We're almost halfway through 2014 and there's already been great music on the local, national and international stages.
From jazz to experimental ambient music, there's been something for pretty much everyone this year.
On Friday's Up to Date, host Steve Kraske was joined by a panel of music lovers to find the best bands, albums, and tracks so far in 2014.
Here are our guests' picks:
Local/Regional
- Everette DeVan — "For the Love of You" — For the Love of You
- Tom Sauk — "Bearly" — Harbor
- Cowboy Indian Bear — "Figure"
- Kelley Hunt — "Let It Rain" — Beautiful Bones
- Lion — "Mothball" — album TBA
- Your Friend — "Tame One" — Jekyll/Hyde EP
- Phil Neal & the Wornalls — "Dancin' in the Corner" — Lifeline
- Black Daniels and the Bears — "You Might Be High" — Copacetic
- Forrester — "Anywhere But Here" — Antithesis EP
- Diverse — "Motherland" — Our Journey
- The Quivers — "Guaranteed" — Young Hot Mess
National/International
- Da Cruz — "Cansado do Sao Paulo" — Disco e Progresso
- Kelis — "Hooch" — Food
- Zara McFarlane — "Open Heart" — If You Knew
- St. Vincent — "Regret" — St. Vincent
- Sylvan Esso — "Play It Right" — Sylvan Esso
- Broods — "Coattails" — BROODS
- Phantogram — "Fall in Love" — Voices
- The River Monks — "Beasts" — Home Is The House
- Hozier — "From Eden" — From Eden EP
Guests:
- Bill Brownlee, music critic for the Kansas City Star and jazz blogger.
- Chris Haghirian, Middle of the Map Festival co-founder and music podcaster.
- Hannah Copeland, president of Sonic Posse and Up to Date intern.
