It's reached the time of year when all music blogs and magazines alike begin to credit the albums they believe were the top dogs of the calender. But, our list is an exception. We have picked out the top five, no-nonsense, no-filler and no-cut-cornered albums of the year which we feel as though should top each and every list you'll read this final month of 2014.
5. Taking the last spot on our top five list doesn't do 'The Balcony' justice, but, believe us, it was beyond difficult to separate these albums. 'The Balcony' of course is the magnificent debut album of Welsh rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen, a real iconic band for all those bands out there who haven't yet earned their fame. It had been seven years of hard graft that brought 'The Balcony' to our ears and thank God Van and co perserved. 'The Balcony' is a class collection of powerful indie anthems that are sure to get you bouncing around your bedroom dreaming of being a rock n'roll star. Probably the reason for it being fifth in our top five could be due to it featuring one or two more pre-released singles than it should have, but, who cares. They're belters anyway. Listen to 'Fallout', taking from Catfish and the Bottlemen's debut album, 'The Balcony', via Youtube:
4. Following Catfish and the Bottlemen and claiming fourth spot is Londoners, Bombay Bicycle Club and their fourth studio album, 'So Long, See You Tomorrow'. Released in February, 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' has managed to ward off an incredible number of following albums to retain its place in the list and it's no surprise as to why. Nominated for a Mercury, 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' features the much loved pre-released singles, 'Carry Me' and 'Luna' as well as other nod of the head and toe tap-worthy tracks such as 'Feel' and 'It's Alright Now' as Bombay stormed to another success. Listen to 'Luna', taken from Bombay Bicycle Club's fourth studio album, 'So Long, See You Tomorrow', via YouTube:
3. At number three is Brighton duo Royal Blood and their riff-ridden self-titled, Mercury nominated, plaudit winning and mosh-pit sparking debut album, 'Royal Blood'. Topping the charts on it's first week of being released, selling 60,000 copies nationwide followed a debut festival season to remember which came prior to Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher selling out their previous UK tour, completley, in two minutes. But, it's no wonder as to why. 'Royal Blood' is 33 minutes of pure power. Nothing more. Nothing Less. Just. Power. We aren't really fans of hardcore rock n'roll music but boy, do Royal Blood make it sound so good. Read about Royal Blood's meteoric rise and how we've followed it right from the start, here. Listen to 'Figure It Out', taken from Royal Blood's debut album, 'Royal Blood', via YouTube:
2. It has just got even harder to seperate, but, narrowly coming at number two is Jamie T and his long awaited third studio album, 'Carry on the Grudge'. After playing a series of gigs for the first time in four years in July of 2014 following a note on a letter from Treays, that appeared to indicate he was returning to the scene, the man in question then announced 'Carry on the Grudge' would be released in October. "People thought I was dead", he told NME, and so did we. But, aren't we all blummin' glad he ain't. 'Carry on the Grudge' is pure brilliance and was truly worth waiting the four years for. Within, Treays portrays that he isn't just a tearaway from South London who made a couple rebellious tracks that made the teens go wild, but he is a bit of a musical genius. Showing he can bring into his work a more majestic sound, but still with the use of his power and grit and this earned 'Carry on the Grudge' and Jamie himself more than a few plaudits. Listen to 'Zombie', taken from Jamie T's third studio album, 'Carry on the Grudge', via Youtube:
1. We've reached number one, somehow. As for a short while we were struggling to even think we could seperate these incredible pieces of music. But, we have and coming in at number one is the question raising but plaudit gaining 48 minutes and 13 seconds of Kasabian's fifth studio album, '48:13'. Featuring the question raising but in the end, much loved pre-released 'Eez-eh', their was a fairly big shadow of doubt casted over '48:13'. Fans were asking, "What the hell has happened to Kasabian?" As 'Eez-eh' was unveiled. But, Tom Meighan, Serge Pizzorno and co managed to shut the critics up and turn their views right around as '48:13' managed to blow them away with it's powerful, ground shaking and roof raising belters such as 'Bumblebee', 'Stevie', 'Bow' and 'Eez-eh' and when Kasabian took to the Pyramid at Glastonbury in June, each and everyone person on Worthy Farm as well as all of whom were watching at home realised how great of a band Kasabian truly are and how incredible of an album '48:13' truly is. Therefore, that is the reason why it's our number one and will also be the number one of thousands more for sure. Listen to 'Eez-eh', taken from Kasabian's fifth studio album, '48:13', via YouTube:
We hope you enjoyed reading about our Top 5 Albums of the Year. But, would you agree?
Posted by Charlie Ireland.
RIFFED x