Cultured Vultures’ Best Albums of 2014…So Far

Jade Curson

Mongol Horde – Mongol Horde

Jinglyjangly folk-punk sweetheart Frank Turner makes a return to his post-hardcore roots with the debut album from Mongol Horde. It’s 35 minutes of angry sweary gloriousness and an absolute must-listen for anyone who wishes Million Dead had carried on for just a little bit longer. As with any Turner-led project, the album is stuffed with obscenely catchy songs – trust me, once you’ve heard it you will be singing the chorus of “Stillborn Unicorn” for WEEKS).

 

 

Diploid Love – Brody Dalle

The solo debut from Brody Dalle (Frontwoman of Distillers and Spinnerette, and all-round Supreme Queen Babe) may have passed you by. If so, I’m sad for you, because Diploid Love is already a staple of my summer playlist. While it’s full of the punchy riffs you’d expect from someone with Dalle’s credentials (the transition in “Meet The Foetus” is flawless), it has plenty more to offer. “Dressed in Dreams” sounds like a synthy 80s throwback (but, y’know…not shit), while “Underworld” features extensive use of a Mariachi band which shouldn’t work but really really does.

 

 

Hani Fearon

The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams

After a slight stumble with their last album and a brief hiatus, The Hold Steady and frontman Craig Finn stormed back into action with their latest album. Teeth Dreams is an excellently constructed album with a literary backbone and the addition of second guitarist has really taken things up a notch. My favourite track on the album is without a doubt ‘On with the Business’ and Finn’s lyrics are as poignant as ever with his ideas of ‘American sadness’. Teeth Dreams is definitely one for the live shows and I really cannot wait to see them tour later this year.

 

 

Jamie Murphy

Transgender Dysphoria Blues – Against Me!

The band hadn’t released an album since the now Laura Jane Grace was the then Tom Gable, and this album surpassed people’s expectations of it being a self indulgent concept album. Instead, this album had a range of topics, not just the most obvious, and managed to evoke empathy and understanding through narrative, passion and insight to people who may have never considered it. This album rages derisively, sobs openly and screams triumphantly – for both contemporary punk music and Laura, as well as many others like her.

 

 

Sunbathing Animal – Parquet Courts

Parquet Courts’ third studio album sees the band take a departure from their previous propulsive and whimsical psuedo-punk. This album is purposely filled with surreal and perplexing lyrics as well as instrumentation that is sometimes more homage than influence. It stands out as a breakthrough release for sturdy and progressive post-punk, that that is always more to be done, more to evolve. Inspiration and influence are abundant in this album, as well as heavy doses of energy, humour and stoned introspection.