After 2014 being somewhat lackluster in regards to music, 2015 pleasantly surprised many with a plethora of notable rap releases, and less while still interesting releases in other genres.
Music is best digested in whole pieces. When I am approached with a single song, it feels similar to a movie trailer; it is just an appetizer of what the entire piece will be like. For this reason, it is impossible to compile lists of my favorite songs, however my favorite albums of the year can be painstakingly decided.
My absolute favorite album of 2015 was Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly”. In this album, Lamar confronted difficult topics such as race, his role in the music industry, and many more complicated and ambiguous topics. “To Pimp a Butterfly” features a number of notable musicians, such as Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, Bilal, Rapsody, and a number of other talented producers. The album is a poetic breath of fresh air for rap and will undoubtedly hold influence over future generations of rap, jazz, soul, and music in general.
The album received praise from several media sources. “Kendrick Lamar’s third album is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece,” Rolling Stone magazine said.
My second favorite album of the year was “Carrie and Lowell”, by Sufjan Stevens. This despondent album features a mainly Stevens and an acoustic guitar as he introspectively reflects on his childhood and relationships throughout his life. The album, though eerily sad, is extremely beautiful and enjoyable to listen to.
The third noteworthy album of the year is Aubrey Graham’s (otherwise known as Drake) “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.” Drake created the project as he took a break from his highly anticipated album “Views from the Six” speculated to come out in 2015. “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” brought great change to Drake’s sound, as he discusses his confidence yet uncomfortable feelings with his new found global fame and position in the music industry. This album is the first Drake project that I can legitimately say I consider great, and that makes the excitement for his future projects very high.
Fourthly is Deerhunter’s “Fading Frontier,” an excellent album by the indie rock band from Atlanta. Deerhunter has the incredible talent of making sad themes and channeling them into an extremely catchy and positive sound. Starting from the intro the album is outstanding, and that continues throughout the entire project.
The album received accolades throughout musical media, specifically Pitchfork, who rewarded them their “Best New Music” Award. “[‘Fading Frontier’ is] Deerhunter’s most content, warm and plainspoken work to date,” Pitchfork said.
Finally, “so the flies don’t come” by independent rapper Rory Ferreira, otherwise known as his stage name “milo,” offers a unique take on rap and is highly underrated, garnering a small percentage of the popularity the rest of the albums on this list have achieved. Ferreira, along with rappers like Lamar, are bringing a different kind of rap, and it is exciting to see what influences these artists will have on future generations. Separating him from other artists, however, Ferreira presents himself as a cynical, nerdy rapper. The album features several other talented musicians such as Myka and Hemlock Ernst.
Building on momentum from this year, 2016 will undoubtedly be an exciting year for music. Some already anticipated albums are Drake’s “Views from the Six” and Chance the Rapper’s untitled third project.
Top Image by TheNextWeb
