Best of 2015 - Post Your Favorite Albums (previously a mid-year review)

[just a normal guy kevin]

I'm adding the latest releases from Salad Boys, Dick Diver, and Ultimate Painting to my list.

[Sad Heart]

Not ranked:

Mutoid Man - Bleeder

Sumac - The Deal

Caspian - Dust & Disquiet

Ufomammut - Ecate

Elder - Lore

Windhand - Grief's Infernal Flower

Rosetta - Quintessential Ephemera

Cult Leader - Lightless Walk

I can get behind all these. Great list. Windhand fell a little short for me though. Good, but not their best.

[jaymond00]

10. Envy - Atheist's Cornea

9. Ahleuchatistas - Arrebato

8. Mew - +/-

7. Deafheaven - New Bermuda

6. Rolo Tomassi - Grievances

5. Making - High Life

4. Battles - La Di Da Di

3. Sumac - The Deal

2. Locrian - Infinite Dissolution

 

And easily my #1 album of the year:

1. Pretend - Tapestry'd Life

 

-----

honorable mention:

CHON - Grow

Baroness - Purple (have only listened through once but I feel like this one's gonna stick in my rotation)

Yautja - Songs Of Lament

Bosse-de-Nage - All Fours

Instrumental (adj.) - A Series Of Disagreements 

N.I. - Les Insurges de Romilly

Purity Ring - Another Eternity

[youspinmeround]

I'm adding the latest releases from Salad Boys, Dick Diver, and Ultimate Painting to my list.

Trouble in mind for the win in 2015

That primitive parts and negative scanner where very different for the label but I really liked them

[salpanza]

Can't remember what I posted mid year..but here's how it looks now:

 

10. Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz

9. Pounded By the Surf - No Waves

8. Lord Huron - Strange Trails

7. Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

6. Death Cab for Cutie - Kintsugi

5. Extinction A.D. - Faithkiller

4. Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful

3. The Good Life - Everybody's Coming Down

2. Passion Pit - Kindred

1. Desaparecidos - Payola

[omik11303]

For some reason I didn't listen to as much new stuff this year. Nevertheless, there were still some pretty great releases.

 

16. Seaway - Colour Blind

15. August Burns Red - Found in Faraway Places

14. Totem Skin - Weltschmerz

13. Empty Handed - In Between the Goodbyes

12. Come Wind - Move in Place

11. GrimLake - Atlas Hands

10. We Never Learned to Live - Silently, I Threw Them Skyward

9. Caspian - Dust & Disquiet

8. Boira - Si de la Runa Naixes

7. Defeater - Abandoned

6. Hope Drone - Cloak of Ash

5. Attalus - Into the Sea

4. Slow Meadow - S/T

3. Foxes - Organic Vessels

2. Spurv - Skarntyde

1. So Hideous - Laurestine

[jeromium]

I'm adding the latest releases from Salad Boys, Dick Diver, and Ultimate Painting to my list.

 

Good albums. Unfortunately none as good as Ultimate Painting's debut IMO.

[dkrtz]

Here's the ones I enjoyed--

 

 

1. Alex G | Beach Music
2. Katie Dey | asdfasdf
3. sukekiyo | Vitium 
4. Krill | A Distant Fist Unclenching 
5. Elvis Depressedly | New Alhambra 
6. Nicole Dollanganger | Natural Born Losers
7. Alex G | Live At The Headroom
8. Earl Sweatshirt | I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside
9. Mac Demarco | Another One
10. Marching Church | This World Is Not Enough
11. Desaparecidos | Payola
12. La Pumpkin | pain everywhere. all the time
13. Kurt Vile | b'lieve me, i'm goin down...
14. Them Are Us Too | Remain
15. Pastel Ghost | Abyss

[roadmonkey]

Top 20 albums.. in alphabetical oder

 

Baroness - Purple (Abraxan Hyms)

Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us (Polyvinyl)

Between The Buried - Coma Ecliptic (Metal Blade)

Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss (Sargent House)

Deafheaven - New Bermuda (Anti-)

Faith No More - Sol Invictus (Ipecac)

Frank Turner - Positive Songs For Negative People (Polyvinyl)

Ghost - Meliora (Loma Vista)

High On Fire - Luminiferous (E1 Music)

InAeona - Force Rise The Sun (Prosthetic)

Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls (BMG)

Jeff Rosenstock - We Cool? (Side One Dummy)

Lucifer - Lucifer I (Rise Above)

Mutoid Man - Bleeder (Sargent House)

Night Birds - Mutiny At Muscle Beach (Fat Wreck Chords)

Refused - Freedom (Epitaph)

Strung Out - Transmissions.Alpha.Delta (Fat Wreck Chords)

Teenage Bottlerocket - Tales From Wyoming (Rise)

Worriers - Imaginary Life (Don Giovanni)

Hop Along - Painted Shut (Saddle Creek)

[futures]

ugh i feel so basic compared to the rest of you guys lol

[konk]

Top 20 albums.. in alphabetical oder

Baroness - Purple (Abraxan Hyms)

Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us (Polyvinyl)

Between The Buried - Coma Ecliptic (Metal Blade)

Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss (Sargent House)

Deafheaven - New Bermuda (Anti-)

Faith No More - Sol Invictus (Ipecac)

Frank Turner - Positive Songs For Negative People (Polyvinyl)

Ghost - Meliora (Loma Vista)

High On Fire - Luminiferous (E1 Music)

InAeona - Force Rise The Sun (Prosthetic)

Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls (BMG)

Jeff Rosenstock - We Cool? (Side One Dummy)

Lucifer - Lucifer I (Rise Above)

Mutoid Man - Bleeder (Sargent House)

Night Birds - Mutiny At Muscle Beach (Fat Wreck Chords)

Refused - Freedom (Epitaph)

Strung Out - Transmissions.Alpha.Delta (Fat Wreck Chords)

Teenage Bottlerocket - Tales From Wyoming (Rise)

Worriers - Imaginary Life (Don Giovanni)

Hop Along - Painted Shut (Saddle Creek)

I feel like this would be the list that the old VC would make today. Not that I'm saying anything about the old VC being better or worse. Just that if those people were around today. Myself not included.

[Kurazz]

Weird year for me.

 

1. Phantom Winter - CVLT

2. Four Stroke Baron - King Radio

3. We Lost The Sea - Departure Songs

4. Outrun The Sunlight - Terrapin

5. Toundra - IV

6. Kowloon Walled City - Grievances

7. Vattnet Viskar – Settler

8. Mouse On The Keys - The Flowers of Romance

9. An Autumn For Crippled Children - The Long Goodbye

10. IIVII - Colony

[jesse]

OK here is my list, broken up into buckets.

 

STUFF I WAS DISAPPOINTED BY ON SOME LEVEL:

Graveyard - Innocence and Decadence

I really loved their last two releases but this felt a little neutered to me.  Also with the pace slowed and guitars turned down some questionable song writing was highlighted.  Still not a bad listen, just not what I was expecting.

 

Meat Wave - Delusion Moon

Their EP Brothers was also released this year and it got me all frothy for the full length, which is fine but didn't hit me the way I hoped it would.

 

Joanna Gruesome - Peanut Butter

I thought their last release, Sisters, was amazing and I hoped they would keep pushing the envelope but PB feels a lot toned down from the frantic pop violence of their first album.  Again, a fine album, just not world dominating like I expected.

 

Murder By Death - Big Dark Love

I do like this record, it's just that my expectations were sky high after Bitter Drink...  It's quite good just a victim of MBD's high standards.  Also the covers album this year wasn't as good, although I guess that's not really their fault.

 

 

STUFF I LIKED:

Foo Fighter - St. Cecilia

Solid - typical Foo.  It was cool that they gave it away

 

Cage The Elephant - Tell Me I'm Beautiful

This album is only a week old but after about a dozen spins I think it is their weakest to date.  This may very well grow out of this category into STUFF I LOVED eventually but it's definitely the least alternative rock-y release they've had.

https://youtu.be/XLj3mwsb0uc

 

 

STUFF I LOVED:

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit

This record completely dominated the late spring - early summer.  She is an amazing songwriter and this album completely rocks.

 

Diamond Rugs - Cosmetics

This is a side project for a bunch of guys, most notably (to me) the lead singer for Deer Tick.  This album is amazing even better than their last release in 2012.

 

Laura Stevenson - Cocksure

Beautiful but rocking record, that is her best since Sit Resist.

 

Antarticgo Vespucci - Leavin' La Vida Loca

I didn't think I liked this record at first - it seemed to be background noise but it grew and grew on me until I found myself craving it and then screaming it in the car alone.  

 

Bastardous - Bastardous

I saw them in April at the Suicide Machines show in Boston and was blown away.  I waited seven months for the vinyl and the record did not disappoint.  Really great stuff and completely dominating my iPod/turntable right now.  Rally of the Crows is my favorite track but they have virtually no presence on youtube, so the best link I can provide is their bandcamp.

http://bastardous.bandcamp.com

 

Leftover Crack - Constructs of the State

Is this a dispassionate LoC or just mature?  I don't know what's going on, the band has definitely lost its manic edge but this record is a really fun listen.

 

 

STUFF THAT RULED MY LIFE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME:

Hop Along - Painted Shut

I was like a crack addict for this record.  I was checking twitter and Facebook and instagram for over a year hoping for any mention about if and when there would be a new record.  It was amazing, she's such a great song writer and I love their whole sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-uvMjx0-zk

 

Busdriver - Thumbs

I am very particular about the rap I listen to but this album (technically a mixed tape?) really hit me in the sweat spot.  Great beats, good flow and well used guest spots on each track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNQq_SbVLXY

Break Anchor - In A Van Down By the River

Think of Dead to Me mixed with The Suicide Machines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIN8DMJnBWM

 

Jeff Rosenstock - We Cool?

All hail all things Brosenstock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76EEdbawMl8

 

I can't figure out how to get it to embed the videos consistently.  If someone has a tip let me know.

[TheGhostOfRandySavage]

OK here is my list, broken up into buckets.

STUFF I WAS DISAPPOINTED BY ON SOME LEVEL:

Graveyard - Innocence and Decadence

I really loved their last two releases but this felt a little neutered to me. Also with the pace slowed and guitars turned down some questionable song writing was highlighted. Still not a bad listen, just not what I was expecting.

Meat Wave - Delusion Moon

Their EP Brothers was also released this year and it got me all frothy for the full length, which is fine but didn't hit me the way I hoped it would.

Joanna Gruesome - Peanut Butter

I thought their last release, Sisters, was amazing and I hoped they would keep pushing the envelope but PB feels a lot toned down from the frantic pop violence of their first album. Again, a fine album, just not world dominating like I expected.

https://youtu.be/iRpGKCNHL7E

Murder By Death - Big Dark Love

I do like this record, it's just that my expectations were sky high after Bitter Drink... It's quite good just a victim of MBD's high standards. Also the covers album this year wasn't as good, although I guess that's not really their fault.

STUFF I LIKED:

Foo Fighter - St. Cecilia

Solid - typical Foo. It was cool that they gave it away

https://youtu.be/wY7P1zzJo_Q

Cage The Elephant - Tell Me I'm Beautiful

This album is only a week old but after about a dozen spins I think it is their weakest to date. This may very well grow out of this category into STUFF I LOVED eventually but it's definitely the least alternative rock-y release they've had.

https://youtu.be/XLj3mwsb0uc

STUFF I LOVED:

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit

This record completely dominated the late spring - early summer. She is an amazing songwriter and this album completely rocks.

Diamond Rugs - Cosmetics

This is a side project for a bunch of guys, most notably (to me) the lead singer for Deer Tick. This album is amazing even better than their last release in 2012.

Laura Stevenson - Cocksure

Beautiful but rocking record, that is her best since Sit Resist.

Antarticgo Vespucci - Leavin' La Vida Loca

I didn't think I liked this record at first - it seemed to be background noise but it grew and grew on me until I found myself craving it and then screaming it in the car alone.

Bastardous - Bastardous

I saw them in April at the Suicide Machines show in Boston and was blown away. I waited seven months for the vinyl and the record did not disappoint. Really great stuff and completely dominating my iPod/turntable right now. Rally of the Crows is my favorite track but they have virtually no presence on youtube, so the best link I can provide is their bandcamp.

http://bastardous.bandcamp.com

Leftover Crack - Constructs of the State

Is this a dispassionate LoC or just mature? I don't know what's going on, the band has definitely lost its manic edge but this record is a really fun listen.

STUFF THAT RULED MY LIFE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME:

Hop Along - Painted Shut

I was like a crack addict for this record. I was checking twitter and Facebook and instagram for over a year hoping for any mention about if and when there would be a new record. It was amazing, she's such a great song writer and I love their whole sound.

Busdriver - Thumbs

I am very particular about the rap I listen to but this album (technically a mixed tape?) really hit me in the sweat spot. Great beats, good flow and well used guest spots on each track.

Break Anchor - In A Van Down By the River

Think of Dead to Me mixed with The Suicide Machines.

Jeff Rosenstock - We Cool?

All hail all things Brosenstock.

I can't figure out how to get it to embed the videos consistently. If someone has a tip let me know.

Delete the s from https://

[just a normal guy kevin]

OK here is my list, broken up into buckets.

STUFF I WAS DISAPPOINTED BY ON SOME LEVEL:

Graveyard - Innocence and Decadence

I really loved their last two releases but this felt a little neutered to me. Also with the pace slowed and guitars turned down some questionable song writing was highlighted. Still not a bad listen, just not what I was expecting.

Meat Wave - Delusion Moon

Their EP Brothers was also released this year and it got me all frothy for the full length, which is fine but didn't hit me the way I hoped it would.

Joanna Gruesome - Peanut Butter

I thought their last release, Sisters, was amazing and I hoped they would keep pushing the envelope but PB feels a lot toned down from the frantic pop violence of their first album. Again, a fine album, just not world dominating like I expected.

https://youtu.be/iRpGKCNHL7E

Murder By Death - Big Dark Love

I do like this record, it's just that my expectations were sky high after Bitter Drink... It's quite good just a victim of MBD's high standards. Also the covers album this year wasn't as good, although I guess that's not really their fault.

STUFF I LIKED:

Foo Fighter - St. Cecilia

Solid - typical Foo. It was cool that they gave it away

https://youtu.be/wY7P1zzJo_Q

Cage The Elephant - Tell Me I'm Beautiful

This album is only a week old but after about a dozen spins I think it is their weakest to date. This may very well grow out of this category into STUFF I LOVED eventually but it's definitely the least alternative rock-y release they've had.

https://youtu.be/XLj3mwsb0uc

STUFF I LOVED:

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit

This record completely dominated the late spring - early summer. She is an amazing songwriter and this album completely rocks.

Diamond Rugs - Cosmetics

This is a side project for a bunch of guys, most notably (to me) the lead singer for Deer Tick. This album is amazing even better than their last release in 2012.

Laura Stevenson - Cocksure

Beautiful but rocking record, that is her best since Sit Resist.

Antarticgo Vespucci - Leavin' La Vida Loca

I didn't think I liked this record at first - it seemed to be background noise but it grew and grew on me until I found myself craving it and then screaming it in the car alone.

Bastardous - Bastardous

I saw them in April at the Suicide Machines show in Boston and was blown away. I waited seven months for the vinyl and the record did not disappoint. Really great stuff and completely dominating my iPod/turntable right now. Rally of the Crows is my favorite track but they have virtually no presence on youtube, so the best link I can provide is their bandcamp.

http://bastardous.bandcamp.com

Leftover Crack - Constructs of the State

Is this a dispassionate LoC or just mature? I don't know what's going on, the band has definitely lost its manic edge but this record is a really fun listen.

STUFF THAT RULED MY LIFE FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME:

Hop Along - Painted Shut

I was like a crack addict for this record. I was checking twitter and Facebook and instagram for over a year hoping for any mention about if and when there would be a new record. It was amazing, she's such a great song writer and I love their whole sound.

Busdriver - Thumbs

I am very particular about the rap I listen to but this album (technically a mixed tape?) really hit me in the sweat spot. Great beats, good flow and well used guest spots on each track.

Break Anchor - In A Van Down By the River

Think of Dead to Me mixed with The Suicide Machines.

Jeff Rosenstock - We Cool?

All hail all things Brosenstock.

I can't figure out how to get it to embed the videos consistently. If someone has a tip let me know.

Add a photo of your best friend in the world to the top of your post.

[cantdance]

My favorite records of the year in no particular order:

1.) Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

2.) MeWithoutYou - Pale Horses

3.) Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear

4.) Carly Rae Jepsen - EM•OT•ION

5.) Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

6.) Vince Staples - Summertime '06

7.) TWIABP - Harmlessness

8.) Julia Holter - Have You In My Wilderness

9.) Sports. - Demon Daze

10. Panda Bear - Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper

11.) Petal - Shame

12.) Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss

13.) Vietcong - S/T

14.) Caspian - Dust & Disquiet

15.) Awe Howler - Living With Spiders

[Le Gogh]

Steven Wilson's "Hand.Cannot.Erase" is easily the best record released in 2015...

You have all failed miserably (with the exception of Sasan). How has no-one else even mentioned this album? Easily my favorite of the year, and possibly sits somewhere at the top of my favorite albums of all time.

Special mentions also go to:

Periphery - Juggernaut

Baroness - Purple

Joanna Newsom - Divers

Sikth - Opacities

Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals.

[Vector53]

My top 25 albums of the year:

25: Director John Carpenter - Lost Themes 

24: Sleater-Kinney - No Cities To Love

23: The Dodos - Individ 

22: courtney barnett - Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit

21: Kurt Vile - b'lieve i'm goin down

20: Destroyer - Poison Season 

19: Earl Sweatshirt: I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside

18: the Mountain Goats: Beat the Champ

17: Hot Chip - Why Make Sense?

16: Run The Jewels - Meow The Jewels

15: Majical Cloudz - Are You Alone?

14: Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress

13: Beach House - Depression Cherry/Thank Your Lucky Stars 

12: Blur - The Magic Whip

11: Panda Bear - Meets the Grim Reaper 

10: Kamasi Washington - The Epic

9: Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear

8: LE MATOS - Chronicles of the Wasteland

7: Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love 

6: Neon Indian - VEGA INTL. Night School

5: Jamie xx - In Colour

4: Oneohtrix Point Never - Garden of Delete

3: Tame Impala - Currents

2: Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

1: Sufjan Stevens - Carrie and Lowell

[HybridxReality]

I'm pretty torn on who's taking my number one spot:

To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

New Bermuda - Deafheaven

The Incredible True Story - Logic

These three albums are on constant repeat.

[marc32137]

1. Pet Symmetry - Pets Hounds

2. Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

3. Frank Turner - Positive Songs For Negative People

4. Sorority Noise - Joy Departed

5. Spraynard - Mable

6. Banquets - Spit At The Sun

7. Four Year Strong - Four Year Strong

8. Desaparecidos - Payola

9. Pentimento - I, No Longer

10. Scout - What If, Like, When We Die..

[timpopkid]

I finished up my end of the year list.  The top ten are:

 

01 - Clearance - Rapid Rewards - Tall Pat

02 - The Mountain Goats - Beat The Champ - Merge

03 - Royal Headache - High - What's Your Rupture

04 - Good Shade - Good Shade - Gut Genug

05 - Wonk Unit - Feel The Wonkness - Drunken Sailor

06 - Swami John Reis & The Blind Shake - Modern Surf Classics - Swami

07 - Warm Soda - Symbolic Dream - Castleface

08 - Red Dons - The Dead Hand Of Tradition - Taken By Surprise

09 - Outtacontroller - Television Zombie LP - Southpaw

10 - Lost Balloons - Lost Balloons - Alien Snatch

 

I've also got my top 30, some honorable mentions, a dumb little write up and links to listen to all of the records in my top ten at http://www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2015/12/the-absolute-best-records-of-2015.html

[mesi]

I finished up my end of the year list. The top ten are:

01 - Clearance - Rapid Rewards - Tall Pat

02 - The Mountain Goats - Beat The Champ - Merge

03 - Royal Headache - High - What's Your Rupture

04 - Good Shade - Good Shade - Gut Genug

05 - Wonk Unit - Feel The Wonkness - Drunken Sailor

06 - Swami John Reis & The Blind Shake - Modern Surf Classics - Swami

07 - Warm Soda - Symbolic Dream - Castleface

08 - Red Dons - The Dead Hand Of Tradition - Taken By Surprise

09 - Outtacontroller - Television Zombie LP - Southpaw

10 - Lost Balloons - Lost Balloons - Alien Snatch

I've also got my top 30, some honorable mentions, a dumb little write up and links to listen to all of the records in my top ten at http://www.ibuywaytoomanyrecords.com/2015/12/the-absolute-best-records-of-2015.html

Thanks so much for recommending that Clearance LP! I'm a sucker for all things Pavement as well, and this rocks. Will buy!

[timpopkid]

It's a great, great record!

[GalacticMelt]

Mew - Plus Minus

[topher]

This year was a mother.

 

#1. Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear
#2. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
#3. Oneohtrix Point Never - Garden of Delete
#4. Akira Sakata & Jim O'Rourke - Flying Basket
#5. Björk - Vulnicura
#6. Lil Ugly Mane - Oblivion Access
#7. Jackson Scott - Sunshine Redux
#8. Pinkshinyultrablast - Everything Else Matters
#9. Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuo & Youth
#10. toe - Hear You
#11. Drowse - Soon Asleep
#12. Death Grips - The Powers That B
#13. Mastery - Valis
#14. milo - So The Flies Don't Come
#15. BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah - Sour Soul
#16. Chelsea Wolfe - Abyss
#17. Zs - Xe
#18. Bell Witch - Four Phantoms
#19. Viet Cong - Viet Cong
#20. Destruction Unit - Negative Feedback Resistor
#21. Julia Holter - Have You In My Wilderness
#22. Aidan Baker - The Confessional Tapes
#23. Black Wing - ...Is Doomed
#24. Jim O'Rourke - Simple Songs
#25. Jon Benjamin - well, I should have...*