ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2014

lots of quiet/ambient/discreet music in this poll, it's true

the idea of a less dense, piano-focused Grouper record recorded in the portugese countryside sounded great, but it never gelled imo

love this record. I know that this sounds like a knock on it, but I like that it helps me go to sleep. It's been a magical cure for anxiety these past few months, clears my head as soon as I put it on.

this album did not click with me

great album. I'm down w/her particular spaced out gauziness so much.

http://i.imgur.com/mxzKH5X.jpg

15 CARIBOU Our Love [618 points, 22 votes, 2 first place votes]

I find "Heavy Water / I'd Rather Be Sleeping" to be very memorable, particularly. But yeah Ruins is much different while still sounding very much like Grouper.

The Grouper one didn't stick with me either, but I love most of her releases up to and including Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill.

pitchfork review of "our love" almost made me stop liking it

too high

rarely made it past the first 2 songs on this one since they were way better than the rest

Some other Grouper tracks that are memorable: Disengaged, False Horizon, Poison Tree.

But lex is mainly correct, it's atmospheric.

this album did not click with me
― example (crüt)
Grouper album made me want to torch all of Spotify. Not sure if that counts as 'clicking'. Something snapped, leastways.

Caribou album is a fine thing, but I think it was at or near the bottom of my ballot.

Wherefore art thou, Hot Chip?

could someone tell me what is going on musically with Second Chance?

people need to stop listening to terrible, bland, twiggy indie dance music.

caribou was good for 2 records

i will never stop

Maybe I was just distracted by the name change, but I liked the Daphni record better than anything he's done as Caribou (liked the first Manitoba records, tho).

Caribou sounds like clothes shopping music to me now.

Maybe I was just distracted by the name change, but I liked the Daphni record better than anything he's done as Caribou (liked the first Manitoba records, tho).

What about Sun?

Sun is unlistenable.

I think at one point I liked Andorra a bit though.

many xps
grouper is enjoyable for me on account of the lack of traditional song structure/aimlessness
i don't find it that interesting to listen to in the car or pay much attention to or whatever but when i need to chill, sure i'll listen to grouper

I'm trying to remember the name of an IDM artist I used to like who was somewhere in the same ballpark as Manitoba and active circa 2002-2006, and had a track with the word 'fishermen' in it. i know that's very vague, but it was a really good record, very melodic and playful. any ideas?

But I'm listening to Sun right now! Actually it works primarily on a dancefloor or a festival, strange that he didn't produce the track with that context so explicitly in mind.

I think I had heard various DJs play Sun a half dozen times or so before I realized it was a track from Manitoba man.

http://i.imgur.com/2GwU7Gs.jpg

14 MR TWIN SISTER Mr Twin Sister [620 points, 18 votes, 1 first place vote]

wait, who?

Whoop Whoop. Did not expect.

This was the most unexpected directional shift I've known a band to undergo in as long as I can remember. Also, it was a good idea because this is a fucking great record.

someone tell me about this album

intriguing.

They used to just be called Twin Sister and made some nu-gaze/dreampop stuff, but they changed their name due to conflict and began making smooth balearic Sade-like grooves.

Mr Twin Sister

I had a feeling this would place. Gorgeous album.

xpost this is a good album - bits of it are like a dreampop Sade and there's one track that reminds me of prime Underworld

"easy glistening" sounds about right on first blush

I love how the album changes mood in the second half. It's almost like a different band.

I haven't checked this out, looks like I'm missing out on something.

I think this should appeal to my balearic crew, to my sade crew, to my dixon crew, all crews welcome in fact.

― Tim F, Friday, October 3, 2014 4:20 PM (3 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

'Out Of The Dark' sounds immense on good phones, another better-than-actual-Hercules&LA type track

mr twin sister >>>>>>>>

Had this one high on my ballot, but started doubting that it would place. Glad it did though.

got this very late in the year and wound up voting for it, great record

Amusing fact: the original Twin Sister who claimed the name is the self-proclaimed "greatest Star Wars funk band”, performing in full costume at fancons.

love this record so much!!

missed this completely but seems like a thing I'd enjoy. going to check it out!

"Out of the Dark" still demands an extended mix. 3:20 isn't enough.

Relistening to this album, I gotta say TOO LOW (I don't think it was even on my ballot, though, so fuck me).