It has been a truly massive year for music. Many bands have had monumental releases, be it their debut or their thirteenth album. Many of my favorite artists, both up-and-comers and established artists, made great albums this year. While there were many albums this year that I absolutely adored, I decided to narrow the list of my favorites down to 20. So here they are, my favorite albums of last year!
20. Kaskade - Automatic
Kaskade is one of the biggest DJ-producers at the moment, as evidenced by the massive turnout to his 2015 Coachella performance. This year's release, Automatic, a follow-up to his fantastic 2013 effort Atmosphere, features dance floor and festival killers like "Never Sleep Alone" and "Disarm You". Kaskade's sudden bloom in popularity over the last few years, along with dudes like Skrillex and Zedd, are proof of something I've known for a while now: EDM is taking over.
Highlights: Never Sleep Alone (feat. Tess Comrie); Disarm You (feat. Ilsey)
Highlights: Never Sleep Alone (feat. Tess Comrie); Disarm You (feat. Ilsey)
19. Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile
California singer Tori Kelly released her debut this year. While the album has earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, the music blogs and critics have, in my opinion, criminally overlooked this debut. Tori Kelly's vocals shine through even her fantastic songwriting, all topped off by great, brassy production courtesy of Max Martin. Appearances by LL Cool J and Ed Sheeran add to an already wonderful album. While Ms Kelly is already a superstar with over a million fans on Facebook, she is no doubt on the path to becoming one of America's next pop superstars.
Highlights: Unbreakable Smile; Nobody Love; Should've Been Us
Highlights: Unbreakable Smile; Nobody Love; Should've Been Us
18. Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit
When I first saw Courtney Barnett in 2014 at that summer's Firefly Music Festival, I knew she was something special. One debut album later, I feel totally vindicated in my opinions. An album that's equal parts Nirvana and Lou Reed, Sometimes I Sit and Think rocks and rolls with some loud moments ("Pedestrian At Best") and slows it down with some quieter moments ("Depreston"). A very musical album from one of indie music's new stars.
Highlights: Elevator Operator; Pedestrian At Best; Depreston
Highlights: Elevator Operator; Pedestrian At Best; Depreston
17. Chris Stapleton - Traveller
One of the most unexpected commercial successes this year came from Nashville's own Chris Stapleton. After a performance at the 2015 CMAs with pal Justin Timberlake, Stapleton's career got a boost and caused his album sales to skyrocket, to the point where his album re-entered the charts at #1 and stayed there for two weeks. For good reason too: Traveller is neo-traditional country revivalism at its absolute best.
Highlights: Traveller; Fire Away; Tennessee Whiskey
Highlights: Traveller; Fire Away; Tennessee Whiskey
16. Grimes - Art Angels
Pop's weirdest musician released one of this year's most fun and compelling albums with Art Angels. While I described Grimes as being "pop", it's hard to really put her into a category, and I think that's what makes her awesome. It has the makings of a pop album that fan of indie will love, and yet it doesn't really fit anywhere. I guess that's part of what makes the album so enjoyable.
Highlights: California; Kill V Maim
Highlights: California; Kill V Maim
15. Dr. Dre - Compton
At long last! After over a decade of rumors circulating about a new album, one of hip-hop's most important figures finally comes through with an album inspired by the hit movie Straight Outta Compton. Even if it's not Detox, just having a new album by Dr. Dre in 2015 is nothing short of miraculous. While this is Dre's last-ever album, I think we can all appreciate that such a big figure in hip-hop music released this to us. It features all of his old friends--Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, The Game, Ice Cube--plus some new names such as King Mez, Justus, and Anderson .Paak. A great, late-career release from the doctor himself.
14. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Asunder, Sweet, and Other Distress
Canadian post-rock gods have returned with another heavy, haunting album full of long songs and dark instrumentals. I had the opportunity to see this band perform this album live earlier this year. The band performed in front of a screen that played a set of creepy old film footage, but paired with this album, it really meshed together very well. While it will be hard for Godspeed to make an album on the level of Lift Yr Skinny Fists..., this album (and all their others, for that matter) come pretty damn close.
13. Maddie & Tae - Start Here
One of the year's most exciting country albums comes from Madison Marlow and Taylor Dye, known professionally as Maddie & Tae. The duo first gained attention in 2014 with their feminist answer to bro-country's objectification of women "Girl In A Country Song", and have since released more personal singles such as the ballad "Fly". On top of these great songs, the duo showcases great vocals and beautiful harmonies that I wish happened more in country music. This is definitely a group I'm going to be watching over the next several years.
Highlights: Girl In A Country Song; Fly; Shut Up and Fish.
Highlights: Girl In A Country Song; Fly; Shut Up and Fish.
12. Lianne La Havas - Blood
British songstress Lianne La Havas released one of this year's most unique albums with Blood. She combines her guitar playing with her silky-smooth voice, as well as crossing pop and soul music to create one of this year's most sonically-pleasing records.
Highlights: Unstoppable; What You Don't Do
Highlights: Unstoppable; What You Don't Do
11. Hop Along - Painted Shut
Indie rockers Hop Along released their sophomore album earlier this year. I wasn't familiar with the group before this album, but this record certainly made me sit up and take note for one simple reason: frontwoman Frances Quinlan's unique and raspy vocals. While the music and lyrics are great in and of themselves, Quinlan's vocals are really what make this record as excellent as it is.
Highlight: The Knock
Highlight: The Knock
10. Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color
I think it's safe to say that we all knew this album would be a critical and commercial success long before it was even announced. Indeed, the Shakes returned this year with a sophomore effort that was an improvement on all fronts from their 2012 debut, Boys & Girls. This was the group's first number one album, and after completing a string of US festival dates this past summer, I can tell that the Alabama Shakes--and Brittany Howard, especially--are on their way to greater things.
Highlight: Don't Wanna Fight
Highlight: Don't Wanna Fight
9. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell
Sufjan Stevens' melancholy seventh studio album is a set of stripped-down acoustic ballads that serve as a depressing, but wonderful, tribute to the singer-songwriter's late mother. It's not an easy album to listen to without feeling sad, but the emotion from Stevens' lyrics and voice over the sparse instrumentals make this a great listen from top to bottom.
Highlights: Death With Dignity; Should Have Known Better; Fourth Of July
Highlights: Death With Dignity; Should Have Known Better; Fourth Of July
8. Blur - The Magic Whip
Blur's first album of new material since 2003's Think Tank is also one of their best, with the band fusing the sounds of classic Blur with the dystopian trip-hop-alt-rock of Gorillaz (who, incidentally, have a record due next year). It's one of Damon Albarn's best projects to date and has me in high hopes for the Gorillaz album.
Highlights: Lonesome Street; Go Out
Highlights: Lonesome Street; Go Out
7. Tame Impala - Currents
Aussie psychedelic rockers Tame Impala take a complete 180 on their third album, going from rock to pop. While this change in sound has had a mixed reaction among the fanbase, I personally think it's their best record to date. It's so danceable, and in some ways is even more trippy than their past works.
Highlights: Let It Happen; The Less I Know the Better
Highlights: Let It Happen; The Less I Know the Better
6. Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion
No, this isn't a joke.
Canadian pop songstress Carly Rae Jepsen comes back this year with a surprisingly great 80s-inspired pop record. Sonically, it doesn't sound dissimilar to something Whitney Houston or Madonna may have recorded during that decade.
This is a great example of what I call the 'Charli XCX effect': a mainstream popstar releases an album that is not at all indicative of their past works and just completely takes me by surprise.
Now, repeat after me: I am not too good for pop music.
Highlights: Run Away With Me; Emotion; Boy Problems; Making the Most Of the Night
Canadian pop songstress Carly Rae Jepsen comes back this year with a surprisingly great 80s-inspired pop record. Sonically, it doesn't sound dissimilar to something Whitney Houston or Madonna may have recorded during that decade.
This is a great example of what I call the 'Charli XCX effect': a mainstream popstar releases an album that is not at all indicative of their past works and just completely takes me by surprise.
Now, repeat after me: I am not too good for pop music.
Highlights: Run Away With Me; Emotion; Boy Problems; Making the Most Of the Night
5. Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss
Sacramento singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe released what is probably this year's spookiest album with Abyss. It's a dense album, combining neofolk with doom metal and industrial music, with Wolfe's atmospheric vocals floating nicely above the instruments. Want to scare your neighbors/parents? Put this record on. Want to enjoy a record that's creepy, but also hauntingly beautiful? Definitely put this on.
Highlights: Carrion Flowers; Maw
Highlights: Carrion Flowers; Maw
4. Florence + the Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Sorry, Adele, but Florence Welch had my heart this year.
In the four years since Florence + the Machine released their sophomore album Ceremonials, the group embarked on their own headlining tour, playing several festivals such as Lollapalooza and Coachella on the way. With this new record, the band is now bigger than they've ever been, and it shows in the sound of this record.
While the songs retain some of the baroque pop that Lungs and Ceremonials had, the overall sound on this album is much more straightforward, utilizing more electric guitars than the first two albums. Florence Welch's songwriting is still very personal, but the cherry on top of all this is her huge voice.
While the band is continuing to tour into 2016, including headlining spots at Firefly and Hangout, I can only hope that they're planning their next record, as I can sense it'll be even better than this one. Pls, Florence and Isa?
Highlights: Ship To Wreck; What Kind Of Man; How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful; Queen Of Peace; Third Eye
In the four years since Florence + the Machine released their sophomore album Ceremonials, the group embarked on their own headlining tour, playing several festivals such as Lollapalooza and Coachella on the way. With this new record, the band is now bigger than they've ever been, and it shows in the sound of this record.
While the songs retain some of the baroque pop that Lungs and Ceremonials had, the overall sound on this album is much more straightforward, utilizing more electric guitars than the first two albums. Florence Welch's songwriting is still very personal, but the cherry on top of all this is her huge voice.
While the band is continuing to tour into 2016, including headlining spots at Firefly and Hangout, I can only hope that they're planning their next record, as I can sense it'll be even better than this one. Pls, Florence and Isa?
Highlights: Ship To Wreck; What Kind Of Man; How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful; Queen Of Peace; Third Eye
3. Kacey Musgraves - Pageant Material
While Kacey Musgraves' second major-label full-length album doesn't quite hit the heights that her 2013 record Same Trailer Different Park did, her songwriting is as clever as ever, and the musicianship that her and her the musicians on this record display is top-notch.
The songwriting, while clever, can even be soothing at times, coming from the earnestness of songs like "Late To the Party". Regardless of the mood she intends to set, Musgraves and the slew of backing musicians on the album never lose sight of making good songs throughout the 46 minutes of this collection of songs.
Highlights: High Time; Dime Store Cowgirl; Late To the Party; Family Is Family
The songwriting, while clever, can even be soothing at times, coming from the earnestness of songs like "Late To the Party". Regardless of the mood she intends to set, Musgraves and the slew of backing musicians on the album never lose sight of making good songs throughout the 46 minutes of this collection of songs.
Highlights: High Time; Dime Store Cowgirl; Late To the Party; Family Is Family
2. Jamie xx - In Colour
Confession: I was very, very close to putting this at number 1. I didn't put it at #1 simply because I thought there was an album I thought deserved it better. That being said, this album is still really, really good.
It's been three years since we've had a full album by The xx, but this album has more than satisfied my need for one. Not only does it contain three songs featuring Jamie xx's bandmates Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft, but it also features a surprisingly great appearance from rapper Young Thug with "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)", which was undoubtedly one of the songs of the summer.
I said in my original review that the music, like the album cover, is very colorful, incorporating many different sounds into the record. There are no bad songs on the record, and the appearances from Thugger as well as Romy and Oliver are the icing on the cake.
Highlights: Gosh; Sleep Sound; Obvs; Hold Tight; Loud Places; I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times); Girl
It's been three years since we've had a full album by The xx, but this album has more than satisfied my need for one. Not only does it contain three songs featuring Jamie xx's bandmates Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft, but it also features a surprisingly great appearance from rapper Young Thug with "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)", which was undoubtedly one of the songs of the summer.
I said in my original review that the music, like the album cover, is very colorful, incorporating many different sounds into the record. There are no bad songs on the record, and the appearances from Thugger as well as Romy and Oliver are the icing on the cake.
Highlights: Gosh; Sleep Sound; Obvs; Hold Tight; Loud Places; I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times); Girl
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
People who know me well probably aren't surprised to see this album at number 1. But there are many reasons, both personal and professional, that this album deserves to be #1 on my list and pretty much everyone else's.
This past year has been a big one for those who strive to achieve racial justice. Between D'Angelo's late-2014 release Black Messiah and this Kendrick Lamar album, 2015 is the year in which radical black politics took a sharp turn. Over the summer, many have used Kendrick Lamar's song "Alright" as a rallying cry to come together to fight racial injustice. Things like that make me realize just how important an album it is for those who do strive for equality.
As for personal reasons, To Pimp A Butterfly is also a story of personal growth and dealing with one's insecurities. Kendrick tears himself apart in this album, only to tell himself to love himself later on in the album. Regardless of skin color, it's a message we could all learn from.
On top of that, Kendrick makes incredibly awesome instrumental choices on this album, enlisting the help of Pharrell, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat to co-produce, as well as George Clinton, Snoop Dogg, and Ronald Isley doing guest spots. I can't really find any valid criticisms to make about this album. It's definitely a long album, but it's always worth the 90 minutes it takes to listen all the way through.
Highlights: Honestly, it's hard to say. But if I had to pick out just one track, it would be "Alright".
This past year has been a big one for those who strive to achieve racial justice. Between D'Angelo's late-2014 release Black Messiah and this Kendrick Lamar album, 2015 is the year in which radical black politics took a sharp turn. Over the summer, many have used Kendrick Lamar's song "Alright" as a rallying cry to come together to fight racial injustice. Things like that make me realize just how important an album it is for those who do strive for equality.
As for personal reasons, To Pimp A Butterfly is also a story of personal growth and dealing with one's insecurities. Kendrick tears himself apart in this album, only to tell himself to love himself later on in the album. Regardless of skin color, it's a message we could all learn from.
On top of that, Kendrick makes incredibly awesome instrumental choices on this album, enlisting the help of Pharrell, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat to co-produce, as well as George Clinton, Snoop Dogg, and Ronald Isley doing guest spots. I can't really find any valid criticisms to make about this album. It's definitely a long album, but it's always worth the 90 minutes it takes to listen all the way through.
Highlights: Honestly, it's hard to say. But if I had to pick out just one track, it would be "Alright".