Best Music of March 2014

Albums-

Random Access Fhqwhgads- Daft Punk vs. Strong Bad

 This is the greatest album ever made.

Ahem... to the actual list

Pinata- Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Often we get wrapped up in the concepts behind hip-hop albums. I’ve definitely done this, my love for Cancer for Cure, Skelethon, and Good Kid mAAd City is thanks to the fantastic stories that connect the songs together. But hot damn, Piñata is the best straight up rap albums made in years. Madlib lays down soulful and smooth beats while Gibbs sounds like a total badass on every single track. It’s gonna be hard for any hip-hop album, or any album in general, to top this.

Say Yes to love- Perfect Pussy
Get ready. Perfect Pussy are going to set fire to your world. In the best punk album released in recent memory frontwoman Meredith Graves tears down everything around her while laying herself emotionally raw and dangerous. This sure as fuck isn’t for the faint of heart.

Tomorrow’s Hits- The Men

The Men have finally released an album worthy of their live show. The big hearted and ramshackle Tomorrow’s Hits is an ode to the most mad-capped of American Classic Rock. Lead yeller Mark Perro sounds like Dylan at his most pissed off on the Chuck Berry on speed “Pearly Gates,” where he spits out “I never wanted this for ya!/A little bit of P-P-P-Paranoia!” It all seems seconds away from falling apart and that’s part of the thrill.

Zentropy- Frankie Cosmos

It’s the smallest album released this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be excellent. Frankie morns over her dead dog, gets high, and attends a whole lot of terrible parties over fantastic indie backgrounds. There’s also a humor to the album that makes sure it never becomes a sad-sack album. Still, it’s pretty damn depressing when it wants to be. “Look mom I’m hobbling through/I am gonna be a painter to,” Frankie sings on “Busses.” But that’s just before she sings “This isn’t a party” and a danceable beat kicks in.

Encarnado -Juçara Marçal

This is a strange mix. Math-rock and Brazilian folk music. It works quite well. Juçara Marçal’s voice is as eclectic as her musical tastes and she holds it all together. Without percussion the guitars move in unnerving angular patterns and saxophones buzz like flies. I haven’t translated the lyrics, but if the music is any indication, they will be terrifying and engrossing.

Rooms of the House- La Dispute

No, it’s not as good as Wildlife, but damn is it another great album in La Dispute’s catalog. The ever powerful Jorden Dreyer describes natural disasters and failing relationships and the band sounds as tight as ever. “Stay Happy There,” “THE CHILD WE LOST 1963,” and “HUDSONVILE, MI 1956” stand as some of their most devastating (and best) songs yet.

Crystalline- Hark

Watch out, we might have some new Sludge Metal Titans a coming. The Welsh breed trio play a ferociously heavy mix of hard rock and prog that will sound familiar to fans of Mastodon and Baroness. The riffs are huge, the yelling is vocal cord destroying, and the massive drumming never disappoints.  

NIPOMO- Dva

Combine Latin Jazz, Eastern European noodlings, and the Rayman Legends’ soundtrack and you’ll get something like NIPOMO. The twitching and bouncy album comes from the quite possibly insane Czech Republic based duo. This is music for the most ADHD.  

Range of Light- S. Carey

Bon Iver buddy S. Carey has released his own debut, and it might be even better than his bandmate’s records. The soft and folky album is a reminder of Sufjan Stevens and Cloud Cut, but more importantly, it always focuses on Carey’s beautiful arrangements.

Lost in the Dream- The War on Drugs

Seemingly everyone else on the planet has proclaimed this the best album of 2014. I’m not quite at that level of appreciation, but damn are there some great songs here. The War on Drugs’ heartland rock is a welcome Springsteen tribute that never delves into peachiness and contains some of the year’s best songs in the rambling anthem “Under the Pressure” and the road trip ready “Red Eyes.”

Songs-

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars (With Brandon Flowers, Father John Misty, and Local Natives)

The ever stunning Take Away Show from La Blogothèque gives us one of their finest videos. Brandon Flowers reminds us that he’s one of the finest lead singers in pop, Father John Misty gives a winking performance, and Local Natives put a chilling modern spin on “Out Among the Stars.” Each song is a brilliant tribute to a legend.

Space Cadet- Flume ft. Ghostface Killah & Autre Ne Veut

Technically released last year, this remix of Aussie producer Flume was in desperate need of the single treatment. Autre Ne Vuet has a spectacularly funky and weird performance, giving the song an album’s worth of hooks over Flume’s blindingly colorful production. And Ghostface continues to prove he’s the most consistent member of Wu Tang.  

Work Work- Clipping.

The strangest, and quite possibly the best, production we’ll hear all year comes from hyper experimental Clipping. Daveed Diggs’ silky smooth verses flow fantastically into the super-catchy chorus with an automatic call of “Make that work/Get that work.” 

So Sick Stories- RATKING feat. King Krule

The youth of today… No one on this track can illegally drink, but they destroy peers and elders a like. MC Wiki hits a sweet spot between Zack De La Rocha and Eminem while spinning terrifying stories from the worst part of the big apple and Hack puts down a meditative verse. Finally King Krule, though he doesn’t rap, gives the production one of the year’s best hooks. 

Hundred Waters – Cavity

Hundred Waters continue on their merrily weird way with one of their best songs yet. Captivating as always, they’ve crafted something that sounds like a more warped version of The XX. Undefinably sexy, but also off-putting. Another winner and if the rest of the album is up to this standard…. 

Words I don’t remember- How to dress well

How to Dress Well has proven again that he’s got a sharp ear and an even better voice. “Words I don’t Remember” is a wonky and funky tune that will grab both indie and Timberlake fans.

Kingdom Come - The Souljazz Orchestra

The Souljazz Orchestra mix any genre they can get their hands on and “Kingdom Come” is a brilliant blend of globetrotting Jazz. The brass and piano are great, but it’s all about that lurching rhythm.

Happy- Woodkid remix

Woodkid made “Happy” sound sad. I don’t know how I feel about this.

Baby - White Hinterland

Strangely soulful, White Hinterland’s new single is made by one of the year’s best vocal performances and some strangely enticing production.

Dograces- Dub Thompson

Like a slacker version of Tame Impala, Dub Thompson make an acid washed sound with Beck-ish verses and one hell of a chorus. Watch out for these guys in the future.