Riffed

We're over halfway into 2014 and albums are being released left, right and centre with plenty more yet to follow. But which have been the highlights so far? We've picked our top 5... 

5 Temples - Sun Structures

Released early 2014, 'Sun Structures' is still sending shockwaves across the industry. A powerful mix of indie and pyschedelia, Temples really set the bar high with their debut album. Highlights being the single, 'Shelter Song', 'Mesmerise', 'Keep In The Dark', 'A Question Isn't Answered' and title track, 'Sun Structures', all possess a kind of hypnotising sound. A sound that to brings an Egyptian desert to mind, or is that just us? Either way, 'Sun Structures' is a real classic and one of which has earned Temples plenty of plaudits, as 'Keep In The Dark' has even been taken from the album to feature in Strongbows new ad for their 'Bittersweet' cider. 

4 Damon Albarn - Everyday Robots

Damon Albarn returned to the scene earlier this year with his solo debut, 'Everyday Robots'. The former lead singer of Blur's debut is one certainly strange, but yet brilliant album. You feel as though Albarn wrote each song in steps, as nearly all possess random contrasts mid-song. The majority of people who've listened to 'Everyday Robots' will most probably admit that they have no clue what Damon is going on about, but all will agree that it's an excellent debut. 

3 Paolo Nutini - Caustic Love

Paolo Nutini made his long-awaited return in April with the follow up to 'Sunny Side Up', 'Caustic Love'. It may have been 5 years that Paolo left us waiting for, but wasn't it worth the wait? An undeniably fantastic album from the Scottsman, of which includes the highly acclaimed single 'Scream (Funk My Life Up)'. Nutini's voice sounds as though it's come straight from the Scottish highlands, a raw and pure voice that's so powerful it could be heared from miles away. Although 'Caustic Love' may not possess the vibrancy of 'Scream' throughout, it's an album you can sit and relax too, embracing the brilliant voice of Paolo Nutini. 

2 Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow 

'So Long, See You Tomorrow', the fourth studio album from Londoners Bombay Bicycle Club, and is it a surprise that it's brilliant? Well, not really, no. Including the singles 'Carry Me', 'Luna', 'Feel' and 'Come To', Bombay have once again topped their previous release, 'A Different Kind Of Fix', of which also topped their previous release, 'Flaws', of which also topped their previous release, 'I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose'. It's a kind of trend Bombay have started, so don't be surprised if the follow up to 'So Long, See You Tomorrow' tops it. Although, right now it seems pretty impossible to do so.

1 Kasabian - 48:13 

Shorty after Kasabian released '48:13' and we reviewed it, giving it a 9/10, we later questioned 'Is 48:13 Album Of The Year?' , and as of yet, it still is. An album of which has propelled Kasabian even further forwards, and after their headlining performance on the Pyramid at Glastonbury, there appears to be no stopping the Leicester lads. '48:13' is packed to the rafters with anthems, such as the single 'Eez-eh', as well as 'Bumblebeee', 'Stevie', 'Treat', and 'Bow' to name but a few and these anthems could be sung right the way up to Big Ben rings for 2015 and beyond. 

There are still plenty more albums yet to be released in 2014, but will anything knock '48:13' of its perch?

RIFFED x