Viewing recap December







Marie Antoinette (2006)
Directed by Sofia Coppola. Worth seeing for the breathtaking production design and killer soundtrack, which are like chocolate for the eyes and ears. Kirsten Dunst gives it her all in the lead role and is gorgeous to look at, but the film is too long and let down by a weak story.
The film is from Marie Antoinette’s perspective, isolating the viewer as Marie herself was isolated from the harsh reality outside the palace walls.
In the making of, they talk about how the film is a social commentary on how tabloids existed even back then, and how Anoinette was one of the first victims of being misrepresented in the media. As others have said, Marie Antoinette’s life of privilege and endless scrutiny is not dissimilar to that of modern celebrities. 
Rating 7/10





Frank (2014)
The theme of celebrity and whether you make music to please your band or please the audience is hardly groundbreaking, but is moderately interesting. The film is slightly above average thanks to a few memorable songs( I Love You All and Frank's Most Likeable Song Ever), an involving voice-over, and the gimmick of him wearing a fake head works well cinematically. The tweets on the screen was a nice idea.
Rating 7/10






Force Majeure (2014)
A Swedish film set in a ski resort where a family experience an avalanche. The husband is accused of being a coward by his wife, and the story is about manliness in our contemporary society, with several other examples and situations on that theme. The men in the film are not superheros, but masculine failures, and highly sensitive. The characters are flawed, doing hurtful things towards each other. Perhaps the problem is the unrealistic expectations that women have toward their men. However the film also points towards the failure of the wife to comfort him and there’s a scene where he is locked out and she hardly acknowledges him, and just keeps chatting on the phone, despite him sending loads of text messages. So the wife also has flaws in terms of empathy, and manages to humiliate her husband.
The conflicts outweigh the happier moments in the film, and maybe that is a question of priority and point of view. If you are single you might actually be dissuaded going into a relationship because it is depicted in such a gruelling way. Or if you are currently in a relationship this could even push you to break-up. It’s not a film that celebrates relationships, and it’s tough to know if you should laugh or cry. The situations do have some humor, especially the inappropriate dialogues. It’s sort of tragi-comic. Several audience members were laughing a lot at the screening I went to, while others were quiet. I was somewhere in the middle.
As Alex Withrow perceptively wrote in his review: "a film that provokes discussion on how you’d react to fight or flight situations, and why. It’s also a film that makes you think about similar circumstances you may have faced."
Rating 8/10






Winter Sleep (2014)
Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes. If you want to listen to people attack other people verbally, this is for you. As a character study of a landlord and the relationships to his young wife, ex-wife, sister, and the community he governs, it’s quite interesting.
You can understand his desire to not let things get out of hand and for things to remain status quo with him as an authority. But you can also see the situations from the community’s point-of-view, how the landlord has lost touch with reality and is preventing progress by focusing on unimportant issues such as writing about the history of theatre.
I prefer the director’s previous film Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (2011), where there was a greater opportunity for the audience to be in the role of detective and interpret events, but this one is worth seeing. I would probably recommend waiting for the dvd, so you are able to pause. Three hours of heavy, long-winded dialogue without any action is draining in one sitting.
SPOILERS: Besides the dialogue, there are a few striking visual shots such as the valley in the snow, him sitting among the grave stones, and a couple of scenes with the white horse being captured and running free. There’s also a symbolic moment when he sees the dead animal by the railway tracks and the crows waiting in the tree, which you could interpret as the evolution of time and his future demise. The scene with the money is powerful, and questions if progress is even possible in the community. The social commentary is similar to Ceylan’s earlier work, highlighting problems in Turkey and some of its causes.
There’s an interesting theory going around that the story is allegorical, not just about Turkey, but about the world. You could interpret the landlord family as the know-it-all condescending figure from the western world, and the proud, poor community as uncultivated, with the rich family attempting to force their “superior” opinions and values onto them. A parallel to what the United States do when they go to Irak etc. The intentions are good, but there’s also a feeling the west shouldn’t interfere in things that do not concern them. Pride means they might often prefer to build their own life. Would it make a difference if the rich family/Obama was less strict, would he lose his position, would the donations be spent on alcohol/wars, or progress, and so on. There are some lingering questions. Ceylan’s films require a 2nd viewing.
Rating 7.5/10






What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
It feels like a tv-show that has been condensed into a movie. Which is actually not a criticism. For a low budget film the special effects are quite impressive.  The jokes were mostly amusing in the first half, and for me wasn’t quite as funny in the last half.
Favorite quotes: ”Vampires don’t do dishes!”
”I was wondering if we could talk about the deal” – ”the dishes?”
”Do you know of a night dentist? I have this problem here”
”I think of it this way, if you are going to eat a sandwich, you just enjoy it more, if you know nobody had fucked it”
“You will not eat the camera guys, oh….maybe one camera guy”
Rating 7.5/10







The Babadook (2014)
Australian psychological horror film. Made on a fairly small budget of $2 million, there are scary moments, but not relying too much on music or jump scares. I wonder if Babadook story is purely fictional or actually was based on something.
Rating 8/10





Begin Again (2013)
Really liked the first 25 minutes with Ruffalo and Keira. The scenes in the middle of the movie with Adam Levine are weaker and less involving. But it picks up again later on. The soundtrack is not as great as Once, although there are a few good tracks, and Keira Knightley doesn't embarrass herself singing. All in all, it isn't just a remake of Once, and manages to be its own thing.
Rating 8/10




The Shop Around The Corner (1940)
Rewatched because it ties in with Christmas. Has its cute moments, and the performances are good, but I had some issues. It's too predictable from the get-go, and the number of staff is implausible considering the size of the shop. It’s also unrealistic that they would talk so freely in the customer area. Not as great as its reputation.
Rating 6/10




The Jungle Book (1967)
Based on Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book (1894), I read the comic as a child so many of the scenes and images felt familiar. The Disney film is mainly remembered for its memorable characters, the innocent man-child Mowgli, likeable Baloo the Bear, devious Shere Khan the Tiger, stuck-up elepant leader, and hungry snake Kaa.
The music is iconic, especially Bare Necessities song which Balloo sings, and when King Louie and his band of apes sing the unforgettable I Wanna Be Like You (The Monkey Song). While the last 30 minutes are not as strong, I still rate the entire film very highly. The kind of timeless animated film you can rewatch countless times, which I’m sure many kids have.
The friendship between Baloo the Bear and Bagheera the Panther has gay undertones, which is odd in a children's film.
Rating 8.5/10




The Unfaithful Wife (1969)
Gripping French Hitchcockian drama/thriller directed by Claude Chabrol. The story starts out pretty slow. Once it gets going I couldn’t look away, wanting to know how it would play out.
Rating 8/10






La Cérémonie (1995) 
My second Claude Chabrol film of the month, and arguably his masterpiece. Interesting characters, especially the females. Can't really say a lot without spoiling. I still don't get the title. A film you will want to discuss afterwards, and my favorite film of the month.
Rating 9/10





Oasis (2002)
Directed by Chang-dong Lee. About two people you would most likely not befriend in real life. If you can tolerate the disturbing scene when the couple first meet, this is a sweet romance between a male social outcast and a handicapped woman. That scene I refer to is a deal-breaker, and I almost turned it off because of it. I’m glad I stuck with the story and trusted the positive reviews, because it’s a South Korean gem. The best scene is possibly dancing on the freeway which transforms into a fantasy party with confetti, dancing, and a small elephant.
SPOILERS: It was an inventive cinematic idea for the physically handicapped woman to on occasion transform into a normal girlfriend, but it did slightly annoy me, because you get the feeling they are both dreaming of another life and wishing to be normal. That may be true for outcasts from time to time, but it kind of lessens the relationship and romance, if you want something else than what you’ve got. I disliked the last act, which on the one hand insinuates the main character was crazy and was dreaming he was in the relationship without her consent, and on the other hand suggests the justice department is dysfunctional not even listening to the victim and accused. To me it was ambiguous whether she hated or loved or him in the end, and I don’t know if that was the writer’s intention. Probably the latter if you are a romantic, and the former if you are a cynic. The ending is not believable that she would not speak up that he was her boyfriend, and just let him stay in jail. If she really loved him, why not tell the truth? Perhaps this happens after the credits have rolled.
Rating 8/10




Blind (2014)
Takes place in Oslo, Norway. The film makes you care about the characters, but is frustrating in how we don’t get conclusive answers. The characters suddenly turning up in odd situations was… weird. Why does her child Kim suddenly change from a boy to a girl on the beach? What purpose does it serve to the story. I never figured that out. Why do the two old friends sit in a cafe and then suddenly find themselves travelling in a train during the same conversation? Why are the two women suddenly wearing the same dress? Again, there is no logic. It felt like the director didn’t believe his characters were interesting enough so he felt the need to make these gimmicky changes.
That said, it does offer interesting perpectives on loneliness, how the Norwegians handled Otyla, and how blindness can affect your daily life and affect your relationships. But also pretty contrived story in what happens to the woman he meets over the internet.
Funny at times, but the blind woman is kind of a bore to watch. In fact there are many funny moments for a film that is about unfunny issues. 
I may have misunderstood the stylized approach, because in another review I've read the blind woman out of boredom wrote about the other characters, and they were therefore only imagined. Perhaps that explains the inconsistencies and scenes with no logic.
I like the little details, such as album sleeve of Bona Drag by Morrissey is in the guys flat, Kool Thing by Sonic Youth is on her music player.
Rating 7/10




Seen any of these? Agree or disagree? Watched anything great in December? As always, comments are welcome!

Favorite older films watched during 2014






Watched for the first time in 2014. All rated 4.5/5 (9 out of 10) on letterboxd. In case you're wondering, I'm excluding films from the 2010s, and I'm not including rewatches or short films.

Upon reflection, I changed some scores from 8/10 to 9/10. So in a few cases, the scores are wrong in the reviews I link to. In random order:





Das Boot (1981) (director's cut) (Wolfgang Petersen) (review)






Stop Making Sense (1984) (Jonathan Demme) (mini-review)







The Hill (1965) (Sidney Lumet) (mini-review)







The Holy Mountain (1973) (Alejandro Jodorowsky) (mini-review) (notes from A Story of Film)







4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2007) (Cristian Mungiu) (mini-review)






Malcolm X (1992) (Spike Lee) (review)







The Firemen’s Ball (1967) (Milos Forman) (review)






Strangers on a Train (1951) (Alfred Hitchcock) (mini-review)







The Circus (1928) (Charles Chaplin) (mini-review)







Christiane F. (1981) (Uli Edel) (mini-review)






Come and See (1985) (Elem Klimov) (review)







Wake in Fright (1971) (Ted Kotcheff) (mini-review)






The Princess Bride (1987) (Rob Reiner) (mini-review)






Duck Soup (1933) (Leo McCarey) (review)





A Night at The Opera (1935) (Sam Wood, Edmund Goulding) (mini-review)





Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) (Robert Zemeckis) (mini-review)





Bottle Rocket (1996) (Wes Anderson) (mini-review)






Insomnia (2002) (Christopher Nolan) (mini-review)





La Cérémonie (1995) (Claude Chabrol)





Seen any of these? Agree or disagree? Which films did you give a 9/10 or 10/10 score in 2014? Thoughts are welcome in the comments

Happy Christmas and what's your favorite Christmas music?





Wishing all my readers and blogging friends a Merry Christmas! Below are a few tunes to get you in the festive mood. From classics to contemporary Christmas music


Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Perry Como (1951)

White Christmas by Bing Crosby (From White Christmas soundtrack) (1954)

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra (1957)

Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms (1957)

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee (1958)

Let It Snow! sung by Dean Martin (1959)

Winter Wonderland sung by Dean Martin (1959)

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) sung by Darlene Love (1963)

An Old Christmas Card sung by Jim Reeves (1963)

Someday at Christmas by Stevie Wonder (1967)

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon (1971)

Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade (1973)

Step into Christmas by Elton John (1973)

I Believe In Father Christmas by Greg Lake (1975)

Christmas Must Be Tonight by The Band (1977)

Father Christmas by The Kinks (1977)

December Will Be Magic Again by Kate Bush (1980)

A Winter's Tale by David Essex  (1982)

2000 Miles by The Pretenders (1983)

Christmas Countdown (12 days to Christmas) by Frank Kelly (1983)

Do they Know it's Christmas by Band Aid (1984)

Thank God It's Christmas by Queen (1984)

Another Lonely Christmas by Prince (1984)

Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens (1985)

It's Christmas All Over The World sung by Sheena Easton (From 1985's Santa Clause The Movie)

Last Christmas by Wham! (1986)

Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea (1986)

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (cover) by Johnny Mathis (1986)

Fairytale Of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl) by The Pogues (1988)

Put A Little Love In Your Heart by Annie Lennox & Al Green (From 1988's Scrooged)

Christmas Must Be Tonight by Robbie Robertson (From 1988's Scrooged)

Mistletoe And Wine by Cliff Richard (1988)

We Should Be Together by Cliff Richard (1991)

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey (1994)

Stupid Bells by The Handsome Family (2002)

Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End) by The Darkness (2003)

Somewhere Only We Know (Keane cover) by Lily Allen  (2013)

On Christmas by Dum Dum Girls (2014)

Alone on Christmas Day by Phoenix (2015)

Love is Everything by Jon Anderson (2018)





Those are my favorites. Now it's your turn, which tunes get you in the Chrismas spirit? Any of the above, or others?

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 1-25)






25.)
Lost Stars by Adam Levine (From Begin Again soundtrack)
(Still not seen the movie. I wouldn't be surprised if the song gets an Oscar nomination)



24.)
Enough by Homeboy Sandman ft J-Live and Kurious
(The president is half listening)



23.)
Sunsets by Aunts
(Reminds me of Joy Division. A dark low-fi gem, and you feel his pain. It's almost fitting that the lyrics end in confusion. Feels longer than it actually is. The band have released several EPs)



22.)
Dark Comedy Late Show by Open Mike Eagle 
(Such an imaginative idea, which in a humorous way comments on news events in 2014. The year when I started listening to hip hop/rap music, having also played Kate Tempest's new album, and a few others)



21.)
Archie, Marry Me by Alvvays
(Not in love with the album, but a single that you remember)



20.)
Fancy (ft. Charli XCX) by Iggy Azalea
(A popular summer tune, that defined 2014. I like the chorus, the keyboard is unforgettable. The summer of 2014 also had the unavoidable Problem by Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea



19.)
Every Girl by Allah Las
(I love the opening guitar riff. Worship the Sun is a throwback to the 1960s, and similar to what Temples did this year on their album Sun Structures)




18.)
I Need You by M83 
(From Divergent soundtrack)





17.)
Morning by Beck
(A soothing album to listen to on those morning journeys)



16.)
Sugah Daddy by D'Angelo & The Vanguard
(Black Messiah was a surprise release in December, he had not put out an album in 14 years. I can hear Prince in the music. Favorite lyric: "And I just wish that I could open her up, to this deeper place of love")



15.)
Meet The Foetus Oh The Joy (feat. Shirley Manson of Garbage and Emily Kokal of Warpaint) by Brody Dalle




14.)
Down in The Hole by Bruce Springsteen
War On Drugs pretty much made the best Springsteen album of the year, but The Boss did deliver with this powerful track)



13.)
Choices (Yup) by E-40
(They manage to say a lot with the "Yup" "Nope" approach.  E-40 dropped Corner 1 and 2 in December, and have the albums Corner 3 and 4 scheduled for release in 2015)




12.) Rude by MAGIC!
(Bringing back reggae to the mainstream. With over 250 million youtube hits on the official video, an inescapable pop song of 2014)



11.)
Be Free by J. Cole
(Tribute to Ferguson, Missouri. Said the Gramophone list Be Free as their no 1 song of 2014)



10.)
Shelter Song by Temples




9.)
Chandelier by Sia




8.)
Johnny and Mary (Robert Palmer cover) by Bryan Ferry and Todd Terje 
(Best cover song of the year)




7.) 
Digital Witness by St. Vincent




6.)
Shake It Off by Taylor Swift
(Love it or hate it, arguably the best song of Swift's career thus far)



5.)
Coming of Age by Foster the People



4.)
Brooklyn Baby by Lana Del Rey



3.)
Disappearing by The War On Drugs
(My favorite album of the year, tough to pick a favorite track as there are so many)



2.)
Seasons (Waiting on You) by Future Islands
(A Dream Of You and Me and Back in the Tall Grass are other highlights from the album) 



1.)
Happy by Pharrell Williams
(Also listen to Marilyn MonroePharrell’s new album is not as great as his work on 2013's Random Access Memories. Still, there are a number of catchy tunes, and Happy is probably the most iconic song of  2014. As a critic wrote: "it's a lot better than most crap on the pop radio nowadays")



Thanks for following my top 100! Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? Did I miss any great music? As always, comments are welcome. Next, I'll share my favorite Christmas music. Stay tuned!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 26-50)







50.)
The Best Thing by Electric Youth 
(From the group who brought us the amazing A Real Hero from Drive soundtrack. They finally put out their first full length album Innerworld, which is a collection of tracks from the last few years. Innocence and Runaway are other stand-outs)



49.)
Girls Talk by Garbage (featuring Brody Dalle)
(So passionate, I love the beginning especially)




48.)
Ascension by I Break Horses
(A dreamy song which can make you forget your problems)



47.)
Hope For The Future by Paul McCartney 
(His best song in a long time. From the video game Destiny)



46.)
All of The People by Panama Wedding
(From the EP Parallel Play. A pop song that just works)



45.)
That's My Man by Liz 
(Very catchy, from Amazing Spiderman 2 soundtrack)



44.)
Perfect World by Broken Bells
(The first half of the album is impressive)



43.)
Summer by Calvin Harris
(To be honest, most of his songs sound the same. I think this is his best. A summer party anthem)



42.)
How About I Be Me by Sinéad O'Connor (2014 version)



41.)
Pickles From The Jar by Courtney Barnett
(Fun lyrics, about being different to your partner, in various ways)



40.)
Fall in Love by Phantogram
(I'm still wondering how they created those weird sounds)



39.)
Just A Little Boy For Chester Burnett by Swans (Listen on spotify)
(A creepy 12 minute journey. The singer is like a grown man who is as scared as a baby. Perhaps he is remembering ugly experiences from his life. The most haunting moment perhaps is when he sings "I need love" which is followed by laughter)



38.)
Boom Clap by Charli XCX
(From The Fault In Our Stars soundtrack)



37.)
(The keeper from the album, the other tracks just lack that special something)



36.)
Always in My Head by Coldplay
(The opener on the album, and the only track that continues to haunt me. If only the song was slightly longer.
The singles Magic, Midnight, True Love, and A Sky Full of Stars are decent, just a bit too repetitive, so I grew tired of them quickly)




35.)
Head Underwater by Jenny Lewis (Listen on spotify)
(With a title like that you would expect a suicidal song. Instead it’s very optimistic celebrating that we all have magic inside us)



34.) 
I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love by Sun Kil Moon
(A song most people can relate to)



33.)
High Ball Stepper by Jack White
(His new album has really grown on me. Would You Fight For My Love? is the other track I love.
Favorite lyric: ”But I can't kiss you 'til you lift up your chin. You have to want to stop being alone”)



32.)
Turn Blue by The Black Keys
("I got to stay on track just like Pops told me to". Fever is another great track from the album)



31.)
Nevermind by Leonard Cohen
(A catchy tune, and the Arabic sections are a nice touch. The lyrics are the usual mix of personal and fiction. Almost Like The Blues is the single, and quite haunting. The album may grow on me over time, at the moment I think it's good but not great)



30.)
Istanbul is the other stand-out for me. His vocal seems different now compared to The Smiths)



29.)
Passing Out Pieces by Mac DeMarco
(Other highlights from the album are Salad Days and Chamber of Reflection. The album is addictive, and at only 30 minutes, a quick listen. Apparently his previous output is supposed to be just as good or even better, so I'll be seeking that out )



28.)
The One That Lives Too Far by John Fullbright 
(The lyrics are the main reason why he’s placed in the top 100. Here are a few examples from the album:
”Maybe it’s the wind blowing us together, maybe it’s the world blowing me away”
"Some folks make something out of nothing, some people have to cry too long. While others wait beside the window, wondering why the wind would blow so strong”
"I’ll admit I’m feeling cold and naked, just like I’m standing in the rain, with nothing left out here to hide behind, and I wonder if you feel the same")




27.)
Iron Sky by Paolo Nutini
(An epic song that still gives me goose bumps. Features a sample from Charlie Chaplin's speech in his Hitler–lampooning 1940s film, The Great Dictator ("You are not machines! You are not cattle!").
Fashion (feat. Janelle Monae) is also a great track from the album)



26.)
Heal by Strand of Oaks (Listen on spotify)
(Woke Up To The Light is the other stand-out for me. Half the songs on the album Heal are above average. So it’s half a great album.
In a way, a companion to The War on Drugs album this year, with a similar, less polished, production)




Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 1-25 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 60-51)






60.)
Palo Alto by Devonté Hynes 
(From Palo Alto soundtrack)



59.)
Blackbird by Noni
(Thanks Ruth at Flixchatter for telling me about Beyond The Lights soundtrack)



58.)
FIXURLIFEUP by Prince and 3rd Eye Girl  
( From 2014’s PlectrumElectrum, you should also check out Whitecaps, thanks to Cristi B from The Sound and The Screen for the recommendation)



57.)
What Would You Do by Joan as Policewoman 
(The single Holy City is the most upbeat song on the album, and perhaps the catchiest as well. What Would You Do is my favorite for the feeling it gives me)



56.)
The Riverbed by Owen Pallett
(Epic is the best way to describe the sound. From same album, I Am Not Afraid is also a notable song about such diverse things as giving up smoking, whether to have children, and salvation)



55.)
Last Words by Hospitality
(Not a great album, but I love that song and that beat)




54.)
Saturn Song by Beach House
(Drifting off into space...)



53.)
Hey Now (Tensnake Remix) by London Grammar
(For me, the remix is an improvement on the original) 



52.)
Cherish by Ballet School
(A last minute addition from the album The Dew Lasts an Hour. A fantastic 80s throwback song, which I stumbled upon at Stereogum here. I'm also loving Heartbeat Overdrive(the shorter 3 min version from 2013 I prefer)
If you're wondering what got cut, it was Cosmo Black by Dynatron, from the soundtrack to COLD IN JULY)



51.)
(It’s quite gloomy, yet also thought-provoking about relationship issues. Was a toss-up between this or the track Colour Me In)



Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 50-26 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 70-61)





70.) 
(The single got stuck in my head, especially the intro. The second track Every Breaking Wave is good too, even if it is reminiscent of the U2 classic With Or Without You.
I found the rest of the album to be a forgettable and unemotional listen, which was unexpected, considering Bono said the lyrics are very personal. He explained in an interview on Graham Norton that all the new songs are first journeys: Going to London, going to LA, first love)



69.)
No Fate Awaits Me (feat. Faux Fix) by Son Lux
(The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Soundtrack)


68.)
Lonely Richard by Amen Dunes
(The singer has been described as a male Mazzy Star)



67.)
(I don’t usually listen to Aphex Twin so I’m not sure I understand how to listen to this type of music. I liked the single, the rest of album is a blur right now. I sort of treat it as background music even though it deserves better. An acquired taste)



66.)
Glass by Kasabian
(The spoken word last section of the song hit me in a "Trainspotting choose life" kind of way)



65.)
Love Never Felt So Good by Michael Jackson (feat. Justin Timberlake)
(The single, which is so upbeat, and just makes me happy. Among Jackson’s best posthumous tracks)



64.)
I Played a Role by El May
(An underrated singer. I previously enjoyed her self-titled 2010 album El May)




63.)
Time Forgot by Conor Oberst
(While he does sound like he is in pain, I like what he has to say)



62.)
My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit 
(The single, I like the orchestral production, and probably the catchiest tune from album. On 2014's Stay Gold, the opening 3-4 tracks are the strongest for me)




61.)
Creation by The Pierces
(An uneven album, the second half of which is skippable. Believe In Me and Kings are the other memorable tracks)



Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? As always, comments are welcome. Tracks 60-51 coming soon!

Top 100 songs of 2014 (tracks 80-71)






80.)
Sugar Storm by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross (Gone Girl Soundtrack)
(For me, along with Appearances, Sugar Storm is the most soothing track from the score.
Like Home is good too. Thanks to Sati at Cinematic Corner for pointing me towards the highlights from the score!)



79)
Son of Placenta Previa by Cliff Martinez (The Knick Soundtrack)
(I haven’t seen the show, so thanks to Jaina at Time Well Spent for the music recommendation)



78.)
Love by Mica Levi (Under the Skin Soundtrack) 
(Among the most creepy and atmospheric film scores of the year. Also check out the track Death. Mica Levi has crafted an original piece of music, in an age when many of the scores sound the same)



77.)
If It Wasn't True by Shamir 
(His debut EP Northtown has been rated as one of the best releases by a new artist in 2014. The second track I Know It's A Good Thing is good too, if you can get past he sounds like a a male Jennifer Lopez)


76.)
It's Good To Be Alive by Imelda May 
(Can get your spirits up)



75.)
Marshall Law by Kate Tempest 
(Debut album, she is a British poet/rapper. Impressive lyrics. Apparently she is currently writing a novel about the album characters. Lonely Haze and The Beigeness are a couple of other tracks to check out from the album. I recommend reading the lyrics while you listen because of the speed of her rap)



74.)
Hot Dreams by Timber Timbre
(A slow-paced album with few weaknesses that I don't get bored of. I don't skip over any of the tracks. Has been described as the bands strongest album to date. Atmospheric, brooding sound. To do the album justice, you really have to listen to the whole thing in its entirety)



73.)
You Can't Get Us Off Your Mind (feat. Lisa Collins) by Music Super Circus
(The opening of this song I’ve heard so many times advertised on youtube. I guess ads do work!)



72.)
The Upsetter by Metronomy
(Love the first half of the album. I'm pretty certain Aquarius (Let the Sunshine in) by The Fifth Dimension was an influence for the band)



71.)
Fuckers by Savages
(Kind of a female Joy Division. Opening 4 min wow, the rest is just...noise)




Agree or disagree? Have you listened to these albums? Which are your favorite scores of the year?

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