XS Noize has only been live for 6 months but in that short time our writers have reviewed and heard some amazing music. Everyone put forward their favorite albums from the year, and after much debate fighting and black eyes I present what we came up with. Thanks to all our writing staff and readers for making XS Noize the success it has become in such a short time. I know 2015 is going to be an exciting year for all of us at XS Noize, bring it on!
Mark Millar – Editor
1. THE WAR ON DRUGS – LOST IN THE DREAM
Lost In The Dream begins with the uplifting ‘Under The Pressure’ and takes us on a journey with tender and sweeping epic songs, which channel Springsteen and Tom Petty.
A triumphant album its magnificent dreamy soundscapes invoke 80s nostalgia while still sounding fresh. The must have album of 2014.
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2. TV ON THE RADIO – SEEDS
Seeds is a fantastic album and one that you really should hear. As well as playing to the band’s obvious strengths (Sitek’s stuido wizardry, Adebimpe’s voice), they also take risks by making the album sound poppier than they ever have done and those risks pay off.
This is TV On The Radio’s most complete work and it is a very special album indeed.
3. U2 – SONGS OF INNOCENCE
Songs Of Innocence is actually a very fan driven album. You get way more out of this album if you know the history, the songs deal with themes they were experiencing around the years their first album Boy was created only now they are mature enough to realise them.
Songs Of Innocence sounds clean and crisp, a fresh modern take on the classic U2 sound and probably their most consistent work since Achtung Baby.
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4. CARIBOU – OUR LOVE
Our Love is an exploration of the end of a relationship masked in some of the most inventive electronic music you’ll hear at the moment.
Experimental and at times testing listening, it’s an album that deserves a couple of plays. Once you do that, you’ll fall in love with it.
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5. THE SCENES – BEIGE
This album does not sound like a band at the start of their career. There is no muddling about, which can happen so often with a novice band. They have taken some pretty big risks on this disc, but those risks pay off. A very exciting recording that grabs you with the first listen and demands you acknowledge its excellence. The band shows an enviable ability to move with agility between melancholy ballads to hard rocking songs.
You need to listen to this album; this is a promising band that should be going places if there is any justice left in the music world. A Phenomenal second album that is anything but beige.
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6. THOM YORKE – TOMORROWS MODERN BOXES
As with his other releases each listen will no doubt reveal more. All in all there is always a reason for rejoicing when Thom Yorke releases new material, for those of us who enjoy his voice more than his electronic programming skills there is a little disappointment with tracks six and seven, but all in all another stellar effort from the Pied Piper of Alternative.
The download can be obtained through Radiohead’s W.A.S.T.E. website utilizing Bit Torrent and vinyl can also be purchased on that site. It is to be noted that the entire album is only $6.00.
7. ERASURE – THE VIOLET FLAME
So, is ‘The Violet Flame’ worth getting excited about? Yes it is. After a few recent false starts, Erasure have relaxed and got back to doing what they do best – pop music.
Perhaps the duo’s recent side projects have allowed them to refocus and even re-energised them and if that is the case, then well done Erasure. Simply put, this is Erasure’s finest album since ‘Chorus’.
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8. THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE – REVELATION
After 13 albums Anton Newcome has released his best and most consistent record yet with ‘Revelation’, its trippy psychedelic songs reward the listener with each play.
‘Revelation’ made the world wake up and realise how tremendous The Brian Jonestown Massacre really are.
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9. DEPECHE MODE – LIVE IN BERLIN
Taking away from the fact that the majority of this track listing will have featured heavily on their previous live releases, a fact that was highlighted by many as a reason not to acquire, it possesses the quality of production and mix that makes the soundtrack to Live in Berlin an extremely polished album and dare I say it, with the chance of incurring the wrath of the Black Swarm, probably the best sounding live release since 1989s monumental 101.
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10. OWL JOHN – OWL JOHN
As solo albums go then this is very good. Don’t think that you’re essentially getting a Frightened Rabbit album as that’s not the case. Once the album stops you want to start playing it again and that can’t be a bad sign.
Owl John is something to be enjoyed on its’ own and overall it is a very enjoyable album indeed.
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Listen to the ‘Album Of The Year’ playlist on Spotify
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