Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

New Music Monday: Our Favorite Songs from 2014

new music monday favorite tracks 2014 cold specks
New Music Monday is moving in a new direction. Today and next Monday we’ll be looking back through 2014 at some of our favorite tunes of the year, and the week after that, we will discuss the most anticipated records of 2015.

This week we focus on our five favorite tracks from New Music Monday artists.

Related Videos

5. PHOX – “Slow Motion” from PHOX (Partisan Records)

The list begins with “Slow Motion,” the breezy lead single from PHOX’s self-titled debut record. The septet plays an appealing brand of indie pop that features tinges of folk, Americana, and even Caribbean music. The standout element on both “Slow Motion” and PHOX, however, is lead singer Monica Martin’s voice. Even with myriad instruments (including the less-than-common flugelhorn and banjo), Martin’s voice shines through gorgeously.

Purchase PHOX on Amazon or iTunes.

4. Wye Oak – “The Tower” from Shriek (Merge Records)

Shriek, Wye Oak’s fourth full-length, sees the band moving in a new sonic direction. After two years of constant touring in support of the band’s previous record Civilian, Jenn Wasner found herself exhausted by the guitar. For songwriting purposes, Wasner exchanged her guitar for an electric bass, and the new album introduces synthesizers to the mix. “The Tower” is the track that first introduced Wye Oak’s new sound and for good reason. The song’s mood holds true to the music Wye Oak perfected on Civilian while introducing not only synthesizers but elements of synth pop.

Purchase Shriek on Amazon or iTunes.

3. Field Report – “Home (Leave the Lights On)” from Marigolden (Partisan Records)

Wye Oak aren’t the only band on our list to add synths to expand their sound. Field Report’s sophomore record, Marigolden, finds the band’s sound growing even as its members shrink from seven to four. The album runs the musical gamut, from the Traveling Wilburys-esque pop of “Home,” to the Neil Young-inspired piano ballad “Ambrosia,” to the electronic sonic landscape of “Wings.”

Purchase Marigolden on Amazon or iTunes.

2. Sondre Lerche – “Lucifer” from Please (Mona Records)

Please finds Sondre Lerche’s songwriting and lyrics in fine form. Though much of the record was written beforehand, the album centers on Lerche’s divorce from his wife of eight years. “Lucifer” features some of Please‘s strongest lyrics and arrives at its center. Despite the song’s title it does not fall into accusations or recriminations, but rather finds Lerche examining himself and his dark side, or as he sings “indulg[ing] the dusk.”

Purchase Please on Amazon or iTunes.

1. Cold Specks – “A Formal Invitation” from Neuroplasticity (Mute Records)

After her Polaris Prize-nominated debut, I Predict a Graceful Explosion, Al Spx had the opportunity to work with artists like Moby, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Swans. She even made a guest appearance at Joni Mitchell’s 70th birthday party alongside Herbie Hancock. Those collaborations are reflected on Spx’s sophomore album, Neuroplasticity, which ranks among the best releases of 2014. Michael Gira of Swans makes appearances on “Exit Plan” and “A Season of Doubt,” which Akinmusire appears on as well, but it is “A Formal Invitation” that is the record’s strongest track. Aptly called an “apocalyptic, goth-folk epic” by AllMusic, “A Formal Invitation” burns slow and strong for four and a half minutes before ending with the ominous line, “Smother you with silence until you choke on dead air.”

Purchase Neuroplasticity on Amazon or iTunes.

Editors' Recommendations

Chelsea vs Everton live stream: How to watch for free
The Manual examines the United States men's soccer team as it stands on the brink of earning a ticket to the World Cup in Qatar this summer.

Chelsea vs Everton will be a delight to neutrals and fans of the respective teams alike. Chelsea will be keen to gain their fourth win in a row, but that doesn't mean Everton won't want to shake things up. If you're looking for a free Chelsea vs Everton live stream to catch up on all the action, you're in luck. Here's how to watch the game without paying a thing.
Free Chelsea vs Everton live stream
Chelsea vs Everton is streaming on USA Network when it kicks off at 1.30 pm ET. The channel is available through a lot of different sports streaming services, but we recommend using FuboTV. That's because there's a FuboTV free trial so you can check out the Chelsea vs Everton live stream for free. The trial only lasts seven days, but that's plenty of time to check out other channels on the service with over 115 available covering news, entertainment, and sport. Channels such as ESPN, Disney Channel, and CNN will keep you interested, among many others. FuboTV costs $65 for the basic plan with upgrades also available including premium channels as add-ons. It's a great option for cord-cutters and is sure to appeal to you for far longer than simply watching today's game.

If you happen to be traveling abroad while still keen to watch Chelsea vs Everton, you may find that FuboTV doesn't travel with you. It's frustrating when you can't access a service you're paying for (or using the time-limited free trial), but there is a way around this. Sign up to NordVPN and you can 'trick' your connection into thinking you're still back home, thereby allowing you to access FuboTV and watch the match. All you need to do is open the app and choose a US-based server. From there, NordVPN makes it look like your home allowing you to access your streaming services. It also enhances your security so it's ideal for when dealing with public Wi-Fi or hotel Wi-Fi that may be unsafe compared to your home network. There's a NordVPN free trial too to help you check it out risk-free for the first 30 days.

Read more
How to Watch UFC 286: Live Stream Edwards vs Usman
Edwards vs Usman UFC 286 live stream promo image.

While UFC 286, taking place on Saturday, March 18, is set to feature some excellent fights, the main event will see Leon Edwards defending his Welterweight title against Kamaru Usman in a highly-anticipated rematch. It's something that avid fans won't want to miss, which means you should secure access to a UFC 286 live stream well in advance. The good news is it's possible to watch online if you know where and how. Don't fret, we have you covered there, just keep reading.

How to Watch UFC 286 in the US

Read more
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ trailer: There’s plenty for adult fans to love
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back on the big screen
seth rogens teenage mutant ninja turtles trailer tmnt

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of the most enduring entertainment franchises of all time. Between comic books, video games, action figures, and movies, the sarcastic, funny, and kickass adolescent reptiles have been relevant in a variety of mediums since the 1980s. What was once a signature franchise for Generation X and Millennials has now been passed down to new generations of fans.

Still, the heartbeat of the fandom comes from these older generations. TMNT lost its way a little bit in recent years, but original fans have now attempted to bring back what made the stories and characters so unique. It started with the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, which came out in the summer of 2022, and now it extends to the Seth Rogen-produced film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Read more