Written by

Amar Ediriwira

Published on

December 17, 2014

Features

Our readers pick the best releases of 2014.

As the end of the year draws closer, we continue our dissection of 2014 in vinyl. Last week we explored the year’s most collectable records, the best record sleeves, a wave of reverential reissues and the top 100 new releases, not to mention some of the weirdest things pressed into vinyl.

Now it’s time to dive into our readers’ choice. Our mega vinyl survey, which also came to a close last week, asked participants for their top release of 2014, with reissues and new releases both fair game. Around 2% of the readers in our sample don’t buy new releases but the feedback from the majority includes familiar faces from the year as well as some unusual suspects, which was pleasing to see. Metronomy Love Letters, St Vincent St Vincent and Arca Xen all deserve a mention as they missed out on this top 20 by a whisker.

20. Al Dobson Jr

Rye Lane Volume 1

(Elektra)

19. Arctic Monkeys

AM

(Domino)

18. Spoon

They Want My Soul

(Loma Vista/Republic)

17. Theo Parrish

American Intelligence

(Sound Signature)

16. The Bug

Angels & Devils

(Ninja Tune)

15. David Bowie

Nothing Has Changed

(Parlophone)

14. Max Graef

Rivers Of The Red Planet

(Tartelet Records)

13. Freddie Gibbs

Piñata

(Madlib Invazion)

12. Timber Timbre

Hot Dreams

(Full Time Hobby)

11. Ray Parker Jr. / Run-DMC

Ghostbusters (Stay Puft Edition)

(Sony)

10. Mogwai

Rave Tapes

(Rock Action)

9. Todd Terje

It’s Album Time

(Olsen)

8. Caribou

Our Love

(Merge Records)

7. FKA Twigs

LP1

(Young Turks)

6. Beck

Morning Phase

(Virgin EMI)

5. Flying Lotus

You’re Dead!

(Warp)

4. Sun Kil Moon

Benji

(Caldo Verde)

3. Pink Floyd

The Endless River