The year in (Wil’s favorite) music: 2015
It was a year of good things, bad things and trying new things. As always, music powered me through it all. Here’s my annual rundown of what I couldn’t do without this year.
As you may remember from last year, this list comes together as part of something called Music Weekend, a gathering where I join three other total music nerds in a cabin to share our favorite tunes from the previous year.
This year, we gathered in the Catskills in upstate New York. It was cold but our ears were strong. (Spoiler alert: our collective results are at the bottom of this post.)
There are two ways to experience 2015 in (Wil’s favorite) music:
#1 — wk15 mixtape
Stream or download the wk15 mixtape featuring 90 minutes of some of my favorite songs of the year.
#2 — wil’s top releases of 2015
Check out each of my 99 favorite releases of the year in order on Spotify (it excludes Drag City’s Joanna Newsom of course). The top 20 are also listed below.
1. Sonny & The Sunsets — Talent Night at the Ashram
With each album, Sonny Smith and his Sunsets create their own little sonic universe. Talent Night at the Ashram’s understated commentary on progressive values accentuated by its fitting woodstock-era palette made it my most listened to and appreciated album of 1969… I mean 2015.
2. J.D. McPherson — Let The Good Times Roll
Speaking of nostalgia, these guys do it better than most. While perhaps the record’s top track “Bridgebuilder” (produced with help from The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach) could have been a Sam Cooke track, who cares. Sam Cooke rules. Long live Same Cooke.
3. Jaime xx— In Colour
The inevitable has happened… an electronica album has broken my top ten. What can I say, Jaime xx was the ritalin of 2015. Who knows what my productivity would have been like without it.
4. Kurt Vile — b’lieve i’m goin down…
Let’s face it, for a slacker hero, this guy’s been busy. His latest album hardly left my turntable since it dropped.
5. Built To Spill — Untethered Moon
Move over Missy Elliott, the last thing we expected in 2015 was a solid comeback from the influential, aging Idohoans Built to Spill. Probably my favorite album title of the year too! Remember a simpler time in rock with this unmistakable blend of noise-jam and song-craft.
6. Alabama Shakes — Sound & Color
Do you know how hard it was for me to admit to myself that I liked this album? Real hard. Despite the chance that I might get called a cheesy bro sell-out duder type, this album is so smooth I had to give in. I understand if you close your browser at this point and get back to work, but in the meantime I’ll be smiling with headphones you disgruntled jerk.
7. Natalie Prass — Natalie Prass
Sure, her voice is gold, but it’s her band that makes this sound shine. Nice to hear some obvious musicianship return to the arena this year.
8. Ryley Walker — Primrose Green
He’s a sweetheart on wax and a monster live. Thank you and please stay healthy, Ryley.
9. Yo La Tengo — Stuff Like That There
If you only listen to one record of covers released in 2015, listen to Yo La Tengo’s Stuff Like That There if only for the diversity of songs tackled (no offense Ryan Adams).
10. Courtney Barnett — Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Sometimes she’s clever and catchy, and sometimes she’s just clever.
Music Weekend’s super scientific and official collective best albums of 2015:
1. J.D. McPherson — Let The Good Times Roll
2. Courtney Barnett — Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
3. Father John Misty — I Love You, Honeybear
4. Ryley Walker — Primrose Green
5. Kurt Vile — b’lieve i’m goin down…
6. Jason Isbell — Something More Than Free
7. Alabama Shakes — Sound & Color
How’s my listening? Get in touch to let me know what I (or those other pretentious idiots) missed.
Happy hears,
Wil
From the Archives
- the year in wil’s favorite music 2014: bit.ly/wk14review
- wil’s top releases of 2013 on Spotify and Grooveshark (R.I.P.)
- wil’s top releases of 2012 on Spotify
