Made Music: Top Albums of 2014

2014 was a year where the music industry had a free for all. Bigtime or small, every artist had their chance to make an impact. Here are the albums that were ahead of their competition, making albums that will act as a time capsule for what’s the best of 2014.

5)”2014 Forest Hills Drive” – J Cole
The whole internet spent December going crazy on how “fire” and “dope” this album is. After “Born Sinner”, I learned to close my ears as people will eat anything Cole says. He could be reading the audio version from “50 Shades of Grey” and they would set their stereos ablaze and claim “Cole did this”.

The praise is actually deserved this time in an album that perfect comes in a time where racial and social tensions are at an all-time high. Tackling a various subjects with a finesse that few other people in the “new school” class have of rap have.

It’s not perfect and is not trying to be, “2014 Forest Hills Drive” more than a photograph of time of where we as a society are and will progress.

Album Highpoints: “Intro”, “Apparently”, “No Role Modelz”, “G.O.M.D”, “Hello” .

4)”Oxymoron” – Schoolboy Q
When your project is going to be compared by everyone and their mom to your label mate (Kendrick Lamar), expectations will already set high. Q, unknown to the masses created an album full of bangers that took down hip hop heavyweight (no pun intended) Rick Ross.

In this age dominated by backpack rappers, this album is reminiscent of a simpler time when gangster rappers ruled the mainstream. It’s not trying to get anyone thinking about deep and philosophical, the tracks are hype, hard hitting and unapologetic.

Album Highpoints: “Hell of A Night”, “Studio”, “Man of The Year”, “Collard Greens”, “Break The Bank”.

3)”Everything Will Be Alright In The End” – Weezer
Weezer did what few bands who been around as long could, they recaptured the magic of their earlier projects. It’s one thing to imitate, but it’s another to create something newly original that still contains echoes of the past.

That rebellious garage band, adorably dorky sound is all here in a rock album where the momentum never stops. Giving this a listen will take someone back for an hour to better times and connect with a new generation like Weezer has done for years.

Album Highpoints: “I’ve Had It Up To Here”, “Da Vinci”, “Cleopatra”, “Go Away”, “The British Are Coming”.

2)”Talking Is Hard” – Walk The Moon
Their first self-titled album was full of catchy songs that didn’t stretch it’s arms too for anything past that. With their sophomore effort, they kept all the catchiness and added much more diversity to go from being a great band a favorite band.

Deep cutting guitar strings to synth covered records it’s all here blended up in a cohesive track list that all sound different, but are thematically consistent. Having seen them live, these types of songs are going to make for unforgettable performances to an already memorable album.

Album Highpoints: “Avalanche”, “Aquaman”, “Portugal”, “Shut Up And Dance”, “Up 2 U”.

1) “Worlds” – Porter Robinson
This one came as a big surprise as Robinson decided to bless the music world with more than just bass drops and fast tempos. He made a project that is sonically beautiful and will no doubt stand the test of time.

It’s experimental and succeeds in most areas where others have tried a failed. A testament on why people should turn their ears from the radio and to the internet, because this is where great projects like this can be showcased and found.

Album Highpoints: “Sad Machine”, “Fresh Static Snow”, “Hear The Bells”, “Lionhearted”,” Divinity”

The Top 5 Movies and Top 10 Songs of 2014 are coming Thursday and Friday. Like & Follow the Made Something Channel for everything music, movies and gaming (which I have an announcement about soon).

Made Music: Schoolboy Q & Porter Robinson

Two artists who came into their own in 2014 and caught the eyes & ears of everyone their music reached. Porter Robinson and Schoolboy Q are gonna have long careers if they keep out great tracks like the ones in today’s Made Music.

“Hell of A Night”, is no contest the best track off the “Oxymoron” album. The chilling harmony and trap beat makes this song a blast to listen with headphones or a speaker. This is something that should be on every DJ’s playlist

Q has guys out here wearing bucket hats looking like they’re about go fishing, yet still trendy as anything else out here.Somewhere in Smalltown U.S.A, Fisherman Jones is being called the “swaggiest” by the young people and he doesn’t know why.

I was never the biggest Porter fan, til this year when he aimed to change what defines an EDM artist and DJ. The “Worlds” album is full of creativity and high points, with “Easy” not being on the album, but a great example of the quality of his work.

See the album and concert review on the homepage if you want to know know more about Porter.

Check out Made Music every Monday for new artist’s,songs and more. Like and comment below with your thoughts today’s artists or recommendations.Follow the page to be up to date with the latest sounds of today and tomorrow.

Porter Robinson’s “Worlds” Is Universally Amazing

One of the most visual and sonically pleasing events recently took place. Porter Robinsons “Worlds” dropped this year and shook up the concept of what an EDM album should be

Catchy lyrics and rhythms fill each song in this 12 track synth pop album. This is bombastic stadium music that sounds like something Queen would play with tracks like “Hear the Bells”.

It’s hard to have a favorite song here as each is great in their own way. Anamanaguchi and Passion pit are some influences that can be heard or compared to, with 8-bit influence and pop rock sensibility’s coming out the tracks.

Usually these DJ albums are a bunch of unrelated songs with maybe 2 or 3 decent ones and the rest never fully realized. Luckily, this whole album is cohesive and gives listeners more to look forward to than bass drops and “wub wubs”.

Although the songs vary from all over the spectrum of sound, they thematically stay under the same umbrella.
“Lionhearted” is a single from the album with a fast tempo and group Urban Cone lending their talents to add extra pep to the song

In an age where artists are content with staying in their comfort zone, it’s refreshing when someone like Robinson not only experiments, but does it successfully.

Not everyone song on here is gold as in “Natural Light “ and “Fellow Feeling” are the low points and drag the album somewhat down towards the end. It’s not perfect; nothing is and still is one of the most enjoyable albums of 2014.

Does the quality and vision transfer over to his concert?(of course you read the headline)
The final show for the Porter Robinsons Worlds Tour took place at The Filmore Miami and the line stretched out into the streets with eager fans waiting to get in.

Lemaitre opened the show with an act that could have very well rivaled the headliner. They had several dance records up their sleeve to start the show out right.

Two left feet or no feet, energetic songs like “Splitting Colors” are going have everyone busting a move before they bust their butt .

There are many types of characters to meet at a concert and they were all in attendance. The bro’s, nerds, drunks and sober were all next to each other dancing along to the songs. Talking with some people in the crowd, some came from as far as Jacksonville to just see the show.

Giraffeage was second to take the stage and turned the place into a club as he played remixes of well-known songs and originals.

Then, it was finally time for Robinson to close the show. The crowd lost it as he opened with the synth pop “Sad Machine”. Couples danced and held each other as the emotionally charged notes traveled through the room
Unlike some other DJ’s, Robinson does not just sit there and press play. He’s singing, playing the keys live and triggering samples.

New mixes of his existing songs were played, so even people who listened to the album front and back were kept on their toes.

Everyone song had mesmerizing Japenese influenced animations to go with them. Anime, videogames and many more images show up on the screen behind him. They were the real star of the show, as some told a story and added extra subtext to the songs.

Confetti, smoke machines and the lighting only helped to enhance the atmosphere. Really nailing in the point the audience was no longer at a building in Miami, but rather some fantasy land with a large spectrum of colors and characters.

The whole flow of the show was smooth from start to finish, making the hours feel like minutes. If it isn’t evident how fun the whole experience was, I’m out of words, so go let “Worlds” talk for itself.

Like ,Follow and Repost  this & more articles from Made Something channel. Comment and start a discussion!