Vada’s Top Music of 2014: The Albums

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Reggie Myers

Reggie Myers is a writer and communications professional living in Philadelphia, Pa., where he graduated from Temple University. Music, television, film, books, video games, politics, and human sexuality are just a few of the many things that make him tick. When he's not working behind a computer screen, you can find him looking for new adventures, practicing photography, scheming ways to get to the front row of a concert, or scouring the corners of the internet for new music to put his friends on to. @reggieakil

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Like I promised yesterday, I’m back with Part 2 of yesterday’s list. And this time I’m giving you some of the staff’s picks for favorite albums of 2014. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Azealia Banks – Broke with Expensive Taste

Barry Quinn: For me, no other album eclipses Broke With Expensive Taste. 2014 has seen some other decent releases – Sam Sparro, Gorgon City, Iggy Azealia – but NOTHING comes close. Broke with Expensive Taste is flawless, and entirely worth the wait. Plus, I fucking love Azealia Banks.

Tinashe – Aquarius

John Preston: Along with Tinashe releasing one of the best songs of 2014 with ‘2 On’, her debut album Aquarius is indeed a rare beast, an RnB album which dispenses with filler. Contemporaries like Kelela, SZA and Kindess all bring the bleary and woozy-headed slow motion beats but Tinashe remembers the most important element of all, sublime melodies that seduce and stick.

Taylor McFerrin – Early Riser

Reggie: Although I loved his leading single featuring Emily King, I was not sure what kind of album to expect from a son of Bobby McFerrin. However, Early Riser is a great album that blends the modernity of  electronic music with the classic soul of R&B, which is not something many artists can execute well.

D’Angelo – Black Messiah

Rebecca Swarray:  Neo soul at it’s best with live instrumentation, socially conscious lyrics and killer hooks. It’s definitely been worth the 15 year wait since his last album Voodoo.

The Hunger Games Soundtrack

John Preston: Lorde has put her indelible stamp all over her choices for the third installment of The Hunger Games soundtrack, Mockingjay. Overwhelmingly female artists, clicking and snarling electronics and a taste of Grace Jones first new material in 6 years which is the most tribal and experimental track here. Thank you Lorde.

Daley – Days & Nights

Reggie Myers: Daley has a great voice, but many times, artists with rich and soulful voices are hampered with songs and albums that don’t do them justice. That’s not the case with Daley’s Days & Nights.

Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo

Reggie Myers: This is one of the few albums in 2014 that I can honestly say I played for weeks and months on end. With the right balance of bravado and vulnerability, Isaiah Rashad’s project has something for everyone.

These were some of our staff picks for the top albums of 2014. We wish you all a Happy New Year, and we’re looking forward to hearing all of the music 2015 will bring our way.