30. First Aid Kit - Stay Gold 
Very neat production and their already known wonderful harmonies. If I'm in the right mood it's a wonder. Could do without the Adele sounding closer though.
29. Interpol - El pintor 
I never was a big Interpol fan but this work has been mostly heralded like a return to form and I gotta agree. Pretty enjoyable.
28. The Vaselines - V for Vaselines 
I think this surpasses and even shits all over their comeback album. It's more direct, catchier, way funnier.
27. Dum Dum Girls - Too True 
By far their poppiest work yet, pretty consistent. My favourite part is the end of the album which means I always exit satisfied of listening to it.
26. Manic Street Preachers - Futurology 
Walk Me To The Bridge is classic Manics and the whole album is quite strong, I'd highlight the two Russian-named Berlin-styled instrumental songs and The Next Jet To Leave Moscow were they address the controversial Cuban show.
25. Karen O - Crush Songs 
I found this package of unfinished demos and bedroom sketches rather lovely. Fantastic melodies as pure as you can get them. Charming.
24. The Men - Tomorrow's Hits 
Just a little variation into their mix, countrifying their sound and getting even close to AOR.
23. Howler - World of Joy 
Yeah, Howler. Does anybody else remember them?
They not just a Strokes rip off anymore: "You don't have to listen to The Smiths if you don't want to" into the best Smiths guitar bit in a while is magic. And on Yatch Boys they dress up as The Horrors.
22. Ty Segall - Manipulator 
Probably his best one yet, a summary of all his different faces with a perfected sound. Not mindblowing by any means though.
21. Kasabian - 48:13 
KASABIAN. Imagine you put a record by a new band and the first you get is something like Bumblebee, I reckon most of the naysayers would twist themselves in enjoyment. They've always been too laddy for the softs and too weird for the lads. There are some shit moments but the BIG TUNES made it for me.
20. Black Lips - Underneath the Rainbow 
Not one of their best, but there's still plenty of fun here to be found. Lots of standard Black Lip songs, Boys in the band fitting perfectly in the album, Make You Mine being top and Dog Years ending it on a high note.
19. TacocaT - NVM 
I've lost a little of love to this record (specially due to my 3rd pick), but it's still a catchy, direct and fun album.
18. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else 
Unlike the previous one, this has the good measure between catchiness and angst, the songs usually ending on a high. Tension and energy are still their strenghts but Baldi has recovered some of his knack for big choruses that was so frequent on his beginnings. A record for being young and pogo non stop.
17. Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams 
Ryan doing Bryan. MOR for life.
16. James - La petite mort 
This might be my softest and poppiest list ever and I think James epitomizes it perfectly. I guess I would hated this album a few years ago and I would have just ignored it if I hadn't seen them at Benicassim last summer. Amazing for a band nearly 30 years into their career to release this batch of songs.
15. Temples - Sun Structures 
Some of the better production and sound I've heard recently in a psychedelic record, blossoming always in big choruses. I didn't fall for it totally, but it's a marvel.
14. King Tuff - Black Moon Spell 
Like Led Zeppelin on helium, this guy keeps bringing up the guitars to the front. Maybe a little too goofy and preferred the flow of his previous work but this one is a different beast.
13. Broken Bells - After the Disco 
I think I'm the only one in the world that actually cared about this record, but I really believe it's the best work they have released together or on their different projects in more than 5 years. The production works, the tunes are there and everything seems natural.
12. Jack White - Lazaretto 
More playful than Blunderbuss and stronger as a whole. Probably the best artist of this century and the last of a dying breed, just hope I can see him live soon.
11. Apneu - Hard Feelings 
Read Mahoney's description to this and knew it would totally be up my alley: short fast garage songs with plenty of catchy guitar riffs.
10. Thee Oh Sees - Drop 
Just a month after announcing their hiatus they came with this release. Their usual psychedelic wanderings but I'd say closer to The Beatles this time. This collection of songs is magnificent, but I can't stop thinking a better production could take them to another level.
9. La Sera - Hour of the Dawn 
Much much better than her previous two albums, she has found some energy and some amazing guitar work to carry her songs to a new and exciting place.
8. Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker 
Another late entry. This guy sounds like early KOL, which is a fantastic thing imo. I can understand what Jack White felt when he saw him at Letterman performing the perfect storm that is Violent Shiver and then decided to pick him to open for him. I initially fell for Kiwanuka and Gary Clark Jr too, just hope this guy doesn't take the easy road.
7. Weezer - Everything Will Be Alright in the End 
I resign, this is a pretty good record, probably my favourite since the debut. And the world's a better place with albums like this one. You know, it's Weezer by numbers but I can't get enough of it. I can find a moment of pure joy in every single song.
6. Spoon - They Want My Soul 
My first serious contact with Spoon has been this year and I really didn't expect them like this. I thought they were more brainy and experimental but it turns out it's just barebones indie rock tunes. The first half of this album is flawless and the moments were the singer gives his all are sublime.
5. Connections - Into Sixes 
Like GBV with edge, this album is a rush of golden songs. I lost a bit of faith with them by the second release of 2013 which I can't remember a single thing about, but they've come back with their best one yet.
4. Ariel Pink - pom pom 
The start and the end of pop music. Everything is here, every decade since the 50s but sounding modern as only he can do. You can't find the seams, end of the game.
3. Ex Hex - Rips 
Do you remember that song I was looking for? Well, this sounds quite a bit like that (I think). Greatest amount of catchy songs and riffs per minute in 2014. Very well made rock'n'roll and I like it.
2. The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers 
Why oh why there aren't more bands like this one? Wasn't a fan before so I can't really compare it to their previous works yet but this is full of fantastic pop songs provided by up to four different singers, each one adding their own spices to form this amazing melting pot.
1. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream 
I'd be lying if I didn't pick this as my number one of this year. 80s Dylan, Springsteen at his most MOR, Knopfler playing tennis, beer commercial, the sound The Killers have been aiming for since their second record... On that moment on Red Eyes comes when Adam Granduciel (now that's a name) shouts and the instrumental part kicks in, everything is perfect and justified.
