KCRW Presents: Top 10 Albums of 2014  

Each year our DJs take on the torturous task of choosing their favorite albums of the year. Here are their Top 10 picks for 2014.

Ray LaMontagne - Supernova
The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
Hozier - Hozier
Spoon - They Want My Soul
alt-J - This Is All Yours
Ty Segall - Manipulator
Flight Facilities - Down To Earth
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Beck - Morning Phase
First Aid Kit - Stay Gold
Jason Bentley
  • Ray LaMontagne Supernova (RCA)
  • The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • Hozier Hozier (Rubyworks/Columbia)
  • Spoon They Want My Soul (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • alt-J This Is All Yours (Atlantic/ Canvasback)
  • Ty Segall Manipulator (Drag City)
  • Flight Facilities Down To Earth (Glassnote)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen)
  • Beck Morning Phase (Capitol)
  • First Aid Kit Stay Gold (Columbia)
Ty Segall - Manipulator
The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
The Acid - Liminal
Elbow - The Take Off And Landing Of Everything
Beck - Morning Phase
The New Basement Tapes – Lost On The River
Ray LaMontagne - Supernova
Conor Oberst - Upside Down Mountain
Jose James – While You Were Sleeping
Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker
Anne Litt
  • Ty Segall Manipulator (Drag City)
  • The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • The Acid Liminal (Mute)
  • Elbow The Take Off And Landing Of Everything (Concord)
  • Beck Morning Phase (Capitol)
  • The New Basement Tapes Lost On The River (Harvest)
  • Ray LaMontagne Supernova (RCA)
  • Conor Oberst Upside Down Mountain (Nonesuch)
  • Jose James While You Were Sleeping (Blue Note)
  • Benjamin Booker Benjamin Booker (ATO Records)
Beck - Morning Phase
alt-J - This is All Yours
Paolo Nutini - Caustic Love
Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems
Spoon - They Want My Soul
The War On Drugs - Lost in the Dream
Nick Mulvey - First Mind
Flight Facilities - Down to Earth
RAC - Strangers
Chris Douridas
  • Beck Morning Phase (Capitol)
  • alt-J This is All Yours (Atlantic/ Canvasback)
  • Paolo Nutini Caustic Love (Atlantic)
  • Leonard Cohen Popular Problems (Columbia)
  • Spoon They Want My Soul (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • The War On Drugs Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • Nick Mulvey First Mind (Fiction Records)
  • Flight Facilities Down to Earth (Glassnote)
  • Made in Heights (Collected singles)
  • RAC Strangers (Cherry Tree/ Interscope)
Hollie Cook - Twice
Laura Mvula - Sing to the Moon
Susanne Abbuehl - The Gift
Maria Schneider - Winter Morning Walks
Tinariwen - Emmaar
Dori Caymmi - Setenta Anos
Zara McFarlane - If You Knew Her
Christian McBride - Out Here
Billy Hart Quartet - One is the Other
Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio - Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio
Tom Schnabel
  • Hollie Cook Twice (Mr Bongo)
  • Laura Mvula Sing to the Moon (Sony)
  • Susanne Abbuehl The Gift (ECM)
  • Maria Schneider Winter Morning Walks (Artist Share)
  • Tinariwen Emmaar (Anti)
  • Dori Caymmi Setenta Anos (Acari)
  • Zara McFarlane If You Knew Her (Brownswood)
  • Christian McBride Out Here (Mack Ave)
  • Billy Hart Quartet One is the Other (ECM)
  • Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (Concord)
Banks - Goddess
Little Dragon - Nabuma Rubberband
Meshell Ndegeocello - Comet, Come To Me
Hollie Cook - Twice
Electric Wire Hustle - Love Can Prevail
Shabazz Palaces - Lese Majesty
Zara McFarlane - If You Knew Her
Deerhoof - La Isla Bonita
Kele - Trick
Actress - Ghettoville
Garth Trinidad
  • Banks Goddess (Harvest)
  • Little Dragon Nabuma Rubberband (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • Meshell Ndegeocello Comet, Come To Me (Naive)
  • Hollie Cook Twice (Mr Bongo)
  • Electric Wire Hustle Love Can Prevail (Okayplayer Records / Revive Music)
  • Shabazz Palaces Lese Majesty (Sub Pop)
  • Zara McFarlane If You Knew Her (Brownswood)
  • Deerhoof La Isla Bonita (Polyvinyl)
  • Kele Trick (Lilac)
  • Actress Ghettoville (Ninja Tune)
Caribou - Our Love
De Lux - Voyage
Jungle - Jungle
Kate Tempest - Everybody Down
Banks - Goddess
The Juan Maclean - In A Dream
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Glass Animals - Zaba
Museum Of Love - Museum Of Love
DJ Dodger Stadium - Friend Of Mine
Travis Holcombe
  • Caribou Our Love (Merge)
  • De Lux Voyage (Innovative Leisure)
  • Jungle Jungle (XL Recordings)
  • Kate Tempest Everybody Down (Big Dada)
  • Banks Goddess (Harvest)
  • The Juan Maclean In A Dream (DFA)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen)
  • Glass Animals Zaba (Harvest)
  • Museum Of Love Museum Of Love (DFA)
  • DJ Dodger Stadium Friend Of Mine (Body High)
The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
Spoon - They Want My Soul
Jungle - Jungle
The Black Keys - Turn Blue
Beck - Morning Phase
Broken Bells - After The Disco
Quantic - Magnetica
De Lux - Voyage
Little Dragon - Nabuma Rubberband
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Raul Campos
  • The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • Spoon They Want My Soul (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • Jungle Jungle (XL Recordings)
  • The Black Keys Turn Blue (Nonesuch)
  • Beck Morning Phase (Capital)
  • Broken Bells After The Disco (Columbia)
  • Quantic Magnetica (Tru Thoughts)
  • De Lux Voyage (Innovative Leisure)
  • Little Dragon Nabuma Rubberband (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen)
Ty Segall - Manipulator
The 2 Bears - The Night is Young
Jack White - Lazaretto
Shamir - Northtown
Ray LaMontagne - Supernova
Benjamin Booker - Benjamin Booker
Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Jungle - Jungle
Hollie Cook - Twice
Liza Richardson
  • Ty Segall Manipulator (Drag City)
  • The 2 Bears The Night is Young (Southern Fried Records)
  • Jack White Lazaretto (Columbia)
  • Shamir Northtown (God Mode)
  • Ray LaMontagne Supernova (RCA)
  • Benjamin Booker Benjamin Booker (ATO Records)
  • Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (High Top Mountain Records)
  • The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers (Matador)
  • Jungle Jungle (XL Recordings)
  • Hollie Cook Twice (Mr Bongo)
Aphex Twin - Syro
Ariel Pink - Pom Pom
Slim Twig - A Hound At The Hem (DFA Records)
Mind Fair - Mind Fair
Sons Of Magdalene - Move To Pain
Mark E - Product of Industry
Principles Of Geometry - Meanstream
Torn Hawk - Let's Cry And Do Pushups At The Same Time
Mark Barrott - Sketches from an Island
Simian Mobile Disco - Whorl
Mario Cotto
  • Aphex Twin Syro (Warp)
  • Ariel Pink Pom Pom (4AD)
  • Slim Twig A Hound At The Hem (DFA Records)
  • Mind Fair Mind Fair (Golf Channel)
  • Sons Of Magdalene Move To Pain (Audralight)
  • Mark E Product of Industry (Spectral Sound)
  • Principles Of Geometry Meanstream (Tigersushi)
  • Torn Hawk Let's Cry And Do Pushups At The Same Time (Mexican Summer)
  • Mark Barrott Sketches from an Island (International Feel)
  • Simian Mobile Disco Whorl (Anti)
Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams
Courtney Barnett - A Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas
Beck - Morning Phase
Damien Jurado - Brothers and Sisters of The Eternal Sun
Jenny Lewis - The Voyager
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Real Estate - Atlas
Warpaint - Warpaint
Wye Oak - Shriek
Gary Calamar
  • Ryan Adams Ryan Adams (Blue Note / Universal)
  • Courtney Barnett A Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas (Mom & Pop / Marathon)
  • Beck Morning Phase (Capitol)
  • Damien Jurado Brothers and Sisters of The Eternal Sun (Secretly Canadian)
  • Jenny Lewis The Voyager (Warner Bros)
  • The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers (Matador)
  • Real Estate Atlas (Domino)
  • Warpaint Warpaint (Rough Trade)
  • Wye Oak Shriek (Merge)
  •  
Mac Demarco - Salad Days
Ty Segall - Manipulator
The War On Drugs - Lost In the Dream
Sun Kil Moon - Benji
Spoon - They Want My Soul
Ray LaMontagne - Supernova
Damien Jurado - Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son
Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire For No Witness
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Temples - Sun Structures
Dan Wilcox
  • Mac Demarco Salad Days (Captured Tracks)
  • Ty Segall Manipulator (Drag City)
  • The War On Drugs Lost In the Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • Sun Kil Moon Benji (Caldo Verde)
  • Spoon They Want My Soul (Loma Vista/Republic)
  • Ray LaMontagne Supernova (RCA)
  • Damien Jurado Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son (Secretly Canadian)
  • Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire For No Witness (Jagjaguwar)
  • The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers (Matador)
  • Temples Sun Structures (Fat Possum)
Ty Segall - Manipulator
Owen Pallett - In Conflict
Ray LaMontagne - Supernova
Mac Demarco - Salad Days
Malachai - Beyond Ugly
Landlady - Upright Behavior
Maximo Park - Too Much Information
Teleman - Breakfast
Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens - Cold World
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Eric J. Lawrence
  • Ty Segall Manipulator (Drag City)
  • Owen Pallett In Conflict (Domino)
  • Ray LaMontagne Supernova (RCA)
  • Mac Demarco Salad Days (Captured Tracks)
  • Malachai Beyond Ugly (Domino)
  • Landlady Upright Behavior (Hometapes)
  • Maximo Park Too Much Information (PIAS)
  • Teleman Breakfast (Moshi Moshi)
  • Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens Cold World (Daptone)
  • The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers (Matador)
Nick Hakim - Where Will We Go
fatima - Yellow Memories
Majid Jordan - A Place Like This
Oceaán - The Oceaan E.P.
Les Sins - Michael
Silk Rhodes - Silk Rhodes
Daedelus - The Light Brigade
Dilated Peoples - Directors Of Photography
Clap! Clap! - Tayi Bebba
Meshell Ndegeocello - Comet Come To Me
Anthony Valadez
  • Nick Hakim Where Will We Go (Earseed)
  • fatima Yellow Memories (Eglo Records)
  • Majid Jordan A Place Like This (OVO Sound)
  • Oceaán The Oceaan E.P. (Chess Club)
  • Les Sins Michael (Company Records)
  • Silk Rhodes Silk Rhodes (Stones Throw Records)
  • Daedelus The Light Brigade (Brainfeeder)
  • Dilated Peoples Directors Of Photography (Rhymesayers)
  • Clap! Clap! Tayi Bebba (Black Acre Records)
  • Meshell Ndegeocello Comet Come To Me (Naive)
Sivu - Something on High
Fink - Looking Too Closely
MacY Gray - The Way
Liam Bailey - Definitely NOW
The War On Drugs - Lost in the Dream
Ben Howard - I Forget Where We Were
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Only Run
TV On The Radio - Seeds
Clean Bandit - New Eyes
Broods - Evergreen
Jason Kramer
  • Sivu Something on High (Warner)
  • Fink Looking Too Closely (Ninja Tune)
  • MacY Gray The Way (Kobalt)
  • Liam Bailey Definitely NOW (Sony)
  • The War On Drugs Lost in the Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • Ben Howard I Forget Where We Were (Universal)
  • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Only Run (CYHSY, Inc)
  • TV On The Radio Seeds (Harvest)
  • Clean Bandit New Eyes (Atlantic)
  • Broods Evergreen (Capitol)
Clap! Clap! - Tayi Bebba
The Souljazz Orchestra - Inner Fire
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Taggy Matcher - Singasong
Sunny War - Sunny War
Orlando Julius with The Heliocentrics - Jaiyede Afro
Moses Sumney - Mid-City Island
Sonzeira - Bam Bam Bam
C.W. Stoneking - Gon' Boogaloo
The Stepkids - Wanderers
Jeremy Sole
  • Clap! Clap! Tayi Bebba (Black Acre)
  • The Souljazz Orchestra Inner Fire (Strut)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen Records)
  • Taggy Matcher Singasong (Stix)
  • Sunny War Acoustic Sessions I
  • Orlando Julius with The Heliocentrics Jaiyede Afro (Strut)
  • Moses Sumney Mid-City Island
  • Sonzeira Bam Bam Bam (Brownswood)
  • C.W. Stoneking Gon' Boogaloo (King Hokum)
  • The Stepkids Wanderers (Stones Throw)
Little Dragon - Nabuma Rubberband
SBTRKT - Wonder Where We Land
Nick Mulvey - First Mind
Run The Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
Electric Wire Hustle - Love Can Prevail
FKA twigs - LP1
Clap! Clap! - Tayi Bebba
Glass Animals - Zaba
Flying Lotus - You're Dead!
fatima - Yellow Memories
Aaron Byrd
  • Little Dragon Nabuma Rubberband (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • SBTRKT Wonder Where We Land (Young Turks Recordings Ltd)
  • Nick Mulvey First Mind (Fiction Records)
  • Run The Jewels Run the Jewels 2 (Productomart)
  • Electric Wire Hustle Love Can Prevail (Okayplayer Records / Revive Music)
  • FKA twigs LP1 (XL Recordings)
  • Clap! Clap! Tayi Bebba (Black Acre Records)
  • Glass Animals Zaba (Harvest)
  • Flying Lotus You're Dead! (Warp Records)
  • fatima Yellow Memories (Eglo Records)
Willie West - Lost Soul
Goat - Commune
Helado Negro - Double Youth
Mac Demarco - Salad Days
SBTRKT - Wonder Where We Land
Taylor McFerrin - Early Riser
Tumi Mogorosi - Project Elo
Wildest Dreams - Wildest Dreams
Amabis - Trabalhos Carnivoros
Mathieu Schreyer
  • Willie West Lost Soul (Timmion)
  • Baxter Dury It's a Pleasure (Pias)
  • Goat Commune (4d)
  • Helado Negro Double Youth (Asthmatic Kitty)
  • Mac Demarco Salad Days (Captured Tracks)
  • SBTRKT Wonder Where We Land (Young Turks Recordings Ltd)
  • Taylor McFerrin Early Riser (Brainfeeder)
  • Tumi Mogorosi Project Elo (Jazzman)
  • Wildest Dreams Wildest Dreams (Smalltown Supertown)
  • Amabis Trabalhos Carnivoros (Mais Um Discos)
Cyrille Aimée - It's a Good Day
Billy Childs - Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro
John Coltrane - Offering
Chick Corea Trio - Trilogy
Charlie Haden & Jim Hall - Charlie Haden - Jim Hall
Fred Hersch Trio - Floating
Stacey Kent - The Changing Lights
Myriad3 - The Where
Ben Webster Oscar Peterson - During This Time
Libby York - Memoir
Bo Leibowitz
  • Cyrille Aimée It's a Good Day (Mack Avenue)
  • Billy Childs Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro (Sony)
  • John Coltrane Offering (Impulse)
  • Chick Corea Trio Trilogy (Concord)
  • Charlie Haden & Jim Hall Charlie Haden - Jim Hall (Impulse)
  • Fred Hersch Trio Floating (Palmetto)
  • Stacey Kent The Changing Lights (Warner Bros.)
  • Myriad3 The Where (Alma Records)
  • Ben Webster Oscar Peterson During This Time (Art of Groove)
  • Libby York Memoir (Libby York Music)
The War On Drugs - Lost In A Dream
Beck - Morning Phase
The Preatures - Blue Planet Eyes
Jenny Lewis - The Voyager
The New Basement Tapes - Lost on the River
Hozier - Take Me To Church
The Juan Maclean - In a Dream
Badbadnotgood - III
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Mr Little Jeans - Pocketknife
Valida
  • The War On Drugs Lost In A Dream (Secretly Canadian)
  • Beck Morning Phase (Capital)
  • The Preatures Blue Planet Eyes (Universal Music, Australia)
  • Jenny Lewis The Voyager (Warner Brothers)
  • The New Basement Tapes Lost on the River (Harvest)
  • Hozier Take Me To Church (Rubyworks/Columbia)
  • The Juan Maclean In a Dream (DFA)
  • Badbadnotgood III (Innovative Leisure)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen)
  • Mr Little Jeans Pocketknife (Sony Music, Australia)
Caribou - Our Love
A Sunny Day In Glasgow - Sea When Absent
The New Pornographers - Brill Bruisers
Literature - Chorus
The Horrors - Luminous
De Lux - Voyage
Real Estate - Atlas
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Captain Planet - Esperanto Slang
Shabazz Palaces - Lese Majesty
Marion Hodges
  • Caribou Our Love (Merge)
  • A Sunny Day In Glasgow Sea When Absent (Lefse)
  • The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers (Matador)
  • Literature Chorus (Slumberland)
  • The Horrors Luminous (XL)
  • De Lux Voyage (Innovative Leisure)
  • Real Estate Atlas (Domino)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen)
  • Captain Planet Esperanto Slang (Bastard Jazz)
  • Shabazz Palaces Lese Majesty (Sub Pop)
Ray LaMontagne - Supernova
Teleman - Breakfast
Spoon - They Want My Soul
Todd Terje - It's Album Time
Tom Vek - Luck
Cymbals - The Age Of Fracture
Joseph Arthur - Lou
The New Basement Tapes - Lost On The River
Temples - Sun Structures
Khun Narin - Khun Narin's Electric Phin Band
Chris Muckley
  • Ray LaMontagne Supernova (RCA)
  • Teleman Breakfast (Moshi Moshi)
  • Spoon They Want My Soul (Loma Vista/ Republic)
  • Todd Terje It's Album Time (Olsen)
  • Tom Vek Luck (Moshi Moshi)
  • Cymbals The Age Of Fracture (Tough Love)
  • Joseph Arthur Lou (Vanguard)
  • The New Basement Tapes Lost On The River (Harvest)
  • Temples Sun Structures (Fat Possum)
  • Khun Narin Khun Narin's Electric Phin Band (Innovative Leisure)
Curtis Harding - Soul Power
Dalhous - Will To Be Well
Ed Motta - AOR
Grouper - Ruins
I IM EYE MY - 7 Transmissions
Kishi Bashi - Lighght
Perfect Pussy - Say Yes To Love
Sleaford Mods - Divide & Exit
Total Control - Typical Systems
Vessel - Punish, Honey
Chuck P
  • Curtis Harding Soul Power (Burger Records)
  • Dalhous Will To Be Well (Blackest Ever Black)
  • Ed Motta AOR (Tummy Touch)
  • Grouper Ruins (kranky)
  • I IM EYE MY 7 Transmissions (Not Not Fun)
  • Kishi Bashi Lighght (Joyful Noise)
  • Perfect Pussy Say Yes To Love (Captured Tracks)
  • Sleaford Mods Divide & Exit (Harbinger Sound)
  • Total Control Typical Systems (Iron Lung)
  • Vessel Punish, Honey (Mute)

Tell us your Top 10 Albums