Rolling Stone's Top 20 Albums Of 2014 (plus we tell you the truth about them)

U2 Album of The Year? Sure, In 1991

As my friend, Allmusic Assistant Editor Mark Deming put it:  I think the list should be called “Several of the best albums of 2014, and a few that were made by Jann Wenner’s close friends.” Yes, exactly. And who are The JW approved? U2, Bruce, Foo, Jackon Browne and a coupla others who just stand out as highly overrated mediocre to bad albums. Here is there list, plus our comment and grade.

1. Songs Of Innocence – U2 – Their best album in well over a decade but it still isn’t much – B-

2. High Hopes – Bruce Springsteen – This has three great songs and the rest sucks – B-

3. Turn Blue – The Black Keys – Another divorce album, another bummer – C

4. St. Vincent – St. Vincent – Catchy doesn’t necessarily mean better, but it does in this case – B+

5. Platinum – Miranda Lambert – the flies are a buzzin’  the dog is a barkin’ and the floor needs a scrubbin’ -well, maybe not quite that but real enough – A-

6. Sucker – Charli XCX – Time will tell, but she is the picture of a featured singer in my books – C+

7. Ultraviolence – Lana Del Rey – It had to sell more to be at # 7- B

8. RTJ2 – Run The Jewels – Well, boats load better than # 1 – B+

9. Salad Days – Mac DeMarco – The title track is a corcker – B+

10. 1989 – Taylor Swift – The crown jewels of pop 2014 – A

11. You’re Dead – Flying Lotus – As far as thanatlogy goes, I’ll take this – B+

12. Sonic Highways – Foo Fighters – I pity the Foo who buys this record – D

13. More Than Any Other day – Ought – This was new to me, but it is pretty awesome alt rockers – B+

14. Everything Will be Alright In The End – Weezer – This is where they reach the end of the line – C-

15. Transgender Dysphoria Blues – Against Me – Hard rocking transgendered rock and roll stuff – B+

16. LP1 – FKA Twigs – Trip hop meets new r&b – A

17. The Voyager – Jenny Lewis – A coupla goodies and no dogs – B+

18. Metamodern Sounds In Country Music  – Sturgill Simpson – Tasteful country with a punch = B

19. Standing In The Breach – Jackson Browne – Splits down the middle – B

20. Are We There – Sharon Von Etten – She isn’t Sarah McLouaghline, could she end up that way…?

There are another 30 albums, and if you’re interested in em go here.