2014 was an undeniably great year for music. Everyone from mainstream stars like Taylor Swift to indie/alternative favorites like Beck brought their A-game, releasing some great new albums that certainly deserve their spots among the best albums of the year. But, when there are this many amazing albums from artists so completely different, ranking a year-end top albums list becomes especially tricky.
Looking at each album's Metacritic score helps, but it's hardly a foolproof method for measuring critical (let alone popular) opinion. After all, it's easy for under-the-radar albums to score big on the strength of a few good reviews, but high-profile releases have to stand up to the scrutiny of dozens of publications. Plus, a couple terrible scores can sink a new album that's otherwise well-received.
Additionally, fans and critics don't always see eye-to-eye. Consider artists like Coldplay and Sam Smith, who connected with the record-buying public, but not the music press. Don't they deserve some consideration? Just how much weight should metascores and chart performances carry, anyway? And most importantly, how exactly do you rank artists as diverse as Jack White, Lana Del Rey, and Schoolboy Q?
We considered all these points and more, but there's no way to tell what will go down in history as the best album of, and who will come out on top after the votes are cast. So get to voting and help determine the year's best new albums!
http://www.ranker.com/list/best-albums-of-2014/ranker-music,
St. Vincent
Metascore: 89. Art-pop perfection from guitarist and singer-songwriter Annie Clark.
Supernova
Metascore: 78. The singer-songwriter's 5th studio album knocks it out of the park.
Stay Gold
Metascore: 80. Third (and best) LP from sisterly folk duo.
Lazaretto
Metascore: 80. Bluesy guitar god comes back with a vengeance.
Hypnotic Eye
Metascore: 77. Classic rockers' best effort in years (possibly even decades).
You're Dead!
Metascore: 88. L.A. producer's most mind-blowingly ambitious effort yet.
They Want My Soul
Metascore: 81. Indie rock vets offer another sterling set of songs.
1989
Metascore: 76. Country's top starlet gracefully transitions to pop.
Ultraviolence
Metascore: 74. Polarizing songstress silences (most of) the haters.
RTJ2
Metascore: 90. Game-changing hip-hop from rap originals El-P and Killer Mike.