As the curtain closes on 2014, it’s difficult to fathom just how amazing of a year it was musically. This is a statement that seems to ring true for a lot of people almost every year, as we look back at the music we’ve acquiesced since January and marvel at the strength and diversity of the collective whole. Maybe we’re all too simple to please. Perhaps we just know what we like and pursue it with reckless abandon. Either way, I personally think that 2014 is one of the best years for music in a long time. So instead of drawing up a plain looking top 25 list (which I almost did), I’ve decided to do something unnecessarily over-the-top and showy to commemorate how I feel about 2014. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first annual Sowing’s Music Awards (SMA). Only the worthy have been nominated, and only the best out of those will receive the somewhat coveted (but not really) SMA trophy, which I can only imagine would look something like this:

Only the most brilliant artists will get to line their trophy cases with these! But without further ado, I present to you the first category. Thank you for reading on – if you choose to do so – and I hope you enjoy the 2014 SMA’s.

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CATEGORY 1: BEST NEW ARTIST

The Nominees:
Bleachers: Mainstream pop, perfected. The effects are slick and stylish, the choruses are out-of-this-world, and the hooks are unreal. Everything is so dynamic – but it’s not like we’d expect anything less from this member of the band Fun. The downside to any music of this nature is the relative vapidity of its lyrics and a lack of overall staying power – but if you are in it for the no-holds-barred, hands in the air thrill of it, then this will quench every ounce of your inner epic pop appetite.

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Play Track: I Wanna Get Better

Zella Day: Day burst onto the scene with a mesmerizing, downtempo brand of pop reminiscent of Lana Del Rey. The scary thing is that she might be better. With only an EP under her belt, making such proclamations are admittedly hasty. But with an absolutely stunning voice that sounds every bit as good as she looks, it’s easy to see Zella Day rising quickly to the top.

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Play Track: Hypnotic

Gates: Post-hardcore fans still mourning the loss of Thrice, take heed. With moments of brief intensity scattered throughout a lush and sprawling alt-rock soundscape, Gates is a band that has captured lightning in a bottle on their very first album. Their debut, Bloom and Breathe, flows with grace whilst the band delivers some of the best instrumental work and poignant lyrics that you’ll hear this year. Bands don’t normally make this enormous of an impression right away.

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Play Track: Persist In Delusion

Royal Blood: There’s been a glaring lack of rock n’ roll prowess in the mainstream lately, and this duo’s first album has immediately remedied that issue. Ripe with crunching riffs, technically sound drumming, and moody vocals, Royal Blood is a band that demands to be heard. They may be a little formulaic, but their rebellious attitude – combined with very slick production – should serve to at least raise your pulse rate.

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Play Track: Out of the Black

Astronauts: With a sound born out of a morphine-induced, hospitalized mental state, Dan Carney’s music rings with the mysteriousness of an acoustic Jesse Lacey album and the sullen lyricism of Elliott Smith. While Astronauts (Dan Carney’s moniker) doesn’t stack up to either of those borderline legendary figures, the comparison alone is one hell of a start for solo artist. Other than a plodding pace, there’s very little else to complain about with this musician who offers an experience to connect to the darkest corners of your mind.

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Play Track: Flame Exchange

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And the winner is…

GATES

Bloom and Breathe is, quite simply, a breathtaking post-rock album worthy of critical acclaim.

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CATEGORY 2: COMEBACK ARTIST OF THE YEAR

The Nominees:
The Rentals: After remaining mostly dormant for fifteen years, Lost In Alphaville is a reawakening for this band. They’ve managed to craft a piece that sounds elated, yet full of complexity and emotional depth. The triumphant aura of this record stems from a mix of contemplative, heart-on-sleeve male vocals and mesmerizing choral/backing female vocals that elevate The Rentals to a level that not many other indie bands have been able to ascend to.

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Play Track: 1000 Seasons

Weezer: We all know that Weezer didn’t actualy go anywhere, but they might as well have. Everything Will Be Alright In The End returns to us the adorably un-hip, lovably awful Weezer of the mid-90s that carved a permanent niche in many of our adolescent lives. Gone are the kitschy stunts and other gimmicks that resulted in things like Ratitude, this is the real Weezer – and they’re back.

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Play Track: Ain’t Got Nobody

The Afghan Whigs: The Afghan Whigs have incorporated so many different styles – some dating back to their grunge days and others acquired during their sixteen year hiatus – that have helped them make such a resplendent and unquestionably successful return to relevancy. But regardless of reason, The Afghan Whigs sound rejuvenated. Their effortless fusion of styles makes Do to the Beast one of the most interesting albums of the year, and a strong feat for a band that last released material in 1998.

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Play Track: Matamoros

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And the winner is…

The Afghan Whigs

Weezer and The Rentals are both very fun, but neither did anything half as interesting as what The Afghan Whigs accomplished this year.

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CATEGORY 3: SONG OF THE YEAR

The Nominees:

“Digital Witness” by St. Vincent: When you’re a well-established musician, it can be difficult to surprise listeners and achieve success at the same time. St. Vincent’s self-titled record accomplishes that feat, and it’s in no small part due to “Digital Witness” – an expansive, artful pop masterpiece. From the insanely infectious rhythm to the unprecedented prevalence of horns, this is a song that you simply can’t miss.

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Won’t somebody sell me back to me?

“Warm Foothills” by Alt-J: Hands down, this is the prettiest song of the year. The vocal harmony that intertwines with the babbling-brook reminiscent guitars is astoundingly lush, and in typical Alt-J fashion, restraint is the band’s best friend. This song builds to a satisfying melodic culmination, but resists the temptation to erupt into indie-pop glory. Complete with romantically inclined lyrics, it makes for one of the simplest and most moving tracks of the year.

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I tie my life to your balloon and let it go

“Eyes to the Wind” by The War On Drugs: On an album full of gems, this one still stands out as one of the most thoughtful. It’s a lyrical goldmine sung by a borderline Dylan-reminiscent Granduciel. The song’s most alluring trait is its atmosphere though, deeply rooted in wave after wave of acoustic guitars that makes you feel like you’re truly lost in the dream.

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There’s just a stranger, living in me

“A Good Reason To Grow Old” by Owl John: Consider this the anti-suicidal anthem of the year. Even though you can hear the ache in Hutchison’s croons, he gradually pieces this thing together until it resplendently erupts into a brilliant conclusion that is a call-to-arms to live your life to the fullest. “A Good Reason To Grow Old” is the best song he’s ever written…and yes, that includes his time with Frightened Rabbit.

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I was ready to drown in the afterlife, but not anymore

“No Country” by The Jezabels: There’s few songs that can completely alter my mood with a single listen, and this is one of them. “No Country” is a stunning piece musically, but the picture-painting lyrics are the real driving force here – especially behind the insanely gorgeous vocals of Hayley Mary. Many fans lamented the change in style on this album (one that shifted from a rock-oriented approach to synth-laden pop), but if there is an argument to be made for the stylistic departure, this is it.

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He came home one day and he was changed for good

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And the winner is…

“Digital Witness”

Every song nominated is phenomenal, but when I think of 2014, there’s no song that sticks out like this uniquely rhythm-driven pop song.

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CATEGORY 4: ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The Nominees:

Trophy Scars – Holy Vacants: While this is a definite nominee for album of the year, it is unequivocally the most unique release of 2014. In fact, it’s so weird that it’s difficult to pin down. The rough, agitated vocals are somehow endearing, while the backing female vocals provide a trace of melody. It’s raucous instrumentally, but tightly composed – like some kind of beautiful disaster. Everything about it sounds cynical, sinister, and ironic. And it could easily be the best record released in the last 365 days.

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Play Track: Qeres

Alt-J – This Is All Yours: It’s rare to encounter an album this stylistically eclectic yet so true to the artists’ sense of self. You can really tell that Alt-J retreated inward a little bit, deciding to pursue their own curiosity instead of the neatly laid out path that logically followed their debut. It may not be what fans of An Awesome Wave had originally wanted, but thank God it isn’t. This Is All Yours is an album lost within itself, in the best way possible.

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Play Track: Every Other Freckle

The Antlers – Familiars: There’s a completely fulfilling aura that surrounds Familiars – perhaps because it sounds nothing like a product of three musicians and more like a natural progression of something much grander. It’s as if The Antlers are merely clinging to driftwood, offering their perspective as the tide pulls them further out to sea. To immerse yourself in Familiars is simply to go along for that ride, relishing the gorgeous soundscape as you gradually float away towards the horizon.

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Play Track: Palace

Low Roar – 0: 0 is an album that will make you lose your breath at times. It is an absolutely striking album structurally, musically, and lyrically. 0 sees Low Roar following in the footsteps of other groundbreaking artists like Bon Iver, Radiohead, and Sigur Ros. Some will scoff at the comparison, but this is certainly an album that was crafted out of sheer passion. The emotions that tie us all together as human beings can be felt with underlying earnestness and vigor. No matter who picks up this album and decides to listen, that’s something that they won’t be able to ignore.

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Play Track: I’m Leaving

Sharon Van Etten – Are We There: When I reviewed Sharon Van Etten’s Tramp several years ago, I could feel the weight of her emotional burden just from listening to the songs. Despite this, it always felt like there was more to her that wasn’t being shown – and that’s what we get with Are We There. It’s dark, it’s liberating, and it’s extremely personal. Every song contains a list of relatable (if tremendously sad) lyrics and, as usual, Van Etten knows just how to sing every word in a way that will make you want to break down with her. It’s rare for an album to be this emotionally potent.

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Play Track: Your Love Is Killing Me

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And the winner is…

Low Roar – 0

No album swept me away faster, and I’m still discovering its incredible depth. This is why I listen to music.

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CATEGORY 5: HONORABLE MENTIONS

So…Besides being incredibly attractive and talented actresses, it turns out Jennifer Lawrence and Keira Knightley are both incredible singers.

From The Hunger Games – Mockingjay, listen to James Newton Howard’s production of Jennifer Lawrence’s voice in “The Hanging Tree.” Besides being a haunting track, it underscores the most compelling moment of the entire film series.

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Play Track: The Hanging Tree

Keira Knightley could have released a successful EP using just the songs that she contributed to the movie Begin Again. It was difficult to pick a favorite so I suggest checking all of them out, but for the sake of time and space, here’s the highly memorable “Lost Stars.”

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Play Track: Lost Stars

Ages and Ages is pretty much the best band you’ve never heard…if you like indie and pop, that is.

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Play Track: Over It

Seriously…look them up. Divisionary was in my top 10 albums of 2014 but didn’t get recognized via the categories in this post.

Speaking of getting snubbed, I never meant to leave Taylor Swift out of this either. My favorite female pop artist has delivered her best album.

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Play Track: Style

She’s got that good girl faith and a tight little skirt.

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My top 25 albums are listed below, because I could go on and on about other honorable mentions like Damien Rice and Anberlin’s final album.

1_Low Roar_0
2_The Antlers_Familiars
3_Alt-J_This Is All Yours
4_Trophy Scars_Holy Vacants
5_Sharon Van Etten_Are We There
6_The War On Drugs_Lost In The Dream
7_Damien Rice_My Favourite Faded Fantasy
8_Gates_Bloom and Breathe
9_Owl John_Owl John
10_Ages and Ages_Divisionary
11_Anberlin_Lowborn
12_Astronauts_Hollow Ponds
13_Taylor Swift_1989
14_St. Vincent_St. Vincent
15_Saintseneca_Dark Arc
16_Tigers on Trains_Antarctica In Color
17_Grouper_Ruins
18_Mimicking Birds_Eons
19_The Jezabels_The Brink
20_Bleachers_Strange Desire
21_Yellowcard_Lift A Sail
22_Weezer_Everything Will Be Alright In The End
23_Snowmine_Dialects
24_S. Carey_Range of Light
25_Royal Blood_Royal Blood