HYPETRAK Top 10 Albums of 2014

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Hands down, 2014 was not the easiest year for the music industry, but it sure was a valuable one. While 2013 boasted releases from giants like Kanye West, Drake, JAY Z, Beyoncé, and more, the last 12 months offered space for emerging artists to break through the industry and push creative boundaries to pave the way for the future sound of music. Like every year, our editorial team sat down together to pick our favorite full-length music releases that kept us moving and amped up throughout the season. In addition to our selection, we also listed our reader’s Top 5 choices that came out in our latest poll. Have a look below and see if you agree.

LP1

FKA twigs

You may have only heard about her this year, but she is no newcomer. Having humble beginnings as a backup dancer in the music industry, FKA twigs’ is finally beginning to see the success that she deserves from her continual hard work. EP1 and EP2 were both spectacular releases, but LP1 showed to be a monumental debut. While it might be cliché to merge RnB with electronic and hip-hop aesthetics in 2014, the singer-songwriter blends (and bends) the genres in a refreshing way, adding her own sultry touch to create a sound unlike anything that currently exists. It is difficult not to be enchanted by twig’s magnetic allure. She demonstrates a rare form of maturity and originality in her debut, and it is certain that less-prolific artists will take and emulate her sound (and aesthetic) in the forthcoming years.

2014 FHD

J. Cole

2014 Forest Hills Drive marks J. Cole’s arguably realest project to date. It connects him with the place that birthed his rap career and also influenced his mindset. The album is laced with a personally nostalgic concept, which finds him digging inward and reconnecting with his past and unlocking true peace, happiness, and freedom.

Days Before Rodeo

Travi$ Scott

La Flame served us with some next level appetizers at no cost in order to expand our tastes and prep us for his best that’s yet to come (Rodeo). However, don’t let the missing price tag and pre-story theme undermine his genius and overall drive to revamp the sound and vibe of Houston.

Pinata

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

The Madlib-produced LP is probably Gibbs’ most complete, cohesive, and impressive effort since his 2009 breakout, The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs, and distills into a single 17-track stretch everything that is remarkable and interesting about Gangsta Gibbs.

Syro

Aphex Twin

After a 13-year hiatus from the studio, Aphex Twin drops this exceptional gem — albeit self-referring it as being a pop album — for a sixth release. Through listening you will realize how influential his sound is for today’s music, and not just within the electronic realm.

RTJ2

Run The Jewels

In this follow-up release to ATLien emcee Killer Mike and Bucktown rapper-producer El-P collaborative project, the duo unquestionably outdoes their first release. While featuring many familiar hip-hop elements, it was executed such a manner that is highly refreshing.

Cilvia Demo

Isaiah Rashad

TDE’s Southern representative blessed the game with a cohesive collection of righteous rhymes that are paired with consistently immersive production work. Arguably one of the most underrated pieces of hip-hop art in recent times.

Oxymoron

ScHoolboy Q

Through his major label debut’s closing track (“Man of The Year”), Q aims high and delivers the album’s most memorable and ambitious hook that would foreshadow his GRAMMYZ nomination for ‘Best Rap Album.’ However, this is just one of the many highlights from the half-introspective, half-wildin’ out project that boasts an all-star cast of producers.

pom pom

Ariel Pink

Ariel Pink crafts the most approachable album of his near-20 year-long career. Though Pink’s latest LP contains head-spinning eclecticism that weaves together everything from blistering, psych-rock freakouts to tongue-in-cheek commercial jingles, displaying Pink’s sensibilities towards pop and his abilities to create a thought-provoking, musically-mixed, accessible project.

Our Love

Caribou

Danny Snaith delivers a calm, yet danceable project that emphasizes his personal vision of love that links unconventional production with an impressive thematic consistency. With assistance by Owen Pallett and Jessy Lanza, Snaith comes full circle with one of the world’s most sensitive subjects.

Notable Mentions