The best Seattle music of 2014

It’s that time of year when folks with street cred come out with their best-of lists for the year. I’ve got little street cred on music, but I do have a radio show and a popular blog, so I thought I’d throw my hat in the ring once again with my list of the best music of 2014 coming from bands that call Washington home, with the hopes that you’ll be exposed to some great new music you may not have heard of. Here’s my absolute favorite songs from local artists for 2014 – use these singles as a reason to fully immerse yourself in the albums:

6. Matt Bacnis Band, “Valley Girl”

Album: Heart, Stay Whole EP
Hometown: Bothell

You can’t help but whistle along to Matt Bacnis Band’s “Valley Girl,” a perfect marriage of pop and country that sticks with you long after the song ends. After they performed live in-studio during my show last month, the entire crew became obsessed.

5. Barcelona, “Cure”

Album: Know Love EP
Hometown: Seattle

This Seattle band is hip, moody, and vintage rock with both killer vocals and beautiful lyrics. They’re phenomenal live, if you can catch them.

4. Odesza, “Say My Name (featuring Zyra)”

Album: In Return
Hometown: Seattle

There’s a reason the two WWU alums who make up Odesza sell out show after show when they’re performing locally. They mix everything I love about M83, Porter Robinson and The Naked and Famous into a tidy, chillwave package.

3. Noah Gundersen, “First Defeat”

Album: Ledges
Hometown: Centralia

Noah Gundersen comes from a family of musical prodigies, and “First Defeat” is easily one of the most beautifully crafted, passionate songs I’ve ever heard. If you do a search on YouTube, you’ll find countless covers from fans all across the country. When’s the last time that’s happened from a singer/songwriter from Centralia?

2. Kris Orlowski, “Carolina”

Album: Believer
Hometown: Seattle

When Kris came to the studio for an interview on my show, he was a bit bummed we didn’t get a chance to play a clip from “Carolina,” which at the time, he said was his favorite song. I’m bummed I missed that chance to: it’s a complex, layered, and infectious song that well-represents his stand-out album.

1. Cataldo, “In Now and Then”

Album: Gilded Oldies
Hometown: Seattle

Not enough people know about Eric Anderson’s Cataldo. Let’s change that. His lyrics are poetic and introspective, his sound vintage and whimsical, with killer horns.