Best Albums of 2015 … So Far!

I love this sort of thread, especially if people put more than just a list. A good way to find new music. I think it has been a year of good stuff but no one big standout for me to date. Interestingly the albums I have liked the most this year have been quite diverse in terms of genre. 

Sufjan Stevens 'Carrie and Lovell' is a genuinely affecting if sometimes uncomfortable listen. The back story is essential to really appreciate it. I think he is a real one-off.

Natalie Prass eponymous album from early in the year is still getting a lot of plays. Sort of a modern Motown soul, produced by Mathew White whose album is also pretty good

The Unthanks 'Mount The Air' is easily my favourite of their output. Folk music with a modern twist, stretching themselves in new directions.

More recent releases include Beach House 'Depression Cherry'. New artist to me, electronic shoegaze stuff, very well crafted. I have since bought 'Bloom' from 2012 on the back of it and very fine that is too.

Yo La Tengo 'Stuff Like That There' is a warm hug of an album by the indie national treasures. If you love 'Fakebook' you will love this too. If you don't get YLT I suspect it may not convert you.

Finally Public Service Broadcasting 'The Race For Space'. Mix of guitars, electronics and archive clips from the space race era that is a real blast. 

You will find interesting Pitchforkmedia reviews on these except Unthanks and PSB I think. Their reviews usually intrigue me; even though I can disagree violently sometimes!

Hope someone finds something that interests them here.

Bruce

As long as music has existed it has been known to have spiritual and even healing powers.
The group Space Master Silence was started as a musical search party, traveling headfirst into the uncharted land of music, emotion and spirit.

http://www.soundliaison.com/

 The beautiful ambient-electronica-jazz soundscape City is the new album from Manchester guitarist and composer Stuart McCallum and his second studio album for Naim. City features a handful of seasoned musicians including McCallum on guitars, Robin Mullarkey, bass (ESKA, Roisin Murphy), Sean Foran (Trichotomy), Rhodes and Richard Spaven (Flying Lotus, José James) drums, synths and electronics.

Naim Label.http://www.naimlabel.com/

The real challenge for a musician
once he has mastered his instrument
learned all about harmony and rhythm
absorbed the music of the masters that came before him
and found his own voice
the real challenge is one that in itself sounds very simple
place yourself in complete service of the music at hand
and play only what the music is asking for
but as every musician will tell you this is the most difficult of all musical challenges.

So many musicians these days are emphasizing the improvisation at the cost of the melody, with the result that .....''you got no melody to remember, and no beat to dance to''...

(Louis Armstrong)

Sound Liaison http://www.soundliaison.com/st...-witmer-trio-en-azul

I am actually struggling to come up with any album or artist that  really excited me this year. I'll keep an eye on the thread for  suggestions and maybe something I may have missed...so far!

I think there have been a number of good albums so far this year but this is still my favourite so far.

Ryley Walker: Primrose Green.

(sorry, work seems to stopped me being able to copy and post images!)

I agree with Ryley Walker album. Excellent. Just saw him live recently, really good.

Nice..thanks

For me, Steven Wilson's Hand. Cannot. Erase. is the best of the 2015 releases I heard so far. 

Me too, but there's so little I've bought that's come out this year... Currently exploring Italian 70s prog to good effect 

Listening to Lana Del Ray   Honeymoon.....

Julia Holter - You in my Wilderness

Wow I have only just got this and played it once. It is superb. Definitely my favourite of the year so far along with Ryley Walker.

Check it out.

Prem.

I have the same sentiment, quite a number of good albums...., but not yet a remarkable one which easily comes to mind. I also will keep on watching this thread.

Bert and Tony,

Me too. I ran through a list of the top 200 albums this year and realized I hadn't bought a thing from 2015. I'm set on buying David Gilmour's "Rattle That Lock", only choice being vinyl or CD. Gaging input from folks here, it will likely be the half-cost CD. Hopefully there will be some worthy albums released in the last quarter of 2015. Maybe a Christmas season rush of good stuff; otherwise, 2015 seems a dull musical year for my interests.

+1 for this. It took me many plays to get into, but it's really worth the effort.

Haven't bought a huge amount of 2015 releases but the ones I have, have generally been worthy albums:

As mentioned - Steven Wilson, probably his strongest solo effort for me. Listening while browsing the hardback book makes for a cinematic experience. The title track could have been a top 40 hit, odd I know.

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie and Lowell. Beautiful, heartfelt homage to his late mother and stepfather. Melancholy, as you might expect but in an uplifting, good way. 

Bjork - Vulnicura. Not one I will likely revisit often but if you want to know what it feels like to have your heart ripped out by love - this delivers.

Laura Marling - Short Movies. If you like Laura Marling this one won't disappoint. Nothing much new except maybe a bit more electric guitar and at times you do wish she would find a reliable partner and find something else to sing about, but hey it seems to work for her. What I first found in all her albums as an annoying reliance on trying to emulate 'Blue' period Joni Mitchell I now find quite satisfying in that she manages to bring Joni's style back to life in her own way. 

There have been great albums this year from:

Best coast

Kacey Musgraves

Tame Impala

Wolf Alice

Courtney Barnett

I haven't bought a huge amount in 2015 for a couple of reasons, I realised I have many old CD rips that I've never listen to on NDX, I've had it for 18 months (shame on me) & I'm resolved to revisit all again. Also for 2015 & the future - I am only going to buy what I really want after first listening on a streaming service.

So far this year I've only bought 12 albums …...... & pleased to say I've been pleased with them all – except one - did I really like Endless River after listening more than once on streaming, no not really, but I bought it to complete the PF collection.

The outstanding buys this year are:

First I have really enthused over DSD, & in particular David Elias. DSD with Naim beta testing introduced me to him & I am blown away with his work & the purity of DSD really helps. “The Window” & “Crossing” are outstanding.

DSD has also led me to Blue Coast Records, any & all are superb recordings (that's a given with Blue Coast) however they are ridiculously expensive compared to other www DSD vendors, but if you get just one, then “The E.S.E Sessions” is the one to go for.

I've replaced some 16/44 CD rips with better new release remasters in 24-bit. The best of these was Bob Marley's “Legend”. This remaster is worth it, if nothing else, for the remastered “No Woman No Cry”, a live recording made at the Lyceum Theatre, London. On CD (16/44 rip) the track stands out as a badly recorded mess that does not fit in the rest of this superb record. The remaster has transformed the track into a super wish I was there event.

David Gilmour's latest “Rattle That Lock” contains a lot of really good stuff, his solo guitar work is exemplary as only he can play, but being picky I would say not all the tracks are his best work & his voice is showing his age. But as a whole it is a really nice buy & pleasant to listen to either as serious or background music.

Bjork “Vulnicura”, not something for the faint-hearted & don't go there if you feel depressed, this is a big break up album. Its very Bjork'ish, so easy listening melody is not included, but some passages are very melodic in that strange Bjork way. That said, some of her phasing & emotion with her unique musicality is outstanding. Finally if you want to give your system a workout, this is the one, it has bass that will frighten all but the best.

Antonio Forcione “Sketches of Africa”.   I've been a fan since MMIL (& I changed the 16/44 to 24/192 last year)   He has moved on from Naim & this is released on the Antastic label. If you are already an Antonio Forcione fan, if you like easy listening guitar and/or jazz and/or any music from Africa .... (I am all of these) .... this is a must have, it is simply an uplifting pleasure from beginning to end. Its mostly instrumental but the vocal tracks from leading African artists all add that unique feel of Africa. 

Only released yesterday, already shaping up as a classic:

That's good Kevin. I have pre ordered the box set but apparently that is not due out yet. I have received an email with download links so I must check them out.

prem.

As it's the only 2015 album I've bought, it's got be Richard Thompson's - Still.

I suspect it would have been my favourite if I'd bought more '15 albums.

Gary Peacock; Now This, highly recommended, (HD Tracks)

So Far this year i would reccomend

The nightingales - Mind Over Matter

A fantastic album,, described as  a return to form by the music press and i cant argue with that.. Well worth seeing live if just to see the drummer bashing away alone  .

Pulic Service Broadcasting  -The Race for space

Couldn't make my mind up with this origioanly but having seen them live it is non stop ,,

Leftfield _ Alternative light Source

I doubt anythung they do will match Leftism but plenty of tracks that come close,, Little Fish for one!

Courtney Barnet - sometimes i sit and think,, a bit poppy for me  in places but rather good all the same

Calexico - Edge Of The Sun.

Initially I didn't really like it, but after three listens I changed my mind. Along with Feast Of Wire probably my favourite Calexico album.

fatcat

Thanks for posting that. The last two or three Calexico albums had just failed to inspire me so I gave up on the band, but I love Feast Of Wire. I'll give it a go.

Bruce