We're six months into 2015, and it is already shaping up to be one of the best.years. ever. for music. Classic albums in almost every genre are being released on the regular, and even the quiet weeks present some great music for our pleasure.
There have been
so many solid releases in just half-a-year, I don't know how the second half
can match it, but there are already signs that it could happen – Kanye! Frank
Ocean! Tame Impala! Titus Andronicus! Carly Rae Jepsen! Disclosure!
I didn't think it
would be this difficult to narrow down my list of the best albums thus far to
25, but that's a great reflection of the year we've had. Here's hoping the rest
of the year keeps the streak alive.
Best albums so far (arranged
alphabetically)
1. At.Long.Last.A$AP – A$AP Rocky
Rocky gets woozy
and weird, and even sings to great effect on "L$D."
2. Coming Home – Leon Bridges
Click here to
read my full review.
3. Kintsugi – Death Cab for Cutie
Click here to
read my full review.
4. What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful
World – The Decemberists
Click here to
read my full review.
5. Surf – Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
Click here to
read my full review.
6. If You're Reading This It's Too Late –
Drake
Click here to
read my full review.
7. I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside –
Earl Sweatshirt
Easily my
favorite album name of the year, if not ever. A lonely, dark and engaging
listen.
8. I Love You, Honeybear – Father John
Misty
Click here to
read my full review.
9. Tetsuo & Youth – Lupe Fiasco
Lupe's best album
in a long while, it shows his lyrical dexterity and sonic risk-taking.
10. Goon – Tobias Jesso Jr.
Click here to
read my full review.
11. To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
Click here to
read my full review.
12. Strange Trails – Lord Huron
Absolutely lovely
apocalyptic folk music, with a serious undercurrent of early rock.
13. Dreams Worth More than Money – Meek Mill
The most
cinematic and escapist hip-hop album of 2015 so far. It also benefits greatly from
being buckets of fun.
14. Wildheart – Miguel
Miguel injects psychedelia
into his baby-making soul, and comes up with his most adventurous album yet.
15. Pageant Material – Kacey Musgraves
Musgraves' second
album is quieter than her debut, but no less stellar. Probably the loveliest
album of the year.
16. The Waterfall – My Morning Jacket
Click here to
read my full review.
17. QUARTERBACKS – QUARTERBACKS
Twee-punk done
right. An album about love that gets under your skin in 22 minutes flat.
18. Uptown Special – Mark Ronson
My favorite album
of the year for night driving. Sounds great with city lights flying by the
window.
19. Ratchet – Shamir
Click here to
read my full review.
20. Summertime '06 – Vince Staples
Click here to
read my full review.
21. Traveler – Chris Stapleton
Could well be the
best country album of the year. This guy has a voice that'll just rock you
back.
22. The Epic – Kamasi Washington
The best jazz
album I've heard in years. A three-disc monster that fully lives up to the
name.
23. Ivy Tripp – Waxahatchee
Click here to
read my full review.
24. In Colour – Jamie xx
Click here to
read my full review.
25. Second Hand Heart – Dwight Yoakam
Click here to
read my full review.
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