Top 10 Albums of 2014
1. Martha - Courting Strong
An utterly charming debut album from the four piece from Pity Me, County Durham. Ten playful little tracks with catchy as hell hooks that'll make you fall in love with them immediately.
2. Modern Baseball - You're Gonna Miss It All
The second brilliant album in as many years from these kids. This is perhaps even a step up from last year's effort. Energetic, honest, fun. Brendan Lukens is one of the best young songwriters around at the moment.
3. The Menzingers - Rented World
It was always going to be hard for The Menzingers to better 2012's 'On the Impossible Past' which has to go down as one of the best punk albums of the century so far. This isn't quite up to that standard but it's still a spectacularly well crafted album that will, rightly, help the band move on to even bigger things.
4. Cayetana - Nervous Like Me
A lo-fi indie-punk blast of a debut from this all female Philadelphia trio. It's incredibly accessble full of toe-tappers while Augusta Koch's distinctive vocals dominate the record in the best possible way. I look forward to hearing more from them!
5. La Dispute - Rooms of the House
This album sticks out like a sore thumb among the others on the list. They're not a band I've ever paid much attention to (I think the 'screamo' label put me off) but wow, what an album this is - packed with emotionally intense story-telling. Jorden Dreyer has written something of a masterpiece here. The only reason it's not higher up the list is I kinda prefer 'fun' records.
6. Against Me - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
7.The Xcerts - There Is Only You
8.Pup - Pup
9.Hostage Calm - Die On Stage
10.Moose Blood - I'll Keep You In Mind From Time to Time
