Aspenbeat's Best Songs of 2014

Published December 21, 2014 at 6:01 PM MST

This playlist includes an hour of 2014's Best 'Under the Radar' songs, as broadcast Saturday night December 20 2014 on Aspen Public Radio's Aspenbeat show. Aspenbeat tends towards singer songwriter, contemplative, under the radar songs, with an emphasis on pop and rock and roll tunes. Yes, Taylor Swift, One Direction, Nick Jonas, Meghan Trainer, Ariana Grande, St. Vincent -- they've all released powerhouse songs this year. Those songs aren't on this list -- Aspenbeat is out to introduce you to some tunes that you might not be hearing on the radio or including on your Spotify playlist or Pandora station. Featuring both emerging and established artists including Willie Nelson, The New Basement Tapes, Stevie Nicks, Sam Smith, Pharrell Williams, Mariah Carey, Indiana, Jackson Browne, The Doobie Brothers, Dr. John, The Breithaupt Brothers featuring Ron Sexsmith, Tei Shi, Birds Over Arkansas, Kids On Bridges and Paolo Nutini. And we ran out of time but also Adam Levine and his 'Lost Stars' song from the 'Begin Again' movie.

What's interesting about year-end 'Best Of' music lists is that no two are the same or even close to the same. Below we've included links to some of the 'Best Of 2014' Song and/or Album Lists from NPR, The New York Times, Spin Magazine and other sites that Aspenbeat came across in its' research. There are some duplicates across the lists but not many. Aspenbeat's criteria for this list: these songs are played over and over again, and then over and over again again. They're played loud. We can't get enough of them. The rest is up to you.

Aspenbeat Best 'Under the Radar' Songs of 2014 Radio Show
Broadcast on Aspen Public Radio
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Host and Music Curator: Andrea Young

ARCHIVED AUDIO - LISTEN HERE: