Wednesday 13 January 2016

My Favourite Albums of 2015 (Part III): The Best of the Rest

For the third and final installment of my favourite albums of 2015 list, I’ll focus on the ones I always expected to be great... and thankfully did not disappoint. 
 
While there’s always a chance the artists you love will one day create a massive dud that will forever leave a bad taste, this luckily hasn't been the case for those listed below.
 
I won’t go into too much detail regarding each selection, either because a) I have already done so elsewhere, or b) they have already been the subject of endless articles/reviews in music publications/blogs across the globe (what the hell more could I possibly say about Kendrick Lamar that hasn’t already been said). 
 
Anyhoo, without further ado, here they are (in no particular order whatsoever). Enjoy!
 

 
Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy


Titus Andronicus is a band with what I consider to be a bulletproof discography, thanks to the fearlessness and intelligence of their mad punk-rock genius leader Patrick Stickles. His band’s latest – a 93 minute punk rock opera revolving around manic depression – is one of their best yet (second only to their sophmore masterwork The Monitor, imho). The record, as a whole, might be a whole helluva lot to take in initially, but multiple listens will reward you in all kinds of amazeballs ways. Brilliant stuff from an always brilliant band.
 


Father John Misty -  I Love You, Honeybear



Former Fleet Foxes member come witty wordsmith J.Tillman aka Father John Misty had aleardy established himself an important name in the modern musical landscape with 2012’s Fear FunI Love You, Honeybear, however, saw him reach previously uncharted levels of excellence. While for most people it may seem too early to refer to his followup as a bona-fide classic, I’m going to go and say it anyway. Because it absolutely is. In fact, if this record was a person, I would marry it and have twenty of its babies. There’s no other way to express my love for it – it is such a funny, inventive, beautiful, sad piece of work. Absolutely everything I hoped it would be and more. 
 


Kurt Vile – b’lieve I’m goin’ down

Kurth Vile seems to receive increasing amounts of critical respect with each new release, and it’s easy to see why – his albums, while never really that much different from one another, each possess their own unique kind of magic. There’s a  hypnotic quality to the records that draw you in while somehow releasing you from whatever kind of foul mood you happen to find yourself in at the time. b’lieve I’m going’down is no different – a completely absorbing work of musical genius that feels taylor-made for lazy Summer afternoons. Keep ‘em coming Kurt!
 


Best Coast – California Nights
 
 
My thoughts on this sunny pop-rock gem can be found here.



Alabama Shakes – Sound and Colour



This great band somehow got even better on their follow up to Boys & Girls. Brittany Howard truly possesses one of the most face-meltingly awesome voices in rock. If you have yet to jump on the Alabama Shakes bandwagon, it’s time to do so.
 


Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly



Yeah, I can’t really add anything here that hasn’t already been said 1000+ times before. A great album that rewards multiple listens, and one of 2015’s undisputed masterpieces. All hail Kendrick!