Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from DJ & Assistant Music Director Pat Seymour.

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

Great second album from this Detroit post-punk influenced rock group. Each time I listen to it a new song jumps out and becomes my favorite of the album. It’s hard to put my finger on it but this album really strikes a chord with me.

Non-Fiction by Death Blues (SIGE)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

The second in percussionist Jon Mueller’s Death Blues series of albums is a monster. Two side long tracks that build and build using drums, voice, and hammered acoustic guitars. It what I wish those 20-30 minute songs on the most recent Swans albums would sound like.

Burn Your Fire for No Witness by Angel Olsen (Jagjaguwar)
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Musically this album is much more upbeat than her previous releases. Olsen is drawing on some classic country music to fill out her sound. I have to be in a specific mood to want to play her last album Half Way Home, this one less so.

MetaL MetaL by Metá Metá (Mais Um Discos)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

The second album from São Paulo’s Metá Metá is a great mixture of tropicalia, afro-beat, jazz, and pop music. Think of a Brazilian version of Goat and you are getting warm.

Locus by Chicago Underground Duo (Northern Spy)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

What year end list of mine would be complete without an appearance by one of Rob Mazurek’s many groups? The Duo move further into their electronic experimental post-jazz to delightful effect.

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

One of the leading names in the footwork genre makes his most accessible album yet. Some of the harsher edges have been dulled and Traxman’s sampling is adventurous, for some reason reminding me of early De La albums.

Tzenni by Noura Mint Seymali (Glitterbeat)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

I caught some of her set at a festival this past summer and was immediately entranced. Seymali has a striking voice and her backing band remind me of the Guitars from Agadez album that Sublime Frequencies releases.

Emmaar by Tinariwen (ANTI-)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

I was late getting into this group but Emmaar certainly hooked me on their hypnotic desert blues.

Nipomo by DVA (Northern Spy)
BUY: Reckless / Permanent / iTunes / Insound / Amazon

This Czech duo’s album Nipomo is a fun rambunctious set of songs that sounds like Juana Molina if she were jacked up on a whole bunch of sugar.

Reissues/Comps

Ecstasy of Gold: Killer Bullets from the Spaghetti West  This year the label Semi-Automatic released the final set in their 5 volume exploration into the music of Spaghetti Western soundtracks. Whistling, overly dramatic vocals, badass guitars, and more, what’s not to love. Grab any of them if you can find em, they are worth it.

Flesh Eaters - A Minute to Pray A Second to Die Joined by two members of the group X, Chris Desjardins’ revolving door band is at their peak here. A marimba and saxophone, on paper that sounds like a bad move for a punk album, or maybe it is the most punk move...

Family Fodder - Monkey Banana Kitchen This oddball collective from England finally saw some of their albums back in print after 30+ years. Imagine This Heat if they didn’t take themselves so seriously and you have Family Fodder.

Brigitte Fontaine & the Art Ensemble of Chicago - Comme a la Radio Fontaine teamed up with the Art Ensemble while they were living in Paris and on a musical hot streak. The group reign in some of their wilder tendencies and let Fontaine’s alluring vocals shine.