Favorite albums from 2015
It's hard to believe that early in this year I was worried that there weren't going to be too many memorable albums. Last year and the year before were so great that it seemed impossible that releases could come out this year that would stand up to those. Yet, here I am, the first week of 2016, reflecting back and having a darn difficult time deciding what my top 10 releases were for 2015. Of course, it's all totally subjective and I'd love to hear about what some of your top picks were. I just love music so darn much and spend so much time thinking about albums, this kind of thing is so fun to write. I included the album art because I think album art is an under appreciated art, but it’s a essential component of the “album” in my mind. So, in no particular order…
Ryan Adams - 1989. It probably could have been predicted by anybody that knows how much I love Ryan Adams' music that I'd pick this one. So, I'll get it out of the way. I still like his self titled album (last year) a bit better than this one, but 1989 a great release. How does he do it? Heart melting… rock'n'roll… pop… country… metal… etc. etc. He never ceases to amaze me. If somebody had told me even a year ago that I'd be listening to and loving songs written by Taylor Swift, I'd have laughed. But, through this album, I'm able to see what a talented songwriter she is and hear how her songs could be reinvented to be more to my tastes. Ryan achieved making something completely original out of cover songs, which isn't an easy task.
Kadavar - Berlin. I've thought Kadavar was great for a couple years now and waited with great anticipation for the release of Berlin this year. They're a trio. They're from Germany. They know how to rock. Kadavar has possibly the best tone I've ever heard. When listening to their songs, it's often not about the notes they play, but what they don't play. When so many bands today try to do too much, Kadavar plays with a simplicity that is appreciated, done the right way. Berlin has just as much riffage as I've come to expect, the songs are memorable, and the song writing is top notch. They ride the bridge between rock and metal.
Iron Maiden - Book of Souls. Iron Maiden still stands as putting on the best live show I've ever seen. They continue to be a band of seemingless endless talent. And, if it's even possible, they seem to be getting better with age. Book of Souls doesn't waste any time across two jam packed CD's of shreddingly epic metal, delivered in the tried and true Iron Maiden way. Bruce Dickenson sounds as sharp as ever and the band is as tight as can be. Iron Maiden continues to set the bar high for the epic style of metal that they're known for.
Allan Hough - Thank Me When You're Grateful. My long time friend Allan made this album and released it this year, and dang what a release. I've listened to it so many times and still can't get enough of it. It's poetic and heartfelt, punk and disco, clever and complete. It's unlike anything I've ever heard, yet I can sometimes catch a glimpse of where inspiration came from… and it's from a lot of places. There's a lot of this album I find myself relating to with a kind of California, Bay Area, nostalgia. Yet, it's so damn new.
Shamir - Ratchet. There are days that go by when I tell myself I'm never gonna like pop music again. Then here comes Shamir with Ratchet. This album to me sounds like it takes place completely in the moment. The songwriting sounds like poetry written down on napkins and recorded the next day. Only an abundance of natural raw talent can make something sound like that and work (of course, Shamir probably spent a lot more time than that working out these songs and making them as good as they are). Of all the albums I really liked this year, this is the one that really surprised me.
Myrkur - M. If I met someone that I thought might get into black metal, but wasn't ready for the really heavy stuff, I'd probably play for him/her this album, M, by Myrkur. For black metal, I appreciate how she switches it up from the typical growl and grind that the subgenre's vocals are know for. Instead, she mixes is in an operatic element that makes the album stand out. It's still heavy as hell. I don't usually get into black metal, it's typically just not my thing, but when I find something I like, I can really like it… this is definitely a case of that.
Night Demon - Curse of the Damned. Night Demon made one helluva thrash album. This is metal for all occasions. It's music like this that gives me tons of hope for the future of metal. This album has enough elements of 80s thrash that it will remind you of the greats that you've appreciated for so long, yet it's fresh. Another complaint I sometimes hear about metal is that it's too much about shredding and not enough about sounding interesting. Well, it seems that arguers from both sides will be pleased here. Night Demon keeps it interesting and full of nasty riffs, while shredding like the best.
Freedom Hawk - Into Your Mind. I found out about Freedom Hawk through the internet. I don't know much about them or what they're about and pictures of them depict them as a bunch of aging rockers. Then I heard Into Your Mind… it's a really good rock album. I can remember some years ago hearing Ryan Adams talk about how he wondered about whatever happened to the guys that just rocked, so Ryan went on and released Rock'n'Roll. Well, Freedom Hawk convinces me that there are good bands still out there writing original music and still ROCKING. It's stoner rock with solid riffs and they throw in a dusting of psychedelic magic on top of it all. Into Your Mind makes me want to get in the car for an extended road trip…
Khemmis - Absolution. I had a chance to see these guys live this year and play songs off of this record. It's doom, for sure, but stood out for me as particularly well done. And, they were cool dudes to chat with after the show, ta boot. The doom genre has been so flooded with mediocrity these past few years that it's hard for a band to stand out, but Khemmis has done it. They rock a bit more than a lot of doom and keep it interesting. Good song writing, musicianship, and vocals that even the not-so-doomy metal fan will appreciate.
The Arcs - Yours Dreamily. The Arcs, a Dan Auerbach side project, has a signature Auerbach sound despite having song writing credit by pretty much all the members of the band. It reminds me a lot of what I liked about certain Black Keys albums, having a more heartfelt and mellow feel compared to the more poppy and beat heavy sound the Black Keys seem to be drifting towards. I wasn't totally crazy about this album initially, but have found myself going back to it over the past few months and have decided that it deserves a place on this list for that reason. Of all the albums on this list, I think this is the one I'll be going back to in the years to come.
There were a lot of other really great albums that came out this year. Here are some notable mentions: Wetsocks - Drips; Torche - Restarter; Toxic Holocaust/Municipal Waste - Toxic Waste; Sorcerer - In The Shadow of the Inverted Cross; Ufomammut - Ecate; Mark Knopfler - Tracker; Goatsnake - Black Age Blues; Rhett Miller - The Traveler; Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard - Django and Jimmie; The Sword - High Country; Ryan Adams - Live at Carnegie Hall; Ghost - Meliora; Uncle Acid - The Night Creeper; Black Trip - The Shadow Line; Demon Lung - A Dracula; Pentagram - Curious Volume; Giorgio Moroder - deja-vu; Dead Weather - Dodge and Burn; Kylesa - Exhaulting Fire; EODM - Zipper Down; Scale the Summit - V; Guster - Evermotion; Ah God - Ah God; Glowsun - Beyond the Wall of Time; Baroness - Purple; Satan's Satyrs - Don't Deliver Us; Fuzz - II; W.A.S.P. - Golgotha; VHOL - Deeper Than Sky; Dopethrone - Hochelga; Satan - Atom by Atom; Christian Mistress - To Your Death; Symphony X - Underworld; Visigoth - The Revenant King; Motorhead - Bad Magic; Egypt - Endless Flight.
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