- PREMIERE: Eloah Jones – “Under the Bridge” - November 18, 2021
- PREMIERE: Highbeams – “Campfires” - November 10, 2021
- Tali Azerad Shines on New Album - November 5, 2021
It’s December, and that means LISTS. All the lists of the top everything you can want from 2014. GroundSounds has been hard at work compiling our own lists to share with you guys, starting today with Editor-In-Chief Jake Craney’s picks for Top 10 Most Fun Albums of the Year.
Note from Jake: This is not my Top 10 Albums of the Year – that list will be posted in a couple weeks. These are the albums this year that were simply the most fun to listen to. Upbeat, catchy, sing along choruses, great running/workout music…you get the picture. Without further ado:
10. Miniature Tigers – Cruel Runnings
Sun-soaked indie rock with clever lyricism and addicting hooks. Cruel Runnings is a blast from start to finish.
9. Vinyl Theatre – Electrogram
Synth-driven fun from the Wisconsin four-piece. While only a brief eight songs, this album completely satisfies your fist-pumping sing along cravings and should be firmly planted on all summertime playlists.
8. Slow Magic – How To Run Away
This album completely hypnotizes you. The swirling, pulsing electronic effort from Slow Magic may take a spin or two to really sink in, but pretty soon it’ll have you hitting play again and again.
7. WALK THE MOON – Talking Is Hard
These guys have taken the momentum gained through their debut album and their hit song “Anna Sun” and created an album that is the definition of ‘fun.’ Supremely catchy and impossible not to enjoy.
6. Magic Man – Before The Waves
Synth-pop is a wildly saturated style these days, with many imitators, clones, and bandwagon-riding bands. Magic Man is one band that rises above the crowd and Before The Waves exemplifies what it means to do synth-pop better than almost anyone. Big hooks, memorable choruses, and a great knack for making it stick.
5. Wiz Khalifa – Blacc Hollywood
Wiz isn’t breaking new ground here, but it’s a damn fun listen. He knows how to create something the masses will enjoy, and he indulged himself on Blacc Hollywood. Put it on and turn it up!
4. Neon Trees – Pop Psychology
This band is way underrated for their hit-making ability. They can write a pop tune like not many can. Disregard any hesitation you might have with the goofy 80’s style cover art, this album is crazily enjoyable.
3. Calvin Harris – Motion
You can pretty much chalk up any Calvin Harris album in the ‘most fun’ list. He has dance/EDM infused with pop music down to a science. One of my personal favorite albums this year to pop in the headphones and run with.
2. Chromeo – White Women
These guys have taken classic elements from 90’s pop and R&B, 80’s new wave, 70’s funk, and 2000’s electro/dance to create an album that can be enjoyed by nearly anyone. “Jealous (I Aint With It),” “Old 45’s,” “Play The Fool,” “Somethingood,” and “Fall Back 2U” are songs that many bands strive to create but cannot execute. White Women delivers instantly indelible tracks that’ll have you singing along for weeks.
1. Mystery Skulls – Forever
I’ve been waiting for Luis to officially release the first Mystery Skulls LP for a long time, and he delivered. He is so talented working his magic and these songs are impossible not to dance to. Song after song of infectious beats and huge hooks.
Other fun albums you should check out:
LP – Forever For Now
Jukebox The Ghost – S/T
Taking Back Sunday – Happiness Is
ODESZA – In Return
Stay tuned later this week for our Top Shows of the year, and next week we’ll reveal our Top 50 Songs of 2014. After that, we’ll have our top albums of the year, along with any other lists we feel like compiling for your reading pleasure!
