Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from DJ and Assistant Music Director DJ Dead Alive (Dave Toropov).

#1Ni**as on the Moon by Death Grips (Harvest)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"Once you free your mind about a concept of harmony and music being correct, you can do whatever you want." - Giorgio Moroder

#2Pinata by Freddie Gibbs & Madlib (Madlib Invazion)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality." - Frida Kahlo

#3You're Dead! by Flying Lotus (Brainfeeder)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened." - Gautama Buddha

#4Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse by Mariah Carey (Def Jam)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"Perhaps you should trying being a female & doing my job (& stick to your guns) & see if you could do it SO much better? Thanks." - Sky Ferreira

#5Tony by King Louie (Lawless Inc.)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with me. Brotherhood is a two-way street." - Malcolm X

#6My Love Is A Bulldozer by Venetian Snares (Planet Mu)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

“The past is never dead. It's not even past.” - William Faulkner

#7riZe vadZimu riZe by Chimurenga Renaissance (Brick Lane)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm." - Marcus Garvey

#8Da Mind of Traxman Vol. 2 by Traxman (Planet Mu)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein

#9the imagined savior is far easier to paint by Ambrose Akinmusire (Blue Note)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"It almost feels like I'm catching up with myself. I'm changing everyday. Who you were yesterday isn't necessarily who you are today. You also have to have the courage to say that what you believed in yesterday you don't believe in today." - Ambrose Akinmusire

#10Glass Boys by Fucked Up (Matador)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

"You take somebody that cries their goddam eyes out over phoney stuff in the movies, and nine times out of ten they're mean bastards at heart." - JD Salinger