Earlier this year, Columbus, Ohio’s party rockers Cadaver Dogs released their blistering new album Too Much. During the course of the record, the duo deliver their road tested blend of grimey, glammed-up cuts.
The band have spent most of the year, the last three actually, on the road and have had plenty of time to size up this year’s album releases. So Ghettoblaster caught up with the band to ask about what they’ve rabid over. This is what they told us.
Our picks for best albums of 2014. We had to do fourteen because it seemed appropriate and we couldn’t get rid of any, ha ha.
Cadaver Dogs’ Top 14 albums of 2014 that weren’t written by Cadaver Dogs or Taylor Swift:
1. Mastodon, Once More Round The Sun
They’ve been creeping towards the position of biggest and best band on the planet for some time, but with their sixth album they’ve definitely claimed the title. The last 90 seconds of “Halloween” features the best guitar put to tape in 2014 (thank you Brent Hinds), and we got to hang out in his basement, drink tequila, and watch him shred until 6 am a few months ago, so that gave them the personal edge. Best enjoyed high as fuck.
2. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye
The American legend returns with his faithful backing band in tow to deliver a killer collection of tunes that stands up to the best work of their illustrious career. ‘Fault Lines’ is as funky as anything they’ve released in ages, and this album quickly became a staple soundtrack to our cross-country drives.
3. Death From Above 1979, The Physical World
Waiting ten years to put out your sophomore release is a pretty bold move, but DFA did it in the best fashion possible. Though this album got panned by a lot of folks, we think it sounds exactly like it should have a decade after their only previous output, and obviously we gotta give it up for a fellow duo. Now how do we get a tour lined up with them…
4. Against Me!,Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Another band that has killed it record after record, show after show, and has been a huge inspiration for us for years. Laura Jane Grace proves that she is one of the best lyricists in the game yet again, and it seems they’ve finally got a solid lineup for the first time in years. No one knows what the next chapter in their story will be, but you can bet we’ll be lining up to find out.
5. Kelis, Food
Who knew the ‘Milkshake’ queen was capable of turning out music as legitimately interesting and expansive as this? Taking influence from her burgeoning side-career as a chef, this album is packed with incredible vocal performances and some of the best brass arrangements we’ve heard in a long time. We like Beyonce as much as anyone but Kelis is a serious contender for the soul/R&B throne.
6. Afghan Whigs. Do To The Beast
Not gonna lie, we were completely unfamiliar with this band or their storied back history, but this album certainly makes us wanna go back and find out. Their first release in sixteen years, let’s hope we don’t have to wait that long for the next one.
7. Brody Dalle, Diploid Love
Full disclosure, we think everything Brody does is gold. So while this might not be the best release of her career, her first effort under her own name expanded on the natural progression she’s been working towards for years. Check out the video for “Don’t Mess With Me” and just try not to get pumped.
8. Foxy Shazam, Gonzo
This band has remained an anomaly in the music world since their inception, and the latest (last?) chapter was no exception. Finding the band at the rawest point of their storied career, Foxy continued to keep fans on their toes, dropping the record for free and with almost no warning. It may not go down as the fan favorite in their catalog, but they certainly proved their ability to expand and grow as musicians, and seeing it live in its entirety was awe-inspiring.
9. Crobot, Something Supernatural
An amazing debut album from a band keeping American rock & roll alive and well. They’ve started landing some huge touring and festival opportunities and winning over all the right people in the right places, so look for them to keep delivering the goods for a long long time.
10. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence
This is a 100% Lex choice, Mat can’t stand her, but Lex is writing this, goddamit. Lana, you’re amazing, you don’t give any fucks and therefore I give all the fucks. Call me.
11. Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways
12. Royal Blood, Royal Blood
Another dynamic duo who are destined to do big things. They just formed last year, released their debut album in 2014, and did everything right in between. They’ve gone from playing 200 capacity to rooms to selling out shows to thousands of people in mere months, and they just got tapped to open the Foo Fighters next big arena tour, so expect to see them on magazine covers and whatnot for years to come.
13. Every Time I Die, From Parts Unknown
It always seemed like ETID were never quite able to be as heavy as they wanted to be. Sure they could riff as well as anyone, and Keith Buckley can vocally thrash like a motherfucker, but they tended to tread more on the rock side of things and that led to a string of undoubtedly great records. But with this release they just went straight for the jugular and I bet they’re having a hell of a good time playing these tracks live.
14. Wild Adriatic, Big Suspicious
Our dudes from Albany wrote a classic! They get better every time we see them, and I cannot imagine a world where they don’t blow up. Bluesy, soulful, rocking, and catchy as hell, these dudes are so good at their instruments it makes me mad. They’re currently on their first European tour, and I’ll be sad if the fans there don’t wanna give them back, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
(Check out Cadaver Dogs 2014 album Too Much, out now on Mind Over Matter Records and add it to your favorite records of the year list. Visit them here: http://www.cadaverfuckingdogs.com.)