2014 Top 10 to 6: Oliver's Choice

These are the our first yearly top ten lists under the glamglare umbrella, but we still chickened out before the prospect to having to agree on a single selection of albums. In any case, we put our money where the mouth is and have bought every album listed here on vinyl, not the least, because we wanted to see the creative color choices of the actual disk.

For starters, here is my, Oliver, first batch from ten to six.

10. Hospitality – Trouble

Hospitality are a trio from Brooklyn around singer and songwriter Amber Papini. They caught my attention in 2012 with their funny East Coast/West Coast mix-up video Friend of Friends. Their second album *Trouble feels like a more serious affair – the songs have a sort of melancholic gravity to them that I like a lot.

Favorite Song: Last Words

9. Future Islands – Singles

Future Islands had the break-through mostly because of their unique live show. I have not seen them live myself, but the music speaks for itself. I love how the music composed of synths, bass and drum machines drives the songs forward, almost detached from Samuel Herring’s expressive vocals.

Favorite Song: Back In The Tall Grass

8. EMA – The Future is Void

Since I saw her video California I have loved everything that Erika Anderson puts out and her second album The Future is Void is no exception. It is difficult to associate her music with a particular genre, but it is intelligent, experimental with thoughtful lyrics.

Favorite Song: 3Jane

Live Show: Union Pool

7. Little Dragon – Nabuma Rubberband

I found myself going back to Little Dragon’s fourth album Nabuma Rubberband again and again this year. The clarity of Yukimi Nagano’s voice and the mostly electronic instrumentation makes it a pleasant and inspiring experience with every listen.

Favorite Song: Klapp Klapp

Live show: Rough Trade NYC

6. Zola Jesus – Taiga

It is hard to tell where Nika Danilova, the woman behind Zola Jesus, wants to go. In interviews she mused about topping the Billboard charts, but then she drops an album dominated by big horns and thundering drums. I like Taiga a lot, but I’m even more curious what she’s up to next.

Favorite Song: Hunger

Live shows: Webster Hall