New Music : Favourite EP / Albums of 2015
Dec 10, 2015 at 8:40 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 16

taffy2207

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OK, so 2015 is nearly over, so what are your favourite *NEW  EP / Albums released in 2015?
 
* No Compilations or remasters of old classics, please
 
Here's mine (in Order) :-
 
Pillars In The Sky - What Became Of The Kingdom
Take One Car - Everyone You Know Is Here Right Now
Kauan - Sorni Nai
Sun Preachers - Walking Towards The Tower
August Burns Red - Found In Far Away Places
Earthside - A Dream In Static
Elementals - I'm Not Here, I'm Not Real
Retinwaav - Ephemeris
misty9 - Unite (EP)
Shining - International Blackjazz Society
Clutch - Psychic Warfare
Scale The Summit - V
Echo tail - King Defeatism
Your Army - Sicker Than Us
Toundra - IV
Midas Fall - The Menagerie Inside
The Unravelling - Tear A Hole In The Collective Eye
Vola - Inmazes
Bird & Fish - Islands
Vintage Trouble - 1 Hopeful Rd.
Low - Ones And Sixes
Dead poet Society - AXIOM
Our Lost Infantry - Interregum
North Of Here - Make Hay While The Sun Shines
Their Dogs Were Astronauts - Earthkeeper
Butch Walker - Afraid Of Ghosts
Captains of Sea and War - Captains of Sea and War
CONTRΔSTS - Recluse
Dead Fretts - The First Report
Rukas - Futurescape
 
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 1:51 PM Post #2 of 16
  OK, so 2015 is nearly over, so what are your favourite *NEW  EP / Albums released in 2015?
 
* No Compilations or remasters of old classics
 

 
Top 10 roughly, pretty much all electronic:
 
Squarepusher - Damogen Furies
Rival Consoles - Howl
Kangding Ray - Cory Arcane
Vril - Portal
Special Request - Modern Warfare
Clark - Flame Rave
FKA Twigs - M3LL155X
The Fear Ratio - Refuge of a Twisted Soul
Artefakt - The Fifth Planet
Kuedo - Assertion of a Surrounding Presence
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 5:33 PM Post #3 of 16
Chvrches - Every Open Eye
Imagine Dragons - Smoke + Mirrors
Twenty One Pilots - Blurryface
Foo Fighters - Saint Cecilia
 
My favorite of the year would have to be Every Open Eye. Chvrches kept the same sound, but really improved upon their music, far beyond what I expected. Imagine Dragons had a great album as well, leaning more towards synthpop than their previous album. Blurryface was somewhat disappointing after Vessel, but still a great album; just a bit different. I felt that Saint Cecilia was good, and is one of my favorites of the year, but was not as good as previous albums; it kept more of the Sonic Highways sound, which was just okay in my opinion.
 
Dec 11, 2015 at 9:13 PM Post #4 of 16
These are the albums I would recommend from 2015:
 
1)  Wolf Alice / My Love is Cool - Hands down my favorite album of the year.  So diverse but so good.  Can't wait to hear what they do next
 
2)  Iron Maiden / The Book Of Souls - Couldn't ask for anything better at this stage in their great career.  Classic Maiden but still evolving.
 
3)  Foals / What Went Down - I was never a big fan but I really like this one.  They have a bit more of an edge on this album
 
4)  Drenge / Undertow - Interesting band.  Music reminds me of grunge but the vocals sound more like Kaiser Chiefs at times
 
5)  Sleater-Kenney / No Cities To Love - They've been around for years but this is my first album by them.  Good stuff.
 
6)  Courtney Barnett / Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit - Lyrically, this is fantastic.  Music is just OK.
 
7)  Silversun Pickups / Better Nature - Not as good as the last couple but still very solid.
 
8)  Veruca Salt / Ghost Notes - Very surprising and strong comeback album.  I think it's more solid, top to bottom, than their 90's albums.
 
9)  Viet Cong / Vietcong - Can be abrasive at times but an interesting listen.
 
10) Muse / Drones - I've been very disappointed with their direction on the last couple albums but this one has some signs of life.  Lyrics are too political for my tastes but the music rocks.
 
11) Traams / Modern Dancing - Post punk revival type stuff with some catchy hooks. 
 
12) Chvrches - Every Open Eye - I like the debut album much better but not a bad follow up
 
13) Foo Fighters - Saint Cecila (EP) - I thought Sonic Highways was very average and this is a step in the right direction.
 
Dec 12, 2015 at 9:14 AM Post #5 of 16
 
10) Muse / Drones - I've been very disappointed with their direction on the last couple albums but this one has some signs of life.  Lyrics are too political for my tastes but the music rocks. 

As much as I love Muse, I was very disappointed with Drones. The lyrics were incredibly poorly done in my opinion. The music, as you've said, was a great step in the right direction, but the lyrics really brought it down.
 
Dec 12, 2015 at 2:03 PM Post #6 of 16
 
2)  Iron Maiden / The Book Of Souls - Couldn't ask for anything better at this stage in their great career.  Classic Maiden but still evolving.
 
3)  Foals / What Went Down - I was never a big fan but I really like this one.  They have a bit more of an edge on this album
 

 
Listening to this Foals album right now; it's really good actually... very solid album - cheers for the heads up! I've heard of them before but not a band I ever really thought of checking out. This album puts me in mind of Grand National and even Interpol at times.
 
Gonna give the new Maiden album a spin too off the back of your recommendation. I'm a long-time fan (went to see them live last year) but Seventh Son is really the last great album as far as I'm concerned. Be interesting to see how this new one stacks up.
 
It's good to read these rock recommendations from everyone. I must admit I've largely given up trying to find new guitar-based music these days as I just find so much of it mediocre (at best), especially when I compare them with favourites from years gone by.
 
Dec 12, 2015 at 6:48 PM Post #7 of 16
   
Listening to this Foals album right now; it's really good actually... very solid album - cheers for the heads up! I've heard of them before but not a band I ever really thought of checking out. This album puts me in mind of Grand National and even Interpol at times.
 
Gonna give the new Maiden album a spin too off the back of your recommendation. I'm a long-time fan (went to see them live last year) but Seventh Son is really the last great album as far as I'm concerned. Be interesting to see how this new one stacks up.
 
It's good to read these rock recommendations from everyone. I must admit I've largely given up trying to find new guitar-based music these days as I just find so much of it mediocre (at best), especially when I compare them with favourites from years gone by.

Glad I was able to help with Foals.  It really surprised me with how good it was.  Funny you should mention them sounding a bit like Interpol at times:  Interpol is my favorite post 2000 band.
 
Seventh Son is my favorite Maiden album.  "Book of Souls" isn't as good but I'm amazed they can put out something this good after 35 years as a band.  I also liked "A Matter Of Life and Death" quite a bit.
 
I agree with you that quality guitar based rock is hard to find these days.  I've had to adapt my tastes towards the "Indie" genre to stay somewhat current.  Deftones and Queens of the Stone Age are the only heavier bands that I really look forward to hearing new stuff from.  Occasionally, older bands like Maiden or Rush will surprise me. 
 
Dec 12, 2015 at 7:54 PM Post #8 of 16
 
I agree with you that quality guitar based rock is hard to find these days.  I've had to adapt my tastes towards the "Indie" genre to stay somewhat current.  Deftones and Queens of the Stone Age are the only heavier bands that I really look forward to hearing new stuff from.  Occasionally, older bands like Maiden or Rush will surprise me. 

 
With you on Deftones - though preferred Diamond Eyes to Koi No Yokan. I also thought Pixies' latest was a decent effort - not up to the standards of peak-time Pixies obviously, but some really great songs like 'Silver Snail' on that album. My interest in Rush ends with Power Windows to be honest with you. Signals is my favourite album and I can't imagine them getting anywhere close to that again!
 
Dec 12, 2015 at 9:18 PM Post #9 of 16
   
With you on Deftones - though preferred Diamond Eyes to Koi No Yokan. I also thought Pixies' latest was a decent effort - not up to the standards of peak-time Pixies obviously, but some really great songs like 'Silver Snail' on that album. My interest in Rush ends with Power Windows to be honest with you. Signals is my favourite album and I can't imagine them getting anywhere close to that again!

I have the Pixies last album but it's buried in my extensive backlog of albums I haven't heard yet.  I'll have to bump up it's priority.  I wasn't expecting much after such a long hiatus.  
 
Signals and Grace Under Pressure are 1A and 1B for me on Rush.  Rush lost me after Power Windows too but I'm a big fan of Snakes and Arrows (2007) and Clockwork Angels (2012).
 
Dec 13, 2015 at 8:22 AM Post #10 of 16
There are so many… And it's hard to remember what came out this year. But here are some that come to mind.
 

2814 - 新しい日の誕生
https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/--18
 

The Electric Witch - NEScapism II: NEScaper!
https://zacbentz.bandcamp.com/album/nescapism-ii-nescaper
 

EmpathP - A Wicked Girl and a Tin Boy
http://store.vocallective.net/album/a-wicked-girl-and-a-tin-boy
 
 
 

HKE - Sleeping Angel
https://hkedream.bandcamp.com/album/sleeping-angel
 

Kauan - Sorni Nai
https://blood-music.bandcamp.com/album/sorni-nai
 

Kenneth Kirschner - Compressions & Rarefactions
https://12kmusic.bandcamp.com/album/compressions-rarefactions
 

Kimonono - Kimonono I
https://kimonono.bandcamp.com/album/kimonono-i
 

Lee Anthony Norris & Porya Hatami - The Longing Daylight
https://carpesonum.bandcamp.com/album/the-longing-daylight
 

LukHash - THE OTHER SIDE
https://lukhash.bandcamp.com/album/the-other-side
 

Max Richter - Sleep
 

 

Miyuki - EP9
https://miyuki.bandcamp.com/album/ep9
 

MY - Fog of War
https://tfwmy.bandcamp.com/album/fog-of-war
 
My cousin's new album!
 
 
 

The Necks - Vertigo
https://thenecksau.bandcamp.com/album/vertigo
 

nostraightanswer (Kenji-B) - RE: idle thoughts
http://store.vocallective.net/album/re-idle-thoughts
 

Renjā - Kokoro
https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/kokoro
 

Rocococo - ep élégant
https://symbionproject.bandcamp.com/album/ep-l-gant
 

Shima33 - Museum
https://dreamcatalogue.bandcamp.com/album/museum
 

Siavash Amini - Subsiding
https://futuresequence.bandcamp.com/album/subsiding
 

Siavash Amini & Heinali - When No Wind Whirled
https://futuresequence.bandcamp.com/album/when-no-wind-whirled
 

Steinbrüchel - Parallel Landscapes
https://12kmusic.bandcamp.com/album/parallel-landscapes
 

Symbion Project - Semiotic
https://symbionproject.bandcamp.com/album/semiotic
 
 
 

t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 - 信仰
https://telepathtelepath.bandcamp.com/album/--30
 

Yayati - 000
https://fuselab.bandcamp.com/album/000
 

Yuya Ota - Zion
https://fuselab.bandcamp.com/album/zion
 

憂鬱 - 魂のための歌
http://aloecityrecords.com/album/--6
 

憂鬱 - 睡眠
http://aloecityrecords.com/album/--3
 

桜の下で - 悲しみモニュメント
http://aloecityrecords.com/album/--8

 
Dec 14, 2015 at 7:17 AM Post #11 of 16
As always just a few standouts:
 
israel nash - silver season
nadia reid - listen to formation, look for the signs
the paper kites - twelvefour
discoverer - in collection
lake people - purposely uncertain field +remixes
ole biege - kokolotte
porn sword tobacco - magnifik botanik
 
Honourable mentions:
 
a pleasure - jream house
body-san - corporate interiors
conforce - travelogue
martin nonstatic - granite
operation midnight climax - operation midnight climax
tullia benedicta - anteros 
 
Dec 27, 2015 at 11:39 AM Post #13 of 16
I've got a top 50, and it looks like this:
 
50. Hop Along: Painted Shut
49. Riverside: Love, Fear and the Time Machine
48. Blazon Stone: No Sign of Glory
47. Freedom Hawk: Into Your Mind
46. Paradise Lost: The Plague Within
45. Junkie XL: Mad Max: Fury Road
44. 2814: 新しい日の誕生
43. Arcane: Known - Learned
42. Toby Fox: Undertale
41. Tame Impala: Currents
40. Kamasi Washington: The Epic
39. Shape of Despair: Monotony Fields
38. Susanne Sundfør: Ten Love Songs
37. Kauan: Sorni Nai
36. Vince Staples: Summertime '06
35. Grimes: Art Angels
34. Jamie xx: In Colour
33. Agusa: Två
32. Deafheaven: New Bermuda
31. The Dear Hunter: Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise
30. Baroness: Purple
29. Leprous: The Congregation
28. Courtney Barnett: Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
27. William Parker: For Those Who Are, Still
26. Sacri Monti: Sacri Monti
25. Misþyrming: Söngvar elds og óreiðu
24. Magic Pie: King for a Day
23. Sleater-Kinney: No Cities to Love
22. A Forest of Stars: Beware the Sword You Cannot See
21. Björk: Vulnicura
20. Caligula's Horse: Bloom
19. Joanna Newsom: Divers
18. Tom Russell: The Rose of Roscrae
17. Steven Wilson: Hand. Cannot. Erase. 
16. FKA twigs: M3LL155X
15. Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear
14. Akhlys: The Dreaming I
13. Julia Holter: Have You in My Wilderness
12. Batushka: Litourgiya
11. Weedpecker: II
10. Melechesh: Enki
9. +HIRS+: The Second 100 Songs
8. Satan: Atom by Atom
7. Macabre Omen: Gods of War - At War
6. Blown Out: Matter Transmission
5. The Grand Astoria: Soft Focus
4. The Grand Astoria: The Mighty Few
3. Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell
2. The Thing: Shake!
1. Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly
 
Dec 28, 2015 at 6:22 PM Post #14 of 16
Kauan: Sorni Nai is popping up in a few lists
smile.gif
. Updated mine, only 3 days left
eek.gif
  I think it's been a really good year, particularly on bandcamp.
 
Jan 1, 2016 at 11:46 PM Post #15 of 16
1. Kendrick - To Pimp a Butterfly
2. Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
3. Nathaniel Ratliff & the Night Sweats
4. Chris Stapleton - Traveller
5. Eric Church - Mr. Misunderstood
 

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