Top 20 Albums of 2015

Here, I present a personal list of those albums released in 2015 I've enjoyed listening to most. It's influenced by my biases and in no way claims to be a compilation of the 'greatest' work across all genres. Last year's list, topped by Sharon Van Etten and St Vincent, can be found here.

1) Torres Sprinter
These choices are inevitably influenced by my live music experiences. Torres was the highlight of an amazing first Primavera Festival, but also stands alone. It's powerful, heart hitting, confessional indie rock, full of rage as well as pain. The Exchange is incredibly poignant, but for its melody, my highlight is A Proper Polish Welcome.

2) Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell
This is the most touching album of the year, a heartfelt response to the deaf of Sufjan's mother and a masterpiece. In contrast to his elaborate previous albums, the accompaniment is minimal and sensitive, and the production, with multi tracked vocals, almost angelic. Utterly heart breaking.

3) Wolf Alice My Love is Cool
Several critics proclaimed that they'd heard this grungy rock before in the 90's, and on initial listening I didn't anticipate it coming this high up my end of list. It was nominated for the Mercury Prize, yet I've come to appreciate its escapist pleasure and synthesis of styles more with immersion.

4) Other Lives Rituals
The Oklahoma band's third album has been overlooked, perhaps because it's a grower. On first listen, it felt a little bland, yet with time its quiet, dream like quality can be fully appreciated. Orchestral in sound, it's clearly influenced by Bon Iver, and doesn't aim to break new ground, yet I find it both comforting and uplifting.

5) Low Ones and Sixes
Low continues to plough their own distinctive path of gorgeous minimalism. Their eleventh album newly exploits electronics, but continues to be predicated on vocal interplay of a married couple. I only really began to appreciate its slow, spiritual beauty after an unforgettable live experience.

6) Lady Lamb The Beekeeper After
If you're in any doubt about  the infectious appeal of this album, just listen to the second track: it's catchy, but with quirky lyrics. The album's a little sprawling, but draws you in emotionally (as a break-up album), and Ally Spaltro's delivery is powerful.

7) Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
This much acclaimed work is possibly the 'greatest' album of the year in its cultural influence and likely longevity. A classic in the making, it's astonishingly dense and intricate, a portrait of contemporary America which is almost operatic in sweep and length.

8) Lana Del Rey Honeymoon
Honeymoon is Lana Del Rey's most languid, extreme album, totally retro and filmic, made more for her huge body of loyal fans rather than being likely to win new converts. I approach my next live encounter with trepidation, but meanwhile can luxuriate in the filmic sound. There's scant variation of mood throughout its hour, but if you ignore the controversy, this is sheer, blissful escapism.

9) Waxahatchee Ivy Tripp
Katie Crutchfield's third album has retained her raw emotion and intimacy, stripped down to its low-fi essentials. Her voice is characterful, and there's a real gift for catchy melody. Above all, it feels unpolished, honest and authentic.

10) Florence + Machine How Big How Blue

Adele's 25 may not have made this list due to the uneven quality of the songs (though she may well be a contender for best live artist next year), but popularity doesn't influence my reaction to an album. Florence's latest album sounds huge, to match her arena shows and powerful voice; but it's also an invigorating and powerful blend of dance and pop.

11) Natalie Prass self-titled
My love for this debut album made my substandard live experience of Natalie Prass all the more disappointing, but in the studio Matthew E White's production makes for a lush, cinematic experience. In fact it's orchestral in sound, yet still an intimate emotional journey, compact and beautifully executed.

12) Lord Huron Strange Trails
The Canadian's second album is surely one of the more overlooked ones of the year, and a must listen for lovers of My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes. There's a real talent for melody, and a coherent sweep along its heavenly one hour duration. The sound has some similarities with The Tallest Man On Earth, whose 2015 LP just missed this list.

13) Jamie XX In Colour

Dance music purists have been critical of this debut solo album, but for me the producer brilliantly recreates the spirit of the 80's for a new audience. It's a kaleidoscopic journey around club culture, with brilliant use of collaborators, and a subtlety that reflects his previous work.

14) Bjork Vulnicura
I'm relatively new to this performer, but was touched by the emotional impact of this breakup album, whose power is reinforced, not diminished, by the elaborate instrumentation (I can also recommend the string backed version).  Despite the darkness, there's much sensitivity and beauty, and a real humanity.

15) Laura Marling Short Movie
I was privileged to experience Laura in a tiny venue at the start of the year, marking her return from California. America's influence on this album is obvious, as is the gift of an electric guitar from her father, and there's a sense of risk taking and freedom. There's also a new drive and energy as this still young musical genius develops.

16) Israel Nash Silver Season

Indebted to Neil Young and 70's cosmic rock and recorded in Texas, Nash's second album further expands his sound. Pedal steel and lush vocal harmonies feature prominently, and this is a beautiful, soulful, and heart warming creation to get lost in.

17) Sleater-Kinney No Cities to Love
The seminal Portland group were one of my live highlights of 2015 and their eighth live album is a confident, concentrated burst of energy. I'd also strongly recommend Carrie Brownstein's insightful memoir Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl. No Cities To Love is dense but brief, and rewards repeated listening.

18) Houndmouth Little Neon Limelight
The Albany roots rock group's second album is so much fun, and one of the strongest Americana records of the year. Houndmouth's four part vocal harmonies are heart warming, and their energy stands out. When an album's this uplifting, I don't mind at all that they're revisiting The Band's tradition.

19) Anna von Hausswolff The Miraculous
One of the more experimental albums on a list that's turned out to be more mainstream than I expected, the Swedish multi instrumentalist exploits the pipe organ on her third album. The pace is measured, and she's not afraid to challenge, but her originality is memorable.

20) Nadia Reid Listen to Formation, Look For The Signs
The New Zealand singer-songwriter's debut is a must for lovers of Sharon Van Etten's heartbreak and Laura Marling's introspection. I'm impatient for the opportunity to see her live act, but listening to the album is a beautiful and cathartic experience.

Next 20 Favourite Albums

21) Benjamin Clementine At Least For Now
22) Alabama Shakes Sound and Colour

23) Grimes Art Angels
24) Lau The Bell That Never Rang
25) Of Monsters and Men Beneath The Skin
26) Heartless Bastards Restless Ones
27) The Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
28) The Unthanks Mount the Air
29) Calexico Edge of the Sun
30) Julien Baker Sprained Ankle
31) The Staves If I Was
32) jennylee Right On!
33) The Oh Hellos Dear Wormwood
34) Tobias Jesso Jr Goon
35) Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
36) Ghostpoet Shedding Skin
37) Rhiannon Giddens Tomorrow Is My Turn
38) Hero Fisher Delivery
39) Gretchen Peters Blackbirds
40) Leon Bridges Coming Home