One of my favorite things to do when pouring over critics best of 2014 lists is seeing where the War on Drugs album - Lost in the Dream ranks. I believe we ranked it #2 over at the Bearded Gentlemen Music, and it came in at #3 on Pitchfork.

I honestly can't think of an album I wanted to listen to more before I finally scored my copy at the beginning of the year. I remember listening to it and kinda reveling in the sadness of the record... it reminded me of listening to music on the Radio as a kid in the 80's. I heard bits of Dire Straits, Tom Petty, Dylan and Mellencamp in the music too...

It's possibly the finest indie recording of the year and if it wasn't for a pair of records that pulled on my heart strings a little more - it would have easily been my album of the year.

Recommended Tracks:

With the exception of the new Braid album later this year, there is no album that I have wanted to hear more than "Lost in the Dream" by The War on Drugs.

If you've never heard of the band or the album, may I suggest that you listen to it when your up very, very late at night or just after you get up in the morning. I've been listening to it exclusively before going to work all week and I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a top 3 album of 2014 for me.

The songs are so beautifully crafted and the heartache on the album is breathtaking at times. I want to write more, but can't fight the urge to shut up and listen to it again. You should drop everything you're doing now and hear it too.

Stand Out Tracks:

Artists: The War On Drugs
Album: Lost in the Dream
Producer: Adam Granduciel
Label: Secretly Canadian
Recorded: ?