Best Music of 2014 Staff Picks – Mike Gallagher

Name: Mike Gallagher

City: Toronto

Title: Reviewer with Live in Limbo for how long Sean?  I have no idea.  ~ Around 3.5-ish.

Favourite Songs of 2014:  

1. Nicki Minaj “Anaconda”
2. Run the Jewels “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)”
3. Taylor Swift “Shake It Off”

How many shows did you go to this year?  63

Best concerts of 2014

1. Run the Jewels @ Danforth Music Hall November 26 
2. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds @ Osheaga Festival Montreal August 2
3. Kraftwerk @ Sony Centre March 29
4. Cut Copy @ Osheaga Festival Montreal August 3
5. The War on Drugs @ Lee’s Palace April 15

Favourite festival of 2014: Osheaga Festival, Montreal

Which artist or band won 2014?  Lorde

Favourite venue this year:  Parc Jean Drapeau

Biggest music new story from 2014?  For me, the release of the initial lineup for the 2015 Austin Psych Fest.

What artist should/will we all be paying attention to for 2015?  I feel like I’m having a bit of a Groundhog Day moment with the amount of bands I’m seeing from the old days.  Now I get to enjoy with a lot less pimples.  But I’ll say Ride from the past and I’m really hoping the Avalanches finally release a new album.

Albums of 2014

1. Swans: To Be Kind 
2. Run the Jewels – RTJ2 
3. The War on Drugs – Lost In The Dream 
4. Perfume Genius – Too Bright
5. Clark – Clark
6. The Bug – Angels & Devils
7. Caribou – Our Love
8. Hookworms – The Hum
9. Rustie – Green Language
10. FKA Twigs – LP1
11. Aphex Twin – Syro
12. Fennesz – Becs
13. Sharon Van Etten – Are We There
14. Flying Lotus – You’re Dead
15. Todd Terje – It’s Album Time
16. Sun Kil Moon – Benji
17. St. Vincent – St. Vincent
18. Kelis – Food
19. The Raveonettes – Pe’Ahi
20. Parquet Courts – Sunbathing Animal
21. Common – Nobody’s Smiling
22. Eagulls – Eagulls
23. Mogwai – Rave Tapes
24. Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
25. Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
26. Ty Segall – Manipulator
27. Royal Blood – Royal Blood
28. Bob Mould – Beauty & Ruin
29. Alt-J – This Is All Yours
30. Elbow – The Take Off and Landing of Everything
31. Jungle – Jungle
32. Lykke Li – I Never Learn
33. Merchandise – After The End
34. Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
35. La Roux – Trouble In Paradise
36. Fucked Up – Glass Boys
37. Arca – Xen
38. Beck – Morning Phase
39. Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams
40. TV On The Radio – Seeds
41. Andy Stott – Faith In Strangers
42. Kasabian – 48:13
43. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Give The People What They Want
44. The Roots – And Then You Shoot Your Cousin
45. Bear In Heaven – Time Is Over One Day Old
46. Basement Jaxx – Junto
47. Future Islands – Singles
48. Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron
49. Wild Beasts – Present Tense
50. Hercules & Love Affair – The Feast Of The Broken Heart