Overall, it's been a great year for music once again. Though it seemed that classic metal, retro hard rock, and prog outdid extreme metal this year (in my opinion anyway) there was still some killer music across all genres here in 2014. Though I listened to HUNDREDS of new releases this year, there are still many that I did not get to, including some higher profile releases, so apologies to any deserving bands who are absent from this list and did not make the cut.

Live Albums
Queen : Live at the Rainbow 74
Marbin : The Third Set
Deep Purple : Graz 1975
Satan : Trial of Fire - Live in North America
Brand X : Live at the Roxy LA
Steve Hillage : Rainbow 77
Sweet : Level Headed Tour Rehearsals 1977
The Allman BrothersBand : Play All Night Live at the Beacon Theatre 1992
Little Feat : Live in Holland 1976
Stray : Live in Japan 2013
Deep Purple : Live in California 74
Gary Moore : Live at Bush Hall 2007
Todd Rundgren and Utopia : Live at the Electric Ballroom
Whitesnake : Live in 1984 - Back to the Bone
Status Quo : The Frantic Four's Final Fling, Live at the Dublin 02 Arena
Heart : Fanatic Live From Caesers Colosseum
The Move : Live at the Fillmore 1969
Blackberry Smoke: Leave a Scar : Live in North Carolina
Keith Jarrett/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian : Hamburg '72
Frogg Cafe : Admiral's Picks, Volume 1

These are my favourite releases from what has been another outstanding year in progressive rock:

Heliopolis : City of the Sun - (An album of superb craftsmanship and musicianship. My