Artwork thanks to our very own Anthony Bauer
We’re certainly far enough removed from 2015 now for me to properly look back at the year and realize how remarkable it was. I meant to get this list up in January, but as it does, life got in the way and things got delayed. Sure, I may have missed the “list” cycle, but that’s ok. Now with some more time I was able to catch up on albums I wasn’t able to get to during the 2015 calendar year, as well as give some albums the chance to further reveal themselves to me over time.
2015 saw an abundance of great artists converge to release new material, almost to the point where there was a consistently too much great music on a week-to-week basis. Worlds smallest violin playing, I know.
I already shared my honorable mentions for best albums of the year, and many of these albums were good enough to make a top list any other year. But 2015 was a really great year, and this top 50 list really demonstrates how much quality stuff was released.
Without further ado, here are my top 50 albums of 2015.
50. Marina and the Diamonds – Froot
49. Torres – Sprinter
48. Neon Indian – VEGA INTL. Night School
47. Houndmouth – Little Neon Limelight
46. La Luz – Weirdo Shrine
45. The Arcs – Yours, Dreamily,
44. Eskimeaux – O.K.
43. Dilly Dally – Sore
42. Speedy Ortiz – Foil Deer
41. Hot Chip – Why Make Sense?
40. The Vaccines – English Graffiti
39. The Districts – A Flourish And A Spoil
38. Alex G – Beach Music
37. Pusha T – King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude
36. Mac Demarco – Another One
35. Port St. Willow – Syncope
34. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
33. Lower Dens – Escape From Evil
32. Thee Oh Sees – Mutilator Defeated at Last
31. Jamie XX – In Colour
30. Deerhunter – Fading Frontier
29. FFS – FFS
28. Alabama Shakes – Sound and Color
27. Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
26. Panda Bear – Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper
25. Martin Courtney – Many Moons
24. Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon
23. Viet Cong – Viet Cong
22. Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
21. Leon Bridges – Coming Home
20. Wolf Alice – My Love Is Cool
19. My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall
18. Beach House – Depression Cherry
17. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love
16. Foals – What Went Down
15. Blur – The Magic Whip
14. Björk – Vulnicura
13. Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness
12. Julien Baker – Sprained Ankle
11. Wilco – Star Wars
10. El Vy – Return To The Moon
9. Hop Along – Painted Shut
8. Joanna Newsom – Divers
7. Beach House – Thank Your Lucky Stars
6. Grimes – Art Angels
5. Father John Misty – I Love You Honey Bear
4. Tame Impala – Currents
3. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
2. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
1. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
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