AllMusic 2014 Year in Review
Favorite Rock Albums
As audiences continue to fragment, there was still plenty of room for big rock music in 2014, including the fearless Transgender Dysphoria Blues from Against Me!, Spoon's intricate They Want My Soul, and Weezer's simultaneously back to basics and forward-thinking Everything Will Be Alright in the End. And there's always room for Weird Al.
A powerful, pseudo-conceptual punk record concerning Laura Jane Grace's transgender dysphoria.
A soulful, casually eclectic solo debut from the Heartbreakers keyboardist.
In the wake of his father's death, Mould explores his own mortality in this powerful, vital album.
A cannily seductive revival of Ferry's exquisitely melancholic and danceable '80s sound.
A slow, sweet, and lush collection of comfort music from the increasingly melodic arena rock band.
Spare, warmly melancholic solo debut from the leader of Blur and Gorillaz.
The duo return with an album that has all the fiery hard rock power of their debut, but also power poppy tautness and hooks galore.
On his second solo album, the guitarist heads to Chicago and delivers an album that melds electric blues, vintage R&B, and rock.
On their second LP, Joe Elliott's Mott the Hoople covers band concentrates on Mott's big albums.
The Take-Off and Landing of Everything
The band grapples with middle age on its gorgeously melancholic sixth album.
The beguiling Freeman is a soft, melodic hybrid of Y2K Ween and early Paul McCartney.
The My Chemical Romance leader's solo debut blends futuristic rock of the '70s with the attitude of '80s college rock
A return to the funky, greasy sound of Sun Studios and an excellent latter-day album from the Killer.
Jimbo Mathus / Jimbo Mathus & the Tri-State Coalition
The Mississippi songwriter opens the throttle, gets grittier, rowdier, and deeper in the Southern grain on this killer effort.
Quickly written and recorded sequel to the Smiths guitarist's first solo album is a stylish, visceral rush.
Third album from this glam-garage act offers heavy but catchy fare and boundary-pushing production.
An unapologetically swaggering, intoxicatingly fun collection of disco, glam, and soul that's Kravitz's best record in years.
A joyous celebration of the blues, R&B, jazz, and swing that accounts for Russell's unique style.
A lively, melodic, and warmly eclectic collection of rootsy adult alternative pop from the Texan trio.
The trio looks toward the Krautrock past to find their way into the future.
I Am Back to Blow Your Mind Once Again
Another collection of garage, folk-rock, psych, and jangle that consciously evokes the ghost of 1985.
The 12th studio album from the jam band institution is one of their strongest off-stage offerings.
A warm, burnished collection of Southern rock and amiable country-rock reminiscent of Robinson's Black Crowes.
Dr. Feelgood guitarist and Who singer return to their hard R&B roots in this blazing rock & roll record.
Cannily constructed, sometimes emotionally vulnerable re-creation of the golden age of studio rock from the savvy singer/songwriter.
The band's first album in four years is a concise return that's too complex to be considered back-to-basics.
Steven Dyte / Kevin Fox / Karen Graves / Gregory MacDonald / Christian Overton / Maria Pettler / Sloan
Clever -- and satisfying -- double album containing a solo side from each member of the progressive power pop band.
All-star-heavy indie band gets bigger, brighter, and poppier on their second album, to fine effect.
The Ohio blues-rock duo gets soulful and spacy on the follow-up to their 2011 blockbuster El Camino.
Brash but fun-loving '60s-inspired rock & roll from members of the Cars, the Romantics, Blondie, and the Chesterfield Kings.
The Gaslight Anthem explore other sounds and influences on their earnest and heartfelt fifth album.
For the second time around, the Pretty Reckless construct a convincing bubblegum grunge LP.
Tom Petty / Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
The Heartbreakers spend some time playing trashy rock & roll in the garage on this fun, fuzzy record.
Jeff Tweedy teams up with his son Spencer for a set of personal, intimate songs informed by love and family crises.
Everything Will Be Alright in the End
Rivers Cuomo and company reunite with producer Ric Ocasek and go back to their roots on this big, hooky, eccentric record.
Iggy Azalea, Pharrell, Robin Thicke, and Lorde all get their "Weird Al" redo on his hilarious 2014 release.