The good folks over at Speak Into My Good Eye already posted the first half of my list (you can read it here) but I also came up with a follow-up post. I guess one just wasn't enough this year.
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We were treated to a fine year's worth of music in 2014. My tastes tend to lean towards louder guitar-based music, so there isn't much variety beyond that on here.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2014 (in no particular order)
Bob Mould Beauty & Ruin - He just keeps getting better and better. The Sugar reboot really seemed to light a spark and like Silver Age before it, Beauty & Ruin is all kinds of great. It even might be (ever so slightly) better than its predecessor.
Doug Gillard Parade On - Doug might be the hardest working man in rock, second only to maybe Robert Pollard. And unlike Uncle Bob, he knows what to keep and what to toss. Parade On is a great record through and through.
Stuyvesant Shmyvesant - This hasn't been out a month and it's already one of my favorites of 2014. Great collection of songs from these guys, I can't wait to hear these live.
Wussy Attica - Probably one of the most criminally overlooked bands of the last 10 years, but that seems to be changing. The shared vocals of Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker are always compelling, especially when they take two different sides of a story.
These Estates Triumph, Reign - I hoped that These Estates could fill the void of baritone-fused guitar rock that was left by Bottomless Pit (and Silkworm before them) splitting up this year. Alas, These Estates aren't making anymore new records, but Triumph, Reign and last year's The Dignity of Man are a hell of a swan song.
Miss Ohio Whippoorwill Road - The title track was one of my favorite songs of 2014.
Radiator Hospital Torch Songs Overlake Sighs The Lees Of Memory Sisyphus Says Lake Effect Adolescence EP & Childhood EP Pujol Kludge The Primitives Spin-O-Rama Cloud Nothings Here And Nowhere Else Ex Hex Rips Dentist s/t
FAVORITE LIVE SHOW OF 2014 - The Replacements at Forrest Hills Stadium
I'm going to come right out and tell you that I'm a huge Replacements fan and as such, my assessment of their late September jaunt in Queens will be incredibly biased. It's hard not to swoon when you get to belt out "Bastards of Young" and "Left Of The Dial" with your twin brother and some of your closest friends in the house. I waited 20 years for the chance to see some of my heroes and it's obvious that I wasn't alone in my excitement. A lot has been said about how this isn't a reunion without Bob or Chris or Slim, but when it comes to The Replacements, the songs were always the draw and they still pack 'em in.
FAVORITE MOMENT AT A TBR SHOW
Without a doubt, this had to be at our Brighton Bar show opening for Split Squad. The look of impish glee on Matt Horutz's face when Clem Burke's drum tech asked "would it be cool if you use Clem's kit tonight?" looked like something you would see on Christmas morning. I'm jealous. Maybe one day I'll get to use Elvis Costello's Jazzmaster. Doubt it.
FAVORITE DISPLACED MAXWELL'S REUNION - The Feelies at Asbury Lanes
I don't think there will ever be another place like Maxwell's, but for one night it was alive and well a block from the Asbury Park boardwalk. Just like their July 4th shows, there were no openers and the band took a brief intermission between sets, so it was all Feelies and that's fine by me. The hour plus drive didn't seem to keep the regulars away. There were so many friends and familiar faces in the audience I expected to see the jukebox on the way back from the bathroom. And as far as I know, nobody got towed or booted, so the parking situation was a huge improvement. And I could very easily add seeing Television at The Stone Pony to this list. It's going to be hard to top that next year. Cheers, Jerry TBR
SOME OF MY FAVORITE RECORDS OF 2014 (in no particular order)
Bob Mould Beauty & Ruin - He just keeps getting better and better. The Sugar reboot really seemed to light a spark and like Silver Age before it, Beauty & Ruin is all kinds of great. It even might be (ever so slightly) better than its predecessor.
Doug Gillard Parade On - Doug might be the hardest working man in rock, second only to maybe Robert Pollard. And unlike Uncle Bob, he knows what to keep and what to toss. Parade On is a great record through and through.
Stuyvesant Shmyvesant - This hasn't been out a month and it's already one of my favorites of 2014. Great collection of songs from these guys, I can't wait to hear these live.
Wussy Attica - Probably one of the most criminally overlooked bands of the last 10 years, but that seems to be changing. The shared vocals of Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker are always compelling, especially when they take two different sides of a story.
These Estates Triumph, Reign - I hoped that These Estates could fill the void of baritone-fused guitar rock that was left by Bottomless Pit (and Silkworm before them) splitting up this year. Alas, These Estates aren't making anymore new records, but Triumph, Reign and last year's The Dignity of Man are a hell of a swan song.
Miss Ohio Whippoorwill Road - The title track was one of my favorite songs of 2014.
Radiator Hospital Torch Songs Overlake Sighs The Lees Of Memory Sisyphus Says Lake Effect Adolescence EP & Childhood EP Pujol Kludge The Primitives Spin-O-Rama Cloud Nothings Here And Nowhere Else Ex Hex Rips Dentist s/t
FAVORITE LIVE SHOW OF 2014 - The Replacements at Forrest Hills Stadium
I'm going to come right out and tell you that I'm a huge Replacements fan and as such, my assessment of their late September jaunt in Queens will be incredibly biased. It's hard not to swoon when you get to belt out "Bastards of Young" and "Left Of The Dial" with your twin brother and some of your closest friends in the house. I waited 20 years for the chance to see some of my heroes and it's obvious that I wasn't alone in my excitement. A lot has been said about how this isn't a reunion without Bob or Chris or Slim, but when it comes to The Replacements, the songs were always the draw and they still pack 'em in.
FAVORITE MOMENT AT A TBR SHOW
Without a doubt, this had to be at our Brighton Bar show opening for Split Squad. The look of impish glee on Matt Horutz's face when Clem Burke's drum tech asked "would it be cool if you use Clem's kit tonight?" looked like something you would see on Christmas morning. I'm jealous. Maybe one day I'll get to use Elvis Costello's Jazzmaster. Doubt it.
FAVORITE DISPLACED MAXWELL'S REUNION - The Feelies at Asbury Lanes
I don't think there will ever be another place like Maxwell's, but for one night it was alive and well a block from the Asbury Park boardwalk. Just like their July 4th shows, there were no openers and the band took a brief intermission between sets, so it was all Feelies and that's fine by me. The hour plus drive didn't seem to keep the regulars away. There were so many friends and familiar faces in the audience I expected to see the jukebox on the way back from the bathroom. And as far as I know, nobody got towed or booted, so the parking situation was a huge improvement. And I could very easily add seeing Television at The Stone Pony to this list. It's going to be hard to top that next year. Cheers, Jerry TBR
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