Coming up with a “best of” list may come across as pretentious, and to be fair it is a bit self-indulgent, but it gives one an excuse to listen to a ton of music, and that’s the whole point right? Everyone has their preferred genres, so for anyone it can be difficult to stay diverse no matter how hard one tries to be well-rounded in their musical tastes. I’m sure many, many albums will inevitably be omitted due to the simple fact that there is only so much music listening hours in the average person’s day. One album was technically released 12/14, and I threw a live archival release in there because as you’ll see I had no choice, but oh well.
2015 was another amazing year for new music, as every year is no matter the ending numerals. Anyway here it goes, the best of 2015, in this consumer’s opinion, for what it’s worth:
Spirit Family Reunion – Hands Together
D’Angelo and the Vanguard – Black Messiah
Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers – Loved Wild Lost
Chris Stapleton – Traveller
Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
Pokey Lafarge – Something in the Water
Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment – Surf
Kamasi Washington – Epic
Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m going down…
Tame Impala – Currents
Umphrey’s Mcgee – The London Sessions
Jamie XX – In Colour
Groundscore Willie – Shut’s UP
Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Henhouse Prowlers – Still On That Ride
Dave Rawling Machine – Nashville Obsolete
Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats – The Night Creeper
Sumac – The Deal
Bill Smith – Crub De La Crumb
Dr. Dre – Compton
Disasterpiece – It Follows (Soundtrack)
Cornmeal – Slow Street
Adele – 25
Widespread Panic – Street Dogs
Sun Beard – The Night
Father John Misty – I Love You Honeybear
Chris Cornell – Higher Truth
Courtney Barnett –‘Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit’
Phish – Amsterdam ’97 (Live Archival Release of the Year)
Wood Brothers – Paradise (co-album of the year)
Deafheaven – New Bermuda
Wilco – Star Wars
Alabama Shakes – Sound and Color
Vulfpeck – Thrill of the Arts (co-album of the year)
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
