MCCh 2014 (03) February 28

[Otisredding]

The best albums of 2014 (update February 28)

The numbers presented next to each album title are the weighted average rating and the number of reviews (out of 32 included sources). The weighted average is based on a formula that includes a) the average of ratings and b) the number of sources that have rated the album.

The magazines I used for the ratings were:
EUR + Australia: Gaffa-dk; Gaffa-sw; Jenesaispop; Laut; LesInrocks; Mondosonoro; Music-story; Nojesguiden; Ondarock; Plattentests; Playgroundmag; Rip It Up; Sentire Ascoltare; The Music.
UK: DIY; Drowned In Sound; The Guardian; Music OMH; NME; The Line Of Best Fit; The Skinny; The 405.
USA + Canada: Allmusic; AV Club; Consequence Of Sound; Exclaim!; Paste; Pitchfork; Popmatters; Rolling Stone; Spin; Tinymixtapes

New Entry or Re Entry

Out:
Ásgeir: In the Silence

20 - Tinariwen: Emmaar - 75,5 (18)
Highlights: Imdiwanin Ahi Tifhamam - Toumast Tincha - Imidiwan Ahi Sigdim
[imgsize 240x240]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 686267.jpg[/imgsize]

19 - The Notwist: Close To The Glass – 75,5 (19)
Highlights: Kong - 7-Hour-Drive - Run Run Run
[imgsize 240x240]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 686470.jpg[/imgsize]

18 - Marissa Nadler: July - 75,6 (19)
Highlights: Dead City Emily - 1923 - Drive
[imgsize 240x240]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 683401.jpg[/imgsize]

17 - Warpaint: Warpaint – 76,4 (30)
Highlights: Love Is To Die – Hi - Keep It Healthy
[imgsize 240x240]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 676121.jpg[/imgsize]

16 - Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks: Wig Out at Jagbags – 76,9 (30)
Highlights: Lariat - Planetary Motion - J Smoov
[imgsize 240x240]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 675827.jpg[/imgsize]

15 - Young Fathers: Dead – 77,7 (15)
Highlights: War - Get Up - No Way
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 688073.jpg[/imgsize]

14 - Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings: Give the People What They Want - 77,9 (24)
Highlights: Retreat! - Making Up And Breaking Up (And Making Up And Breaking Up Over Again) - Stranger To My Happiness
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 683988.jpg[/imgsize]

13 - Mogwai: Rave Tapes – 78,0 (31)
Highlights: Remurdered - The Lord Is Out Of Control - Hexon Bogon
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 680346.jpg[/imgsize]

12 - Against Me!: Transgender Dysphoria Blues – 78,0 (19)
Highlights: Transgender Dysphoria Blues - True Trans Soul Rebel - Two Coffins
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 680949.jpg[/imgsize]

11 - Actress: Ghettoville – 78,2 (21)
Highlights: Gaze - Rap - Corner
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 693983.jpg[/imgsize]

10 - Damien Jurado: Brothers And Sisters Of The Eternal Son - 78,9 (23)
Highlights: Silver Katherine - Metallic Cloud - Silver Timothy
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 684970.jpg[/imgsize]

09 - East India Youth: Total Strife Forever – 80,2 (18)
Highlights: Heaven, How Long - Dripping Down – Hinterland
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 691390.jpg[/imgsize]

08 - Beck: Morning Phase – 80,7 (29)
Highlights: Blue Moon - Morning - Turn Away
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 694324.jpg[/imgsize]

07 - Behemoth: The Satanist – 80,9 (11)
Highlights: Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel - O Father O Satan O Sun! - Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 687441.jpg[/imgsize]

06 - Sun Kil Moon: Benji – 82,0 (18)
Highlights: Carissa - Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes - Micheline
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 689105.jpg[/imgsize]

05 - Angel Olsen: Burn Your Fire for No Witness – 82,8 (27)
Highlights: Forgiven/Forgotten - White Fire – Windows
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 677187.jpg[/imgsize]

04 - Wild Beasts: Present Tense – 83,0 (23)
Highlights: Wanderlust - A Simple Beautiful Truth – Mecca
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 687945.jpg[/imgsize]

03 - Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra: Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything - 83,4 (21)
Highlights: What We Loved Was Not Enough - Fuck Off Get Free (For The Island Of Montreal) - Take Away These Early Grave Blues
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 683514.jpg[/imgsize]

02 - Neneh Cherry: Blank Project – 83,8 (26)
Highlights: Out Of The Black - Blank Project – Naked
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 680233.jpg[/imgsize]

01 - St Vincent: St Vincent – 87,6 (28)
Highlights: Digital Witness - Prince Johnny - Severed Crossed Fingers
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 698038.jpg[/imgsize]

[Matski]

No surprises about the new #1. However, the new #2 IS a bit of surprise. I expected it to rank but not quite that high. Kudos Ms. Cherry.

[Otisredding]

would it be too much effort to list the albums up to the 70,0 score

21 - Lydia Loveless: Somewhere Else - 74,8 (9)
22 - Ásgeir: In the Silence - 74,4 (12)
23 - Schoolboy Q: Oxymoron - 74,3 (12)
24 - Rosanne Cash: The River & The Thread - 74 (8)
25 - Temples: Sun Structures - 74 (25)
26 - Bombay Bicycle Club: So Long, See You Tomorrow - 73,9 (21)
27 - Death Vessel: Island Intervals - 73,5 (7)
28 - Cheatahs: Cheatahs - 73,1 (18)
29 - Speedy Ortiz: Real Hair - 73 (7)
30 - James Vincent McMorrow: Post Tropical - 72,8 (23)
31 - Guided By Voices: Motivational Jumpsuit - 72,4 (11)
32 - I Break Horses: Chiaroscuro - 72,4 (22)
33 - Tara Jane O'Neil: Where Shine New Lights - 72,2 (7)
34 - Broken Bells: After the Disco - 72,1 (27)
35 - Illum Sphere: Ghosts of Then and Now - 71 (10)
36 - ceo: Wonderland - 70,4 (18)
37 - Gem Club: In Roses - 70,3 (9)
38 - Katy B: Liitle Red - 70,3 (22)
39 - Quilt: Held In Splendor - 70,3 (8)
40 - Cymbals: The Age of Fracture - 70,3 (10)
41 - Alcest: Shelter - 70,1 (12)

[Mattceinicram]

St. Vincent might be at number one for awhile...

[irreduciblekoan]

Thanks again Otis! A big update as expected, but actually I'm mostly glad that Angel Olsen and Sun Kil Moon rose up from last time.

Also, would it be at all possible to tell us what Beyonce's score would be now? I ask because it got a number of reviews in 2014, from Pitchfork, Popmatters and The 405 for example. Almost like they waited just to they can consider it for their 2014 lists. I'm a little curious about how it would be faring among the other 2014 albums right now. Doesn't need to be part of every update, but just a one-time reply.

[Jirin]

Great update, lots of new stuff for me to check out. The only one of my current favorites not to show up is Quilt, do you have any reviews for that?

[DocBrown]

Great update, lots of new stuff for me to check out. The only one of my current favorites not to show up is Quilt, do you have any reviews for that?

See no. 39
Let me add my thanks, Otis. MCCH is the best part of my week

[Jirin]

Noticed that a few hours after I made the post.

Awesome to see St Vincent receive such great critical recognition. She's also great live, I saw her Thursday and I saw her in the Strange Mercy tour. Seriously, she sounds great live, see her.

Her new album is great but I still like Actor and Strange Mercy more. I think her collaboration with David Byrne has put her in 1970s Brian Eno mode. There's something a little more flowing and unique about those two albums. But she got so little recognition for Actor it's awesome to see her get this kind of recognition now.

[Otisredding]

MCCh 2014 (04) March 15