In the first half of 2014, there has been good music from every genre, from glam pop to gansta rap. Here are the 10 best releases of 2014 so far:

10. Beck - "Morning Phase" (Capitol)

"Morning Phase" is the thematic follow-up to 2002’s "Sea Change"--there have been a few other albums in-between, but none with such similar explorations of darkness. Where "Morning Phase" splits from "Sea Change" is its attempt to rise above the rough patches in life. Beck has found good ground with his relaxed country folk, singing about darkness and despair with an unwavering edge of optimism. With gorgeous strings accompanying much of the album, Beck creates a dreamlike haze, a safety net of sorts to cradle us when we’re the most vulnerable.  

Songs to listen to: "Say Goodbye," "Morning," "Blue Moon"

9. YG - "My Krazy Life" (Def Jam)

On the surface, "My Krazy Life" is clearly gansta rap and easily club music. There’s a party anthem, sex soundtrack and criminal confession to boot. But a closer look at Compton’s YG reveals a regular guy struggling with girl problems, a disappointed mom, and making ends meet. As a whole, "My Krazy Life" tells a story about a man trying to have a good time, trifling too much with crime, paying the price for his mistakes, and realizing the consequences his actions have on his relationships. Along the same lines as Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city, "My Krazy Life" paints gangsta life in a deeply human way--it just doesn’t make quite as big of a commotion.  

Songs to listen to: "I Just Wanna Party," "Sorry Momma," "Meet The Flockers"

8. Tune-Yards - "Nikki Nack" (4AD)

Most of Tune-Yards' songs are the musical equivalent of a child who hasn’t taken her Adderall and is bouncing off rainbow-colored walls. "Nikki Nack" takes a new turn, showing what happens when Merrill Garbus decides to stop and catch her breath. For fans of her earlier albums, there’s still plenty of socially conscious war cries and colorful storytelling, but Garbus shows she can lift songs to greatness even when she slows down the tempo, no handclaps or exploding drums necessary.    

Songs to listen to: "Water Fountain," "Real Thing," "Wait For A Minute"

7. Sam Smith - "In the Lonely Hour" (Capitol)

It’s hard not to fall in love with Sam Smith’s voice. He has an insane vocal range, and his sound is round and soulful (imagine a male Adele). On "In The Lonely Hour," Smith sings about looking for love and his obstacles in finding it. Smith’s lyricism may not be groundbreaking, but it is honest and sincere, and his voice is good enough to mask where the lyrics fall short. 

Songs to listen to: "I'm Not The Only One," "Not In That Way," "Stay With Me"

6. Sylvan Esso - "Sylvan Esso" (Partisan)

Sylvan Esso’s combination of folk and synth pop is the perfect intersection between both sub-genres. Lead singer Amelia Meath carefully sings with staccato accuracy, matching Nick Sanborn’s woozy beats on exactly the right syllable. It’s meant to be listened to, but not too closely. This kind of music is more about how the words sound with the hybrid folksy synths than the meaning of the words themselves. Together, Meath and Sanborn create a mixed-pop child that’s catchy, danceable, and undeniably charming.

Songs to listen to: "Coffee," "Could I Be," "Uncatena"

5. Tink - "Winter's Diary 2: Forever Your's" (Self-released)

For anyone who itches for a return to 90’s R&B, look no further than Tink, whose sound is reminiscent of TLC. The Chicago singer and rapper may only have been 18 years old when she released this album, but she sings about relationships and growing up with an emotional maturity that far surpasses her age. Tink’s voice is soft and bright when she croons, yet Nicki-Minaj-like when she raps. The result works surprisingly well. Tink’s biggest strength is her ability to explore issues like cheating and heartbreak in a way all women can relate to.    

Songs to listen to: "Treat Me Like Somebody," "HML," "2 and 2"

4. Phantogam - "Voices" (Universal / Republic)

Sarah Barthel’s airy vocals soar over grinding beats and dreamy synths on Phantogram’s second full-length album. "Voices" is arguably darker than their previous releases, but even on songs like “Bad Dreams” and “The Day You Died,” the album is constantly buzzing with playful energy. Everything on "Voices" is slightly more precise and deliberate than Phantogram’s previous releases, thanks in part to producer John Hill (Rihanna, M.I.A.).   

Songs to listen to: "The Day You Died," "Bill Murray," "Black Out Days"

3. Lana Del Rey - "Ultraviolence" (Interscope / Polydor)

Lana Del Rey has always been, to name a song off the album, a “sad girl.” But unlike 2012’s "Born To Die," where she (or her producers) tried to lighten her sound with quicker tempos and hip hop overtones, "Ultraviolence" allows Lana to wallow in her sadness. She’s always been overdramatic and melancholy, but with the help of The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, she sounds tragic instead of whiny, theatrical rather than schmaltzy. Lana may be dealing with the same themes as she always does--toxic relationships, loneliness and sadness--but with improved production that fits her style, she does a much better job. 

Songs to listen to: "Brooklyn Baby," "Money Power Glory," "Ultraviolence"

2. RAC - "Strangers" (Interscope / Cherrytree)

RAC (standing for Remix Artists Collective) has been producing hit remixes for years with songs like “Houdini” by Foster The People and “Blue Jeans” by Lana Del Rey. Everyone already knows that André Allen Anjos, the principal member of RAC, can make a killer remix. But now Anjos has proven his ability to craft songs in their entirety, from writing to producing. "Strangers," originally released in two parts, has all the trademark RAC touches--80’s synths, hand claps, catchy hooks--but Anjos also explores new territory, experimenting with strings here and an acoustic interlude there. 

Songs to listen to: "Hard To Hold," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Let Go"

1. St. Vincent - "St. Vincent" (Republic / Loma Vista)

Annie Clark mixes twitching synths, shredding guitar and her ever-bright vocals to create what can best be described as futuristic funk pop. Clark has always been a great songwriter, but her writing on this eponymous album is freer than her previous three. Compared to her earlier work, there’s less trying to make a statement; Clark just does it. 

Songs to listen to: "Digital Witness," "Rattlesnake," "Regret"

Reach Staff Reporter Sophia Li here.