The musical legacy of 2015 has gifted us with original albums sure to keep us entertained over the coming years
It has been a stellar year for music, with a host of phenomenal debuts released alongside some unashamedly brilliant follow-up efforts. Artists from all over the globe have released outstanding LPs that have proven this year to be a truly memorable one for the medium.
10. VIET CONG – VIET CONG
Despite having to change their controversial name (yet TBD) due to various protests, Viet Cong have had an excellent year. Their album Viet Cong was released at the start of 2015 and is still one of the best 11 months later.
The pounding drums of ‘Newspaper Spoons’ couples effortlessly with the chanted vocals of Matt Flegel and the dirge-like guitar squall. ‘Continental Shelf’ sees the band’s post-punk elements in full swing, and ‘Pointless Experience’ shuffles along, reminiscent of the early days of The Walkmen.
Favourite track: ‘Continental Shelf’ grabs you and doesn’t let go.
9. Kelela – Hallucinogen E.P.
Kelela’s breezy ‘90s-esque vocals fuse seamlessly with the forward-thinking, slow-dance production that is dotted all over her E.P. Think early The Weeknd crossed with a bit of Tinashe and you’ll be close.
‘Gomenasai’ is a highlight, with the aforementioned production perfectly segueing with Kelela’s emotive vocals. ‘Rewind’ has a definitively old-school party jam vibe to it, while ‘The High’ sees sumptuous vocals layered over the slick slow-burn beat.
Favourite track: ‘A Message’ bleeds Kelela’s sublime vocals over a slowly enveloping production.
8. Girl Band – Holding Hands With Jamie
Girl Band have made one of the most chaotic albums of the year. Holding Hands With Jamie is a very challenging first listen, but the rewards are numerous if you stick with it. Its originality is as prominent as its inventiveness – and no particular influences can be cited.
‘Baloo’ comes out of the gates swinging with its angry swagger, and ‘Paul’ chugs along with a blistering staccato rhythm. Only nine tracks long, Holding Hands is somewhat reminiscent of early HEALTH or Battles, but trying to pigeonhole such unique work doesn’t really do it justice.
Favourite track: ‘Pears for Lunch’ is brilliantly bonkers.
7. Wabz – Argyle
Melbourne-based producer, Wabz, has created an atmospheric, downbeat collection, taking its influences from UK garage and 2-step, as well as incorporating elements of sparse electronica. ‘Now It Is’ gently seeps its way into your subconscious with its scatter-gun beats, while ‘Bodica’ sees a melancholic piano chord looping over a soothing beat.
Argyle has really crept under the radar and deserves to be checked out. Wabz brings something entirely different to the scene, making him one to keep an eye out for in the future.
Favourite track: ‘Mountainview’ sets the tone, with its beautiful shuffling beat and acoustic guitar sample.
6. Bring Me the Horizon – That’s the Spirit
The year 2015 is the year that Bring Me the Horizon finally made it, in no small part thanks to That’s the Spirit. It’s a wildly addictive album that sees the former metalcore-focused band go straight for the mainstream jugular.
Instant anthems include ‘Throne’ with its electronic influences, while ‘Blasphemy’ is monumentally epic. ‘Oh No’ is BMTH’s take on a dancefloor friendly tune, with somewhat ironic lyrics bashing this type of club song (“Don’t call it a party ‘cause it never stops”).
Favourite track: ‘Follow You’ is as close as the band will get to a love song, and it’s amazing.
5. Jamie xx – In Colour
In Colour has been a long time in the making following such lauded releases, including ‘All Under One Roof Raving’. The album has been worth the wait though, and sees Jamie xx mix contemporary dance with nostalgic ‘90s rave beats to stunning effect.
‘Gosh’ sets the pace early with its infectious rhythm, while The xx alumni, Romy, shows up on ‘SeeSaw’ and does what she does best. The poppiest the album gets is ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)’, a staple throughout the summer this year.
Jamie xx has created a multi-layered dance record that offers up something new on each and every repeated listen.
Favourite track: ‘Hold Tight’ is a claustrophobic track that digs its way into your subconscious.
4. HEALTH – Death Magic
After a lengthy hiatus from the scene, HEALTH dropped ‘New Coke’ and ‘Stonefist’ earlier in the year. These songs showed a hint of a new direction, a pop sensibility that was blended with their trademark electronic noise. This is obvious not just in the production, but also the lyrics as evident in ‘L.A. Looks’ (“It’s not love but I still want you”).
HEALTH have created one of their finest records and Death Magic is a destined to be listened on repeat.
Favourite track: ‘L.A. Looks’ is addictively danceable.
3. JME – Integrity>
Grime made a storming comeback this year and Integrity> was the resurgent genre’s best release. JME has been a mainstay of grime for years and Integrity> will go down as his best work to date.
Openers ‘Pulse 8’ and ‘96 F*Kries’ carry the trademark bouncy, DIY-beats that grime is known for. The lyrics also blur the line between pastiche and commentative, for example “I’m in Nandos with a veggie wrap. Or I’m sitting in Leon, munching a gobi”. London-centric lines like this could be seen as JME’s paean to his city.
Favourite track: ‘Work’ is another example of JME’s lyrical wit.
2. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Joshua Tillman under his Father John Misty moniker has created one of 2015’s most enjoyable albums to listen to. Navel-gazing is the order of the day, but that doesn’t really matter when the journey into his inner psyche is just so much fun.
Stand-out track ‘Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)’ sees a mariachi influence, and it’s just indescribably lovely. ‘When You’re Smiling and Astride Me’ sees Tillman croon “You see me as I am, it’s true”, seemingly singing in character.
Favourite track: ‘Strange Encounter’. After repeated listens of the album, this track stands out.
1. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Probably the biggest music event of the year. When Kendrick Lamar unexpectedly dropped TPAB in March, the hip-hop world went into a frenzy. Now we’ve all had time to reflect, we can see this is Lamar’s deeply personal response to being a black man in modern-day America.
Anyone expecting a banger-filled album like good kid, m.A.A.d city need to look elsewhere. Expect a journey through funk, spoken word and jazz, as seen on ‘These Walls’ and ‘You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)’.
This is the album of the year – hands down – and a true masterpiece. A record hasn’t sounded as visceral and necessary in a long time. Trust Kendrick to reinvent the wheel once again.
Favourite track: ‘The Blacker The Berry’ still sounds as angry as polemic as it did upon release.
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