Since 2002, I have obsessively tracked and categorized the music. It started as a way to share the songs and artists I discovered while working at a college radio station. I would rip audio files, make quarterly Windows Media playlists and burn CD’s for friends. When I transferred over to iTunes, I began to make meticulous quarterly and year-end mixes. In 2012, I moved over to Spotify and starting doing monthly “Mixtapes” and year end countdowns.
50-41 | 40-31 | 30-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
These are not necessarily the best or most popular or commercially successful songs. They certainly anything we play on 93.7 KLBJ. These are the songs, that when I go back and listen to them, transport me to another time. They are the songs that have left a lasting impact. They are my memories, emotions and stories from the past year.
Music is the soundtrack to our lives and this is where my movie started.
50) Banks – What it Feels Like
This was a breakthrough year for the incredibly talented Banks. She went form Soundcloud to the red carpet seeming overnight. Unlike other 2014 success stories (Meghan Trainor), Banks has lasting talent and a rich, vibrant sound.
49) This Will Destroy You – Invitation
Perhaps the only true post-rock song to make the list, Invitation is four minutes of instrumental pleasure. The song stays true to the genre by slowly building into a chaotic feast of drums, guitar and even xylophone.
48) The Echo-Friendly – Fuck it and Whatever
This song is more than a few choice words, it’s the perfect description of the start of my year.
47) St. Vincent – Digital Witness
I fell in love with the new robotic Annie Clark after catching St. Vincent during SXSW. The lady shredder’s self titled album is one of this year’s best and this song would probably be higher on the countdown had I not played it so much back in March
46) White Reaper – Half Bad
The first kick-ass jam from my ‘beach music phase’, White Reaper’s Half Bad sounds like the party you wish you were having in high school.
45) Sleep Thieves – City of Hearts
I discovered this band on Spotify radio and was pleased to get into a song from their 2014 release You Want the Night.
44) Dana Falconberry – Palmless
This is perhaps the best song from Austin’s Dana Falconberry. She continues to amaze as powerful music combines with her soft, sweet melodies.
43) London Grammar – Hey Now
Heading into the year and SXSW, London Grammar was the ‘it’ group. This song was one of my favorites and most memorable from a rough start to 2014.
42) Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks – Little Fang
I have no clue how I discovered this group but their song Little Fang is just weird and awesome enough to get lodged deep into your skull, then played again and again.
41) Royksopp – Sordid Affair
Röyksopp & Robyn’s Do It Again was certainly the most popular song from the Norwegian duo’s The Inevitable End but it was the song immediacy afterwards that I fell in love with. Two other ones I recommend form this album are Skulls and We Had this Thing.
PREVIOUS TOP SONGS
Before we move on to the next ten songs of 2014, let’s recap my top tewnz from previous years (all available on my Spotify).
2013
1) The National – Sea of Love
2) Major Laser – Get Free
3) Dan Croll – From Nowhere (Baardsen GTA-V soundtrack Remix)
2012
1) Divine Fits – My Love is Real
2) Santigold – Disparate Youth
3) Hot Chip – Look at Where We Are (Major Lazer remix)
2011
1) My Morning Jacket – Holding on to Black Metal
2) TV on the Radio – Will Do
3) …And You Will Know Us – Weight of the Sun
2010
1) Odessa – Caribou
2) Interpol – Lights
3) Arcade Fire – Ready to Start
2009
Matt& Kim – Daylight
2008
Yeasayer – 2080
2007
Peter, Bjorn and John – Young Folks
2006
Muse – Knights of Cydonia
2005
Postal Service – Against all Odds
2004
Modest Mouse – Float On
2003
Interpol – Obstacle 1
2002
Wilco – Jesus etc.
2001
Pete Yorn – For Nancy
