I’ll admit, I almost gave the bottom spot to Action Bronson’s Mr. Wonderful because of the two or three killer tracks on constant repeat in my car, but as an album it just doesn’t make the cut (hear those tracks here and here). Same goes for Purity Ring’s Another Eternity, which has some great songs (here and here), but just more of the same Purity Ring sound that works for them, and nothing much as a stand-out album. I seem to be missing everyone’s fascination with Grimes’ new album and there’s probably a lot that I still haven’t heard, but here’s my take on the 10 best albums of 2015.
I recommend taking the time to listen to each album in full, but here is the playlist, so you can click play and enjoy a few highlights from each album as you read through our top ten:
10. Pale Horses - mewithoutYou
mewithoutYou have had their ups and downs over the course of six albums, setting the bar high with Catch for Us the Foxes and Brother, Sister, while everything after feels like it’s continually trying to attain what they once had. The best songs on Ten Stories are the best songs because they sound like the classics. But for a band that is constantly redefining their sound, Pale Horses is perhaps something fresh, with dark reflections on the apocalypse and religion. The mellow songs and the upbeat songs are good, flowing beautifully into one another, allowing mewithoutYou to once again make an album that feels like a coherent unit.
9. Surf - Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
Donnie Trumpet teams up with his friends (most notably Chance the Rapper) to make a rap album that feels more like jazz, funk and spoken word than hip hop. There’s some pretty impressive collaborations, and while Sunday Candy is still the stand-out track, the album is quite a feat. See the full list of guest features here. By the way, it’s free.
8. Product 3 - Beat Connection
So many of the songs on Product 3 were heard long before the album was even released (“Hesitation” was our favourite song last year, so we excluded it from the playlist). But maybe that’s what makes Beat Connection’s Product 3 so good -- that each song is basically a single. I sometimes wonder if Beat Connection can make something that isn’t good.
7. .Wav Theory - Towkio
It might look like it’s the features that make .Wav Theory a good album (Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Donnie Trumpet, etc), but do yourself a favour and listen to it start to finish. Towkio proves himself as a unique voice and an excellent rapper. Maybe Chance is right when he says it could be the hottest tape of 2015. Download it free on his website.
6. Tragedy Will Find Us - Counterparts
I often feel like in the world of hardcore, there’s no pressure to make a hit, and so bands are free to make the music they want, allowing a band like Counterparts to make consistently good records. They’re outstanding at their craft, and Tragedy might even be their best.
5. Sacred Ground - Howling
Howling is an extremely refreshing sound. For something so minimal, it makes every decision feel intentional. If you must, skip to the tracks “Signs”, “Short Line”, and “Howling”, but really this album is best listened to while driving, or as background music.
4. To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly probably seems like an obvious choice for a best album, and I would think something unlike what usually gets posted on the site (because you’ve probably already heard it), but the reality is the album is good. It works best from start to finish, given your full attention, but the hits are also incredible, not to mention the videos so far. If you haven’t heard TPAB yet, you have some catching up to do.
3. Carrie & Lowell - Sufjan Stevens
Carrie & Lowell is Sufjan’s return to his minimalistic folk sound, and this time with a theme album about his mother and stepfather. My favourite Sufjan albums are the over-the-top Illinois and even the glitchy Age of Adz, so I certainly didn’t expect this album to be as good as it is. It might take a few listens before you feel the same, but this is beyond a doubt one of 2015’s best.
2. Deep in the Iris – Braids
Braids is always a bit weird, and Deep in the Iris is not an easy listen given its heavy topics, but there’s something about it all that demands your attention. Each player seems to function independently of the others, the melodies are seamless, the drums are steady but never predictable, and the result is mesmerizing. Braids is unique in that they could easily make pop music, and you could argue that that’s what it is, yet they continue to make music that is unique to them, without trying to be anything more, and I think that’s what makes Deep in the Iris an amazing album.
1. Portraits - Maribou State
Maribou State created the perfect album with Portraits. I can’t say much for this album because I do believe it’s the closest thing to a flawless album this year. Every song is perfect and every guest feature is a real delight. Do yourself a favour and put this whole album on repeat right now.
