{"id":47741,"date":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/features\/2014-melanies-top-ten\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T07:31:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T07:31:34","slug":"2014-melanies-top-ten","status":"publish","type":"feature","link":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/features\/2014-melanies-top-ten\/","title":{"rendered":"2014: Melanie’s Top Ten"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 2014, and music has become more accessible than ever; but the constant availability means that the album experience can get lost in the shuffle. Not at the Daily Vault, where we\u2019re bringing you the deep cuts, the discs you can immerse yourself in and get carried away. These were some of my favorite collections of songs, featuring a lot of debuts juxtaposed against some old favorites. There\u2019s straight-up rock \u2018n\u2019 roll, there\u2019s a pop crooner who I predict will stand the test of time, and some new indies to get you excited. So come on in and take a listen, and whatever you do, don\u2019t click Shuffle! <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"nightmarecat_simple_150\"<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Nightmare And The Cat \u2013 Simple <\/i><\/b> <\/p>\n

This debut disc from Los Angeles indie group Nightmare And The Cat just reminds me of summer. I listened to it basically every day on my commute to work, and this collection of buzzy, upbeat, constantly shapeshifting tracks was a perfect soundtrack. Formed by brothers Samuel and Django Stewart (their dad is Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics), their musical DNA predisposed them to a keen understanding of dynamics: every cut here is brimming with energy and feels no need to stay within the confines of one genre or a single song structure, making for an energetic and engaging listening experience. <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cSimple,\u201d \u201cUndercover,\u201d \u201cMae\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u00a0\"milkychance_sad_150\"<\/a> <\/td>\n\n
\n

Milky Chance \u2013 Sadnecessary<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

By far my favorite German folk duo, I recommend these guys with the nonsensical yet delightful name anytime I can. On their debut release, Milky Chance has crafted a diverse yet endlessly accessible batch of tracks that runs the gamut from pop to reggae to electronica. Singer Clemens Rehbein\u2019s slurry, langorous vocals pair perfectly with DJ Phillip Dausch\u2019s sound, which integrates lo-fi acoustics and buzzy digital beats. If you\u2019ve heard and enjoyed their single \u201cStolen Dance,\u201d you won\u2019t regret checking out the rest of the duo\u2019s strangely endearing material.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cSweet Sun,\u201d \u201cFlashed Junk Mind,\u201d \u201cStolen Dance\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n\n
\n

Sam Smith \u2013 In The Lonely Hour<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

While this debut disc was somewhat patchy and a bit overproduced, that\u2019s no matter because the star of the show was always going to be Sam Smith\u2019s voice. The sheer gorgeousness of his range and the innate sensitivity with which he approaches his material is going to make him a longstanding presence on the music scene. In my review I described him as a blend between George Michael and Freddie Mercury, which should give a sense of his talent. Smith is an artist who is not afraid to bare his soul, and the strongest songs here are tender and revelatory. My only gripe is that they should have included \u201cNirvana\u201d from his debut EP, easily one of Smith\u2019s standout tracks. <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cStay With Me,\u201d \u201cLike I Can,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m Not The Only One\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"taylorswift_1989_150\"\u00a0<\/td>\n\n
\n

Taylor Swift – 1989<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

On this release, T Swift made the crossover leap from country to full-on pop, and the result is nothing short of sparkling, seamless, and endlessly spinnable. The first half of the album is a flawless loop of potential singles that gleefully and smartly poke holes in the man-chaser persona that Swift has been assigned by the media. Paired with glimmering, expansive production and hooks for days, it\u2019s safe to say Swift has overtaken the pop throne. <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cBlank Space,\u201d \u201cOut Of The Woods,\u201d \u201cBad Blood\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\"royalblood_st_150\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n

Royal Blood \u2013 Royal Blood<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I still can\u2019t get over the fact that the bone-crushing wall of sound comes out of two guys and a bass guitar. This is pure rock \u2018n\u2019 roll: big swaths of \u201celectric\u201d guitar riffage, endlessly pounding drums, and rafter-reaching choruses. It\u2019s an aural assault that still sounds pretty catchy. The duo is becoming massive in England and has been tapped to join Foo Fighters on their upcoming tour, and it\u2019s easy to see why.<\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cOut Of The Black,\u201d \u201cLoose Change,\u201d \u201cTen Tonne Skeleton\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\"foofighters_sonic_150\"<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n
\n

Foo Fighters \u2013 Sonic Highways<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

While I don\u2019t love this one as much as 2012\u2019s Wasting Light, <\/i>any Foos release is basically cause for celebration in my opinion. On this ambitious disc, which was the result of their HBO show of the same name, the band attempts to channel the sound of rock\u2019s finest locales and artists. Those influences may get a little lost in the shuffle here, but they\u2019ve still crafted some high-octane and catchy songs that are going to sound incredible live. <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cSomething From Nothing,\u201d \u201cFeast And The Famine,\u201d \u201cI Am A River\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n

Smashing Pumpkins \u2013 Monuments To An Elegy<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

This was a last-second addition to the list; I haven\u2019t listened to a Smashing Pumpkins record since high school, when I was obsessed with Siamese Dream<\/i>. Despite Billy Corgan being the only remaining member of the original Pumpkins playing on this release, it\u2019s actually evocative of the old sound, yet totally streamlined and modern. No song here clocks in over four minutes, which results in tight song structures throughout and allows the instrumentation and hooks to stand out. Short, catchy, and not overly ponderous: who would\u2019ve thought Corgan had this album in him?<\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cTiberius,\u201d \u201cDrum + Fife,\u201d \u201cBeing Beige\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\"queen_forever_150\"<\/a><\/td>\n\n

\u00a0Queen \u2013 Queen Forever<\/i><\/b> <\/p>\n

The remaining members of Queen managed to unearth some previously lost Freddie vocals to create the \u201cnew\u201d tracks on this disc, but the real standouts of Queen Forever <\/i>are the songs that have been under-loved or even forgotten throughout their career. Unfolding like a playlist of all of Queen\u2019s greatest ballads, this is your chance to rediscover some of the band\u2019s finest tender (though still rocking) moments and to bask in the delight of Freddie\u2019s singular voice. <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cLet Me In Your Heart Again,\u201d \u201cIn The Lap Of The Gods\u2026Revisited,\u201d \u201cYou Take My Breath Away\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a>\"blackkeys_turnblue_150\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

<\/td>\n

\n
\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Black Keys \u2013 Turn Blue<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t really get into this album until I saw the Black Keys live, and as always, Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney astound with their blend of grungey blues rock that still manages to be endlessly hooky. While Turn Blue <\/i>is not as immediately accessible as El Camino, <\/i>dipping into psychedelic explorations and longer, slow-burning cuts, it\u2019s a cool innovation on the Black Keys sound we know and love. And when they close out the disc with the exciting, upbeat jam \u201cGotta Get Away,\u201d it\u2019s a reminder that the Keys can look inward but then bounce right back.<\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cFever,\u201d \u201cWeight Of Love,\u201d \u201cGotta Get Away\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n


<\/a>\u00a0
\"skinybones_noisefloor_151\"<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n		\n
\n

\u00a0Skinny Bones \u2013 Noise Floor<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The latest from folktronic pair Jacob Rosati and Christopher Stoppiello, this was one of my favorite indies. Lo-fi, atmospheric, and dynamic, these songs pair the tension of their song structure with the cracked-poetry of their lyrics. This is one of those albums to just immerse yourself in and see where the sonic journey takes you. <\/p>\n

Best songs<\/b>: \u201cSleep In,\u201d \u201cWanderlust,\u201d \u201cJamaica Plain\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 2014, and music has become more accessible than ever; but the constant availability means that the album experience can get lost in the shuffle. Not at the Daily Vault, where we\u2019re bringing you the deep cuts, the discs you can immerse yourself in and get carried away. These were some of my favorite collections […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":49868,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"tags":[],"feature_type":[5609],"class_list":["post-47741","feature","type-feature","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","feature_type-best-of"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature\/47741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/feature"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature\/47741\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47741"},{"taxonomy":"feature_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/feature_type?post=47741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}