Best of 2015

Anything music related. Latest songs, good new bands, and blasts from the past.

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numbersix
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Best of 2015

Post by numbersix »

So who is up for post the best albums and/or songs of the year?

Was thinking of starting Saturday or Sunday for the runners-up and then posting an album and song every day.

Surf, presuming you're in on this?

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Leestu
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by Leestu »

Of course I'm in. Got my top tens sorted all ready to go.
And while we're waiting to start here is a song that should have been in my top 10 of 2014 last year but I didn't discover it until this year. It's so good I want to share the joy.
http://youtu.be/E5q-dPAHif0 https://open.spotify.com/track/7BvIkAc0VgurJP8lI16Rer

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Geezer
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by Geezer »

I'll get in on it sometime next year for sure.
Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude

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silversurfer19
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by silversurfer19 »

Certainly. I've been posting my top 25 albums on Facebook at the moment but will jump in and post simultaneously on here too, maybe with some different tracks to just jazz it up a bit!

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numbersix
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by numbersix »

Gonna kick off the countdown with a list of albums that almost made my Top 10. Great stuff from promising newcomers and an old faithful.

Deaf Wish - Pain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJxIw4r9M_M
An Ozzie band whose debut record boasts influences such as MC5, The Stooges, Sonic Youth, and My Bloody Valentine, all merging together with immense delight.


Algiers - Algiers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGV9rFA-tRk
An impressive debut from a band who blends blues, roots music, electronic, and some straight-up indie rock. There's plenty of fire in this collection


Arca - Mutant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXH5WWg-Mqs
Move over Aphex Twin, there's a new complex electro musician in town.


Ought - Sun Coming Down

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2cd8T1oO_0
Perhaps rushed, or perhaps it's a band going in whatever direction they want to, Ought's speedy second album is still brimming with great ideas and passion.


Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__y0QPrXlbQ
You just can't take post-rock from me, even if it's pretty much a dinosaur with only a few left actually making good stuff. GYBE's second album since their reconvening may not be particularly new or innovative, but it still packs a punch.

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Leestu
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by Leestu »

Here's a few albums that missed my top 10 but deserve a listen and are worth mentioning.

Fuzz - II
Great to see these guys return with another album after their awesome debut from a few years ago now. Ty Segal takes a back seat in this band of mates and takes up drumming duties. There is no youtube video for the epic instrumental that is the closing title track but I'll provide a spotify link and if you have the time it's worth it. Otherwise here is an album track Let It Live
https://youtu.be/V22eKgJW27E
https://open.spotify.com/track/19PSUBRtwRNqnkKKrZYBk0

Blur - The Magic Whip
I've always just been a casual fan of Blur and I'm sure diehard fans will disagree with me but I think this is Blur's best album they've ever made. Who does that after a long hiatus and a well respected back catalogue? So many interesting things going on in this album that rewards multiple listens. Here's the first single from the album, Go Out, but Lonesome Street and There Are Too Many Of Us are also highlights.
https://youtu.be/Sp1ks7PTzng
https://open.spotify.com/track/5b8FvZT5IGWi2ilQZxXkZR

Torres - Sprinter
Just missing my top 10 is this great album from Torres. It's a very honest and open personal album about her struggles with the issues raised from growing up as an adopted child in a baptist family. It's coproduced by Rob Ellis of P J Harvey fame and I'm guessing she was a major influence. I love her voice and the way she sings with such passion. This is the opening track Strange Hellos, and is one of my favourite songs of the year.
https://youtu.be/Ol61WOSzLF8
https://open.spotify.com/track/4tmnZMAGv1ksVDkOGY66CD

I'll be back later with a couple of songs that just missed my top ten songs of the year.

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Leestu
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by Leestu »

Now a couple of songs that just missed the cut for my favourite songs of the year.

Health - STONEFIST
I get a "New Order doing light industrial very much in the music of today" feel from this song. Beauty and power combined for a song that benefits from volume. Crank this one up and listen to it loud!
https://youtu.be/6aRr8O_D35Q
https://open.spotify.com/track/4DGRyGjqrVYl7b0TMMnjUc

Tiny Little Houses - Easy
This new Australian band haven't released an album yet but they put out two great songs this year. This one, and Soon We Won't Exist which is also worth checking out. According to their own band bio they were inspired by the likes of Modst Mouse, Bright Eyes, and Neutral Milk Hotel. I also hear a bit of Grandaddy in there too. I love the sound of his voice which complements the bittersweet lyrics. "Cause you and I are only ever gonna be friends. It's not hell but it's not easy"
https://youtu.be/BUndDXvozo0
https://open.spotify.com/track/2t2CGe0U946fsqDDLoCCck

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numbersix
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by numbersix »

ALBUM 10: Girls Names - Arms Around A Vision



A strange year, this year. Not only have I left my homeland, and yet not one but two records from Irish acts turn up in my Top 10. The first is the third album by Girls Names. It's by far their most self-assured, further developing their shoegaze, darkwave, and gothic influences. Each band member has their moment to shine, and all are top of their game.


TRACK 10: Pill - Hot Glue



A very new band to emerge - they released an EP earlier in the year and this is their subsequent single. They channel the greats of the late 70s art rock scene, including the use of sax as a weapon of noise.

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silversurfer19
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by silversurfer19 »

ALBUM NUMBER 10: Speedy Ortiz, 'Foil Deer'.

And so I enter my top ten albums of the year, and begin with a band spearheading the recent alternative rock movement, Speedy Ortiz, who have hit new heights with their sophmore effort, the follow up to the career kickstarter 'Major Arcana'. While their last album was largely recorded live due to budget constraints, and coming with it a tension and anxiety that worked for it, this time around, and with a larger budget, the band seem more confident and assertive with their sound. Their songs twist and turn like corkscrews with angular jolts, and the melodies are craftier and more complex than ever before. It makes for a fascinating listen, and one that continues to inspire and intrigue even further when inspecting the lyrics. While their previous album found Sadie Dupuis chronicling her anxieties, this record finds a way to direct her bile towards those who put her in that position, and the playfulness of the lyrics keep things entertaining. A sharp and cutting album, 'Foil Deer' is the sound of a band who have focused their efforts from their major label debut, and are ready to speak to a new generation of their angst.


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Leestu
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by Leestu »

It was a cool surprise to see Deaf Wish. A bit too rough around the edges maybe but still a decent listen. I did listen to Eyes Closed quite a bit.
Ought, GYSBE, and Speedy Ortiz were all good albums.
So I listened to the Algiers album on the way to work this morning and really enjoyed it! I'll be listening to that again a few times in the coming weeks I'm sure. As well as what you mentioned Six, I got a soulful funky post punk vibe at times. Sounds strange but it works!
On the other hand I found the Arca album nearly unlistenable but that's no surprise and hey, I gave it a shot and listened to the whole thing.

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numbersix
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Re: Best of 2015

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ALBUM 9: Floating Points - Elaenia



A record that came out of nowhere, until it started getting great reviews. This is a smart and easily likeable album, a sort of cross between jazz and electro by way of trip-hop and even a dash of Radiohead.


TRACK 9: The Soft Moon - Wasting



The Soft Moon has always made intense music. Some could call it melodramatic. While the lyrics can be guilty of the latter, the music itself can be either pounding electro or more atmospheric goth, and this song leans towards the latter, changing pace to emphasise the lead singer's sense of discomfort.

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numbersix
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by numbersix »

Really dug the Fuzz tune. Ty Segall has talented mates.

And liked the Speedy Oritz track too!

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Leestu
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by Leestu »

Album #10: Gang of Youths "The Positions"

An accomplished debut from this Aussie alt-rock band. During the few years it took to write and record this album the lead singer struggled (and ultimately failed) to maintain a relationship after his girlfriend was diagnosed with cancer, later at long distances while recording in Nashville. This has resulted in a heartfelt, passionate earnest, honest record, determined and even uplifting at times The song craft is high quality and it's a very listenable album full of great songs.
Poison Drum
https://youtu.be/yqi2dT5rRtw
https://open.spotify.com/track/256gHqZOuti5JZrzbJ0qo0

Song #10: Kurt Vile "Pretty Pimpin"

Just a chilled laidback fun song that puts me in a great mood everytime I listened to it...and that was a lot!!
https://youtu.be/659pppwniXA
https://open.spotify.com/track/3l9eg9RtisizG12a1D6nZl

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JohnErle
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by JohnErle »

I kept adding tracks to a Best Of 2015 playlist on Spotify, and it's embedded on the right hand side of the Dynamic Range Radio website. I haven't had much time to think about what my absolute favorite is this year, but I've got a Christmas break coming up, so I might have time to do this. It was a pretty good year for music, according to my ears, so the difference between #1 and #2 is minimal any way. This link to the Spotify playlist might work as well, maybe.

https://play.spotify.com/user/johnerle/ ... iJa45ETFLU

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transformers2
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Re: Best of 2015

Post by transformers2 »

I'm still in the process of catching up on some releases from earlier in the year that I missed out on, but I will gladly join in on this in another week or so.
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