FourPlay's Best Albums of 2014

Lakaiya
FKA twigs- LP1

Debut albums tend to be good – at a stretch great – but ‘LP1’ is excellent. Making it the album of the year for me as every listen offers something new – something you might’ve missed before. It might sound silly now, but what attracted me to LP1 at first was the album cover. I had never heard of FKA twigs beforehand so I was intrigued as to what the album would sound like. Resembling the cover, LP1 is a bold work of art. Twigs (real name Tahliah Barnett) sounds surprisingly confident on LP1 even though each song is layered creating a kaleidoscope of sounds, she’s always the main magnetism. Her sensuality is subtly unravelled on all 10 of the songs, evidently so on the albums closing track Kicks where she shamelessly sings “I love my touch, know just what to do”.  LP1 proved to me that FKA twigs does indeed know what to do; accomplishing an album that I still haven’t at all got bored of six months on. Who said you shouldn’t judge an album by its cover?  

Melissa
Ed Sheeran- X

For me my album of the year has got to be Ed Sheeran's "Multiply". It takes a lot for me to even be tempted to buy an album. However after hearing what Ed had produced there was no hesitation for me to grab it off the shelves with gusto. After three years of dedicated studio work he has exceeded all expectations. From introspective blue-eyed soul to the bright lights of arena sized anthems Ed has really outdone himself when it comes to the spectrum of his ability. Tracks such as "Don't" aren't afraid to bring an expletive edge to his repertoire. Whereas "Sing" is a sophisticated pop track that utilizes the best of soulful R & B with catchy hooks galore to create one slick package. Overall Ed has stayed true to his style and in doing so has successfully grown into the pop sensation that he never knew he could be.

Nat

Jenny Lewis- The Voyager

The beauty of Jenny Lewis’ first solo album in six years is how relatable it is to everyday life, for me anyway. Then, making that relatable aspect quite upbeat with some Altpop. Even ‘Slippery Slopes’ was written while she was high on shrooms. It kind of shows through too with it’s chilled textures and randomness throughout the song. Personally, my favourite song on the album has got to be ‘Just One Of The Guys’ for the blunt vibe she radiates in her vocals. Hopefully she won't be taking another 6 year break! How she manages to turn such raw emotion into some damn smooth alt pop is beyond me. It’s my album of the year because I’ve not encountered another album, maybe in my life never mind 2014, that makes me chill out instantly, most probably thanks to her mesmerising voice and the relaxed atmosphere it creates. 

Tom

Ed Sheeran - X

It was without question that this would be my album of the year after the amount of praise we have given it here at FourPlay. It has sent Ed to astronomical heights and it’s completely justifiable. Not only does ‘X’ capture the alluring acoustic moments from debut album ‘+’, it shows a diverse side to Sheeran which has made him so unique and popular. Whether it’s the upbeat, well-produced tones with rap incorporated, such as ‘Sing’ and ‘Don’t’ or heart melting tracks like ‘Afire Love’ and ‘Tenerife Sea’, Ed has done his upmost to include every aspect he can to captivate his audience and further spread his name worldwide. Even the bonus tracks are incredible and would fit nicely into the album itself. Not many can say they’ve gone from playing in dingy clubs to selling out three nights at Wembley stadium in just under four years. Ed is magical and ‘X’ is a prime example of how far you can progress and leaves us excited for his future releases.