Is it just me or did the music of 2014 actually outdo last year? It may seem impossible, given that 2013 included tremendous albums from the likes of Kanye West, Vampire Weekend, and Daft Punk, but overall, I’ll take this year. Not that a debate is necessary since we all win in this theoretical argument but that fact that it could be debated is wonderfully surprising. A return to form, or experiment with it, from the likes of The Black Keys, Beck, and Weezer are just a few highlights of the year.

Out of the endless hours of music, it was difficult to end with a veritable best albums list but I am confident in my final results. Each of these albums impacted me in often unexpected ways that left me smiling, moving my head, mumbling along or dancing uncontrollably. Whether I was walking the streets of Boston to the incredible beats of Run the Jewels or getting deep with The Antlers or weirdly dancing to Taylor Swift, this music helped define my year. I invite you to check out at least one track of each the albums below so you can experience some of the best albums of year. And, as always, feel free to share your reactions, thoughts, and your best albums. Enjoy.

THE BEST ALBUMS of 2014
*Indicates albums that aren’t available on Spotify.

Just Missed:
MAC DEMARCO, Salad Days; JENNY LEWIS, The Voyager;  THE WAR ON DRUGS, Lost In The Dream;
EMA, The Future’s Void; YG, Krazy Life; FIRST AID KIT; My Silver Lining; CARIBOU, Our Love

25. SPOON, They Want My Soul
best tracks: Do You; Rent I Pay;
Inside Out; Knock Knock Knock

 *24. TAYLOR SWIFT, 1989
best tracks: Blank Space; Shake It Off;
Out of the Woods; Wildest Dreams

23. PERFUME GENIUS, Too Bright

best tracks: Queen; Grid;
Fool; Longpig

22. SAM SMITH, In The Lonely Hour
best tracks: Money On My Mind; I’m Not The Only One;
Stay With Me; Lay Me Down

21. SYLVAN ESSO, Sylvan Esso
best tracks: Coffee; Hey Mami;
Could I Be; H.S.K.T.

*20. THE BLACK KEYS, Turn Blue
best tracks: Fever; In Time;
Gotta Get Away; Turn Blue

19. SHARON VAN ETTEN, Are We There
best tracks: I Every Time the Sun Comes Up; Tarifa;
Taking Chances; Our Love

18. TV ON THE RADIO, Seeds
best tracks: Happy Idiot; Right Now;
Careful You; Trouble

17. WARPAINT, Warpaint
best tracks: Love Is To Die; Keep It Healthy;
Feeling Alright; Disco//very

16. JACK WHITE, Lazaretto
best tracks: Would You Fight For My Love?; Lazaretto;
High Ball Stepper; Three Women

15. THE ANTLERS, Familiars
best tracks: Hotel; Palace;
Intruders; Surrender

14. ALVVAYS, Alvvays
best tracks: Archie, Marry Me; Party Police;
Adult Diversion; Ones Who Love You

13. FOXYGEN, …And Star Power
best tracks: Cosmic Vibrations; How Can You Really;
Coulda Been My Love; Flowers

12. SOHN, Tremors
best tracks: Artiface; Tempest;
Veto; Tremors

11. ANGEL OLSEN, Burn Your Fire For No Witness
best tracks: Unfucktheworld; Lights Out;
Hi-Five; Forgiven/Forgotten

10. BROKEN BELLS, After The Disco
best tracks: No Matter What You’re Told; Perfect World;
Holding On For Life; Leave it Alone

9. FKA TWIGS, LP1
best tracks: Two Weeks; Pendulum;
Lights On; Closer

8. LOST IN THE TREES, Past Life
best tracks: Past Life; Daunting Friend;
Lady In White; Upstairs

7. FUTURE ISLANDS, Singles
best tracks: Spirits; Seasons (Waiting On You);
Back In the Tall Grass; Light House

6. ST. VINCENT, St. Vincent
best tracks: Birth In Reverse; Rattlesnake;
Prince Johnny; Digital Witness

5. BECK, Morning Phase
best tracks: Blue Moon; Morning, Don’t Let It Go;
Say Goodbye; Heart Is A Drum

4. WEEZER, Everything Will Be Alright in the End
best tracks: Cleopatra; Eulogy For A Rock Band,
The British Are Coming; Back To The Shack

3. MILKY CHANCE, Sadnecessary
best tracks: Stunner; Stolen Dance;
Flashed Junk Mind; Sadnecessary

2. RUN THE JEWELS, RTJ2
best tracks: Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck); Love Again;
Blockbuster Night Part 1; Oh My Darling Don’t Cry

1b. ALT-J, This Is All Yours
best tracks: Every Other Freckle; Nara;
Left Hand Free; Bloodflood pt. II

1a. TRUST, Joyland
best tracks: Capitol; Joyland;
Geryon; Four Gut; Icabod