5 BEST ALBUMS OF 2015

Welcome to another totally subjective "best of" list on the internet. Here I will be naming my 5 favourite albums from 2015, in no particular order. These are simply the 5 albums from 2015 I think you should listen to if you haven't already - a bit of a catch up on the extra delicious music that came out last year before 2016 gets underway for real. A couple of these albums have already been covered in my monthly roundups, so I'll just be copying in that review and an additional comment or two on why it has made this list. I hope you enjoy my brief review of the best music from 2015 :)

Punch Brothers - 'The Phosphorescent Blues'

Genre: bluegrass, newgrass, folk, country
Favourite tracks: 'Familiarity', 'Julep', 'My Oh My'

Four super talented dudes, a mandolin, a violin, a banjo, and a bass. At a glance, that's all the Punch Brothers are, yet they manage to produce music that is far more detailed and modern than you would expect from a bluegrass band.

'The Phosphorescent Blues' draws heavily on their bluegrass roots but never really sounds like bluegrass. Every track is perfectly infused with rock sensibilities, carefully composed melodies and classical virtuosity, showing the breadth of experience and influences the band members bring to the table. The opening track 'Familiarity' (one of my favourite songs of 2015) showcases the Punch Brothers' command of the full sonic spectrum of their instruments, bringing it all together in a song that is as evocative as it is musically interesting. From there on out the Punch Brothers pull the listener through song after song of mature, contemporary songwriting and masterful instrumental compositions.

In a music industry rife with electronically assisted overproduction, 'The Phosphorescent Blues' stands out as a shining example of what can be achieved through solely acoustic, intelligent and modern songwriting.

Glen Hansard - 'Didn't He Ramble'

From my September album round up: 

"Genre: folk, acoustic, singer-songwriter
Favourite tracks: 'McCormack's Wall', 'Lowly Deserter', 'My Little Ruin'

"This is Glen Hansard's second full length LP as a solo artist. Fans of his previous album 'Rhythm and Repose' and the follow-up EP 'Drive All Night' will find a lot of familiar territory on 'Didn't He Ramble'. On this album, Hansard puts his vocal chops and mature approach to songwriting on full display accompanied by more lavish instrumentation than his earlier work.

At its best, Hansard's songs are equal parts grace and vigour and there's no shortage of either on this album. Most tracks embellish Hansard's usual guitar-driven sound with a more detailed instrumental backdrop, featuring sweeping strings, fiddle and horns. For the most part, these instrumental choices pay off in spades, giving the songs twists and turns that make you sit up and take notice. At their core, the collection of songs on this album are still the quality, story-driven, sincere songs everyone expects from Glen Hansard, with more colourful instrumentation. It's not ground-breaking but it's a winning formula and compulsively easy to listen to."

This is one of those solid, thoroughly enjoyable albums that doesn't stand out for its inventiveness but for its ability to synthesise and reinvigorate tried and true staples of music that have been loved for decades.

Lianne La Havas - 'Blood'

Genre: soul, rhythm and blues, pop
Favourite tracks: 'Unstoppable', 'Grow', 'Never Get Enough', 'Good Goodbye'

Lianne La Havas has a whole lot going for her: an incredible voice, instrumental prowess, ears finely tuned to the finer points of musical aesthetics, and song writing chops to tie it all together. 'Blood' puts all of these qualities on display in an infectiously easy listening package. From slow or whispery verses to belting choruses, her voice is always rich and smooth. Each song soars with ease and grace while still being firmly grounded in carefully constructed musical backdrops - what you end up with is pure ear candy.

Fans of modern pop music and fans of old school soul alike will find a lot to love on 'Blood'. It's solid and polished the whole way through, well deserving of a place on this list.

Julia Holter - 'Have You in My Wilderness' 

From my October album round up:

"Genre: pop, art pop
Favourite tracks: 'Sea Calls Me Home', 'Betsy on the Roof', 'Have You in My Wilderness'

This is my first proper foray into the music of critically acclaimed singer and songwriter Julia Holter, and I am definitely glad I gave this album a listen.

There's a lot going on in Julia's music which is very poppy at its core, melodically at least. What sets her apart is the unbelievably lush instrumental accompaniment Julia uses. Primarily string and piano focussed, the instrumentation is brilliantly composed and mixed in a way that greatly enriches Julia's crystal clear (but somehow still whispery and soothing) vocals. Julia doesn't shy away from some fun surprises either, such as the saxophone solo in 'Sea Calls Me Home', which seems to come out of nowhere but really makes the track a knockout.

Simply put, this album is downright gorgeous in every way and worth a close listen. Fans of intelligent and interesting pop music won't be disappointed."

'Have You in My Wilderness' becomes more and more entrancing with every listen as you pick up on all the little musical nuances and delights. It's astounding beauty never seems to tire and its appeal feels astonishingly unique and refreshing through multiple plays through.

Kendrick Lamar - 'To Pimp a Butterfly'

Genre: rap, hip-hop
Favourite tracks: 'Wesley's Theory', 'King Kunta', 'u', 'Alright', 'Hood Politics', 'How Much a Dollar Cost'. 'The Blacker the Berry', 'You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)', 'i', 'Mortal Man'

Yes I know, super original. This album caused shock waves when it was released and made the top of many best of lists for 2015, but there is a very good reason for that - it's downright brilliant in every possible way. If I had to pick just one album, this would be THE album of 2015.

'To Pimp a Butterfly' is more than an album of modern hip-hop masterpieces, it's a snapshot of Kendrick Lamar as a person, a self aware examination of his own internal conflict and personal struggles. 'To Pimp a Butterfly' is about Kendrick's struggle to stay true to his own identity in the face of his rising fame and accompanying guilt, loss and depression he feels over the way he uses his celebrity status. Lyrically, every line is written with a strong sense of rhythm and the poetic power of language. The flawless delivery, catchy hooks, and spoken word passages all serve to give detail and depth to the thematic ideas Kendrick is exploring.

Musically, the production is organic and draws on a broad palette of instruments and ideas. There are typical hip-hop beats and grooves as well as elements of free-form jazz and more experimental sonic ideas. Every single sound on this album feels perfect and natural with a staggering level of attention to detail.

'To Pimp a Butterfly' is painfully honest and sincere, a rarity in most modern music especially the often hyper-masculine world of hip-hop. It garnered a lot of attention in 2015 but it's clear this album will be talked about for years to come. With a slew of Grammy nominations and ongoing hype, you can already see the anniversary edition reissues on the shelves 10, even 20 years from now. This album excels in every possible way and it might be years before we hear anything as thematically poignant and fully realised as 'To Pimp a Butterfly'. A true achievement.

Honourable mentions:

The Mountain Goats - 'Beat the Champ'

Ludovico Einaudi - 'Elements' 

Everything Everything - 'Get to Heaven' 

That's it. 2015. Done. Thanks for reading. If you got all the way to the end here, it's your lucky day. For a limited time* only I will be giving away a free iPhone to everyone who shares this blog post. No scam.

Have nice day.








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