Top 10 Songs of 2014

1. Spoon - "Rent I Pay"
The best produced rock album of the year belongs to Spoon with They Want My Soul, and this lead single, with its sinewy Stones-like guitars wrapped around Jim Eno's steady beat, which became my late summer theme, "just like, brother said."

2. Jack White - "High Ball Stepper"
Who introduces a new album to the public with an instrumental? Who has a complex in Nashville that includes a booth where you can cut your own record, people dressed in matching dresses and suspenders, and walls colors chosen by direction (I think East = Yellow)? The Willy Wonka Wonder of Rock, of course, and this song is one of my many faves from his Lazaretto album of this year, the best record Jack's sung on since 2003's Elephant.

3. Jungle - "The Heat"
Nice to think about something warm in December in the Twin Cities, this act was a total mystery when they appeared in video form late in 2013, bringing synchronized roller skate dancing to the fore (see also Chet Faker's Gold video). Their unique triple-tracked lead vox and indie dance vibe helps fill a void left by the lack of action from James Murphy and Hot Chip this year.

4. Benjamin Booker - "Violent Shiver"
Pure excitement from a young artist who brings it live and on his debut album. You can feel the sweat pouring out from the band on this one.

5. Lucius - "Go Home"
A truly emotional tune from a conceptually brilliant band filled with great musicians and vocalists, and another artist who've adopted Minneapolis as their second home.

6. Robert Plant - "Little Maggie"
Irish folk meets psychedelia meets African fiddle meets trip hop? Put the golden god's voice on top and you get the new album from Robert Plant, maybe the best of his post-Zep career.

7. The Strypes - "Blue Collar Jane"
Thrills, chills, and goosebumps from the second they took the stage at SXSW this March and introduced themselves with a stomping set of freakbeat garage rock ripped straight out of the pages of the Yardbirds and Dr. Feelgood. Add that the oldest member is 18 and you get an explosive act that I woulda rated higher if they didn't blow off (and not reschedule) Minneapolis when they got the chance to be a last minute sub on Letterman, which means only a handful of locals have ever seen them live.

8. Beck - "Waking Light"
A graceful return from semi-retirement for a now elder statesman of Alt, the mellow gold of Sea Change is updated for this decade with lush strings and beautiful songs.

9. Jake Bugg - "What Doesn't Kill You"
Another young artist still under the drinking age in America, but turning up the amp for this track that led off the uneven Rick Rubin-produced Shangri-La.

10. Courtney Barnett - "Avant Gardner"
Another pleasant discovery in 2014, Courtney is one of many from Down Under to wash up on our shores and charm us with her witty songs and playing over the past few years (see dozens more like Gotye, Lorde, Chet Faker, The Preatures, Boy and Bear, Vance Joy, Angus and Julia Stone, Jagwar Ma, Atlas Genius, Tame Impala, San Cisco, etc.), and her songs contain the mix of sweet and savory that could almost remind one of the young Elvis Costello.

So many more great releases and singles in 2014 that rocked my world: The War on Drugs, Glass Animals, Kendrick Lamar, Mac DeMarco, New Pornographers, Chet Faker, Conor Oberst, Darkside, First Aid Kit, King Tuff, Lana Del Rey, Old 97s, the Orwells, Ty Seagull and more. Then there's the contribution of our locals ...

Top 10 Local Songs of 2014

1. Lizzo - "Batches and Cookies"
2. The Cactus Blossoms - "Change Your Ways or Die"
3. Two Harbors - "Be Forever"
4. Frankie Lee - "Country"
5. Caroline Smith - "Half About Being a Woman"
6. Stereo Confession - "Video Games"
7. Buffalo Moon - "Machista"
8. Hippo Campus - "Little Grace"
9. Actual Wolf - "Victims and Things"
10. MaLLy - "A Long Day"

In a year filled with another outstanding batch of local releases, these are ten songs that resonated strongest within my brain. Honorable mention also to Deep Pool, Doomtree, Frankie Teardrop, Haley Bonar, Howler, John Mark Nelson, Little Man, Lizzo and Caroline Smith, Toki Wright and Big Cats, Trampled By Turtles and so many more that delivered great songs or albums over the past 12 months.