Part 3 of our series presenting some of the best of 2014 for your listening pleasure. This edition has a decidedly classicist bent (which should come as little surprise since this site isn’t exactly a bastion of the avant-garde). Nothing forward-looking here — lots of guitars. With only a few more favorites to come, we have the home stretch in sight. Almost time for the whip and the spur. Let’s round ’em up.

The Legal Matters – The Legal Matters

The history of harmony-laden power-pop on one record. Dotted throughout with the mid-60s “la la’s” of The Beatles and The Who, the New Wave moves of the late 70s/early 80s skinny tie bands, and a strong dose of The Gin Blossoms and Teenage Fanclub from the 90s.

A new classic for the harmony cravers.

Little Big Town – Pain Killer

Their second album in a row to make my Favorite of the Year list. For anyone who doesn’t remember, Little Big Town is what happens, loosely, if Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles grew up in Nashville and decided to twang it up together.

This is the album I had the hardest time narrowing down to two songs. Not just this week. Out of the whole bunch.

Robert Francis & The Night Tide – Heaven

The kind of down to earth rock that sold by the truckload in the 70s and 80s (think Springsteen, Dire Straits, Dylan) and has all but disappeared in the 21st century.

But dude truly kills it on the slow songs, where his lyrics sparkle like finely cut diamonds.

He went to Jared…in his soul.