Best Albums of December 2014
The highest-rated albums released in December 2014, ranked by critical consensus from professional music critics.
December 2014 delivers a concentrated snapshot of hip-hop’s storytelling power in our Best Albums of December 2014 round-up. Fewer releases this month sharpened attention on records that aimed for emotional resonance and sharp songwriting rather than sheer volume.
Standout release included J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive, which led December’s conversation with a 64/100 critical consensus from 8 professional reviews. Critics praised Cole’s autobiographical lyricism and warm, minimalist production even as debates continued over its ambition and polish. That consensus suggests December favored personal narratives and artists consolidating their voices rather than radical reinventions.
Against a quieter release slate, December 2014’s album releases underscored a trend toward intimate, concept-driven records and established artists doubling down on self-definition. Scroll down for the full ranked list and deeper takes on how these few but focused releases shaped the month’s musical landscape.
