10 Best Albums of 2014
From Eric Church's outlaw country to Lana del Rey's case for guitar rock to St. Vincent's mad studio science
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10. Eric Church, The Outsiders
Four albums in, Church continues to carry the torch for outlaw country. The rowdy title track leaves nothing but scorched earth in its wake, but he’s no one-note badass. Outsiders proves Church is a tender storyteller, too, with an ear for experimental production. ”Dark Side” and ”A Man Who Was Gonna Die Young” wring poignant introspection out of his acoustic guitar, and wistful centerpiece ”Talladega” hums with so much genuine emotion, it’ll make even the most resolute Yankee pine for the South. —Madison Vain
December 5 2014 — 12:00 AM EST
