Lets take a moment and remember just how special the beginning of 2015 was. Stars like Courtney Barnett burst onto the scene, Kendrick Lamar ascended to the top of the rap world, and Blur came out with another new album. The back end of 2015 is going to be packed with excellent new releases; Grimes and Kanye West are both set to debut new albums, and who knows who else is going to appear. But for now, let us take a look back at the best albums of 2015 so far:
Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
The former Fleet Foxes man has wasted no time in bringing us something new and stellar. With his second release under the pseudonym Father John Misty, he brought us something raw, heartfelt, and rather cynical. The sounds are diverse, the strings lush, and the lyrics honest, “Of the few main things I hate about her, one’s her petty, vogue ideas.”
Jamie XX – In Colour
The rich sounds and textures that are produced through Jamie XX in his first solo LP can only be compared to those created by a master painter. There is depth in every moment and the foreground works deep into the background, where it is at once forgotten, only to be remembered again later on. The colors shown are vivid, and everything from deep house beats to rap to steel drums make an appearance.
Bop English – Constant Bop
White Denim member, Bop English’s solo debut is full of a psychedelic feel that could only come from Austin. It’s part T-Rex, part Dr. Dog, and all central Texas. Constant Bop sounds timeless, and we certainly appreciate his clever lyrical content that is sure to turn the heads of more than a few hipsters.
Yumi Zouma – EP II
Released almost a year after their debut EP, EP II seems almost as if it is made of dreams, even if those dreams are somewhat hazy at times. This New Zealand-based synth-pop trio is able to create songs that seem to be able to float seamlessly from scene to scene; from your car to the dance floor to a bedroom.
Panda Bear – Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
What’s left to be said about Noah Lennox? He’s been at the top of the indie music world for almost a decade now and he keeps coming out with better and better stuff. Grim Reaper is probably his best album since the groundbreaking Person Pitch, and it might be just as good. More adult, but still raw, Panda Bear’s newest album explores the depths of being a father and growing old.
Categories: Music
Over the Viaduct 