Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from volunteer Al Gabor.

#1St Vincent by St Vincent (Loma Vista/Republic)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

It should not have taken St. Vincent’s electrifying performance at Pitchfork to make me take a closer listen to this album, but it did. At Pitchfork, she subverted and parodied rock star poses and then shredded and rocked as hard as any one of those stars. This album takes all the strengths in evidence in St Vincent’s earlier albums--lyrical wit, innovative guitar sounds and gorgeous vocals--and balances them perfectly.

#2Somewhere Else by Lydia Loveless (Bloodshot)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

The madness of love (like the trope of love as an addiction) is a cliche. But when someone takes that cliche, grabs it by the throat and sings and plays it the hell out of it, well, suddenly it seems like a revelation. Somewhere Else is a revelation--a shot of bourbon in a world of rosemary-infused fizzy cocktails.

#3Are We There by Sharon Van Etten (Jagjaguwar)
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Her best yet--the same thing I’ve said about her last two albums. Although Van Etten hasn’t broadened the breadth of her subject matter, her songs continue to grow in nuance and power

#4Under the Color of Official Right by Protomartyr (Hardly Art)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

Angular, caustic, and droll postpunk from the Motor City that would make Iggy proud.

#5The Voyager by Jenny Lewis (Warner Bros. Records)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

The '70s LA rock production throws you at first. But it’s just sugar-coating lyrics sharp and cutting as glass shards

#6Rips by Ex Hex (Merge Records)
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Mary Timony (Helium, Wild Flag) brings back the 3-minute rock song--actually gives us a dozen terrific ones.

#7Morning Phase by Beck (Capital)
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Beck revisits the sound of 2002’s Sea Change, working with many of the same musicians and delivering many of same sonic delights

#8Brill Bruisers by The New Pornographers (Matador)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

A. C. Newman is happy; songs are happy; New Pornographers fans are happy.

#9Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs (Secretly Canadian)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

I’ve always been a sucker for Dylanesque vocals and when you add stellar guitar atmospherics and solid song craft to the mix, the results are transfixing.

#10Tomorrow’s Hits by The Men (Sacred Bones)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

Shambolic rockers reminiscent of the Replacements or pub rockers Brinsley Schwarz.