My Favorite Albums of 2014

If I counted from my iTunes and Amazon order histories correctly, I have bought about 50 albums this year, most of them released in 2014. I know that the trend these days is to buy singles. However, I very rarely buy singles. Admittedly, I did buy "Shake it Off" from Taylor Swift. That's one catchy little tune. The truth is, I'm a fan of listening to the whole collection of songs an artist releases.

As I've perused all the end of the year blogs about the best albums of the year, none of them have been right...at least according to me. :) So, I decided to write my own. I realize that music is a very subjective thing. I like what I like and don't listen to what I don't like. I am not meant to be a music critic. I am simply a fan who truly listens to and loves the marriage of honest lyrics and a beautiful melody. The music on my list doesn't all sound the same, but I do think that these albums are connected in that they all contain a lot of honesty. For most of these albums, I can tell you where I was where I first heard them. Certain songs expressed exactly how I felt at a particular moment. Many of these songs are about love and loss and growing up and moving on and well, they resonated with me through the roller coaster that was my life in 2014. In an interview with Relevant John Mark McMillan said, 

"I think that music—when it’s pure, when it’s good, no matter what genre or where it falls—is basically one person trying to write lyrics or make sounds that cause another person to know they exist. People are not meant to be alone. I think that you create music for the same reason you listen to music: You really want to feel that there are other people in the world who feel the way you do, who validate who you are." 

So, here's the music that my heart and soul connected with the most in 2014.


(Just like iTunes puts an E by songs/albums that are explicit, I've indicated when songs/albums have the F-word with an *)

10. Rose Ave. - You + Me

If you had told me at the beginning of 2014 that an album that P!nk had anything to do with would be one of my favorites of the year, I would have laughed at you. However, Rose Ave. was a beautiful surprise. You + Me is P!nk and Dallas Green from City and Colour and the combination of the two is something quite incredible. I remember iTunes played the album before it was released and I could not stop listening. Unlike most of the albums on this list there aren't really any songs that I particularly connected with, but this album makes my list simply because it shocked me how much I love their sound. The songs are great, don't get me wrong...but again, P!nk? 

9. Whispers - Passenger*/Ledges - Noah Gundersen

      

I suppose some might think it's cheating to put both of these albums as one, but they're male singer-songwriters and they really do share a spot when it comes to how much I like them. Also, it's my list, I can do what I want to. You've probably heard Passenger's tune, "Let Her Go," but the guy has a lot of other fantastic songs. I held off when it came to listening to Noah Gundersen. Shame on me. I could have been listening to his beautiful music much earlier. Gundersen sings with such passion...he definitely seems to give it everything he's got. Warning: both these guys have profanity in their songs...not all of them, but some. If you can look past the occasional swear, the music of Passenger and Noah Gundersen, in my opinion, should not be missed.

Favorite Song from Passenger: Scare Away the Dark* (this song is incredible and without question is one of my favorites of the year, but it does contain the F-word)

Favorite Songs from Noah Gundersen: Poor Man's Son (the 4:15 mark, or thereabouts, gives me chills every time), Ledges

8. A Dotted Line - Nickel Creek

True story, Nickel Creek probably makes the list of my favorite albums because of their amazing show at the Ryman. I tend to fall in love with songs more when I see them live and that certainly was the case when I saw Nickel Creek. Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins are insanely talented and I'm pretty sure I sat with my mouth wide open in amazement through most of their show. Seeing their crazy musical skills live and the fact that they seemed to have so much fun being on stage together makes listening to the album afterwards even better.

Favorite Songs: Destination, Elephant in the Corn, Hayloft

7. Kids Theses Days - Judah and the Lion

Confession: I bought this album last night...but it was released in 2014. I had my list ready and was finishing up writing everything and saw someone else's post about their favorite albums and Kids These Days caught my eye. Obviously, I re-wrote my list. As I listen to it (non-stop), I just love it more and more. A few more listens and it could end up in a spot higher on my list. I love this collection of songs not only because they're good songs, but because some of these songs could literally be pages out of my journal...if I wrote in a journal. They talk about growing up, things changing, and being 20-something. Hello, that's my life. 

Favorite Songs: Hold On, Twenty-Somethings, Love in Me

6. Stay Gold - First Aid Kit*

I've loved these Swedish sisters for a while. Emmylou (from The Lion's Roar) is one of my favorite songs, so it was pretty thrilling that I got to see them live at Bonnaroo shortly after they released Stay Gold. Their live act did not disappoint and again, I fell more in love with their music after seeing them perform their songs (Emmylou was the final song of their set and I was just so happy). Even though there are other girl duos out there, their sound is unique...they are Swedes singing country-inspired Folk/Americana music after all...but I think there's something special that happens when siblings sing together. 

Favorite Songs: Stay Gold, Waitress Song, My Silver Lining

5. When I Was Younger - Colony House

I'm a little surprised by how much I've come to love this album over the course of this year. I saw the band live last year when the band name was still Caleb and while I thought they were good and I bought their stuff, I didn't love any of it like I love the songs on When I Was Younger. When they started releasing singles, I got excited about the album...with good reason, because it's really great. 

Favorite Songs: Keep on Keeping On, Moving Forward, Glorious, Roll With the Punches

4. As Sure As the Sun - Ellie Holcomb

Secretly, I wish I was Tami Taylor (Coach's wife on Friday Night Lights) or Ellie Holcomb. Now that that's off my chest...the only Kickstarter campaign I've ever actually supported was Ellie's to get this record made. I'm incredibly grateful that I got to be a small part of this incredible record. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors are one of my favorites both to listen to and to see live, so of course I was pumped when Ellie's solo album came out. These songs are full of such truth and hope and are just good for your soul. I remember listening to Only Hope I've Got quite a bit before we left for Africa to keep the right perspective about what we'd be doing...it was such a great reminder.

Favorite Songs: Only Hope I've Got, Marvelous Light, The Broken Beautiful

3. All Sons and Daughters - All Sons and Daughters

I remember driving from Winchester to Georgia and listening to nothing but this album...crying most of the time...while also praying, worshiping, and singing. I'm not sure what it is about All Sons and Daughters' music that I start worshiping almost immediately, but I'm grateful for it. The songs are packed with truth and as an added bonus are insanely beautiful musically. This is one of my most played albums of 2014 and its message was definitely one of the most needed throughout this year.

Favorite Songs: Christ Be All Around Me, God With Us, More Than Anything

2. The Art of Celebration/A Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1 - Rend Collective

    

This Irish band and their unparalleled way of combining shindiggery and worship...their songs simply ooze joy. When I was finally back in America after a crazy journey home from Africa which took more than 50 hours, at some point, despite the jet lag and sleep deprivation, I bought this album. I wasn't especially excited to be back in America and struggled quite a bit, but this album helped get me out of that funk. I remember truly listening to it for the first time in the first shower I took back in America. I was crying because the water was too hot and there was too much water pressure which just made it quite obvious that I wasn't in Africa anymore and I'm listening to these songs about joy. I thought back on my time in Africa and realized what a blessing it was to have spent time with those wonderful people, but that my life in America was blessed and full of wonderful people. Eventually, I stopped hating warm showers. :) I'm also including the Christmas album they released this year because it is incredible. My favorite Christmas album released this year and I'd say one of my top 5 when it comes to favorite Christmas albums of all time. So good.

Favorite Songs (from Art of Celebrations): All That I Am, Simplicity, Create in Me, 

My Lighthouse

Favorite Songs (from Campfire Christmas, Vol. 1): For All That You Have Done, 

Ding dong Merrily on High

1. Rivers in the Wasteland - Needtobreathe

If you know me at all, you should not be surprised that the Needtobreathe boys' most recent release takes the top spot on my list. I bought this album three times. I pre-ordered it, I bought it on iTunes later, and also bought a record on Record Store Day at Grimey's so the band could sign it. I waited for this album with so much anticipation it was a bit ridiculous. You'd think with all the build up, there was a pretty good chance that I'd be let down at least a little bit. Nope. This album delivered. Needtobreathe has been very honest that this album came out of a time of struggle and internal strife within the band. 2014 was a bit of a roller coaster of a year for me, so many of these songs have become my anthems throughout the year. When the outlook was bleak and dark, I would sing along to Wasteland through tears. As the clouds parted, Rise Again blared from my speakers. Recently, Multiplied has been the song I sing as a prayer full of joy, gratitude, and hope. This is the album of the year for me, no question. It came at the right time, these were songs I needed to hear and to sing. I'm really quite grateful that the guys of Needtobreathe shared these songs with the world. 

Favorite songs: Wasteland, Rise Again, Multiplied, Brother

Other really great albums that deserve to be listened to (Honorable Mentions, of sorts):

Johnnyswim - Diamonds

I Must Find You - Young Oceans 

Swimmin' Time - Shovels and Rope

Hozier - Hozier

Neon Steeple - Crowder 

Bad Self Portraits - Lake Street Dive

Half the City - St. Paul and the Broken Bones

John Mark McMillan - Borderland

Albums I'm looking forward to in 2015: 

Then Came the Morning - The Lone Bellow 

Medicine - Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
Sisters and Brothers - The Vespers

The Avett Brothers

Leagues

Adele

Mumford and Sons

(According to Relevant these are/could be happening in 2015.)