2015 Music Year-In-Review

The year 2015 was good for both new and familiar faces. Several newer artists broke out in 2015, with Meghan Trainor, The Weeknd, Sam Smith, Fetty Wap, and Sam Hunt all on the list for the ten best-selling albums with their first or second studio albums, according to Nielsen Music, a data company. Other, more familiar bands also did very well. Justin Bieber and Drake each sold around 2 million albums. Also, Adele broke records with the sales of her third album, 25. Adele’s 25 is the first album to sell more than 3 million copies in its first week, as well as the first to sell at least a million copies three straight weeks.

Ultimately, so many good albums came out this year that some got unjustly ignored in the wave of new music. Here is a list of seven albums that I believe didn’t get enough attention this year.

Kintsugi by Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab For Cutie is one of the more well-known bands on this list, but despite this, their new album Kintsugi was largely ignored because it was not as good as some of their previous albums. Their first album, Transatlanticism is considered one of the best albums of the 2000’s according to NPR and Rolling Stone. Kintsugi is admirable, however, living up to its crazy high expectations because it attempts to go in a new, different direction with several heavier rock songs like “Black Sun.”

Critics hate the album for the change, but it isn’t good to stay with the same sound forever. Besides, the heavier songs still have the amazing instrumentals and lyrics that Death Cab for Cutie is known for. Overall, Kintsugi still stands above almost everything in its genre, with several songs, such as “El Dorado,” being some of the prettiest I’ve ever heard with its simple, melancholy vocals and ambient guitar.

Currents by Tame Impala

The best phrase to describe Currents is meticulously thought-out. Everything has its place, creating a mesmerizing, soft-spoken journey through singer Kevin Parker’s consciousness. The lyrics detail Parker’s expectations and emotions throughout a failed relationship.

Tame Impala decided to focus the album more on electronic beats over guitar, and it pays off. Currents experiments with certain sounds in ways that make it fundamentally better than most albums this year. One song, “Disciples,” starts with a Beach Boys-style beat with an older, tape-recorder filter before opening up to a more modern rock-style. The switch in tone is brilliant, and one of the cooler things I’ve heard in a song recently. Currents is definitely worth listening to, if not just for the interesting journey it details in its lyrics.

Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes’ singer Brittany Howard has a voice beyond any I’ve ever heard. When she is singing, it doesn’t matter if any other part of the song is good; if she’s good, the song is good. In this case, however, both she and the rest of the Alabama Shakes’ band sound great.

The Alabama Shakes are part of a “Memphis Soul” revival whose bitter tone mixed with heavier, 70’s rock to create a sound many said was beyond perfect after the band’s first album, Boys & Girls was released in 2012. Yet, Sound & Color manages to improve upon the Alabama Shakes’ sound through the addition of more frequent, vibrant pauses, as occur in the title track “Sound & Color.” In songs like “Sound & Color”, it’s clear Howard can overwhelm with her vocals, but doesn’t have to to impress the listener.

When the album slows up towards the end, it does so with the a slow-Sunday sound that still manages to impress. In other words, every moment in this album has feeling, no matter the pace. It shouldn’t be surprising that Sound & Color is one of my favorites on this list, and I recommend everyone listen to it.

Coming Home by Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges’ music is filled with a New-Orleans jazzy, blues sound and a voice that most directly parallels the legendary Sam Cooke. No singer in recent memory can swoon the way Bridges can.

The jazz band behind him does a good job following, although it does little beyond the occasional solo. However, the album is still worth a listen for Bridge’s voice alone. The title track “Coming Home” is the jewel of the album with Bridge’s full, sweet voice melting like butter throughout the track. I cannot stress enough how much this album deserves at least a listen for Bridges alone. Check it out.

My Love Is Cool by Wolf Alice

My Love is Cool is the return of 90’s alt-rock and light-grunge music in a good way. It is something to listen to on a cold, rainy weekend day with a wool blanket and an old, quirky romantic comedy. I grew up listening to old movie soundtracks, and my nostalgia for that type of music came back here in waves.

Some songs are remorseful and quiet, while others are bitter and punchy with a heavier rock feel. My favorite song is Freazy, which mixes 2000’s alternative-rock vocals with more current alternative beats. The album improves upon its grunge/alt-rock sound by changing pace a lot, preventing some of the repetitiveness that most grunge/alt-rock albums have. The lyrics are confident yet maintain the vulnerability of older grunge music, as well. Overall, My Love is Cool is an interesting return to an older time with a new, exciting twist. It is definitely worth a listen if you are a fan of 90’s rock, light punk, or grunge like I am.

Yours, Dreamily by The Arcs

As a huge Black Keys fan, I was disappointed by their last album, Turn Blue, when it came out in 2014. The album lacked energy, with many songs disappearing in a blaring, psychedelic blur. Only one song, Gotta Get Away, had any of the punchy blue-rock hooks that the Black Keys are most well-known for.

This year, Dan Auerbach (the lead singer and guitarist of the Black Keys) started a temporary, new band, The Arcs, producing music that is a more-thorough mix of jazz and rock. The Arcs released Yours, Dreamily this year. The album is much catchier than many past Black Keys albums, while adding both a new, soulful jazz-feel and a mariachi band that makes the album come alive. In addition, the lyrics link well between songs, telling the story of an ill-fated man trapped in an unloving society. This album isn’t as impressive as others on the list due to some over-repetitiveness; however, any big Black Keys fan will be happy to hear Dan Auerbach again on something better than Turn Blue.

Art Angels by Grimes

Art Angels is a strong, feminist album that’s very catchy and defiant. Singer Claire Boucher has the perfect cheery, soprano voice that gets on your nerves but fits the quirky, catchy beats perfectly, while making it all the more horrifying when you realize what’s she’s singing about. The lyrics detail the mistreatment of female musicians, and how they are constantly scrutinized for their appearance.

Before listening, though, I must warn readers that this is a very quirky album. One song is sung by a Taiwanese rapper and has a chorus of a woman screaming. Yet the album mixes these weird, electronic songs with catchy, cheery-sounding pop songs to hold your attention. The album is primarily on this list for being so different and yet so good. If you are wanting to experiment with bizarre indie or electronic music, or simply want to support an amazing feminist, this album is worth a listen.