Favorite Writing Music in 2014

We're now into the second half of 2014, and as usual I've been keeping track of my favorite new albums. I'm never able to keep up with everything that comes out, but from what I have listened to thus far my top 12 albums list would probably include (in some order): The War on Drugs, Conor Oberst, Lykke Li, Old 97s, Cloud Nothings, Sun Kil Moon, Run River North, How to Dress Well, The Roots, Common, Spoon, and Atmosphere. 

Usually I approach a new album by listening to it all the way through a few times, then selecting the songs that I like from the album and adding them to a "Best Songs of [Year X]" playlist on Spotify. Those songs then get played extensively whenever I take up a writing project. Below, I've compiled my ten favorite writing songs from albums released in 2014. This isn't necessarily a "ten best songs" list. Rather, it's a list of the songs that have provided the best writing soundtrack. As you can see from the list, I tend to gravitate towards songs that are wistful, pensive, or earnest in tone. Suggestions/snide comments welcome.

(Since some albums had multiple songs that would have made the list, I decided to limit each album to only one song. Click on song title to check out the songs for yourself.)

The War on Drugs - Burning

2013 Year in Review: Music

Before I launch my list of favorite albums released in 2013, a few caveats: 1) I'm not a music critic. Worse yet, I don't even subscribe to Pitchfork. 2) I take the Potter Stewart approach to deciding what I like: I know it when I hear it. 3) I still think my list is better than yours.

9) Drake - Nothing Was the Same

I'm a hypocrite. I like to poke fun at the ridiculousness of Drake's existential crises: Am I too rich? Am I too famous? Why do my groupies settle down with real boyfriends? But Drake still makes great music, creatively channeling R&B and hip hop into one of the best musical acts in the pop world.

Best Song: Too Much

Best of 2012 Music (So Far)

I wear too many hats nowadays to also don the hat of amateur music critic. So I present this list with the caveat that I don't have the time, desire, will, and/or sense of self-importance to listen to all the new and notable albums that have come out this year. Of what I have listened to, these four albums stand out for the same reason: they are the only four which I consistently listen to from beginning to end. There are plenty of great individual songs that have been released this year. But only these four hold my attention for an entire album.

Rap Year in Review: Top 5 Albums

In my previous post, I went through my thoughts on rap albums from this year that did not make it into my top 5.  All artists included in the previous post were devastated, I'm told.  Now is the time, however, to talk about my five favorite albums.  Note that the operative term here is "favorite."  My music listening is more or less restricted to the mainstream and its peripheries these days.  I don't have the time or desire to get into the myriad underground artists, rap or otherwise, who are making creative waves.  Sure, there might be some crazy wild indie stuff out there that blows these five out of the water.  But like they say...if an indie artist records a song in his mom's basement, and no one is there to hear it, did he really record a song?

Also, I'm not doing the whole "rank the albums from 1-5 thing."  There isn't one album that stands out as my favorite this year (last year, the Roots How I Got Over was far and away my favorite).  Thus the albums below, in no particular order, are simply the five that I liked and listened to the most.

Favorite music in 2010

Innovative, soulful hip hop with deep, intelligent lyrics.  The Roots are the best thing going in hip hop right now.

Epic. Passionate.  Wistful.  Hopeful.  Reflective.  Insightful.  Music reviewer Josh Hurst described it perfectly as "anthemic indie rock" 

Rugged punk-folk.  Lead singer Matt Vazquez carries the music along with raw intensity.

Brilliant songwriting.  Mostly mellow americana folk tunes.

Exactly what you would expect from a Shins-Danger Mouse match-up.  Whimsical folk-pop with an extra oomph from Danger Mouse's electronic drum kit.

Blue-collar rock music, like a modern punk-tinged version of Bruce Springsteen

Passionate folk that somehow makes a banjo and cello sound intense. Rousing, sing-a-long choruses replete with spiritual imagery.