MTIB’s Top 50 Albums of 2014
20. Lo-Fang – Blue Film
19. Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso
18. Dan Croll – Sweet Disarray
17. We Were Promised Jetpacks – Unravelling
16. Ages and Ages – Divisionary
15. Sleeper Agent – About Last Night
From start to finish, Sleeper Agent delivers punch after punch in their major-label sophomore album About Last Night. Frontwoman Alex Kandel draws you in immediately with her raw and incredibly addicting voice, which has sharpened quite a bit since the 2011 debut Celabrasion. She keeps the vocals polished and smooth in the brighter singles “Waves” and “Take It Off,” but brings out the rougher, Kentucky-influenced sound in tracks like “Impressed” where she gets the chance to let loose. Although a little less gritty and punk fueled, this album still has that garage rock feel while adding in some poppier tunes.The heavy guitar and quick, back-and-forth vocals will keep your foot tapping and possibly bring you back to the piss and vinegar filled teenage years. – Maclean
14. Royal Blood – Royal Blood
13. Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes – Kid Tiger
12. The Black Keys – Turn Blue
11. Jack White – Lazaretto