. After some prodding I gave in and donated an hour of my time to give it a shot. I tried not to like it. I tried, and failed. I couldn't help it, it's actually really good. That's just the worst, when you want something to be terrible and fit exactly in the stereotype of mediocrity that you have it pegged for, and then it turns out to be something genuinely enjoyable, so much you have to write about it. Damnit.

So there are certainly arguments to be made that's it's not particularly original. Repackaged oldies, a mix of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, a little Neil Young. Yup, it certainly sounds like it, but somehow it still sounds fresh. It doesn't seem to be heavily burdened with the knowledge that it's a continuation, not a beginning, and the songs just kind of flow together. Don't worry, I'm not prepared to give up the ghost just yet, but I'll concede this one. For now...

Under The Pressure

Red Eyes

An Ocean In Between The Waves

EP #2

Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Winter

Now this must be the easiest comparison I've ever heard. It's basically Justin Vernon over some drum tracks. Considering the last Bon Iver album was a masterpiece, it's not a bad formula. In actuality this is the work of Tim Bettinson, an Australian, which is somewhat upsetting considering the name of the city he's chosen to use in his alias. Couldn't he have been the Brisbane Sleep Clinic? Melbourne? Toowoomba? Anyway, lousy name, good music. The most chilled out EP of the year. 

Collapse

Flaws

Vapour

Almost there...

Best of 2014 Part 5

Movin' right along...

#9

Big Wreck

Ghosts

I was super excited when I heard a new album from these guys was on the way, and it delivered in spades. For me this is their best work, in either incarnation (i.e. Thornley), since their first album way back in '97. The crunchy guitars, soaring choruses, and epic harmonies are all over this release. Ian's singing sounds great, the song writing is there, and don't forget his signature guitar solos. 

Thankfully they've eschewed radio hits for longer, more meaty songs, with only one clocking in under four minutes, and only two others under five. There are some truly memorable moments on this record, not least in the terrific album closer, "War Baby". It's crazy that these guys still aren't bigger than they are. In a world full of indie alternative experimental glitch step, decent rock bands are fewer and farther between. Here's to one of the very best.

Hey Mama

Come What May

Ghosts

#8

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Give The People What They Want

So what do you do when you get bile duct cancer, have half your digestive system removed, and lose all your hair from god-awful chemo treatments? Well, you kick cancer's ass and get back on the damn road pronto, of course. At least that's what Sharon Jones did. She delayed the release of this album until she got better so she could tour properly, and man did she do it right.

This is a super album, comparable to her excellent 2010 release "I Learned The Hard Way", absolutely stuffed with modern Motown masterpieces. Of course it helps that she has the best backing band in the business, but why not? The music suits them to a tee. Check out these clips, and this video, and tell me you wouldn't love to see their live show. Two thumbs way up.

Stranger To My Happiness

Now I See

Get Up And Get Out

#7

Todd Terje

It's Album Time

It's been a long time coming, and well worth the wait. Terje Olsen has been around the disco house scene for the best part of a decade, and this is his first full length release. It's hardly a surprise that he knocked it out of the park. Every note in every song seems charted to perfection, and his crazy keyboard licks keep it just that little bit unpredictable.

Upbeat, fresh, funky, bouncy, mesmerising. It makes you want to get up and go for a jog in the middle of the night. Or dance down the cheese aisle at the supermarket. Vocal samples are used fleetingly, mostly indiscernible from the other blips and bloops, and only one song features actual singing of any kind. Amazingly Terje has found a way to take his act to the live stage, and the performance of "Inspector Norse" seen below is just awesome. 

Delorean Dynamite

Inspector Norse

Leisure Suit Preben

EP #3

Vulfpeck

Fugue State

What a refreshingly bright sound these cats have. It's just so much funk, so much jazz. I'm sure you're familiar with their big hit by now. If not, you should be. I mean it's physically impossible to listen to this stuff without a smile on your face and your head nod on. Got a classy house gathering coming up? Here's yer guys. FollyFest? Hey... you know what... now we're on to something!

First Place

Sky Mall

Fugue State

Hot diggity, just two days to go in 2014!

Best of 2014 Part 4

Slept in today. Still tired. Soldiering on. 

#12

Brock Berrigan

Four Walls And An Amplifier

36 minutes of the dopest beats you've heard all year, no doubt. This guy is arguably the most prolific basement dweller of the modern age. He describes himself as "beat maker, music enthusiast, multi instrumentalist, sample hunter, town drunk". He forgot inspirational guru. 

Old school soul samples and old blaxploitation clips sliced over the phattest hip hop grooves on the east coast. Apparently he's got hordes of unreleased material he doesn't want to release, occasionally dropping one on his SoundCloud page. Put this guy in the ring with any of the world's best lyricists and you've got yourself a chune. I wonder if he wears that chicken mask at home?

Reading Rambo

Clockwork

Why The Funk Not

#11

Beck

Morning Phase

Is the old Beck gone? The funky dude who thought he was a loser? If he is, we'll understand, but hopefully he's just on hiatus. In the meantime, we have a return to the "Sea Change" sound, only this time it's more ethereal and, frankly, much better.

He's definitely not breaking any new ground on this one, but it doesn't seem like he's pretending to. It just sounds like he wanted to chill out for a while, and we've been let in on a few minutes of his thoughts. It's an easy listen, one you'll likely repeat several times once you give it a shot. I'm not really sure it gets better with time, because it's good on the first go. Thumbs up from me.

Say Goodbye

Heart Is A Drum

Blue Moon

#10

Wild Beasts

Present Tense

As soon as I heard the opening track on this one I knew it would be a winner. I haven't really given them much time before, but they got plenty of it this year. It's kind of hard to put a finger on why it's such an engrossing album. It's largely a synth-heavy melancholy sound, but the production is really well done, it's nice and crisp but at the same time buttery smooth.

They all seem to be talented multi-instrumentalists, with Hayden Thorpe and Tom Fleming adding the lyrics in an interesting, kind of semi-falsetto muddy-tenor mix that has a nice contrast. The songwriting is pretty good, a step up from their older stuff, and it sounds like they have higher places to reach for in the future. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Daughters

Sweet Spot

Mecca

EP #4

Wigbert

This And That

Minimal tech house leaning more towards techno than house, this is the best of that genre I've heard all year. It's not overly complicated, pretty straight forward stuff, but subtle and really, really tight. This isn't big-room blast your ears off, it's late night vampire keep that brain moving and those toes tapping. The lost art of simplicity done right. 

Okapi

This And That

Head Machine

Into the best of the best, starting tomorrow!

Best of 2014 Part 3

Running a little late-ish today, but have no fear, I am here! Let's just take a quick minute to assess the final Hobbit movie, The Battle Of The Five Armies, that I watched last night. Quick summary: disappointing. Probably my least favorite of the six Peter Jackson Middle Earth films. It was entertaining, went by fast, but to me it felt sloppy, rushed, just a bit too messy. I liked the Lord of the Rings films. For me the pacing of the Hobbit trilogy was way off. It's a shame. The visuals were stunning as always, but didn't make up for the mediocre writing. Anyway go see it for yourself, at least there's some really cool action scenes. Dain's dwarves were pretty cool.

Music time.

#15

Pharoahe Monch

PTSD

Hip-hop is getting ever more divisive. People pulling in all kinds of different directions, both in terms of production and lyricism, and lots of different sorts getting into it. Even white Australian girls are into it, maybe I'll give it a try some day. My preference is more old-school classic styles. Tight lyrics, solid beats, nothing too whack. A little gangster, but never over the top.  

This album fills all the requirements and more. The Pharoahe is one of those few who can stand with the old school kings. Of course it makes sense since he's been around for more than 20 years, and yet only four solo albums are on his discography. This one might be his best. The production sounds like a Roots album (some of them were in on it) and the lyrics are unmistakably Monch. It's versatile with both big heavy grungy tracks and slower more thoughtful offerings. For me it's one of the best hip hop records of the last five years. 

Broken Again

Damage

Rapid Eye Movement

#14

Swans

To Be Kind

They`ve done it again. Why, god, why? Two years ago these deranged individuals put out a record that I described as "slow torture, a creeping dread, a shrouded evil", and I loved it. In my opinion this one isn't quite as good, but some have argued that it is in fact better. Either way, it's another astonishing adventure into introspective anarchy. You can't listen to this every day, or even once a week, unless your therapist really needs the money.

So why is this here? Look, the world isn't smiles and chocolates. You can't listen to Backstreet Boys all day. If that's you, fine, carry on living the lie. I moved out of the cave a long time ago (the allegory, not necessarily the place). Sometimes you need to expand your mind beyond its comfort zone, and this is the kind of record that does it. In fact let's take that a bit further. There is no other band on the planet who takes you through the metaphysical gauntlet like Swans. Nobody.

Just A Little Boy

Oxygen

To Be Kind

#13

Hey Rosetta!

Second Sight

Close to as completely opposite as it gets from that darkness is the gleaming light of these superb rockers from Newfoundland. It's been three years since their last record and it seems the years have been kind. I liked that last one, but this one is a significant step up in their evolution. The signature strings have largely been set aside for more guitars and a more expansive percussion section, and the rest is a more mature sound and some of their best song writing since "Plan Your Escape".

The first single sounded different at first, and by the time of writing this it's become one of my favorite tracks of the year. There are unmistakable hints of Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon throughout the album, and maybe even a little of The Drones, which is never a bad thing. Pedals and effects have never been overly prevalent, and again they're used sparsely, but they really enhance the ambiance on tracks like "Neon Beyond". It's an excellent album, and again one that could well rank higher on the list after a few more months of reflective absorption.

Kintsukuroi

What Arrows

Harriet

EP #5

Lusine

Arterial

I very nearly moved this up the list at the last second, but I'm going to live with my choices and move on. After hearing the first single from this one I had a feeling it would be there or thereabouts on my list, and sure enough it was a keeper. Jeff McIlwain is an accomplished and industrious producer who has kind of ghosted (pun intended) under the eyes of the mainstream for a while, and though this release is unlikely to change that, it's possibly his most refined work to date. This is more thinking music, glitch-hop IDM at its best. Highly recommended.

Eyes Give In

Quiet Day

Forks

Almost to half time... keep up!

Best of 2014 Part 2

I kinda forgot, yesterday, to mention some of the albums that didn't quite make it. This year felt like the spectrum of what is 'popular' expanded just a little bit further. Flying Lotus put out a far-out album that got a lot of critical acclaim. I'm not a big fan but I can appreciate its artistic merit. Lots of 'alternative hip-hop' ended up on best-of lists, and some 'neo-soul' albums. The new D'Angelo has been making waves recently, again not really my thing, but whatever floats your boat.

Once again it felt like there were a lot of really good albums, but nothing that came off as an instant classic. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's worth considering as we venture further into the digital age where kids all over the world have virtually free exposure to, well, everything ever. Who will be the next great genre definer?

I digress. Taylor McFerrin, son of Bobby, put out a really impressive debut LP. Other stand-outs that were close, but no cigar, included (but not limited to) Glass Animals, FaltyDL, Beef Terminal, The Juan MacLean, Badbadnotgood, and Tom Petty. Special mention also to Apollo Brown who dropped an awesome collection of hip hop beats that I couldn't quite squeeze in. I enjoyed the new Joris Voorn album, and James Curd's funky house grooves on "Damage Is Done" was my favorite EP that didn't make my charts. So there you have the honorable mentions. Now back to the headliners.

#18

Smashing Pumpkins

Monument To An Elegy

This one kind of came out of nowhere for me. I wasn't expecting its arrival, particularly after the bizarro "AEGEA" vinyl that Billy Corgan put out earlier in the year, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It's fair to say that Corgan is a bit out in space these days. Well, maybe that's not fair to say, it's not like he hasn't always been there, and then again aren't we all a little bit? Anyway thankfully this album did not sound like that pre-recorded noise, it sounded like a rock album.

I might come back later on and think I rated this too highly. There's some valid criticism being throttled at it. It's real short, like barely over a half hour, and a couple tracks are a little on the synth-pop side of things, but I still dig it. The songs that rock, really f'in rock. Tiberius rips the album into life and sounds almost as good as anything the Pumpkins have ever put out. It's interesting to note that the band is basically just Corgan these days. He even brought in Tommy Lee to play drums on the record. Anyway check it out. You might not be as impressed with it as I am, and I'm perfectly ok with that. It's a free country. Not everyone was born to rock.

One And All

Anti-Hero

Tiberius

#17

Tensnake

Glow

I like disco. There. I said it. If you've been following the blog at all, or even just my year end lists, you'll be well aware of that by now. Not that this is pure disco, it's not, but there are a lot of elements that certainly feel like it. This album is sort of this year's Disclosure, only not quite as big, and maybe mixed with some Classixx. It's just a helluva lot of fun. The production is slick and bouncy, and the choice of guest vocalists sounds spot on wherever it's called for.

It's not easy to put out a dance record these days. Most people throw out EPs or singles, so I feel like you have to laud a good one when it comes around, and this one is really good. At least a half-dozen tracks are killer singles in their own right, and there isn't any jarring issues with the song order. Even though it spans genres, it flows like an album should. I give it two thumbs up. Throw it on your favored portable music device and do some dancing in the street.

Feel Of Love

58 BPM

See Right Through

#16

Ought

More Than Any Other Day

Eight tracks is all we get on this album, so savor every little bite. There's a good chance you've never heard of them, unless you've got your ear to the hipster wheel, but that's ok. Now you have. They're young fellas from Montreal who sound a great deal like the Talking Heads, and probably a little Velvet Underground mixed with Battles. It's pulsing, groovy, trippy madness and it's super fun to rock out to.

For a debut it's massively promising, but also kind of scary. They could descend further into madness, in fact they should, and who knows what they might churn out. Can they reach the heights of their esteemed forefathers, or will the flutter into obscurity? Does it even matter? Does any of this matter? Have I eaten too much turkey? Get the damn record. Thank me later.

Today More Than Any Other Day

Habit

Pleasant Heart

EP #6

Louis La Roche

Dusty Cassette

Louis, aka Brett, maintains his #6 spot on the EP charts with another French disco house special, only this time he juices that classic '80s synth soul ballad sound to maximum levels. It's got huge, ubersaturated, chunky bass goodness that just makes you want to groove. At just over 20 minutes you can get through it on the way to the grocery store, or maybe on a short bus ride. He's taken that old beat up tape deck and given it a fresh coat of dust, and it works perfectly. 

Wondering

Ghost

The Way She Makes Me Feel

Part threeeee tomorrow, but first - Hobbits!

Best of 2014 Part 1

Well, it's Christmas. I guess that means another list of my favorite releases of the year. The art of making an album seems to be slowly dying, or is it? I still think there's a place for an LP in the modern landscape, and it seems these artists at least agree. It's pretty crazy for me to think that this is now the 5th year I've done this... but why? Dunno really, though it has been fun to look back at the older years and see how my picks stack up today. So far so good, thankfully. For those who haven't seen them yet, take a quick gander:

Best of 2010

Best of 2011

Best of 2012

Best of 2013

...then buckle up, 'cause heeeeere weeeee gooooo!

#21

Lake Street Dive

Bad Self Portraits

It's been a long wait for those who have been following this fantastic group over the past couple years. This album was actually done and dusted in 2012, but contract issues with lead singer Rachael Price's previous label led to its unfortunate delay. In that sense the release suffers somewhat, as most of these songs have already been listened to and performed ad nauseam, but if you can escape that lack of freshness it's a terrific release.

For those who haven't experienced their infectious energy as of yet, I implore you to check them out. They are a tremendously talented bunch who write catchy, soulful jazz rock, and the singing... well let's just say that Ms. Price is as gifted a vocalist as there is on the planet at the moment. Lofty praise, but believe me, she's sensational. "You go down smooth", Rachael tells us in a killer track. Yes indeed, you certainly do.

You Go Down Smooth

Seventeen

Bad Self Portraits

#20

Mastodon

Once More 'Round The Sun

So really, how many other lists that you've seen follow upbeat jazz rock with sludge metal? Just throwing that out there. In fact, try listening to the two albums back to back. You might notice some surprising sonic similarities. That wouldn't always apply to Mastodon, but they've kinda reined in the sludge on this one, and is has a more progressive, almost stoner rock feel to it.

The result is a more accessible album for those not into their really heavy stuff, or maybe who haven't ever given them more than a moment's thought, which I'm guessing is the majority of non-metalheads. Really though, if you're into hard rock or grunge, give this one a listen, actually give it a few listens. It's got a lot of depth once you get past the pretty tame (but dope) single "High Road" and give it some time. I think it's a kickass record, easily my favorite metal offering of this year.

The Motherload

Once More 'Round The Sun

Chimes At Midnight

#19

Kormac

Doorsteps

This was a pleasant surprise for me. I hadn't heard any hype, or even anything at all about this ahead of time, just picked it up and gave it a whirl, and it turned out to be really cool. The Dublin-based producer has cranked out a really interesting, eclectic mix of tracks that explore hip hop, house, pop, and even some jungle beats, and a bevy of guest vocalists. It's an electronic stew that tastes great.

There's even room for Irvine Welsh (the author of Trainspotting among others) to throw down some lyrics, and yes, they did actually sit in a room together to make the track. No cross-country conference call studio drops. It's a fresh-sounding album, one I highly recommend if you want something different, the best tracks aren't even the ones below, you'll have to do some research on your own to hear those ones. Do it. Dooooo iiiiiit.

Superhero

White Noise

Drown Me

EP #7

SBTRKT

Transitions

I'm not sure what to say about this one. This is one of my favorite producers, a previous album of the year winner, and he dropped an utterly forgettable LP this year that fell so flat it was hard to understand where he was coming from. Thankfully we have this little online EP of sorts to salvage something from the year. It's glitchy and experimental and a bit spacey, what you could expect from a cutting edge artist. I won't pretend like this is his best stuff, but it's worth a listen or three, if only to serve as ear bleach for the other dross. Highs and Lows couldn't be a more apt track to start with.

Highs And Lows

Resolute

Hold The Line

Tomorrow, part deux!

Run-D.M.C. - Christmas In Hollis

Well, tomorrow the 5th annual best of the year countdown starts, so let's throw our festive beats out now. There's really only one worth posting. I'm sure you'll agree.

Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, and Bootsy Collins - Let Him Out

Funky soul jazz swing! The bomb-diggity. See ya tomorrow.

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - The Mighty Rebel

Jazzy reggae! Yes! Even better! And look, more Karl!

The Greyboy Allstars - What Happened To Television?

Jazz! Let's do some of that. Must make to it to Harvest next year...

Joe Cocker - With A Little Help From My Friends

Back to the beginning. Woodstock '69. The very best. Cheers.

Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful

Swiss-style. Montreux, 1987.

Joe Cocker - Unchain My Heart

Well Joe, it's been fun. Let's go backwards like it's supposed to be. Cologne, 2013.

Super Flu - Volkwein

House masters meet the Dortmunder Philharmoniker. Awesome.

East Forest - 10 Laws

Great song from a pretty cool album, if you can find it.

Mark McGuire - The Instinct

A bunch of albums have jumped across my path as contenders for my best of list, and this was one of the ones that didn't quite make it. Still a good one though!

The Saturday Beat

Sorry ya'll, I've been on the road! It's tricky to do some bloggin' when you're on the run. Anyway let's get this back in shape with the last bunch of beats for 2014! Why? Because my annual best of starts on Thursday! Holy moly! Guess I'd better get my list ready...



Soulful deep style driving beats.



Deep techy progressive.



Glorious percussive bounce tech.



Sexy silky smooooooth.



Nice remix of a classic.



Weird but kinda interesting tech track.



These guys are THE kings of jackin' house.



Bloody new garage!

Eric Burdon & War - Spill The Wine

Fast forward five years to 1970. What a team.

The McCoys - Hang On Sloopy

Another from 1965, but a little more upbeat.

Andy Williams - Try To Remember

It's Thursday. Let's do some old shiznit. This is 1965.

Kormac - Another Screen

I really enjoyed this album, it was kind of a random pickup and I have to say I'm impressed. There's quite a spread of different sounds, some house, all electronically influenced. This, of course, is a little Irvine Welsh speaking over some thoughtful beats.

Wildbirds & Peacedrums - The Offbeat

This is from a really different album worth checking out. Not sure it will make my best of the year list, but it's unlike anything else I've listened to, so it might yet.

Peaking Lights - Breakdown

It's been pouring rain all freakin' day. Still is. Good day for sorting through all the messy files and bookmarks kicking around. This video is great.

Hail Mary Mallon - Whales

This is awesome. WARNING: Language may offend the weak of stomach.

DELS - Capsize

Spacey electro funk hop. Yessir.

Atmosphere - Sunshine

It's been a long day. I'm tired. Let's hip hop.

Red Fang - Prehistoric Dog

I don't post anywhere near enough of these guys. (sarcasm)

Fidlar - Cheap Beer

Better add some beer to this smash up.

Motörhead - Iron Fist

It's Monday. Let's do it loud. Let's do it angry.

Garrett Mason & Keith Hallett - Mojo Boogie

Two of the east coast's finest. Saw Garrett a few weeks back, he was rockin' out acoustic styles at Rock Bottom. Haven't seen Keith in a bit, but I imagine he's touring around like a superstar. Either that or locked in his bedroom practicing like a madman. 

B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone

The one and only.

Joe Bonamassa - Just Got Paid

Well after all those beats yesterday it's only right that we follow up with some classic blues guitar. I assure you that makes sense. If not, deal with it.

The Saturday Beat

As promised, let's get down to beatness.



Keep it deep.



Awwww yissssss.



Tech house killer. Fugees what?



Funky tribal kicker primed for some mashing.



Sweeping progressive beauty.