2015 Albums of the Year (Numbers 50-41)

It was a much better year for singles this year for me than albums. With that said, the albums that I liked this year, I really liked a lot. Here are my Top 50 albums for 2015:

50. The Chemical Brothers - Born in the Echoes

The Chemical Brothers have hit their new renaissance phase. Continuing where Further left off, Born in the Echoes is the sound of the Chems bursting forward with more fresh, new ideas.

49. Lower Dens - Escape From Evil

This is the album where Lower Dens make the decision to embrace melody and more pop-oriented elements. Their lyrics are still dark and foreboding, but there is less of wall going up, at least sonically speaking.

48. Ciara - Jackie

While she will never be as huge as Beyonce or Rihanna, Ciara puts out as good if not better music, in my opinion. Jackie is a welcome return for her, full of catchy jams and elegant ballads.

47. Viet Cong - Viet Cong

The band formerly known as Viet Cong (external pressures caused them to change their name, which at the moment they have not made) put out the most viscerally intense record this year. Regardless of what they change their name to, it will be exciting to see what they come up with next.

46. Metric - Pagans in Vegas

For me, Emily Haines and Co. have always been more of a singles band than an album band. Pagans in Vegas is their first release that actually sounds like a fully cohesive record. The singles and the deep album cuts are all on the same footing.

45. Kate Boy - One

More brilliant Swedish synthpop. There must be something in the water over there.

44. Neon Indian - VEGA INTL. Night School

Ridiculously clever, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink record from Neon Indian that astonishes with its creative breadth.

43. Twin Shadow - Eclipse

Eclipse is Twin Shadow's attempt at a big "POP RECORD!!!!" from an 80s mold. What could have come across as stunted or as pastiche, Twin Shadow wears his heart on his sleeve throughout and, even better, throws down some killer melodies to boot.

42. Zedd - True Colors

Pretty much the perfect marriage of pop and EDM.

41. Hot Chip - Why Make Sense?

I have never "gotten" Hot Chip. Their records always feeling very flat to me. Live they are brilliant, but they have never put together a cohesive album that made me really take notice. Why Make Sense? finally changes that.

Top 50 Songs of 2015 (Numbers 30-21)

And my countdown continues:

30. Selena Gomez - "Good for You"



There are almost too many good singles on Selena Gomez' new record. This is one of the standouts, a slow-burning track that brings Selena fully into adulthood.

29. Ameriie - "Out Loud"



It's been too long since we have heard from Ameriie, and it's like she never left. She is the queen of the jam.

28. GOVS - "6teenDRE'am"



This is one of those dreamy tracks that just pulls at you like those last halcyon days of summer.

27. BATTS - "Morals"



Atmospheric track from Aussie duo Batts.

26. Florence + The Machine - "Ship to Wreck"



I go back and forth with Florence, finding some of her music a tad overwrought, however, on occasion she knows how to hit my sweet spots just right. "Ship to Wreck" is one of those perfect moments.

25. Ciara ft. Joe Jonas - "I Bet"



Just a great breakup jam.

24. Alessia - "Here"



Although her debut album was enjoyable but not striking, when you have a first single this strong, you can overlook that. I hope she stays true to herself and puts out more songs like this.

23. Drake - "Hotline Bling"



Yes, it is almost too ubiquitous, but this song had to make this list.

22. Empress Of - "Standard"



This was another record I had trouble finding one song that I wanted to put on this list. For me, it was that monstrous bass line and her epic vocals that sealed the deal.

21. Hot Chip - "Need You Now"



About the 3:00 mark in the song we reach the sublime.

Non-Sequiturs

I am sure he is looking out that window for me.

Him too.

Haaaay.

Cutie.

Beefy and cute.

Gorgeous.

Damn.

Sexy wetness.

Ok, I don't mind looking.

Handsome.

Daddy!

Yes.

Beautiful belly.

Grrrr.

Gorgeous.

Dennis Diehl of Any Given Day.  Hell yes.

Silver fox.

Woof.

Yum.

Beautiful eyes.

Sexy otter.

Wow.

Sigh.

Chesty.

So hot.

I'm not quite sure why anyone would want to be famous.

Why are most major label recording artists' album covers so tepid and boring?

Just because you are gay does not automatically mean you have style and/or taste.

Why any gay man in this day and age wouldn't consider going on PrEP is beyond me.

Love it.

I never know what to say when trying to console someone.

Veckatimest gets even better with age.

The video for The Chemical Brothers' song "Go" is, quite frankly, boring. I never thought I could have boring and Michel Gondry in the same sentence.  The song though is killer.

Sometimes you just need to have greasy Pizza Hut pizza.

There appears to be little difference between the radical Christian Right and Radical Islam.

This cracks me up every time.

Why is it so hard for people to get "your" and "you're" right?

The line between liking someone and disliking someone can be pretty thin. It never ceases to amaze me when people fawn all over someone and say what a great person they are, and I can't stand to be within 5 feet of them.

If you are always relying on others' opinions to feel good about yourself, you are never really going to feel good about yourself.

Jennifer Lopez really needs to stop wearing these barely there gowns, not because she looks bad in them, but because it has become boring and expected.

Exactly.

I need to learn to heed my own advice and never trust a thumbnail pic.

Complaining about traffic in Atlanta is like complaining about getting wet in a shower. It is always going to happen, get over it.

One man's gay real estate porn is another's trashy nightmare.

Smooth rarely does anything for me.

It's not a question of whether one is crazy or not, rather, it is a question of how crazy one is.

Dying.

Ciara always does me right.

The new Django Django album reminds me of Beta Band, which is a good thing.

The scene in last week's Mad Men with Roger playing the organ and Peggy roller skating in the empty SC&P offices was instantly iconic, as was Peggy's entrance into the M-E offices with her sunglasses and cigarette.

I was actually able to give myself a shot the other day, and I didn't pass out.

I studiously avoided any Mexican restaurant on the 5th.

I don't even look at my local feed on Scruff anymore.

Something to consider.

When did wallpaper make a comeback?

I'm a little sad that I am not going to Purple Party this year, but the sands of the beach in Ft. Lauderdale will surely dry my tears.

I can't abide dismissive people.

Tea Party = mentally unstable.

Chief Justice Roberts, my civil rights are not up for debate.

There comes a time when your constant promotion of your services moves from advertising to harassment.

You should be able to use death rays on people driving slow in the left hand lane.

Your cute of the day.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"I stay high all the time
Just to get by
I climb into the sky
And my eyes, they cry

California nights
Make me feel so happy I could die
But I try to stay alive

I never wanna get so high
That I can't come back down to real life
And look you in the eyes and say
"Baby, you're mine"

Fading back and forth
I fly through my mind
I take the way I've known
But have I really grown?

California nights
Make me feel so happy I could die
But I try to stay alive

I never wanna get so high
That I can't come back down to real life
And look you in the eyes and say
"Baby, you're mine"

I never wanna get so high
That I can't come back down to real life
And look you in the eyes and say
"Baby you, oh baby, you're mine"

Best Coast
"California Nights"

"I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you
I bet you start needing me
Soon as you see me with someone else
Somebody other than you
And I know that it hurts
You know that it hurts your pride
But you thought the grass was greener on the other side
I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you

So I'm supposed to believe that it's Fellini's calling' your phone?
I'm supposed to believe that they're asking' you if you're home
I wasn't born yesterday, not me, can't get that over me, not me
I love you but I won't be a fool for you
That is just something' that I wouldn't do, babe
I mean I would stay if you could tell the truth
But you can't, no matter how much time I ask

Is that your bitch over there giving me the ugly stare
The one with the silicone ass, and the Brazilian hair
You ain't gon' respect me no no no till I'm not there
See, I got you comfortable, now you ain't really scared

But I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you
I bet you start needing me
Soon as you see me with someone else
Somebody other than you
And I know that it hurts
You know that it hurts your pride
But you thought the grass was greener on the other side
I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you

So you bought me a car, he can buy that too
I can take care of myself and I can find someone to do it too, baby
You actin' like you upgraded me, I upgraded you
You and me Fashion Week in Paris, I put you on to that new
But you took advantage of, you took advantage of, you took advantage
I cannot understand it, I cannot understand it, I cannot understand it
I thought you'd always be there for me, yeah yeah
But if you ask me if I knew better now, hell yeah

So you can keep that bitch over there giving' me the ugly stare
The one with the silicone ass, and the Brazilian hair
You ain't gon' respect me no no no till I'm not there
See, I got you comfortable, now you ain't really scared

But I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you
I bet you start needing me soon as you see me with someone else
Somebody other than you
And I know that it hurts, you know that it hurts your pride
But you thought the grass was greener on the other side
I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you

Baby, tell me what's it, gonna take to keep it
All the way one hundred
You won't get it 'til I'm gone away (away)

I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you
I bet you start needing me
Soon as you see me with someone else
Somebody other than you
And I know that it hurts
You know that it hurts your pride
But you thought the grass was greener on the other side
I bet you start loving me
Soon as I start loving someone else
Somebody better than you

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
I hate, I hate that I'm singing this song, singing this song
‘Cause I love you
Yeah I love you

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
I’m all cried out
I’m all tried out
I’m all fired out
Yeah

Right now it’s killing me
'Cause now I have to find someone else
When all I wanted was you."

Ciara
"I Bet"

Appealing Things

Mushroom risotto at Campagnolo
Cricket, Bear, and sometimes Scooter
Best Coast
Ciara
P4K slamming Mumford and Sons
FYF Fest

Annoying Things

Driving in the rain at night
Missing Shaky Knees Festival
Porsche drivers
How bad traffic has gotten in my neighborhood

Jam of the Day: Ciara ft. Joe Jonas - "I Bet"

Gorgeous ballad from my girl Ciara. I actually like this version with Joe Jonas better than the single version. Their voices really compliment one another. This song is featured on the Deluxe Version of Ciara's upcoming record Jackie.

Videos of the Week

Here are the videos that soothed my soul this week:



Another visually stunning video from Bjork.



One unbroken shot drives this fascinating clip for this collaboration from Devonte Hynes and Neneh Cherry which was commissioned by UK department store Selfridges.



A factory worker discovers all sorts of weird things going on in this clip from TCTS.



Sludgy track from The Spirit of the Beehive gets a disorienting house party video that matches the mood of the song.



Stark black and white clip from South African producer Petite Noir.



Ciara as a life-sized jewelry box ballerina in this stylish clip.

Non-Sequiturs

Katy Perry's backup dancer.  Damn.

Sexy belly.

Woof!

Lots of yummy fur.

Gorgeous.

Ginger god.

UNF.

Just gorgeous.

Hot nerd.

Ditto.

I want arms like that.

My ex Will will love this pic.  Total hairy forearm fetish.

Cutie.

Beefy bull.

So damn hot.

Amazing chest.

Adorable.

Perfect.

Pretty damn near perfect.

Great smile and chest.

Holy fuckballs.

I will take 4 of him, thank you.

Grrrrrrrr and purrrrrrrr.

Rugged.

Sexy grin.

Yes, please.

Though this might sound strange coming from me, I really like John Legend's music.

Huge pet peeve: people who cannot follow simple directions.

The use of hash tags has become completely out of control and irksome.

After all this rain, Atlanta needs a do-over for summer.

I love this.

I enjoyed my time in college, but I graduated and moved on. Life goes on people, stop living in the past.

Regardless of its health benefits, green tea is foul tasting.

A suntan should be earned, not bought.

"Everything good dies here, even the stars."

It works.

I'm very good at pretending to be good at something I am not good at.

Stop trying to fix your relationship with distractions.

If a movie is released in theaters during February, it is going to be a clunker.

Gregory Peck had some awesome hair.

Love this poster.

Once again in work limbo.

Is it really that difficult to respond to a hello?

While I am sure it would be an interesting experience, I really have no interest in doing Burning Man.

Sometimes it is way too early in the morning to see your up close selfie pics on Facebook.

Tequila is not my friend.

Your cute for the day.

Lyrics Rattling Around My Brain

"Faster, faster, you won't go far
Shouldn't leave, feeling faint, we both know why
You got to show me, both knees, cold I lie
Hold me, slowly, hide me, til I can fight

Always, we can sing, we can make time
Old songs, flood and flame, you could be mine
But you got to show me, both knees, skin and bone
Clothe me, throw me, move me

Til I can sell you lies
You can't get enough
Make a true believer of
Anyone, anyone, anyone

I can call you up
If I feel alone
I can feed your dirty mind
Like I know, like I know what you want

Icon of symmetry, swallowing sides
Fall down in front of me, follow my eyes
But I got to see you moving, waste no time
Teach me, make me holy

Til I can sell you lies
You can't get enough
Make a true believer of
Anyone, anyone, anyone

I can call you up
If I feel alone
I can feed your dirty mind
Like I know, like I know what you want."

CHVRCHES
"Lies"

"A little more
Every day
Falls apart and
Slips away
I don't mind
I'm okay
Nothing ever
Stays the same, well
While we can
Remember when
Always running
Even then
Stay with me
Hold me near
While I'm still here."

Nine Inch Nails
"While I'm Still Here"

"My body is your party, baby
Nobody's invited but you baby
I can do it slow now, tell me what you want
Baby put your phone down, you should turn it off
Cause tonight is going down, tell your boys is going down
We in the zone now, don't stop

You can keep your hands on me, touch me right there, rock my body
I can't keep my hands off you, your body is my party
I'm doing this little dance for you
You got me so excited
Now it's just me on you
Your body's my party, let's get it started."

Ciara
"Body Party"

Appealing Things

Andrew moving in
Sunday of Labor Day weekend out with our whole group of friends
Ana Paula
Lifehackable.com
Forest Swords' Engravings
The randomness of SoundCloud
Kyson Dummy Mix 180
Su's Chinese

Annoying Things

Know-It-Alls
Drunks on a dancefloor
Rock operas and concept records
Papa John's pizza
Work limbo
People who are only nice to you to get to other people through you