2014 Soundtrack:

2014 OST - Link to Spotify Playlist. 

Saint Motel – ‘My Type’

Possessing perhaps the catchiest opening melody this side of the 70’s, ‘My Type’ is the kind of song that burrows into your mind and stays there for weeks. Certainly the feel good anthem of the year, it’s designed to fill dance floors and have hips shaking.

Vance Joy – ‘Mess is Mine’

Having won over the masses with ‘Riptide’, Vance Joy’s album ‘Dream Your Life Away’ was no disappointment. ‘Mess is Mine’ is the perfect example of Joy’s winning formula of building a simple acoustic melody into a huge anthemic chorus impossible to not sing along to. 

  

     Ray La Montagne – ‘Supernova’

‘Supernova’ is a record that sends you back in time. La Montagne’s gravelly vocals, trippy riffs and acoustic melodies capture the magic of sunny 1960’s California without it ever feeling pastiche. This, the title track, perfectly displays the atmosphere of the record as La Montagne sings ‘I want you to be my girl’ over swirling organs.

     Blossoms – ‘Blow’

Blossoms are a new band with huge potential. ‘Blow’ opens with thumping drums, a pounding bassline, and disjointed distorted guitars all of which combine to create an atmosphere of melancholic uncertainty. This builds into one of the catchiest choruses of the year as the protagonist admits “I don’t know if its love that you want or love I want”.

 

     Benjamin Booker – ‘Violent Shiver’ (SONG OF THE YEAR)

‘Violent Shiver’ is rock and roll encapsulated. A riff straight from the school of Chuck Berry glides into a maelstrom of shredded guitar, fierce drums, and Booker’s raspy vocals. Although the accompanying album did not match this early potential, ‘Violent Shiver’ was the most soulful and exciting song of the year. 

Superfood –‘Right on Satellite’

Superfood’s debut album ‘Don’t Say That’ was frustratingly hit and miss. ‘Right on Satellite’, however, soars from start to finish. Opening with an enchanting riff the track finds vocalist Dom Ganderton sigh “I fell asleep on an aeroplane, I never thought I’d get so far, so far” before the song builds into its winning chorus.

First Aid Kit – ‘My Silver Lining’

First Aid Kit’s latest album ‘Stay Gold’ showcased the Söderberg sisters’ talent for creating beautiful acoustic ballads. ‘My Silver Lining’ is the perfect example as it’s swirling strings, gentle melody and haunting harmonies all combine to make this their most atmospheric song yet.  

Real Estate – ‘Talking Backwards’

On their latest album ‘Atlas’, Real Estate delivered a fine collection of gentle melancholic songs and ‘Talking Backwards’ was one of the finest. Wistful vocals echo over layers of reverb drenched guitars to create this beautiful result.

       

  Pharrell Williams – ‘Marilyn Monroe’

2014 was the year ‘Happy’ took over the world and made Pharell one of music’s most in demand artists. ‘Marilyn Monroe’ however, with its combination of an orchestral opening, catchy beat and chic-esque guitars showed that his ability to craft catchy R and B was as sharp as ever.

Asgeir – ‘Torrent’

It is difficult to not immediately note the similarity in sound to Bon Iver, however ‘Torrent’ shows that Asgeir has huge talent in his own right. Opening with a driving piano melody and hushed vocals it quickly builds into a crescendo of sound as Asgeir’s falsetto laments how the “torrents wash away”.

Paolo Nutini – ‘Scream (Funk my Life up)’

Ever the master of re-invention, Nutini channelled the sounds of funk and soul to great effect on this year’s ‘Caustic Love’ and ‘Scream’ is the perfect example of his new direction. Nutini’s raspy vocal pours tribute to “a girl so fine she makes you want to sing hallelujah” over a swaggering bassline and gospel choir. 

Cattle and Cane – ‘I Will Rise’

Another exciting new band, Cattle and Cane’s sound is a perfect mesh of rootsy folk rhythm and dancefloor beats. If you’d thought such a combination could never work ‘I Will Rise’ will prove you wrong. Opening like a 90’s dancefloor anthem the song quickly develops into a rousing blend of acoustic guitars and chanted vocals. 

Noel Gallagher and the High Flying Birds – ‘Do the Damage’

The quality of Noel’s solo work has been so high it makes you question whether Oasis will ever reform. ‘Do the Damage’, the B-Side to comeback single ‘In the Heat of the Moment’, finds him at the top of his game. The thundering blend of guitars, keys and saxophone create a sound that is simultaneously classic rock and refreshingly original.

The Foo Fighters – ‘Something from Nothing’

The excellent ‘Sonic Highways’ TV Series that accompanied the record of the same name found the Foo Fighters delve into and pay tribute to the history of American popular music as they attempted to shape these influences into their new material. Although not a huge departure from their established sound, ‘Something from Nothing’ captures the band’s experiment at its best as Grohl’s thoughtful lyrics perfectly complement the driving guitars and funky organ.

Jamie T – ‘Zombie’

It has been a long four years since Jamie T’s last release and new album ‘Carry on the Grudge’ may have had a darker feel than his previous material but ‘Zombie’ is proof that he is still able to craft a classic. Simultaneously zany and earnest, ‘Zombie’ is light-hearted fun and has an infectiously catchy chorus.

George Ezra – ‘Barcelona’

With his gravelly bluesmen vocals, eclectic sound and earnest lyrics, Ezra created the year’s best record with ‘Wanted on Voyage’. ‘Barcelona’ is one of the more gentle songs on the record and his smoky vocal perfectly complements the beautiful lead guitar line creating a delicate atmosphere.

The Kooks – ‘Down’

It should always be applauded when a band embraces a willingness to explore new sounds and ideas and ‘Down’ is a real departure from the Kook’s trademark sound.  Luke Pritchard’s soulful vocal wraps itself round a funky rhythm and it sounds like nothing they’ve done before. Although accompanying album ‘Listen’ did not consistently deliver, ‘Down’ was the sound of a band eager to try something new.

Milky Chance –‘Stolen Dance’

With its handclaps, moody vocals and simple rhythm,‘Stolen Dance’ starts off sounding like the XX before it’s laid back verses blend into a catchy upbeat chorus you’ll be humming for weeks.

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness – ‘Cecilia and the Satellite’

'Cecilia and the Satellite’ perfectly combines an anthemic sound with beautiful songwriting. It’s synth heavy verses detail McMahon’s experiences before he declares that “of all the things my eyes have seen the best by far is you” before the song builds into a truly uplifting chorus.

James Bay -‘Let it Go’

James Bay has been tipped for success in 2015 and ‘Let it Go’ shows you why.  His delicate guitar perfectly intertwines with his beautiful soulful vocal creating a sound that is reminiscent of Jeff Buckley. 

Passenger – ‘Start a Fire’

With his new album ‘Whispers’, Passenger has built on the hugely successful sound of ‘All the Little Lights’ with a well crafted and maturer collection. ‘Start a Fire’ is a beautiful acoustic ballad that showcases his talent for writing meaningful lyrics as he sings “my skin like these boulders is cracking and older with each passing year that goes,  my cliff face is crumbling silently tumbling down to the water below”.

Nick Mulvey – ‘Cucurucu’

Nick Mulvey is an exciting new singer-songwriter and ‘Cucurucu’ shows why he stands out from the crowd. The bouncing bassline and punchy electric guitar forms the perfect backdrop to the wonderfully catchy acoustic melody and Mulvey’s husky vocals. This will have you singing along on the first listen.

Alt J – ‘Every Other Freckle’

Alt J are back and ‘Every Other Freckle’ proves that they have bettered the sound that made their debut ‘An Awesome Wave’ a huge success. The other singles from new album ‘This is All Yours’, such as the laidback Miley Cyrus sampling ‘Hunger of the Pine’ and the uncharacteristically rocky ‘Left Hand Free’ were both excellent. It is ‘Every Other Freckle’ however with its chanted vocals and flute solo that shows how they have taken their existing sound and moulded it into something even more exciting.

Hozier – ‘Take me to Church’

Hozier is another artist tipped to be huge in 2015 and ‘Take me to Church’ shows why. The combination of understated piano and Hozier’s bluesy and moody vocals instantly create an intense atmosphere before it builds into a despairing yet anthemic chorus.