Top 10!

Congratulations Danny, I didn't think you had it in you.

Yesterday I posted my top EPs of 2015. Now it is time for my top albums.  My top 10 12!

12.  Mumford and Sons - Wilder Mind: When this album first came out my reaction was, great, Mumford and Sons is trying to become U2/Coldplay.  Well dang, I like this album.  Have they become a bit more generic? Yes, but this is my list, go away, leave me alone.

11.  Leon Bridges - Coming Home: Music from a different era, Leon makes music that you just don’t hear anymore.  Great stuff.  He reminds me of Josh Rouse in a way.  Music that takes me to a different place and less complicated time.

10.  Josh Rouse - The Embers of Time: Josh Rouse continues to make safe and easy to listen to albums.  His songs aren’t exceptionally deep but they make me think of sunny skies and a simple life.  Good escape music.

9.  Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color:  I was pretty late to listen to this album because I expected it to just sound like their old album but I was mistaken.  They expanded their boundaries and experimented with different sounds and influences.  It makes for a really good album.

 8.  Guy Harvey - Courting the Squall: The Elbow lead singer goes out on his own and makes a very Elbow sounding album.  Guy likes to add screeches and random drum sounds but it works and he has a killer voice.

 7.  Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - Surf: I like how this album goes in a lot of different directions and doesn’t pigeonhole itself.  It is a fun album that reminds you hip-hop isn’t all the stereotypes of drugs and women etc.

6.  City and Colour - If I Should Go Before You: While some of his lyrics are a bit simplistic he has a great voice and makes great songs.  Good from beginning to end.

 5.  Jamie XX - In Colour:  I enjoy the creativity of this album with different guest vocalists and sounds.  Jamie shows his chops by not being tied to the typical XX sound. 

4.  Action Bronson - Wonderland:  I find Action Bronson hilarious, he continuously calls himself gorgeous and raps about food, a lot.  Like the Donnie Trumpet (Chance the Rapper) album he goes in a lot of different directions and makes a unique album.  His videos are also great, like, the best.

 3.  Lord Huron - Strange Trails: I am a huge fan of this band and their sound.  Lots of songs about love, loss and death.  It is easy to picture a Western movie to go with each song.  Makes me want to ride a horse or something.

2.  Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free: The greatest singer songwriter alive right now.  Every song is heartfelt and powerful.  It is amazing that he is only 36 years old.  He writes songs like he has had a lifetime of experiences and makes you believe he has been everyone one of his song’s characters.

1.  Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly: My number one! Pretty much everyone has this as the top album of the year but there is a reason for that.  Kendrick writes extremely powerful lyrics that make you think and open your eyes to a part of the country that I have no experience with.  Lines from hiis song Alright has also been a chant during recent Police protests...powerful.

Surprise Top Ten List!

Stefan thinks he's the only one blogging. Stefan is wrong. I wrote a top ten list! But because I'm lazy, I didn't really write anything, just posted some videos. So I guess Stefan isn't totally wrong.

10. Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful



9. Adele - 25



8. Hot Chip - Why Make Sense



7. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell



6. Leon Bridges - Coming Home



5. Purity Ring - Another Eternity


4. Tuxedo - Tuxedo



3. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - Surf



2. D'Angelo and the Vanguard - Black Messiah*

* Yes, I know this album came out in 2014. December 15, 2014 to be exact. So basically 2015. Deal with it.



1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly



Boom!



** Side note: nobody but Stefan posted on the blog last year.

Top EPs of 2015

I am still working on my Top 10 albums of the year list, and Danny and Tanner won't write one so this blog is basically only me now.  Here is a different list until I get to mine...

My Top 7 EPs!

I was going narrow this down to Top 5 EPs but I saw that I had 7 so figured, whatever, I will do 7.  Here we go...

7. Petit Noir - The King of Anxiety EP: This South African artists EP covers a number of musical genres with bits of electronica and different experimental sounds.  It makes me think of Music on the Radio and old, when they were good, Bloc Party.  I really like the song Chess.



6.  Mt. Wolf - Red EP: This band reminds me a bit of Sigur Ros, lots of haunting melodies and vocals.  This would be higher but the EP is only 4 songs and one of them is just someone talking for like 7 minutes.



5. River Whyless - River Whyless EP: A combo of Indie and Americana this group has very soft vocals with violins and quiet drums.  Makes me think of what Hipsters would consider country music.



4. Alvarez Kings - Fear to Feel EP: This might be considered a bit of over emotional pop but I like it.  Synths! Guitars! Drums with echoes! Skinny jeans! Goofy haircuts! I'm not going a good job of selling this.



3. Lanks - Banquet EP: More electronica style stuff.  Reminds me a bit of Sohn.  I would post his only official video but it is kind of weird so here is a different one...



2.  Panama - Always EP: Another Australian electronica band...hmm I'm beginning to notice a theme here.  These guys remind me a bit of St.Lucia.  Fun stuff.



1. Jake McMullen - Always EP: I just realized my two favorite EPs of the year have the same title. WHOA! Super crazy.  This one isn't electronica! I really can't wait for this guy to come out with a full album.  A bit of an unusual voice but I love it with the echoey guitars in the background.  Definitely some Ryan Adams influences.  Great stuff.



Well there you go, my top EPs of 2015.

We Should All Be So Enthusiastic About Our Jobs

Nature

Dolphins! Whales!

Raiders of the Last Bark