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The Most Spectacularly Amazing Records Ever Purchased in 2014
Let’s hope the Editors use a headline that isn’t purposefully sensationalized or at least that they try to meet me halfway.
I don’t know a fraction of what was released in 2014. Anyone that tells you different is lying. This is literally all the recorded sounds I sought out and paid cash on the barrel-head for with some thoughts on each. Why should you care? You shouldn’t. Go read something else.
Here are the choices I made with my dollars this year. Sure, I wanted to buy other stuff (TV on the Radio, The Swans, St. Vincent, etc.) but I’ll get to them. In order of purchase, last to first.
1. Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes
Supergroup takes post-motorcycle-accident Bob Dylan lyrics and sets them to music in a marathon two week recording session. Produced by T Bone Burnett with Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), and Jim James (My Morning Jacket). Excellent results and a pretty interesting experiment overall. Check out the documentary about the recording for a look into the creative process. Happy to end the year on this record.
2. From Berkeley to Bakersfield – Cracker
David Lowery and the Kerosene Hat line-up release a double album. He also put out a Camper Van Beethoven record this year, toured with both bands, and continued to be a scathing voice of reason across social media for artist rights. This is some of Cracker’s best work in years. Songs like I’m Sorry Baby, Almond Grove, and Tonight I Cross the Border sit comfortably next to their classics. And welcome back Davey Faragher!
3. Broke With Expensive Taste – Azealia Banks
Weird in all the right spots. Stream of conscience vox gymnastics on point and in the pocket. Kinda like Missy Elliot in a circus mirror. I’m pretty obsessed with 212 and Heavy Metal and Reflective. I have high hopes for Azealia Banks.
4. The Endless River – Pink Floyd
20 year old jam session snippets brought to life by the remaining Floyd as a testament to their departed keyboardist, singer and songwriter Richard Wright. Sentimental, yes, but so are you sometimes. Lighten up. Mostly instrumental.
5. Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone – Lucinda Williams
A double album on her own label from one of the best singer/songwriters in this wicked world. That “give me protection from the enemy of love” isn’t a rallying cry this year is a testament to her still too underground status at 61. And wait… is that Davey Faragher again? And Pete Thomas? Elvis Costello must have these guys on a long leash.
6. Syro – Aphex Twin
Announced via spray painted stencils, blimps, and the deep web, Syro from Aphex Twin (British electronic musician Richard D James) comes 13 years after the last proper release. Listen to a master at work. Its glitchy ambiance will fill your headphones with the soundtrack to your own personal video game.
7. Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams
Another step in the right direction from the prolific and recently sober (not counting weed) Adams whose self titled album sounds a bit like his Love Is Hell era work. Trouble is a hooky track reminiscent of Tom Petty in the best way.
8. The Man Upstairs – Robyn Hitchcock
A mix of covers (Roxy Music, Psychedelic Furs, The Doors) and originals produced by Joe Boyd and conjuring up the ghost of Syd Barrett. Beautiful recordings by a man who shows no signs losing his wit, edge, or voice. Comme Toujours is the sweetest thing this side of McCartney.
9. Hypnotic Eye – Tom Petty and & the Heartbreakers
Picks up where the greasy Mojo left off. Standout tracks like Fault Lines and Red River are lessons in rock-n-roll sing-about. Their first #1 record in the US, for reals.
10. They Want My Soul – Spoon
Spoon delivers especially shiny and appropriately emotional tunes on their 8th studio album. Britt and crew mostly play to their strengths, with a few dancey tricks up the sleeve. One of my favorites this year, but I’m biased. (full review here)
11. Fuego – Phish
Phish get silly with an expensive producer (Bob Ezrin) on their 12th studio album. Self indulgent music meant to be shared – mostly by Phish fans. I dig it, but you don’t have to dig too deep. If you’re looking for the Ezrin that produced The Wall, you can find him most obviously on the soaring chorus of 555.
12. Freeman – Freeman
Gener comes correct, clean and sober on his first proper post-Ween release. So effortless sounding it took a good many listens to make it one of my favs of the year. (full review here)
13. Acoustic Classics – Richard Thompson
Tasteful renditions of classic Thompson spanning his entire career. The acoustic treatment shows off his virtuosity as a song-smith and in playing the shit out of an acoustic guitar.
14. Awake – Tycho
Like 2011’s Dive, Scott Hanson delivers another set of chill tracks that remind me of nodding off in the sunny backseat of your mother’s 1978 Ford Pinto. Damn, your mother was fine.
15. Just When I Let Go – Melissa Giges
Her second record aided and abetted by the omnipresent Blake Morgan. Melissa’s writing and singing voice are in lockstep on the slinky Just When I Let Go, in the elegant On the Surface, and the bouncy Maze of Regrets. #irespectmusic #fuckerthepig
16. El Camino Real – Camper Van Beethoven
Camper and Cracker released two strong records this year. As usual, no dearth of songs that change trajectory on a dime, still Camper finds solid ground in the sprawling instrumental Goldbase and the pop-sensibility of It Was Like That When We Got Here.
17. Beauty & Ruin – Bob Mould
Return to form for everyone’s favorite aging post-punk rocker. Had something of a resurgence this year and props from Dave Grohl and Ryan Adams. I also bought the Sugar reissue Copper Blue this year. I think it’s the third time I bought that album in my life.
18. Midnight Sun – The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger
One of my favorite albums this year and the subsequent evening at Bowery Ballroom was a concert highlight. Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl create a super fun retro-psychedelic batch of songs that are thoughtful and well-executed. Two overachievers who keep the music heavy and the mood light.
19. Upside Down Mountain – Connor Oberst
I had no idea who Connor Oberst was when I met him at a benefit ten years ago. Keeping up with him through the years always seems to pay off musically and this is no exception. Made of songs, he is.
20. Turn Blue – The Black Keys
Jack White wouldn’t dig it, that’s for sure. Too bad, if he and Dan Auerbach put their heads together minds would be blown. Turn Blue is another experiment in taking two bluesy boys from Akron and refracting them through producer Danger Mouse. Their first #1 record in the US, too.
21. Indie Cindy – Pixies
Last year’s surprise EPs collected in one album. I admit, I secretly sequenced them on my own, but this way makes sense, too. Very lush later-day Pixies sounding, picking up where Trompe Le Monde left off. I love all these songs, from the never-be-on-the-radio Magdalena 318 to the radio-friendly Another Toe in the Ocean. On a good day, Black Francis screaming in Blue Eyed Hexe (at 2:05) takes me to a zen place.
22. Yellow Ranger – Awkwafina
I could easily count how many of my friends know Awkwafina on both hands if I had no hands. Or no friends. Regardless, I dug last year’s irreverent My Vag and NYC Bitche$ for their low-fi absurdity and Awkwafina’s smokey delivery. This collection runs mostly hot with Awkwafina’s fingerprints all over the pencils, microphone, and dials – crafting purposelessly offensive tracks to “bring that yellow to the rap game.” She’s having a good year. Also; she crazy.
23. Morning Phase – Beck
There’s beautify in the way Beck recreates Nigel Godrich’s production of Sea Change but I miss the loose cannon he used to be. Still, I get his return to this sound. Why not? Moody songs like Say Goodbye, Don’t Let it Go and the title track make a mockery of my opinions anyway.
24. Hotel Valentine – Cibo Matto
Probably my favorite album this year. How can a record be so retro, in the moment, and forward thinking all at once? It makes my eyes roll back into my head. (full review here)
25. After the Disco – Broken Bells
Another spacey, sparse and weird pop infusion from Mercer and Mouse. Kinda sounds like 90’s Air in spots. Danger is gonna have to branch out – maybe work on a more high profile project.
26. Wig Out At Jagbags – Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
So, the year began with this album for me and it made me optimistic. Malkmus and the Jicks are in a real stride here, shining on the poppy “Lariat” and the guitar heavy “Chartjunk.” At once off-handed and tightly composed – there’s lots of chops on display while keeping it all loosey goosey (not unlike his old band Pavement). Was a good way to begin the year.
Almost every year for the past 6 years and on the same day, I’ve posted the same pic of me in the hospital during my temporary and untimely demise in 2015. A few weeks after I was back to “normal”, I asked Eric “Why’d you take the pics?” And he said, “I knew you would want to write about it if you lived.” Eric was right. Eric was often right and Eric always had my best interest at heart. I am going to miss my friend.
You ever meet someone and become friends immediately?! Well this was not the case with Eric. Before he was my manager at Morgan Stanley, I would often see this 6’4″, giant white guy walk up to the only black woman at work, say something then walk away without any hint of human emotion. Naturally I thought he was a jerk until I asked her “Yo, is that dude bothering you?” She laughed and proceeded to tell me he was a great person, which I ultimately got to experience first hand. Little did I know this Italian from Staten Island was more Brooklyn than most Brooklynites.
Eric was not with the shits!! If there were ever someone who lived their life in direct, honest and no uncertain terms, that would be Eric. He would ask me questions at work like “Why are the other consultants making more money than you?” I knew the answer to that question and so did he. Eric then proceeded to increase my salary by 15K. After arguing with all our managers that “You need to hire Alfred!”, they eventually did 1 year prior to the 2015 incident. In the hospital, one of my friends asked me, “What if you didn’t have health insurance when this happened?” I would be in debt for the rest of my life is the obvious answer. I still am in debt for the rest of my life but at least, it is to those who made sure I had a more enjoyable life and for that, I will gladly repay.
My mom loved to tell me the story of how she met Eric. After they told her I was going to be in the ICU for some time, she told the doctor “Well I’m not going anywhere.” She then hears a voice from that back of the room that says “Well I’m not going anywhere either!” That was Eric and in true form, he was at that hospital every single day until I was discharged.
Eric passed away in December 2021 of stage 4 cancer. After feeling faint on his way to my bbq, he went to get checked out and was diagnosed. During the past 5 years, Eric lost his mom, twin brother and dad. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like but I’m glad that pain he was feeling is no more.
From being my manager to my business partner, writer, book editor, artistic director, and most importantly, my friend, I am going to miss you MC Krispy E a.k.a “Enrique Pollazo!” And although you told me Enrique means Henry in Spanish and not Eric, it was too late!
Sidebar. The day I was discharged, while everyone was deciding what was best for me, no one had remembered that I would need clothes in order to leave the hospital. Eric shows up (unasked) with all the clothes I had on the day I coded, laundered and ready to go. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve friends like this but i need to keep doing it! Sidebar complete.
Rest in Peace Eric. “Be Good.”
I had the distinct pleasure of participating in a panel discussion on writing your first book, presented by the Harlem chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Alongside Jim St. Germain, Author – A Stone of Hope: A Memoir and Dr. Keneshia Nicole Grant, Author – The Great Migration and the Democratic Party: Black Voters and the Realignment of American Politics in the 20th Century. We opined on pain points, benefits and strategies regarding our inaugural voyages into authorship. Feel free to watch for your self and I hope this provides some insight to all those looking to make the same voyage. Enjoy!
