15. Lykke Li – I Never Learn

Released: May 2, 2014

Lykke Li’s third studio album I Never Learn is only 33 minutes, but is an amazing half hour following a young woman trying to find love. Arguably the best indie pop album of 2014, “Gunshot” and “No Rest for the Wicked” are can’t miss tracks. Li spent two and a half years writing this album, and it shows in the amazing song writing.

14.  St. Vincent – St. Vincent

Released: February 25, 2015

St. Vincent’s fourth solo and self titled album, produced by John Congleton, is her best project to date and instantly reached universal acclaim. Every song on this 11-track album is excellent and word do not do it justice. You certainly do not need to be a fan of indie to enjoy St. Vincent’s work, and especially not on this album.

13. Future – Honest

Released: April 22, 2014

Rapper/sing Future’s second studio album Honest is honestly awesome. With the six released singles standing out as the best tracks on the album, the album has the best features of any album this year. Honest features performances by Kanye West, Pusha T, Pharrell, Andre 3000, Lil Wayne and more. With executive production by Mike Will Made, the album is full of great beats with great and catchy singing by Future.

12. Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour

Released: May 26, 2014

You cannot turn on the radio today without hearing Sam Smith. The UK singer has quickly jumped to unprecedented commercial success for a male singer from the UK, and while commercial success does not exactly correlate to quality, this album is nothing short of a great quality album. Of course “Stay With Me” and “I’m Not the Only One” are some of the albums best tracks, but this debut is full of great songs. Sam Smith is where Adele meets Frank Ocean, so if you are a fan of either and live under a rock, go check out Sam Smith.

11. Common – Nobody’s Smiling

Released: July 22, 2014

Hip-hop legend Common’s tenth studio album, Nobody’s Smiling, is another gem to add to Common’s already legendary discography.

22 years into the game it’s apparent that Common has still got it. Throughout his career, but especially as of late, his album sales on the Billboard 200 haven’t been anything to write home about. And at the age of 42 and without having a charting single since 2008 or a top 10 album since 2007, don’t expect much saleswise from this album either; but as the saying in music goes, “sales don’t equal quality” and that definitely applies to this album. – Chris Montana