Loved by some, missed by many – here’s a list of our favorite Mainland albums from new artists released in 2014. Buoyed by a growing number of livehouses popping up across second and third-tier cities, the rise of online music services like Douban and Xiami, and a new generation that - gasp - is actually paying for music, this year has been an epic one for releases. Last year, we made note of some of 2013's Notable Albums, but this year we took the plunge and listed our Top 25. We're still going on this week, recounting our Rookies of the Year and forecasting 2015's big releases. Feel free to send all love and/or complaints to arts@urbanatomy.com (preferably love), or better yet, comment below about what albums you think we missed. For the rest of the series, click here.

Kosma: Lost Dreamer/Dizkar: Deetape

(Groove Bunny Records)

Buy the albums at Taobao and Bandcamp.
Follow Groove Bunny on Douban and Facebook.

Best known for its dried cured ham, Jinhua City is becoming the unlikely hub for a Mainland hip hop movement thanks to Groove Bunny Records. In 18 months, the label has dropped tuff Cantonese boom bap from V.N.P. Crew and the jazzy soul of Yanbian born, Beijing based rap vet Wootacc. Part of their promise is unearthing new talent such as 20-year-old Guangzhou rapper Kosma. She whets the appetite for more, rhyming hard over Madlibian beats cooked up by rising producers Dizkar and Jinsfake on the Lost Dreamer EP. Groove Bunny says to expect more music from her in 2015 and to cap off a standout year, the label just released the debut beat tape from Dizkar (available in a stylish limited edition cassette), showing off the Yunanese producer’s futuristic take on classic jazz-soul rap

The Diders: The Diders

(D.O.G.)

Buy the album at Taobao.
Follow The Diders on Douban.

No VPN? Listen to The Diders at Xiami.

This youthful Beijing trio is following the Wasted Orient footsteps of the notorious Joyside, peddling classic dangerous rock and roll. They erupted last year like a punk supernova taking the city’s stages by storm. Their self-titled EP distills their irresistible appeal: Wang Zilu’s sloppy yet hooky riffs, Li Tingyu’s pounding drums and infectious screaming from the whole group over songs like ‘Beer Boy’ and ‘Suck It!’

Zean: Forget the Frame

(Rankadank Records)

Buy the album at Beatport.
Follow Rankadank Records on Douban, Facebook and Soundcloud.

No VPN? Listen to Zean at Xiami.

In the past two years, Harbin-born Stan Chen has reinvented himself from fearsome beat boxer Dirty Mouth to rising producer. He’s linked up with Conrank’s Rankadank Records and Forget the Frame is an ambient exploration of trap-tinged bass, full of unexpected sounds like the keys that cut through opener ‘Don’t Push It Back.’ Catch Zean at Rankadank's parties like their Electric East party at DADA Shanghai on January 9.

Colorful Z-bra: Youth

(Modern Sky)

Buy the album at Taobao and Modern Sky.
Follow Colorful Z-bra on Douban.

What a perfectly named album by the young Xi’an noise rock group. Formed in 2010 by university friends, there’s a youthful glee to the group as they loop riffs over each other on instrumentals like ‘Circular D,’ joyfully indulging in the racket they’re creating. Lyrically, there’s a nostalgic bent from a band that’s already grown up from doing Carsick Cars covers to releasing records on the country’s biggest indie label, Modern Sky.

Air Walker: Evolution

(self-released)

Buy the album at Taobao and Bandcamp.
Follow Air Walker on Douban and Facebook.

Since forming in 2010, the Shanghai quartet has been staples in the live scene showing off a sound that touched on indie synth-pop, shoegaze and post-rock. Their debut EP opens with what sounds like an accordion sample surrounded by a bevy of bleeps and bloops, before unraveling into a bewitching sound that distills of their influences. It’s a decidedly dream-pop listen with singer Lynette playing weekly Wednesday shows at MAO Livehouse until January 7, hopefully in preparation of Air Walker’s next move.

For the rest of the Top 25 Mainland albums of 2014 series, click here.