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.
