With so many great albums that came out this year it is always a task at hand trying to chose our favorites. This year was no different, we are fortunate to get to see as many shows as we do, as well as open our inboxes to early releases and exclusives. The great thing about our staff is that we each have our own unique bands that we love, thus making our lists an eclectic mix of great music. There were a few newcomers to the list as well as some established bands making great albums this year. A couple late additions from J. Cole and D'angelo that barely missed the cut stood out as well. Without further adieu, Ultra5280 presents the Best Albums of 2014. These are in no particular order. What were your favorites this year?
Jenny Lewis | New Album and Tour Dates Including The Bluebird and Red Rocks
Singer songwriter Jenny Lewis has released the title track off of her forthcoming LP, The Voyager. Lewis has also added new August dates to her tour, which began Sunday in Toronto and continues through the end of October.
Read MoreThe Postal Service | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | May 30th
Pulling from a category of hits, The Postal Service delivered a nostalgic performance that rendered us all back in high school; it’s unbelievable to think that a decade has past. When “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight” opened up the Red Rocks performance, I immediately felt like I was stoned in the passenger seat of my friend’s hand-me-down E420; oh the irony. I had forgotten how damn cold it can be under a star-filled sky at Red Rocks but the numbness of your toes, because stupidly you wore sandals, was soon forgotten when songs like “We Will Become Silhouettes”, “Sleeping In”, “Be Still My Heart”, and “Brand New Colony” were brought to life. Lead singer Ben Gibbard was recovering from a lost voice, straining to deliver and though he was probably in pain, he did not want to disappoint. It was a beautiful show that took us all down memory lane. For some it represented so much that had been forgotten but in an instance, you were flooded with memories. Check out more photos HERE!
Setlist:
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight | We Will Become Silhouettes | Sleeping In | Turn Around | Nothing Better | Recycled Air | Be Still My Heart | Clark Gable | Our Secret (Beat Happening cover) | This Place Is a Prison | There’s Never Enough Time | A Tattered Line of String | Such Great Heights | Natural Anthem | Encore: (This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan (Dntel cover) | Brand New Colony
Amanda