Whenever December rolls around, I inevitably find myself perusing endless best-of-this-year-in-indie-music lists scattered across the far-flung corners of the internet. Although I usually spotlight specific artists on here, I thought I’d break from my usual routine to share with you my favorite albums & EPs of 2015. I absolutely love individual songs from each work on this list, but I selected each of these as a full work of art comprised of many tracks. This is by no means a comprehensive inventory; it’s simply a collection of music released in 2015 that spoke to me for one reason or another.
So here’s a round-up of some phenomenal albums & EPs. May you find solace, joy, and maybe even some new dance moves from this list.
Note: Don’t want to read my verbose commentary ? I don’t blame you. Skip to the bottom to see the comprehensive Spotify playlist version of this post instead.
Honorable Mention: albums I liked a lot and would feel guilty if I didn’t at least (honorably) mention
- Dear Wormwood – The Oh Hellos
- Without My Enemy What Would I Do – Made in Heights
- Currents – Tame Impala
- Seven Seas – Emancipator
- Bolu – Tom Rosenthal
- Men Amongst Mountains – The Revivalists
- I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty
- Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
- Limit of Love – Boy & Bear
- Believer – Trent Dabbs
- The Narrow Valley – Bryan John Appleby
- Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Surf
- Religion – Howard
- The Decemberists- What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World
- b’lieve i’m goin down – Kurt Vile
Really Honorable Mention: albums I really REALLY liked …
… and coincidentally, those which my friends might conceivably pretend to get upset over if I forgot to mention. Some pretty damn good music, in no particular order:
- Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit – Courtney Barnett
- Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes
- Return to the Moon – EL VY
- Understudy – Lapsley / Station – Lapsley / Hurt Me – Lapsley
- The Spirit Moves – Langhorne Slim, The Law
- Another One – Mac Demarco
- Dopamine – BØRNS
- Depression Cherry – Beach House
- I Don’t Want to Let You Down – Sharon Van Etten
- Goon – Tobias Jesso Jr.
- Medicine – Drew Holcombe and the Neighbors
- 1st Bath – Avid Dancer
My Favorite 20 Albums & EPs of 2015
20.What I Kept In Hiding – Foreign Fields
The group Foreign Fields (not to be confused with the beautiful track of the same name by Kacy Hill) has reliably released one EP / year since their debut album in 2011. The 6 ambient tracks of What I Kept in Hiding form a cohesive arc, with hints of Mac Demarco vibes.
19. Dark Bird is Home – The Tallest Man On Earth
Kristian Matsson hits it out of the park with this one, as per usual. Supporting instruments give this album a fuller, happier sound than his past work, and it’s nice to hear his thoughtful lyrics applied to the joyful side of life this time. Check out my favorite track, Slow Dance, as a prime example.
18. JR JR – JR JR
JR JR makes me wanna dance. Sometimes life is so good you just gotta listen to some happy songs… and that’s where JR JR comes in. Despite changing their name (from the previous & slightly more catchy moniker, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.), these guys successfully retained their bouncy, jubilant sound. The catchy and earnest “Gone” was my top track of 2015, according to Spotify!
17. The Bearer of Bad News – Andy Shauf
Andy Shauf has one of the most interesting voices that I’ve ever heard- his pronunciation sounds like something I should probably find annoying, but instead it just comes across as intriguing and strangely enjoyable (just like his music!).The Bearer of Bad News, a delightful amalgamation of heartwrenchingly accurate tales (“you’re out wasting time / with the right guy”), always hits the spot regardless what mood I’m in.
But that’s not all. I can’t recall another song with as vivid a protagonist as Andy’s ingeniously recounted Hometown Hero. How does he manage to tell such a clever anecdote in the space of one tiny, amusing song, one that sounds so excellent nonetheless? I can’t figure it out. Honestly, what are you doing still reading this? Go listen to Hometown Hero. Right now.
16. Yannina – Jake Houlsby
The best part about Yannina? Sorry, impossible to pick. Jake Houlsby has an enjoyably gruff voice, makes beautifully reflective music, and also responds to personal facebook messages within one day (not that I would know, I just heard that from a close friend or something). He’s got a good thing going on his debut EP, and I can’t wait to hear his future work. Start off with the title track, but take the time to listen to the entire thing.
15. Green Lanes – Ultimate Painting
Shoutout to Willie “Spilly” Toaspern for showing me this fantastic album. Veeerrrrrry chill yet quite adept (similar to Spilly himself, funnily enough), Ultimate Painting casually creates awesome music. This band’s sound falls somewhere between Real Estate and Mac Demarco. Whether you’re trying to sleep, work, or dance, throw on this album for a perfect sountrack to your day.
14.Southland Mission – Phil Cook
It’s hard to say whether I’m drawn to this album for its title (shoutout to my SF neighborhood!), Phil’s name (shoutout to Philz Coffee!) or simply Phil’s dope picture (hi Phil, can we be friends?!). Whatever the reason, this album takes Phil Cook’s prior expertise on the strings (as demonstrated in his 2013 song “Frazee, Mn”) to the next level.
Southland Mission impressed me with its ability to create a highly specific sound that persists across the entire album and yet never gets boring. Phil first caught my ear with the soulful “1922”, a very-well-played cover of Charlie Parr’s “1922 Blues” (incidentally, another fantastic track). And then I stayed because of “Anybody Else” and “Ain’t it Sweet” and “Gone” and every other song. Sit back and play this album start to finish for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
13. Riverside – Jon and Roy
My go-to artist this fall, Jon and Roy effortlessly demonstrate their aptitude at forging some good ol’ music in their newest album, Riverside. Best enjoyed with a mug filled with a warm beverage and your choice of a blanket or scarf.
12. Over and Even +3 – Joan Shelley
Joan Shelley- the official underdog of this list- comes in at spot number 12 despite my discovering her music only a few weeks ago! I’ve been smitten with it ever since. Heartfelt and hauntingly alluring, Over and Even +3 instantly won me over. Take a minute to enjoy her comforting voice (perhaps start with the song Stay on My Shore) and I swear you won’t be disappointed.
11. Carrie & Lowell – Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan’s newest work, despite being chock-full of unavoidably dark lyrics, still ends up being a satisfyingly melancholy listening experience. As a bonus, he also released an incredible (and notably more jovial) remix of Blue Bucket of Gold that deserves a good listen as well.
10. Vestiges & Claws – José Gonzales
Jose gently walks the line between mellow and enthralling. His serene chords and gentle voice fuse into a beautiful album perfect for listening to while pondering something important.
9. Sky City – Amason
Amason came back on my radar this year in a big way. The Swedish accents of vocalists Amanda Bergman and Gustav Ejstes add a wonderfully foreign quality to their english lyrics. Throw in some backup instrumentals from the likes of Miike Snow’s Pontus Winnberg, and the resulting album is both vibrant and delicious.
8. Tunnels and Planes – Nick Leng
This mysterious EP throws an intriguing synthesis of marvelous sounds at you but somehow stops somewhere just short of overwhelming. All three tracks are top notch — don’t miss the final song, a killer collaboration with Carmody.
7. Islands – Bear’s Den
Islands ranked high on my list because of the sheer number of fantastic tracks that it contains. A more classic “indie” sound than many of these other albums, Bear’s Den makes feel-good music that speaks right to the ups & downs of everyday life.
6. Oh Wonder – Oh Wonder
This duo gets it. Oh Wonder’s music: slow beats combined with layered male and female vocals, with some satisfying computer-generated sounds sprinkled on top. I love every single track on this album individually, but listening to the full work is simply next-level. And these guys just became #471 most streamed artist on Spotify!
5. EP – Júníus Meyvant
This Icelandic homie is GROOVY! His cleverly-titled EP just gets better and better with additional listens. If you need a quick fix, each song sounds stellar on its own, but I also love throwing the full EP on repeat for hours on end.
4. In Colour – Jamie xx
It’s immediately apparent that Jamie xx is a badass… he spells “colour” the cool way. Similarly, his music only takes one listen to enjoy. A fantastic progression of sounds comprise the delightful experience of In Colour. Take the time to listen to this one in full.
3. Such Jubilee – Mandolin Orange
Every time I hear the opening chords to this album, I am overcome by the feeling that everything is going to be okay. Mandolin Orange’s music defines genre characterization, falling somewhere in the intersection between bluegrass, indie, folk, country, and a couple of intangible things. The beauty of this album lies in the parallel comforts of earnest lyrics and reliable background notes that fit in exactly where they need to be. These qualities make Such Jubilee the perfect soundtrack for thinking, sleeping, cooking, watercolor painting, or Caltrain-riding, among many other activities.
2. Strange Trails – Lord Huron
This once-tiny-and-very-unknown indie group just sold out two consecutive shows at the Independent in SF last week. But if that’s not enough to convince you to give them a try, let their music speak for itself. As the group’s second album, Strange Trails does exactly what a sophomore work should: it retains the group’s unique vibes (happy & adventure-inspiring), while simultaneously deepening and exploring the boundaries of their sound.
From the clever lyrics of Love Like Ghosts (“Yes I know that love is like ghosts / Oh few have seen it / But everybody talks”) to the heartfelt storytelling of The Night We Met to the building excitement & colossal happiness present in Until the Night Turns, I’ve found Strange Trails to be a true treat. I’m proud to admit that this was my top-streamed album of 2015 on Spotify.
1. Alta Falls – The Barr Brothers
This honest and sincere EP takes a mere 20 minutes to enjoy. But don’t let the length fool you; this EP is clearly the polished work of seasoned musicians. Unlike many an album that’s home to multiple songs merely coexisting, all five of the gorgeous tracks on Alta Falls actively support each other, with each one making the next sound better. Ultimately, Alta Falls feels like a single 20-minute sublime experience.
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Want to keep listening to all this stellar music? Follow this Spotify playlist to enjoy the full collection in one place.
duly noted 