As we rapidly approach the halfway point of 2014, it's time to highlight the most exciting, groundbreaking, emotional, and otherwise memorable music released this year.
Looking back at major releases from St. Vincent, Jack White, and others, we can't help but conclude once again: so far, so good!
Each member of the OpenAir staff has compiled their top music picks of 2014. Take a look at our lists below, and head to our Facebook page to tell us your favorite release of 2014 so far! You could wind up winning our CD bundle of excellent 2014 releases when you do!
Keefer Fulgham - Morning Host
- Jack White- "Lazaretto"
- Black Keys- "Turn Blue"
- Beck- "Morning Phase"
- Temples- "Sun Structures"
- Angel Olsen- "Burn Your Fire for No Witness"
- St. Vincent- "St. Vincent"
- Conor Oberst- "Upside Down Mountain"
- tUnE-yArDs- "Nikki Nack"
- Hold Steady- "Teeth Dreams"
- Tinariwen- "Emmar"
Alisha Sweeney - Late Morning and "Mile High Noon" Host
Local:
- Esme Patterson- "Woman To Woman"
- Nathaniel Rateliff- "Falling Faster Than You Can Run"
- Ark Life- "The Dream Of You & Me"
- Ned Garthe- "Teenage Acid Party"
- Tyler Lee Holter- "Tyler Lee Holter EP"
- You Me & Apollo- "Sweet Honey"
- Wovenhand- "Refractory Obdurate"
- Dragondeer- "Don't That Feel Good EP"
- Homebody- "Homebody EP"
- American Culture- "Pure American Gum"
National:
Jessi Whitten - Music Director/Afternoon Host
- Saintseneca- "Dark Arc"
- Sylvan Esso- "Sylvan Esso"
- Chet Faker- "Built on Glass"
- Damien Jurado- "Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son"
- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks– "Wig Out at Jagbags"
- Angel Olsen– "Burn Your Fire for No Witness"
- Kevin Drew– "Darlings"
- St. Vincent– "St. Vincent"
- Strand of Oaks– "Heal"
- Amen Dunes- "Love"
Mike Flanagan - Program Director/Drive Time Host
- Beck- "Morning Phase"
- Jack White- "Lazaretto"
- tUnE-yArDs- "Nikki Nack"
- St. Vincent- "St. Vincent"
- Future Islands- "Singles"
- Damon Albarn- "Everyday Robots"
- Hooray for the Riff Raff- "Small Town Heroes"
- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks- "Wig Out at Jagbags"
- The War on Drugs- "Lost in the Dream"
- Esme Patterson- "Woman to Woman"
- Broken Bells- "After the Disco"
- Bombay Bicycle Club- "So Long, See You Tomorrow"
- Phantogram- "Voices"
- Lykke Li- "I Never Learn"
- Tokyo Police Club- "Forcefield"
Scott Carney - Evening Host/Promotions Director
Favorite Albums (in no particular order)
- Mac DeMarco- "Salad Days"
- Damien Jurado- "Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son"
- Parquet Courts- "Sunbathing Animal"
- St. Vincent- "St. Vincent"
- The War on Drugs- "Lost in the Dream"
Favorite Concerts (in chronological order)
- St. Vincent @ Ogden Theatre (March 29)
- Black Lips @ Bluebird Theater (April 2)
- Sylvan Esso / tUnE-yArDs @ Gothic Theatre (May 28)
- Guided by Voices @ Gothic Theatre (June 4)
- DEVO @ Summit Music Hall (June 24)
Kegan Warner - Weekend Host/Web Director
- Beck- "Morning Phase"
- Tycho- "Awake"
- Sylvan Esso- "Sylvan Esso"
- Andrew Bird- "Things are Really Great Here, Sort of..."
- Future Islands- "Singles"
- St. Vincent- "St. Vincent"
- The Ghost Of A Sabertooth Tiger- "Midnight Sun"
- Chet Faker- "Built on Glass"
- Lost In The Trees- "Past Life"
- Damien Jurado- "Brothers and Sisters of The Eternal Son"
Daniel Mescher - Digital Producer
- The War on Drugs- “Lost in the Dream"
- Lykke Li- “I Never Learn”
- Warpaint- “Warpaint”
- Swans- “To Be Kind”
- Jessica Lea Mayfield- “Make My Head Sing”
- Strand of Oaks- “Heal”
- De Lux- “De Lux”
- Hundred Waters- “The Moon Rang Like a Bell”
- St. Vincent- "St. Vincent"
- Schoolboy Q- "Oxymoron"
- Bombay Bicycle Club- “So Long, See You Tomorrow”
