TOP 7 ALBUMS OF 2015

This is a list of what I believe to be the best albums that have been released this year. Many come from my personal favorite artists while others come from artists I was surprised by. Take a look.

 

7) DEMI LOVATO, CONFIDENT

This album was one of those that surprised me. I have never been a huge fan of pop music and so I never really listened to Demi Lovato. I had enjoyed some of the tracks off her 2013 album but never really was a devoted fan. When she released the lead single “Cool For The Summer”, I initially didn’t like it. However as I heard it more it grew on me and began one of my favorite summer songs. Once the second single “Confident” was released, I knew this album was going to be good. However. Confident was not the album I was expecting. With the two singles being upbeat and sexy, I figured the rest of the album would be too. However, the album was filled with ballads and showed just how much of a vocal powerhouse Demi Lovato is. Confident is a really enjoyable album and a pleasant surprise from a pop artist.

TOP SONGS- Cool For The Summer, Wildfire, Yes, Kingdom Come (minus Iggy Azalea)

6) X AMBASSADORS, VHS

In my opinion, this album does not flow very nicely. It is not a cohesive album that has the songs all relating from start to end.Another thing I had difficulty with regarding the album was all of the interludes. However once you get the passed the interludes, the actual songs are pretty good. A lot of the tracks are, to me, very experimental and very alternative. and while the album lacks in a nice flow, the individual tracks are pretty amazing. The only song I really didn’t like was “Fear”. However this album offers really great tracks with really unique sounds, vocals and content. X Ambassadors have crafted some pretty great stuff with VHS, and while the album may not flow very nicely, it is still a great listen and a really enjoyable album.

TOP SONGS- Renegades, Jungle, Gorgeous, Loveless, B.I.G.

5) WALK THE MOON, TALKING IS HARD 

This album is a nostalgic look back on music from the 80’s. WALK THE MOON matured their sound for their second major-label feat, while still sticking to the funkiness of their first album. This album brought them some pretty mainstream success with “Shut Up And Dance” being constantly overplayed. But with that aside, this album is a very enjoyable one with a nice flow from track to track. This is alternative music done right. Talking Is Hard showcases a growth in WALK THE MOON, while still being a really fun album. They use beats that sound like they come from the 80’s and use their unique lyrical skills to present a well-prepared album. “Different Colors” is a great anthem for those in the LGBT community, up there with P!nk’s “Raise Your Glass” and Kesha’s “We R Are Who We R”. All in all, Talking is Hard, is WALK THE MOONS normal craft only very heavily perfected.

TOP SONGS- Up 2 U, Spend Your $$$, Different Colors, Down In The Dumps, Avalanche, Portugal

4) ZELLA DAY, KICKER 

This was the first album I ever critiqued on this blog. And it is still one of my favorites. Zella Day crafts a psychedelic world for her listeners with her very crafty lyrics and beats. She reminds me a lot of Lana Del Rey, except with more talent and a better sense of the music she’s trying to deliver. Kicker packs a punch (or a kick rather…) that leaves listeners entranced and wanting more. The album will leave you feeling like you’ve been transformed. Each song deliver quality beats and lyrics and offers a wonderfully crafted alternative/psychedelic sound. Zella Day’s debut is a very strong one and I cannot wait to see what she has to offer her listeners in the future.

TOP SONGS- Jerome, Ace of Hearts, Mustang Kids, High, Hypnotic, Shadow Preachers

3) MELANIE MARTINEZ, CRY BABY 

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, this album is pure perfection. A totally surprising album, Martinez takes extremely child-like themes and transforms them into very mature, dark tales. The whole album is the story of a girl named Cry Baby, and her various forms of bad luck. Whether it be no one coming to her birthday party or being kidnapped, Cry Baby can’t seem to get away from hard times. This albums content dives into abuse, kidnapping, rape, alcoholism, love and broken hearts. Cry Baby is one of the most beautifully crafted albums I think I have ever heard. Martinez’s niche is not only her unique voice but rather her unique approach to pop music and her lyrical content. This album is extremely dark, but so beautifully crafted, you can’t help but fall in love. Well done, Miss Martinez.

TOP SONGS- Mad Hatter, Soap, Mrs. Potato Head, Tag You’re It, Alphabet Boy

2) THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, WIPED OUT!

When I reviewed “R.I.P. 2 My Youth”, I said that I thought THE NBHD’s new album was going to be a lot more mature than their last album, and boy was I right. Wiped Out! appears to really be an album dealing with the lose of a father and going through break-ups. A lot of the lyrics are brutally honest and somewhat heartbreaking as the listener really gets to feel the pain being conveyed in the songs. With this album, THE NBHD matures their sound while sticking to the alternative sound they’re known for. But unlike their first effort, Wiped Out! is not repetitive, and shows a whole new side to the band. I was pleasantly surprised with this album and the direction the band decided to go when crafted their second album. Wiped Out! is a great album that doesn’t disappoint. A must-listen for sure.

TOP SONGS- Cry Baby, Greetings From Califournia, Ferrari, Daddy Issues, R.I.P. 2 My Youth

1) MARINA & THE DIAMONDS, FROOT 

We’re here! The cream of the crop, the BEST album of 2015, the amazing Froot! Let me start off by saying that choosing the best album out of my top 3 was extremely hard, but the more I listened to each album, I found myself liking Froot more than the other 2 previously mentioned. Marina really comes into her own on this album, utilizing the tones and messages from her previous albums. Froot is an extremely honest album, with Marina writing all the lyrics and music to the tracks by herself. Songs like “Happy” and “Solitaire” show a side of deep sadness while songs like “Froot” and “Forget” show a more positive attitude regarding situations in life. Marina keeps consistent with her sarcastic nature of her first two albums with “Can’t Pin Me Down” and “Better Than That”, while discussing the turmoil society is currently in on her song “Savages”. The final song “Immortal” is such a beautifully sad song. There is no song on this album that I do not like. It has a great flow to it and is very cohesive with all of its parts. Marina capitalizes on her sarcasm and sadness to bring the best album of 2015. Froot delivers strong vocals and messages and proves that Marina and her fans are living la dolce vita.

TOP SONGS- Froot, Can’t Pin Me Down, Better Than That, Solitaire, Immortal

So there you have it, my top 7 albums of 2015. Hope you enjoyed each album as much as I did!