Best Albums of 2015

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1.

To Pimp A Butterfly 

 Kendrick Lamar

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"@Mother Nature's Son Consider this scenario: a man with a child walks into an art museum. In this museum, paintings are displayed containing graphic, vulgar images, including nudity, violence, etc. The man, upon seeing these pictures, storms out of the museum, enraged by the crass sight he and hi...""@Mother Nature's Son Consider this scenario: a man with a child walks into an art museum. In this museum, paintings are displayed containing graphic, vulgar images, including nudity, violence, etc. The man, upon seeing these pictures, storms out of the museum, enraged by the crass sight he and his child had witnessed. "This is not art! This is disgusting!" he shouts, unable to understand how anybody could find pleasure in something so terrible. Is this man correct? Subjectively, yes. If he does not enjoy the art, then to him it has no personal value. But to deny the art any value whatsoever would be a crime. Vulgarity of this sort can be used to push an artistic point. Would a war painting be complete without violent imagery? Would Michaelangelo's statues be complete without penises? Would a portrayal of a stereotype be complete without a phrase such as "my dick is big"? No. By including such a statement, Kendrick addresses the stereotype that nobody else has the guts to talk about so bluntly. Some things, such as this, are not vulgar- they are real. Black stereotypical characteristics such as this, that are used to define who Kendrick is based on his physical features, are real things. Many people, I'm sure, don't view Kendrick as an artist but as just another black man. Those who do are missing the bigger picture- its only vulgar because it tries to portray the vulgarity of the world. If you can't enjoy it, that's fine, but you can't ignore the truth of the world we live in."  [+]  Reply

- jeremih724 | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +29 votes (36 helpful | 7 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

1,874 charts

Rank Score:

29,373

Rank in 2015:

1

Rank in 2010s:

1

Overall Rank:

20

Average Rating:

 89 (2,328 votes)

Comments:

371

2.

Carrie & Lowell 

 Sufjan Stevens

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"Sufjan Stevens started off making lo-fi singer/songwriter music, but quickly became renowned for his emphatic compositions and experimentation. There are very few artists to ever cross as many musical borders as Sufjan did between 2002 and 2014. He did everything from long-winded albums about Ame...""Sufjan Stevens started off making lo-fi singer/songwriter music, but quickly became renowned for his emphatic compositions and experimentation. There are very few artists to ever cross as many musical borders as Sufjan did between 2002 and 2014. He did everything from long-winded albums about American states jam-packed with songs arranged for dozens of instruments, to electronic experimental indie folk music, to classical orchestral music and some Christmas albums for good measure. Sufjan did whatever he wanted to do, but whatever he did was met with praise. Sometimes we questioned his decisions, but we always loved him for it. However, on his true masterpiece, Sufjan stripped that all away. Carrie & Lowell is a beautiful tribute to the life of Sufjan’s mother and the memories they had together. It is an emotional journey through their rocky relationship told through music that seems eerily simple for Sufjan, yet every track still has as much TLC as any other track he’s put out, if not more. Carrie & Lowell is honest and fearless as Sufjan doesn’t give himself the option to hide behind walls of instruments. Instead, he is in your face on every song with his guitar and mesmerizing voice providing the forefront of the music. When Sufjan stripped away all the experimentation that he’s built his reputation on, he made his most beautiful album. Carrie & Lowell tells the story of Sufjan’s mother Carrie, who passed away in 2012. The two had a rocky relationship. She dealt with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. She abandoned Sufjan when he was one. On the track, “Should Have Known Better”, Sufjan confesses, “When I was 3, 3 maybe 4, she left us at the video store”. The second most prominent character on this album is Sufjan’s stepfather Lowell, who was married to Carrie for 5 years. Sufjan calls those 5 years the years of hope. Overall, this album is full of beautiful and emotional tracks. There is not a weak moment on the album, and with every listen I realized that there is more going on that the surface would suggest. There are electronic instruments and pianos complementing Sufjan’s guitar and banjo work, as well as other instruments playing in the background to add to the atmosphere. Some of the best moments however, come when we are left with Sufjan’s voice, guitar, and the sound of his apartment’s air conditioner. From one track to the next, Sufjan tells the stories of summer trips to Oregon with his mom and stepfather using gorgeous music and mellow instrumentation. It is a beautiful journey."  [+]  Reply

- slurpdurp | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

1,267 charts

Rank Score:

15,432

Rank in 2015:

2

Rank in 2010s:

5

Overall Rank:

73

Average Rating:

 86 (1,495 votes)

Comments:

162

3.

Currents 

 Tame Impala

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"I've always loved Lonerism, but when this came out, I was still in the "I grew up on Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and know that hip-hop and pop are stupid" mindset. So I didn't really like it. Coming back to it after a few years, I can definitely enjoy it more, though its still no Lonerism (but th...""I've always loved Lonerism, but when this came out, I was still in the "I grew up on Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and know that hip-hop and pop are stupid" mindset. So I didn't really like it. Coming back to it after a few years, I can definitely enjoy it more, though its still no Lonerism (but then again, not much is). The synth instrumentation is quite enjoyable, and the rhythmic portion is pretty good for the most part. I find a bit of hip-hop influence, but mostly pop; however Kevin doesn't fully go pop and give it that annoying inhuman sheen that makes generic radio-pop so annoying to listen to. The melodies are pretty great as usual, songwriting has always been Kevin's strong suit, though a few of the songs do fall flat (past life). Overall it feels a little indulgent, but its a fun and carefree listen. 80/100 (Fairly Good)"  [+]  Reply

- JulianR | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

1,039 charts

Rank Score:

9,491

Rank in 2015:

3

Rank in 2010s:

13

Overall Rank:

141

Average Rating:

 82 (1,432 votes)

Comments:

123

4.

I Love You, Honeybear 

 Father John Misty

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"Astounding, beautiful songwriting. Intelligent and heartfelt, funny, healthily cynical, lush without being trite, poignant to the extreme while still intensely personal. Even in a year as stacked as 2015 seems like it'll be, this has a nice head start on album of the year."  Reply

- | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (7 helpful | 1 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

690 charts

Rank Score:

5,080

Rank in 2015:

4

Rank in 2010s:

41

Overall Rank:

329

Average Rating:

 80 (913 votes)

Comments:

65

5.

Art Angels 

 Grimes

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"I wanted to hate this, but it's actually pretty good."  Reply

- HoldenM | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +9 votes (9 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

554 charts

Rank Score:

3,694

Rank in 2015:

5

Rank in 2010s:

61

Overall Rank:

456

Average Rating:

 78 (655 votes)

Comments:

45

6.

Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit 

 Courtney Barnett

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"In the months after this album was released, it was a staple at the coffee shop in Boulder, Colorado, where I went each day to work and sip soy lattes. Courtney Barnett has a knack for songwriting that is funny, punchy, clever, and perhaps most important, earnest. The song that really grabbed me ...""In the months after this album was released, it was a staple at the coffee shop in Boulder, Colorado, where I went each day to work and sip soy lattes. Courtney Barnett has a knack for songwriting that is funny, punchy, clever, and perhaps most important, earnest. The song that really grabbed me and wouldn't let go was "An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)," which is a perfect ode to the feelings of alienation, crossed with the longing for connection, that define our modern age. "  [+]  Reply

- buzzdainer | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

593 charts

Rank Score:

3,612

Rank in 2015:

6

Rank in 2010s:

64

Overall Rank:

472

Average Rating:

 78 (693 votes)

Comments:

52

7.

E•Mo•Tion 

 Carly Rae Jepsen

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"It's kind of sad that CRJ has fallen somewhat out of the public eye considering how great of a pop album this is. Catchy beyond belief and something everybody should at least give a try."  Reply

- audianne | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +14 votes (16 helpful | 2 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

365 charts

Rank Score:

3,242

Rank in 2015:

7

Rank in 2010s:

75

Overall Rank:

534

Average Rating:

 77 (423 votes)

Comments:

35

8.

The Epic 

 Kamasi Washington

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"While listening, I'm sometimes overcome by an irresistible urge to swear loudly, such is the quality of this album."  Reply

- andy_hunter | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +10 votes (12 helpful | 2 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

469 charts

Rank Score:

2,905

Rank in 2015:

8

Rank in 2010s:

82

Overall Rank:

584

Average Rating:

 81 (502 votes)

Comments:

37

9.

Hand. Cannot. Erase. 

 Steven Wilson

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"Very great album!!! Maybe the best of the year, surely one of the best of 21st century. Routine is masterpiece. Ancestral, even with its 13 mins, is pleasant to listen. Wilson is a genius"  Reply

- Gionzi | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

300 charts

Rank Score:

2,897

Rank in 2015:

9

Rank in 2010s:

83

Overall Rank:

585

Average Rating:

 80 (423 votes)

Comments:

43

10.

Have You In My Wilderness 

 Julia Holter

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"An eccentric, melodic, ethereal, and overall gorgeous pop record. Whereas other dreampop bands like Beach House have achieved an immersive sound through serene synthesized production and sparkling guitars, this album finds its heavenly sound through more organic instrumentation. A lot of the text...""An eccentric, melodic, ethereal, and overall gorgeous pop record. Whereas other dreampop bands like Beach House have achieved an immersive sound through serene synthesized production and sparkling guitars, this album finds its heavenly sound through more organic instrumentation. A lot of the textures on this record are created by layered vocals, harpsichord, and double bass. While it might not be as tight of a soundscape as Loud City Song (a highly thematic record) it makes up for this in its diversity from track-to-track. Even when Julia is trading bubbly pop songs like "Feel You" with dense mystical soundscapes like "Night Song", the album is consistently beautiful and the variation gives the album really great pacing. I cannot find a single noticeable flaw with this record; every single song feels vital to the overall whole and each tidbit is an enjoyable listen (although "How Long?" and "Vasquez" could be a bit of a challenge when heard outside the context of the record). 10/10. Favorites: Betsy on the Roof, Feel You, Night Song, Have You In My Wilderness, Lucette Stranded on the Island "  [+]  Reply

- Cosmo | Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful) A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.

Year of Release:

2015

Appears in:

432 charts

Rank Score:

2,758

Rank in 2015:

10

Rank in 2010s:

85

Overall Rank:

611

Average Rating:

 80 (443 votes)

Comments:

25

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Total albums: 1,000. Page 1 of 100

Best Albums of 2015 composition

Top 1,000 Top 500 Top 250 Top 100

Artist	Albums	%
Various Artists	5	1%
Bruce Springsteen	3	0%
Justin Townes Earle	2	0%
Petite Noir	2	0%
Bob Dylan	2	0%
Young Thug	2	0%
Luke Laurila	2	0%
Show all

Country	Albums	%
	470	47%
	194	19%
	51	5%
	38	4%
	29	3%
	27	3%
	25	3%
Show all

Compilation?	Albums	%
No	975	98%
Yes	25	3%

Live?	Albums	%
No	978	98%
Yes	22	2%

Soundtrack?	Albums	%
No	991	99%
Yes	9	1%