Playlist: Nifty Fifty 2014

The year 2014 has seen some remarkable occurrences. From epic star-studded selfies at the Oscars to the more recent (and more serious) trending #blacklivesmatter, these past 12 months have been a social rollercoaster. The music world has seen its ups and downs as well with the rise of artists such as CRUISR, and ill-fated incidents like the theft of The Districts van and equipment. One of the few remaining consistencies is the level of notable tunes being churned out from the new and undiscovered. 2014 has been a year of innovation, pleasant surprises and in some cases, breakthroughs that left our ears eager for more. For our end of the year playlist we considered how often we hit “replay”, how many times we shared the track, and how long it keeps us groovin’ and movin’ in order to scientifically calculate this 2014 roundup (*bonus points were given if we sang along!). Swell Tone’s list of 50 nifty songs (in no particular order) is a mix of powerful riffs, outstanding vocals, and well-planned production that excites us for what these artists have to offer in the New Year. Cheers to 2014!