Wet Thud's Top 10 Albums of 2014

Chatter amid certain circles of online music nerds seems to have arrived at a consensus that maybe 2014 wasn't the strongest year for a bumper crop of new releases. We don't disagree. But fret not, this isn't to say the entire year was completely lacking in quality albums. As usual, there were true gems if you were willing to hunt them out. Here's a look at Wet Thud's ten favourite long-players from the past twelve months:

10. Clark Clark (Warp)

It's rare for an album comprised entirely of electronic instrumentals to rank this high on our year end list.  While a lack of vocal hooks over a 45-minute album could make for a particularly anonymous listening experience, there is no shortage of material on Clark's self-titled seventh studio album to connect with emotionally. Ethereal soundscapes seamlessly give way to beats normally reserved for the clubs, all apparently recorded in a barn somewhere in the English countryside. Key tracks: "Unfurla", "Snowbird"

09. Warpaint Warpaint (Rough Trade)

Warpaint is a long-haired jam band from California, but don't let that dissuade you. Instead of arriving in the studio with material already written, for their sophomore album the group wrote songs together, exploring grooves created during lengthy jam sessions. Taking as many cues from R&B and hip hop as classic rock this time around, Warpaint possesses a more urban charm, without abandoning the psychedelic charm of its predecessor. Key tracks: "Love Is To Die", "Disco//very"

08. Damon Albarn Everyday Robots (Parlophone)

Dissatisfied with having only co-founded two of the most successful musical acts to come out of the UK in the past quarter century (in addition to a host of other side projects), Damon Albarn finally took the leap and released his first proper solo album in 2014. He doesn't like the label 'solo album' though, says it sounds, "lonely." Interestingly, loneliness may be the most dominant theme on this album. It's more of the distinctly British pop refracted through an Afrobeat lens that we've come to expect from Albarn, and the world is always better for that. Key tracks: "Everyday Robots", "Mr. Tembo", "Heavy Seas Of Love"

07. Azealia Banks Broke With Expensive Taste (Prospect Park)

Ever since she exploded on to the scene in 2011 with the mighty "212" single, music websites have been rife with gossip of allegedly brash behaviour and a seemingly endless series of well-publicised beefs and bridge burnings. But how surprised can anyone really be that the young woman discovered screaming, "I'm gonna ruin you cunt," might not be the most easily handled ego to deal with? So, while the album was delayed for well over two years by various levels of industry bureaucracy (with Banks live tweeting much of her frustration), and a promising sounding Disclosure collaboration got axed before it had a chance to happen, and another one with Baauer only resulted in a social media war, it seems none of the hype really mattered because Broke With Expensive Taste is genuinely great anyway. Key tracks: "212", "Ice Princess", "Chasing Time"

06. The War On Drugs Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)

A guitar rock album that even maintained an appeal to the guitar-rock-is-dead contingent. Showering liberal amounts of shimmering synths over 80's-era stadium rock riffs, Lost In The Dream is your new favourite highway driving album. Expansive and impressive anthems helping The War On Drugs shake the tag of just being, "Kurt Vile's old band." Key tracks: "Red Eyes", "Burning", "Under The Pressure"

05. FKA twigs LP1 (Young Turks)

Strains of the R&B, electronic, and indie realms have merged in recent years, somehow making it still incredibly difficult to label given artists, even in this increasingly hyphenated, sub-genred world. FKA twigs marries hazy, druggy beats with soft angelic vocals that never lose soulfulness, even when she's barely cooing a whisper. We like the album so much we're even willing to overlook the irritating moniker. Some of the best artwork of the year too. Key tracks: "Two Weeks", "Pendulum", "Video Girl"

04. Run The Jewels Run The Jewels 2 (Mass Appeal/Sony RED)

Although a hip hop album featuring guest spots from the likes of Travis Barker and Zach De La Rocha may initially sound like a return to the era of rap-rock absolutely no-one was eager to return to, Killer Mike and El-P's second joint effort is this year's most vital rap release. Run The Jewels 2 crosses lines from the politically motivated to the gloriously and absurdly obscene. Key tracks: "Blockbuster Night Part 1", "Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)", "Love Again (Akinyele Back)"

03. St. Vincent St. Vincent (Loma Vista/Republic)

It sounds like pop music. But not like any sort of pop music you've ever heard before, so how does that even make sense? Pop music from the future perhaps? From outer space? Whatever the deal, with her eponymous, fourth album, St. Vincent has created an immersive sonic universe that's fun to be abducted into for forty minutes every now and then. That a talent as unique as Annie Clark's was once part of the Polyphonic Spree's mass backing choir makes you wonder where tomorrow's indie stars are cutting their teeth today. Key tracks: "Birth In Reverse", "Prince Johnny", "Digital Witness"

02. Perfume Genius Too Bright (Matador)

Mike Hadreas, a.k.a. Perfume Genius, is on his third album now. As an artist, he's faced his share of critics, haters, and other general detractors. Too Bright is his 'fuck you' to them. With more fleshed out instrumentation than on previous releases, we get a more flamboyant collection of songs too. There may not have been a better lyric penned this year than the defiantly gay, "No family is safe when I sashay." Key tracks: "Queen", "Grid", "Fool"

01. Lykke Li I Never Learn (LL/Atlantic)

We're not going to lie and tell you our album of the year is anything other than a sad affair. I Never Learn is a break-up album. Decidedly so. When it came time to make her third album, songwriter Lykke Li had just ended a serious relationship. The resulting songs are a soundtrack for the downtrodden and defeated. Such collections always prove relevant as broken-hearted people are a literally inexhaustible resource. Less bleakly, It makes for a nice listen when not out on a ledge, too. Key tracks: "I Never Learn", "No Rest For The Wicked", "Gunshot", "Love Me Like I'm Not Made Of Stone"

Wet Thud's Top 10 Albums of 2014

10. Clark - Clark
09. Warpaint - Warpaint
08. Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots
07. Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste
06. The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream
05. FKA twigs - LP1
04. Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2
03. St. Vincent - St. Vincent
02. Perfume Genius - Too Bright
01. Lykke Li - I Never Learn