Q Magazines Top 50 Albums of 2014: Terrible Unpopness

winning the war on drugs

I must admit to feeling out of step with modern rock critics (older, younger and inbetween), the problem with his list is its complete indifference to what people actually listen to. Its terrible unpopness.

This is Q Magazines top 50, I don’t know them all but where I do I’ve left or a comment or a grade or both.

1. The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream – I’ll admit to underrating this album when it was first released. The first track is a doozy – B+
2. Alt-J – This Is All Yours – Not bad, and this is from a not fan – B
3. Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots – Exemplifies the word turgid – D+
4. Manic Street Preachers – Futurology – I love MSP, but this wasn’t released here.
5. Beck – Morning Phase – OVER RATED – C+
6. St Vincent – St Vincent – I prefer her with Byrne, but not bad – B+
7. Sharon Van Etten – Are We There – Not my scene – C+
8. FKA twigs – LP1 – Masterpiece, well and above the best album so far – A
9. Future Islands – Singles – Electronic snoozer – C
10. Aphex Twin – Syro – An acquired taste , so acquire it – A-
11. Elbow – The Take Off and Landing of Everything – Sublime UK rock-folk – A
12. Interpol – El Pintor – Still sound like a tune deficient Joy Division – B=
13. Sam Smith – The Loneliest Hour – Masterful modern day Sinatra torch album – A
14. Hamilton Leithauser – Black Hours – Don’t know it
15. The Horrors – Luminous – More of the same – B-
16. Royal Blood – Royal Blood – UK rock… opening for foo Fighters so… – C+
17. Mac De Marco – Salad Days – At its best, very very catchy and weird singer songwriter – B+
18. Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love – Great voice but the songs aren’t sticky enough – B-
19. Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence – Not bad but it had to sell to be important – B+
20. Sleaford Mods – Divide and Exit – John Cooper Clarke wannabes – B+
21. East India Youth – Total Strife Forever – don’t know it
22. Caribou – Our Love – a dog – C-
23. Jack White – Lazaretto – a huge disappointment – B
24. Kate Tempest – Everybody Down – terrific English rapper – B+
25. Ed Sheeran – X – Hey, it did the job – B
26. Neneh Cherry – Blank Project – Very good improvised album – B+
27. Morrissey – World Peace Is None Of Your Business – Not much – B
28. Kasabian – 48:13 – Contiued the rock – B-
29. Jamie T – Carry on the Grudge – Fabulous album, this guy shoulda hit big again – B+
30. Gruff Rhys – American Interior – Don’t know it –
31. Mogwai – The Rave Tapes – Snoozearama – C+
32. The Bug – Angels & Devils – Don’t know it
33. Sky Ferreira Night Time, My Time – Not bad, but it stalled her career: born to guest feature – B-
34. Wild Beasts – Present Tense – Don’t know it
35. Real Estate – Atlas – Hey if it ain’t broke… – B-
36. Temples – Sun Structures – Don’t know it
37. Baxter Dury – It’s a Pleasure – The stuff like his late daddy is pretty good
38. Johnny Marr – Playland – Another goodie – B
39. Ty Segall – Manipulator – Not bad indie rocker – B-
40. Grumbling Fur – Preternaturals – don’t know it
41. The Black Keys – Turn Blue – dog and it didn’t sell – C-
42. Robert Plant – Lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar – a really great sound – B
43. Leonard Cohen – Popular Problems – Current great album, how does he do it? – A
44. U2 – Songs of Innocence – Well, I’ve heard worse – B-
45. Warpaint – Warpaint – Don’t know it
46. Thom Yorke – Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes – Excellent, I loved the little sucker – B+
47. Spoon – They Want My Soul – Indie power pop – B+
48. La Roux – Trouble in Paradise – very good dance album, shoulda been a contender – B+
49. Shabazz Palaces – Lese Majesty – The first hip hop crew signed to Sub Pop… and also the only hip hop crew on this list – B
50. Jungle – Jungle – Maybe it wasn’t the hit we hoped for, this is pretty terrific disco – B+