Last year's year end review gave way to surprising results. I thought 2013 wasn't lucrative in sales but 2014 surely takes the cake. It had to be the saving grace of America's Sweetheart
Taylor Swift that stopped the RIAA from committing musical suicide. I mean, what's the point of having an association to pass out certifications if no album has been worthy of certifying? Hence the changing of the rules and counting streams and records shipped versus just records sold. Honestly, that is a cop out. Surely, artists should strive to earn their certification off merit and not merely loopholes. Clearly it was deemed possible when
SLAYlord Swift accomplished it in just one week. But sure. Go ahead. Celebrate the mediocre...which is what the bulk of the releases this year were at best. Last year, sales aside, it was sooo hard for me to narrow it down to just a top 5 that I had to throw in Honorable Mentions. This year I struggled with even choosing a top 5...the pickings were really that slim.
Without a doubt, topping my list for the second year in a row is
Ariana Grande with
"My Everything" [
review]. The growth that she experienced from
"Yours Truly" to this album was astounding. She took risks, flitted in and out of genres, and played with her vocal range a lot more. Some of my fave tracks include
"Break Your Heart Right Back", "Hands On Me", "My Everything", "Just A Little Bit Of Your Heart" and
"You Don't Know Me" but I listen to the album all the way through every time. Even the
INTRO slays! Not only that but she shed her squeaky clean Nick image and proved that she can play in the big leagues...she is nobody's
Mariah Carey clone and I
LOVE it! Dropping two albums so close together had me a bit skeptical at first but now I can't wait to hear more from her. Hopefully she takes a feather out of
Rihanna's cap and drops an album every year. I loved
#A1 and
#A2 and I am more than ready for
#A3. Congrats Arianators! You truly have a star on your hands! I'm expecting her to take home the
Grammy for Best Pop Album. For sure.
Look at
SLAYlord and
The Grim Reaper showing the proper respect as demanded by
QUEEN Ari.
It took me a minute to get into
Luke James' album but it wasn't for naught and not to say that it isn't absolutely
GREAT because it is. It just slipped through the cracks of my overloaded schedule but I am so glad that I finally sought it out and reviewed it [
review].
"Luke James" is very nearly a tie with
"My Everything". I fell in all types of lust with him after this album. It is flawlessly executed and the vocals on this man...
LORDT! I don't think this album got all of the pomp and circumstance that it deserved and still does. It definitely deserved a Grammy nod but I'll accept the
Best R&B Song nomination. Best songs on the album have to be
"Options", "Exit Wounds", "Stay With Me", "Glass House", "Trouble", and
"I Want You". Not to mention I met him at the Republic Records Day Party and he is super sweet and down to earth. He was all like "Hi I'm Luke."
And I was like
There can be no mention of the greatest albums of 2014 without speaking on the male counterpart to
Adele aka
Sam Smith.
"In The Lonely Hour" [
review] came for necks this year. He saw
Adele exit and swooped in on the opportunity to snatch her crown...and snatch he did. I love
"Stay With Me", "Like I Can", "Life Support", and
"Make It To Me". I wasn't surprised in the least to find out he had been signed at the wee age of 14. The talent that
Sam Smith possesses is truly beyond his years. He's an old soulful son of a something and I am here for every inch of him...musically.
J Cole is everything. He has moved up from last year's Honorable Mention list to the top 5 and it's well deserved.
"2014 Forest Hills Drive" [
review] is amazing, thought provoking, and a trail blazing album if ever there was one. I appreciate his fire, depth, and all around honesty. It's refreshing in a day and age where celebrities refuse to take a stance on race relations and social injustices that are occurring right before our very eyes for fear of being ostracised and losing fans. But
Jermaine spoke up, spoke out, and slayed every one of those coward bitches on the charts. He's the "
RAP GOD". Salute!
Last but certainly not least is
Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint" [
review]. This album swooped in at the last minute to take the final spot in my top 5. I already knew she was a contender, what with amazing singles such as
"Pills n' Potions", "Bed of Lies", and
"Only" but couple that with features from
KING Bey and
Queen Ariana this album got catapulted to the top of my list, skipping over all of the honorable mentions. I love how emotional this album is.
Onika truly put her blood, sweat, and tears into this project.
"The Crying Game", "Feeling Myself", "Get On Your Knees", "I Lied", "Grand Piano", and
"All Things Go" have my heart but I listen to this album from beginning to end, no skips. All hail
EMPRESS RAP GODDESS OF ALL THE LIGHT TOUCHES! She has the female rap game on lock.
I, of course, have to round out my top albums list with a select few honorable mentions. In no particular order:
Taylor Swift's "1989" [
review],
Jeezy's "Seen It All - The Autobiography" [
review],
Teyana Taylor's "VII" [
review],
Chris Brown's "X" [
review], and,
UNEQUIVOCALLY,
Mariah Carey's "Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse" [
review]. I highly doubt I left anything off. This list, in and of itself, was already a stretch. However, everything on this list is definitely worth a listen and if you love them, by all means purchase them!
ESPECIALLY my, surprisingly male dominated, top 5!
What were your fave albums of the year that didn't make my list?
Natasha Marie
