The Guardian's 40 Best Albums of 2014

Here’s the Guardian music critics’ favourite albums of 2014, topped by St Vincent and her dazzling fourth album

Published: November 26, 2014 11:58 Source

# 1

St. Vincent by St. Vincent

Album • Feb 25 / 2014 Art Pop Art Rock

# 2

Lost In The Dream by The War on Drugs

Album • Mar 18 / 2014 Heartland Rock Indie Rock Neo-Psychedelia

# 3

LP1 by FKA twigs

Album • Aug 12 / 2014 Art Pop Alternative R&B

# 4

Syro by Aphex Twin

Album • Sep 22 / 2014 IDM

# 5

Our Love by Caribou

Album • Oct 07 / 2014 Deep House

# 6

Trouble in Paradise by La Roux

Album • Jan 01 / 2014 Synthpop

# 7

Run the Jewels 2 by Run The Jewels + Killer Mike + EL-P

Album • Oct 27 / 2014 Hardcore Hip Hop

# 8

Morning Phase by Beck

Album • Jan 01 / 2014 Singer-Songwriter Chamber Folk

# 9

You're Dead! by Flying Lotus

Album • Oct 06 / 2014 Nu Jazz Wonky Jazz Fusion

# 10

Divide and Exit by Sleaford Mods

Album • Nov 24 / 2014 Post-Punk Art Punk

# 11

Salad Days by Mac DeMarco

Album • Apr 01 / 2014 Jangle Pop Psychedelic Pop Bedroom Pop

# 12

1989 by Taylor Swift

Album • Oct 27 / 2014 Synthpop Electropop Dance-Pop

# 13

Everybody Down by Kae Tempest

Album • May 19 / 2014 UK Hip Hop

# 14

Singles by Future Islands

Album • Mar 24 / 2014 Synthpop

# 15

Burn Your Fire For No Witness by Angel Olsen

Album • Feb 12 / 2014 Singer-Songwriter Indie Folk

# 16

Present Tense by Wild Beasts

Album • Feb 24 / 2014 Art Pop

# 17

DEAD by Young Fathers

Album • Feb 03 / 2014 Abstract Hip Hop UK Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Art Pop

# 18

The Voyager by Jenny Lewis

Album • Jul 25 / 2014 Pop Rock

# 19

Souled Out by Jhené Aiko

Album • Sep 09 / 2014 Alternative R&B

# 20

In Conflict by Owen Pallett

Album • May 26 / 2014 Chamber Pop Art Pop

# 21

So It Goes by RATKING

Album • Apr 07 / 2014 East Coast Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 22

After the End by Merchandise

Album • Aug 25 / 2014 Indie Rock

# 23

Small Town Heroes by Hurray For The Riff Raff

Album • Feb 11 / 2014 Alt-Country Americana Contemporary Folk

# 24

Goddess by BANKS

Album • Jan 01 / 2014 Alternative R&B Alt-Pop

# 25

Ghettoville by Actress

Album • Jan 27 / 2014 IDM

# 26

Aquarius by Tinashe

Album • Oct 01 / 2014 Alternative R&B

# 27

Otherness by Kindness

Album • Oct 14 / 2014 Sophisti-Pop Art Pop

# 28

Everyday Robots by Damon Albarn

Album • Apr 22 / 2014 Art Pop Downtempo

# 29

pom pom by Ariel Pink

Album • Nov 17 / 2014 Hypnagogic Pop Psychedelic Pop

# 30

Total Strife Forever by East India Youth

Album • Feb 24 / 2014 Art Pop Synthpop

# 31

Popular Problems by Leonard Cohen

Album • Sep 19 / 2014 Singer-Songwriter

# 32

Lese Majesty by Shabazz Palaces

Album • Jul 29 / 2014 Experimental Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop

# 33

Soused by Scott Walker + sunn O)))

Album • Oct 20 / 2014 Drone Metal Experimental Rock

# 34

Carry On The Grudge by Jamie T

Album • Sep 30 / 2014 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 35

Everything Changes by Peggy Seeger

Album • Sep 01 / 2014

# 36

Rips by Ex Hex

Album • Oct 07 / 2014 Indie Rock Power Pop

# 37

Piñata by Freddie Gibbs + Madlib

Album • Mar 18 / 2014 Gangsta Rap

# 38

Toumani & Sidiki by Toumani Diabaté + Sidiki Diabaté

Album • May 05 / 2014 Mande Music Griot Music

# 39

Are We There by Sharon Van Etten

Album • May 27 / 2014 Singer-Songwriter

# 40

Adrian Thaws by Tricky

Album • Sep 08 / 2014 Trip Hop