2015 Albums of the Year (Numbers 10-1)

And last but not least, here are my top ten Albums:

10. Blur - The Magic Whip

Most bands coming off a lengthy hiatus from recording come back to middling results. Blur, taking advantage of a cancelled festival appearance, holed up in the studio and quickly banged out a killer set of tracks. The Magic Whip stands solidly alongside their best works.

9. Chvrches - Every Open Eye

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

8. Empress Of - Me

Confident set of tracks that keep revealing more and more layers with each listen.

7. Tame Impala -  Currents

Meticulously recorded and emotionally heartfelt, Tame Impala burst forth into the upper echelons of indie alt-rock with this trippy collection of songs.

6. Bjork - Vulnicura

Bjork returns to form with this painfully intimate set of tracks documenting the dissolution of her marriage. Challenging yet essential listening.

5. Selena Gomez - Revival

Simply put: the best pop record of the year.

4. Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

A song cycle as tribute to his deceased mother, Carrie and Lowell is Sufjan's elegant attempt to come to terms with death and mortality. By turns universal and painfully intimate, these songs touch one in many ways.

3. Braids - Deep in the Iris

Braids' first two records are a dichotomy, the first was a quirky set of guitar-based pop songs and the second an impressionistic whirl of electronic musings. Both had their charms but there just seemed to be something missing from each. Deep in the Iris merges their two sensibilities into a potent mix that always satisfies.

2. HEALTH - DEATH MAGIC

Like Braids, HEALTH finally made a record that bridged the gap between their two competing sides. A perfect mix of noise experimentation and pop smarts.

1. Grimes - Art Angels

Until Art Angels, I will have to admit I was only a marginal Grimes fan. With this record I was completely blown away with its stylistic breadth and its willingness to just be balls out weird. This was the one album of the year I just couldn't stop playing.