My tentative best songs of 2015 so far. Enjoy! A couple of these tracks were released in late 2014, but will be included on 2015 albums. Suffice to say the ranking below will change before the end of the year.
1.) Where the Sky Hangs by Passion Pit
(Just gets better and better on each listen. The album is expected April 21)
2.) Let It Happen by Tame Impala
(Another addictive track. The rare 8 minute tune that doesn't feel too long. The new album is set to be released in 2015)
3.) Leaf Off /The Cave by Jose Gonzalez
(I love his vocal and this is very catchy)
4.) The House by Le Volume Courbe and Kevin Shields (2015 version)
(I love the violin and there's lots of other stuff going on here too)
5.) 74 Is the New 24 by Giorgio Moroder
(He's still got it!)
6.) Vortex by John Carpenter
(Not as iconic as his soundtracks from the 70s and 80s, but still a welcome return. The album as a whole was a bit underwhelming. Vortex was the stand-out)
7.) Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding
(The best track from Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack)
8.) Stonemilker by Björk
(A melancholy breakup album, about Björk's split from her longtime partner and father of her 12-year-old daughter. The track I shared is the single)
9.) Running Out Of Time by Toto
(For me the best album of 2015 so far, and this is from a group who I considered washed-up. The opener rocks. Toto XIV is the band's first record in 9 years. I listened to the early release on spotify, and it has good tracks from start to finish. RIP former Toto bassist Mike Porcaro who died at 59 on March 15)
10.) Welcome To Love by Young Ejecta
(Formerly known as Ejecta. She is so underrated. A pity the singer finds it necessary to sell herself short by appearing naked in all the album artwork(and I mean all), because her music deserves better and holds its own without that)
11. Strange by Laura Marling
(A folk song that feels timeless)
12.) Fantastic Planet by Soko
(My Dreams Dictate My Reality. The best album title of 2015 so far? The Cure influences are obvious, but it's still fun to see her play around with that style, adding her own personal touch. A patchy album, with stand-outs such as Who Wears The Pants?, Peter Pan Syndrome and Love Trap)
13.) Uptown Funk (ft. Bruno Mars) by Mark Ronson
(A song that is getting a lot of love at the moment. The single peaked at number 1 on the UK Singles Chart. The album Uptown Special was released in January)
14.) When The Lights Turn Out by Twin Shadow
(Sounds like the 80s. Maybe this track should have been a single?)
15.) REALiTi by Grimes
(A non-album track she gave to fans who came out to her shows. Pitchfork called it "the best new Grimes song since Visions")
Honorable mention:
Accelerated by Miami Nights 1984
(Retro 80s. You can find more on the YouTube channel NewRetroWave )
Agree or disagree? Have you listened to any new albums? Which are your favorites of 2014-2015?
Grimes!
ReplyDeleteBjork!
Also, I'm addicted to 'Love Me Like You Do'...like, it's the only song I want to listen to half the time :-P
@Fisti: Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding has grown on me, holds up to many listens!
DeleteUptown Funk is hella catchy. In the States, it was literally on every radio station every other song.
ReplyDeleteThis is totally against what I usually listen to, but Flo-rida's GDFR got totally stuck in my head while in America too - it's the saxophone that's been sampled from Low Rider by War. Very catchy.
Not listened to anything else on your list! But I'm itching for some new music, so going to use your list as a starter! :D
@Jaina: Uptown funk is pretty good, and the video entertaining. Glad you like it too! I wouldn’t say it’s the best song of the year though, which is why it’s my #13
DeleteOf the two tracks you mention, I’m a fan of Lowrider by War- iconic music.
Hope you discover some tunes that appeal to you among the top 15 :)
Loving "Where The Sky Hangs," hadn't heard it yet! And that Twin Shadow song is great.
ReplyDelete@Alex Withrow: Happy to help! Passion Pit nailed it with Where the Sky Hangs. Twin Shadows song is so underrated and for me the best track on his 2015 album.
DeleteI also love that Ellie Goulding song. Did you listen to Beyonce's Crazy In Love new version? What do you think about it?
ReplyDelete@Andina: it’s an interesting reimagining of Crazy in Love, I quite like the new version. Managed to make it very different and more sensual. Works well in the trailer for Fifty Shades of Grey.
DeleteLove Me Like You Do is one of my favourite songs! :) Uptown Funk is good. But it is a bit overplayed in my opinion. Have you heard Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat yet? It's great. I highly recommend it.
ReplyDelete@Cindy: Love Me Like You Do is haunting.
DeleteI like "Yellow Flicker Beat", my favorite from that Hunger Games soundtrack is "The Hanging Tree"
I forgot about Carpenter's album, so I need to check that out, as well as some of these other tracks. Love seeing "Where the Sky Hangs", "Love Me Like You Do", and "Accelerated" on here.
ReplyDelete@Josh: I figured you might like "Accelerated", it reminds me of Outrun by Kavinsky. Carpenter's album didn't do much for me except 1-2 tracks, but I know you are a fan of his soundtracks, so you may like the album more than I did.
DeleteBy the way, I added a link to my Favorite music of 2015 on the sidebar, so everyone can listen to a playlist of these 15 tracks, and more. I'll keep adding during the year.
Oh, great idea on the playlist! :)
Delete@Josh: Thanks, I’ve also been working on other youtube playlists, because at some point in the future I want to blog top 100s for the years 1980-1989. Probably won't reveal the lists before 2016 as I still have a lot of music to explore from that decade.
Delete