The Fashionably Late Top 60 of 2014 #35: Real Estate

2014 was quite a year. Not the best of years, on a personal level, but a rather good year from a music standpoint. Having given a listen to record after record after record from the year that was, I’ve pulled together a list of favorites, finding it next to impossible to whittle the list down any further beyond 60 (I tried). In this group of 60 you’ll find records from old, faithful friends, upstart newcomers, and even a headscratcher or two. You’ll probably see some records that were a Big Deal not on this list. I either didn’t bite or didn’t buy the hype. I’m pleased as punch with this list, and I hope you’ll come across something that might have otherwise passed you by. And so, without further ado, my favorite records of 2014.

WHO: Real Estate

WHAT: Atlas

WHEN: March 2014

WHERE: Domino

WHY: There are plenty of adjectives one could use to describe Real Estate's Atlas record. Dreamy, ethereal, rustic, charming, pastoral, incandescent, solid...and all of the above is true in spades. I sometimes forget how good this record is, and then I revisit it and hear plenty of reminders. "Talking Backwards" feels especially poignant, but the whole record is full of loveliness. This is some lovely, folksy psych to revel in time and time again. 

My jams: “Had To Hear,” “Talking Backwards,” “April’s Song,” “The Bend,” “Primitive,” “Horizon,” “Navigator”







[posted 4.25.15]