2014 was a ridiculously good year for local music. So instead of asking local bands about the great albums they put out this year, we asked them about the best albums that they didn’t put out this year. Here’s what they said:

Animal Flag
David Bazan – Bazan + Passenger String Quartet Volume 1

So my favorite release of 2014 has to be Bazan + Passenger String Quartet Volume 1 by David Bazan. This album is compromised of lush string arrangements of songs from all of David Bazan’s past and present projects (Pedro The Lion, Headphones, David Bazan). I saw them play the record at The Bowery Ballroom in NYC last month and it legitimately changed my life. I’ve never heard a sound so rapturous. This is by far the piece of music that has effected me most in 2014. – Matthew Politoski

Ben Katzman’s Degreaser
Juan Wauters – North American Poetry

I initially was going to writeup a top 10 for 2014 list, but then I realized that the second North American Poetry came out, half of my record collection was obsolete. Every song on here is a ripper that sends you through the deep journey of hard chilling and motivation to keep on moving through life. Juan Wauters inspires you to be you. Shoutout to Matthew Volz for the ill art work too.  -Ben Katzman

Bent Shapes
Tony Molina – Dissed and Dismissed

I’m sure there’s tons of great new records that flew under my radar this year, but one record that I’m really glad I did hear is Tony Molina’s Dissed and Dismissed. Just under 12 minutes of pop perfection. There’s serious Weezer aping going on, as many have noted, but it’s also got elements of Guided By Voices and Gin Blossoms–two bands with releases that feature some of my favorite songwriting. I didn’t know anything about Tony before I saw this come out on Slumberland, but I highly recommend digging into his work with Ovens if you end up liking Dissed and Dismissed. I plan to check out some of his other bands–hardcore outfit Caged Animal in particular–but he’s just got so many! Anyway, his solo release is the album of the year for me because it’s solid all the way through, and sets its sights on killer hooks while maintaining a punk urgency and a layer of fuzz that doesn’t stifle the melodies or obfuscate the lyrics. Also it has guitarmonies. Shiiit. -Ben Potrykus

Brazil
Andrew Jackson Jihad – Christmas Island

Genius songwriting with brutal themes about living and losing and everything in between,Christmas Island has beautifully reserved lo-fi production that breaks new ground in the world of folk-punk. – Alex Judd

Chandos
Free Pizza – Boston, MA

I love how it manages to be really fun and catchy while still being sincere. Also love how bass driven it is. And it’s about Boston! – Sean Tracy

Yautja – Songs of Descent

An equally peculiar and flawless heavy album. – Julian Moore

LVL UP – Hoodwink’d

It’s straightforward and it’s catchy, but it’s so sneaky clever at the same time. I listen to it way too much. –  Dan Coulson

Creaturos
Faces On Film – Elite Lines
The Monsieurs – The Monsieurs

2014 saw a ton of groovy releases it’s hard to pick faves. Nice Guys, Mean Creek, Black Beach, Guerrilla Toss, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Doug Tuttle (Spenser and Noah are in that band, bias-free opinion tho guaranteed!) and tons of other freaks blurted out some super rad tunage! I think my two faves are Faces on Film’s Elite Lines and the Monsieurs’ self titled barn burner. The Faces’ album is an amazing exploratory ride, Mike must’ve had a candy store-like experience in that studio, futuristic and well worn saddled at the same time! Check it out!

The Monsieurs’ record is just a hailstorm of filthy, beautiful awesomeness, they play guitars with razorblades and drums with hammers and do cartwheels over yr head while singing songs about what you thought you were just thinking about but hadn’t yet! Live and on fire!
-Joe Marrett

Idiot Genes
Zip-Tie Handcuffs – Sundream

We are gonna go with Zip-Tie Handcuffs “Sundream” as our favorite album of 2014. It came out only a month ago but we’ve listened to it about a zillion times already. It’s an addicting album which rules because addictions are awesome. It’s just a very catchy, heavy and cohesive batch of songs. zTHC are good buds of ours and this album rules, I hope someone puts it out on vinyl so I can buy it.

Other releases we had similar experiences with: Grass is Green Vacation Vinny, Creaturos Popsicle, Speedy Ortiz Real Hair, Sneeze Wilt and of course Weird Al Yankovich Mandatory Fun
– Pete Bayko

Kid Mountain
Vashti Buyan – Heartleap

Faith No More – “Motherfucker” (the single)

I haven’t heard anything else that came out this year. – Tim Patterson

Modest Mouse – This is a Long Drive For Someone With Nothing to Think About (Vinyl re-release)

This might be cheating, but it did get released this year and it is an album. A freakin’ great one at that.  -Derek Goulet

The two Tylers (Guitarists) only listen to Orchestral video game music, so there’s no hope there.

Pile
Yautja – Songs Of Descent.

Some exciting metal coming out of Nashville,  at moments reminiscent of early Converge, but with more grit and grind. Dark and raw and chaotic without being overly technical, and the recording quality itself lends to the mood. I wish I was as good at anything as Tyler is at playing drums. – Matt Becker

Out Of Town Bonus Picks

LVL UP (New York)

Sun Kill Moon – Benji

Mike and I will do a little joint pick for you guys… Sun Kill Moon “Benji” was a big tour fave for LVL UP. There were days when we had twelve hour drives on our most recent US tour, and we wound up listening for hours at a time, taking in the great American landscape. Extremely touching record. – David Benton

Pup (Toronto)

Cloud Nothings – Here and Nowhere Else

Single Mothers – Negative Qualities

Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again

Taylor Swift – 1989

Phantogram – Voices

Nehruvian Doom – S/T

The Menzingers – Rented World

Cayetana – Nervous Like Me

Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun

Fucked up – Glass Boys 

A big AP thank you goes out to all the to all the bands that contributed!