Best Albums and Songs of 2015.5

by josh keller · Published July 10, 2015 · Updated July 10, 2015

Josh

1. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
2. Palmbomen II – Palmbomen II
3. Holly Herndon – Platform
4. Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe & Ariel Kalma – FRKYWYS 12
5. Boof – The Hydrangeas Whisper
6. Tal National – Zoy Zoy
7. Stellar OM Source – Nite-Glo
8. Levon Vincent – Levon Vincent
9. Jamie XX In Colour
10. Viet Cong – Viet Cong

H/M: Jenny Hval – Apocalypse, Girl; Jlin – Dark Energy; Anamai – Sallows; Pigeons – The Bower; Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper

Songs (from albums not on best albums list)
1. Chance the Rapper “Sunday Candy”
2. Dan Deacon “Feel the Lightning”
3. Peach Kelli Pop “Princess Castle 1987”
4. DJ Sprinkles & Mark Fell “Fresh”
5. Follakzoid “Electric”
6. Guantanamo Baywatch – Too Late
7. Omar Souleyman “Bahdeni Nami”
8. Pop Staples “Somebody Was Watching”
9. Paranoid London “300 Hangovers a Year”
10. Chromatics “Cherry”
11. Nicolaas Jaar “No One is Looking at U”
12. Arca “Washed Clean”

Adam

1. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
2. A$ap Rocky – At. Long. Last. ASAP
3. Jim O’rourke – Simple Songs
4. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
5. Moon King – Secret Life
6. The Sonics – This Is the Sonics
7. Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
8. Ligthing Bolt – Fantasy Empire
9. Shana Falana – Set Your Lightning Fire Free
10. Vince Staples – Summertime ‘06

Jon Jon, @Soundverite1

1. Kamasi Washington – Epic
2. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
3. Bjork – Vulnicura
4. Ta-Ku – Songs To Make Up To
5. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
6. Unknown Mortal Orchestra
7. Ghostface Killah & Badbadnotgood –
8. LA Priest – Inji
9. ASAP Rocky – ALLA (At Long Last ASAP)
10. Jamie xx – In Colour
11. Bilal’s In Another Life

Jon

1. Colin Stetson and Sarah Neufeld – Never Were the Way She Was
This collaboration between saxophonist Stetson and violinist Neufeld is weird and intense and gorgeous. I was initially a bit hesitent due to not being a huge Arcade Fire fan (both are in AF) but now I am all in!
2. Gwenno – Y Dydd Olaf
The debut record from Welsh artist Gwenno isn’t out quite yet but I have been listening to an advance stream and I love it.
3. Mbongwana Star – From Kinshasa
Straight from the Congo but encompassing a whole world of styles, From Kinshasa is hands down the most unique record I have heard this year.
4. Jessica Pratt – On Your Own Love Again
Excellent throwback/psychedelic folk from Pratt this year. can’t wait to hear her at the Cedar!
5. Dick Diver – Melbourne, Florida
These Aussies continue to impress – this is the best of several strong albums
6. Sonny and the Sunsets – Talent Night at the Ashram
One of my perennial favorites – Sonny Smith didn’t disappoint this year with a new album full of his uniquely witty sadness.
7. Smurphy – A Shapeless Pool of Lovely Pale Colours Suspended in the Darkness
Excellent hypnotic grooves best suited for wallowing in the darkness
8. Jenny Hval – Apocalypse, Girl
This one is a very interesting listen – Hval is I think one of the more exciting “experimental” musicians out there currently.
9. Olivia Chaney – Olivia Chaney
heart breakingly gorgeous English folk. If you get an opportunity to hear these songs live don’t pass it up!
10. Ryley Walker – Primrose Green

Songs (not in order)
Lower Dens – To Die in LA
The Cairo Gang – She Don’t Want You
Gwenno – Amser
Gasper Nali – Abale Ndikuuzeui (technically recorded in 2010 but didn’t really blow up until a youtube of this song started getting passed around this year)
Tobias Jesso Jr. – Hollywood
Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – King of New York

Ali, @egyptoknuckles

1. Kendrick Lamar “To Pimp A Butterfly”
2. Oddisee “The Good Fight”
3. Lupe Fiasco “Tetsuo & Youth”
4. Kamasi Washington “The Epic”
5. Father John Misty “I Love You, Honeybear”
6. Sleater-Kinney “No Cities To Love”
7. Alabama Shakes “Sound & Color”
8. A$AP Rocky “At.Long.Last.A$AP”
9. Sufjan Stevens “Carrie & Lowell”
10. Tobias Jesso Jr. “Goon”
11. Thundercat “The Beyond / Where The Giants Roam”
12. Drake “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late”
13. Viet Cong “Viet Cong”
14. Bjork “Vulnicura”
15. Panda Bear “Panda Bear Meet The Grim Reaper”
16. Joey Badass “B4.DA.$$”
17. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment “Surf”
18. Tribulation “The Children of the Night”
19. Jamie XX “In Color”
20. Natalie Prass “Natalie Prass”

Songs
1. Kendrick Lamar “The Blacker The Berry”
2. Joey Badass, Maverick Sabre & Dyemond Lewis “On & On”
3. Oddisee “Counter-Clockwise”
4. Alabama Shakes “Don’t Wanna Fight No More”
5. Sleater-Kinney “A New Wave”
6. A$AP Rocky, Joe Fox & Kanye West “Jukebox Joints”
7. Drake “Know Yourself”
8. Father John Misty “Bored In The USA”
9. Tobias Jesso Jr. “How Could You Babe”
10. Janet Jackson “No Sleeep”