Best Music Of 2015

Good morning; good afternoon, good evening. Wherever you may be tonight, hello, from the other side.

Every year I come across new music and every year I update my blog with an end-of-the-year recap on the year that was. 2015 was without a doubt the most monumental year of my life. But what brought it to life was the music; the intangible resource that surfaces through connections, moments, memories and expressions. It goes without saying that music plays a vital role in our daily lives and having music allows us to access deeper feelings with friends, brothers and sisters, and loved ones. Every song has an attachment to it, and every song represents a glimpse into our own world. Our taste in music defines us, not only to ourselves, but also to each and every individual in the world. It represents who we are.

We don't go and see a band or an artist perform just because they are what's defining the music industry right now, we go see them perform because we have a common connection with the singer/songwriter and we want to be a part of "their world". We want the music to release us in a way that nothing else can. It's an escape from reality. And we have total control over that. We choose who we want to listen to. We choose which songs we like and we choose who we go see perform.

Listening to music allows me to remember a certain moment, an expression, a connection or a memorable experience. This year, every single event of my life had a soundtrack. Each event was different and that's where my wide range of music comes from. The list I generated is not like any other "best of" list. I am pleased to offer this contrast to you, and if you trust my taste, you will find treasure. As usual, this list was made by listening to nearly every searchable album/single release via many different sources. The amount of content is staggering, but always worth it in the end.

I started my collection in the summer of this year, and the list grew to about 750 songs. Over the last few weeks, I gave each song a good listen over and over until, I made a list of 100. I sorted out where I wanted to rank each song and from there, began building the list. This year, the music I found helped me escape reality and I want to share with you music that I have found by artists and bands from all over the world. This playlist is a guideline into both "my world" and 2015. Each song I chose has an impact; a significant factor that makes them stand alone from the rest. Sorry, Adele fans, Adele didn't make my list, but I guarantee you will find some new favourite artists, or bands if you take the pleasure in giving these songs a listen.

This was my best year ever and it's only getting better.

Thanks, and have a Happy New Year.

-Drew

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Best Albums of 2015

20. Blur - The Magic Whip

19. The Chemical Brothers - Born in the Echoes

18. Falls - Omaha

17. Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late

16. The Neighbourhood - Wiped Out!

15. Dan Mangan + Blacksmith - Club Meds

14. Purity Ring - Another Eternity

13. Lord Huron - Strange Trails

12. Disclosure - Caracal

11. The Weeknd - Beauty Behind The Madness

10. Troye Sivan - Blue Neighbourhood

9. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

8. Awolnation - Run

7. Mumford & Sons - Wilder Mind

6. Chvrches - Every Open Eye

5. Big Data - 2.0

4. Jamie xx - In Colour

3. Twin Shadow - Eclipse

2. Grimes - Art Angels

1. Emile Haynie - We Fall

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Best Songs of 2015

100. Absofacto - Dissolve
99. Vector_XING - Wild-Child
98. Young Fathers - Rain Or Shine
97. Mas Ysa - Arrows
96. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Can't Keep Checking My Phone
95. Lyloh - Come Undone
94. Lord Huron - Meet Me In The Woods
93. Dan Mangan + Blacksmith - Mouthpiece
92. The Japanese House - Clean
91. Halsey - Colors

90. Troye Sivan - Talk Me Down
89. Falls - Falling
88. Tweaks - Sisters
87. Braids - Taste
86. Big Data ft. Jamie Lidell - Clean
85. White Arrows - We Can't Ever Die (Vacationer Remix)
84. Youth Lagoon - Highway Patrol Stun Gun
83. The Landing - Then Comes The Wonder
82. The Shoes ft. Petite Noir - Lost In London
81. Wolf Alice - Freazy

80. Galaxie - Dragon
79. The Wombats - Greek Tragedy
78. Urban Cone ft. Tove Lo - Come Back To Me
77. Jack Garratt - Weathered
76. Blur - My Terracotta Heart
75. Mumford & Sons - Snake Eyes
74. Major Lazer ft. MØ & DJ Snake - Lean On
73. Kanye West - Only One
72. Coin - Run
71. Raury - Devil's Whisper

70. Banners - Shine A Light
69. Camm Hunter - Easy
68. Half Moon Run - It Works Itself Out
67. The Airborne Toxic Event - Chains
66. Monakr - Calling Out
65. Sufjan Stevens - Blue Bucket Of Gold
64. Silversun Pickups - Circadian Rhythm
63. Zola Blood - Pieces Of The Day
62. Mesa Luna - Don't Let Go
61. Postaal - Freedom

60. LoneLady - Groove It Out
59. Edward R. - Wolves And The Water
58. Coleman Hell - 2 Heads
57. Porcelain Raft - Half Awake
56. Jr Jr - In The Middle
55. Missy Elliott - WTF (Where They From)
54. Twin Shadow - To The Top
53. Atlas Genius - The Stone Mill
52. The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face
51. Jamie xx - Gosh

50. The Neighbourhood - The Beach
49. LunchMoney Lewis - Bills
48. New Politics - 15 Dreams
47. Troye Sivan ft. Broods - Ease
46. Hawai - Fault
45. Astronauts, Etc. - Eye To Eye
44. Purity Ring - Heartsigh
43. Braves - Never
42. Seafret - Oceans
41. Awolnation - Run

40. Chvrches - Never Ending Circles
39. Paul Conrad - Records
38. Class Actress - More Than You
37. The Chemical Brothers - Go
36. Big Data ft. White Sea - The Business Of Emotion
35. Mozaics - Lights
34. Slaptop - Away
33. Admiral Fallow - Holding The Strings
32. Falls - Let In The Light
31. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - S.O.B.

30. Dan Managan + Blacksmith - Offred
29. Emile Haynie - The Other Side
28. Steven A. Clark - Not You
27. A$AP Rocky - L$D
26. Lions Head - Firecracker
25. St. Lucia - Dancing On Glass
24. The Shoes ft. Sage - Drifted
23. Daughter - Numbers
22. Shamir - Hot Mess
21. Missio - I've Lost My Way

20. Mumford & Sons - The Wolf
19. Beat Connection - Illusion
18. Miguel - Coffee
17. Waters - What's Real
16. Jamie xx ft. Romy - Loud Places
15. Emile Haynie ft. Rufus Wainwright - Little Ballerina
14. Twin Shadow - I'm Ready
13. Chvrches - Leave A Trace
12. Khai - Into The Dark
11. Pfarmers - The Ol' River Gang

10. All Tvvins - Darkest Ocean

All Tvvins is a duo out of Dublin who consists of Conor Adams (primarily vocals and bass) and Lar Kaye (guitars). They first met in the underground scene and started working together in the summer of 2013. All Tvvins is like a combination of TV On The Radio’s art-pop twists and Animal Collective’s psychedelic riffs. Their multi-instrumental approach to music blends naturally and each song demonstrates their ability to produce in any type of genre.

Produced by Matt Schwartz, “Darkest Ocean” highlights the band’s strength in blending pop hooks with driving 80’s percussion and alt-rock influences. With every part of the song covered with evolving synth lines, the powerful core of “Darkest Ocean” really gives the track a sense of impact – something a FIFA game needs, and is where I first came across this song.

9. The Chemical Brothers - Radiate

Back with their first studio album since 2010, The Chemical Brothers wanted Born in the Echoes to be revolutionary and fit in the ever-changing musical landscape. What Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons brought together for the album was club-banging masterpieces and catchy studio experiments. They took the likes of fellow 90’s innovators Daft Punk into a new dimension of music territory.

What “Radiate” offers is a unique musical experiment for something bigger and greater. To me, I think the song offers a new beginning to something that has ended. (“What is this / That I can see? / Just radiate / Your love to me“), almost seems as if Rowlands is coming to terms with a nasty break up and then, it gives way to another hope that opens up – a bigger and brighter future, perhaps.

8. Mesita - Be The Light

This was my first time hearing Mesita, a musical project by Colorado native, James Cooley. He started writing and producing under this moniker in 2008, releasing his debut album Cherry Blossoms that same year. With five albums and two EP’s already surfacing, though only self-released, Mesita is widening his search with this uptempo pop song, “Be The Light”.

The beat leads a dance track along with synths that create a dreamy dance scene that’s easy to move to. The vocals glide gently atop the instrumentals while the looped effects provide a hypnotizing trance-like atmosphere. It's hard not to sit still for this one.

7. Grimes - Flesh Without Blood

Singer/songwriter Claire Boucher from Vancouver is already starting to hit the mainstream under the name Grimes. At the age of 18, while attending McGill University, she came across the underground music scene and started experimenting with sounds. Not soon later, she released her debut album, Geidi Primes in 2010.

With three albums already under her belt, and countless musical collbaorations, her fourth album Art Angels solidified her into the pop-cultured-icon she portrayed in the video for “Flesh Without Blood”. Her catchy art-pop electronic-vibe songs are not one to forget. And her vocal elements prove that she is here, and here to stay.

6. Shlohmo - Beams

In April of this year, Los Angeles producer Henry Laufer, who goes by Shlohmo, released his most anticipated album to date, Dark Red. Ahead of its arrival, he shared a captivating video from the project, with the song being “Beams”.

The idea for the video came when Wedidit Collective co-founder Nick Melons wanted to capture the rawness and nostalgic carelessness we associate with being young. Melons then got a Viner to document his days and nights in New York through six-second videos shot with an iPhone. The end result is a crazy, near seizure-inducing accompaniment that ultimately shapes the carelessness and excitement of being young. The gradual build of “Beams” drives the song to one halting finish and ends with a dramatic conclusion. All of which makes for one energizing song.

5. Hælos - Earth Not Above

A trio from Hackney, London, Hælos prides itself in being the next generation of a music entity. And no one really knows who they are. They stepped into the indie music scene late last year with their debut single, “Dust”, and in March of this year, released their follow-up single and EP titled, “Earth Not Above”.

The group offers cinematic, infectious pop with supernova basslines and gorgeous atmospheres. Their second single to date, “Earth Not Above”, showcases their electronic, space riveting beats and shimmering, silver harmonies and focuses on the concept of what it means to be alive.

Along with only a few ambiguous images, Hælos is not yet well-known, but they have signed with Matador Records and are looking to release a full album in the near future. In the world of Hælos, if London is an alienating, empty town of outcasts, their music brings together the story of the band – three of them – having found each other. Eventually.

4. No Wyld - Let Me Know

No Wyld is probably the antidote you need if you rely heavily on a fusion of hip-hop, rap, and indie rock. Formed in New Zealand in 2010, the trio came together to create a radically different sound in an effort to push boundaries and change things up. With one studio album and multiple EP’s, they released their newly anticipated EP, Ascension earlier this year which included the song, “Let Me Know”.

The absolutely fantastic tune is one of the main theme songs from the Electronic Arts’ game FIFA 16. A strong instrumental base and a resonant and commanding voice is what “Let Me Know” brings to my music list.

3. Tove Styrke - Ego

Tove Styrke popped into the music scene in 2009 after competing in Swedish Idol and placing third. She then began a solo career and became well known across Europe and to this day, creates catchy electronic pop tunes and is being compared to fellow Swedish musicians Lykke Li and Robyn.

Her song “Ego” captures the hardship of dealing with a challenging relationship due to an overexpressed ego in one individual. With some serious talent in her singing ability and the release of her first full-length album overseas, this 23-year-old is sure going to be the talk of mainstream radio in the coming years.

2. Tiny Little Rocks - Again

Pierre Guillaume is the solo artist behind Tiny Little Rocks, and after only releasing two EP’s in the past year, Pierre is making his listeners crave more. The self-titled EP released in April carried with it five songs and one of them was “Again”.

The smooth guitar opening of “Again” releases a soft, light energy with harmonizing vocals. After some time, bass and drums kick in and the energy picks up. Even though this is the first time many have ever heard of Pierre’s sound, he’s being compared to the likes of Radiohead and Muse. With that in mind, Belgium’s Tiny Little Rocks serves to fill the void for the time being.

1. Colleagues - Somewhere

A band out of Stockholm, Sweden, Colleagues range in a variety of difference categories, but mainly focus within electro pop. Their synth-pop, atmospheric electronic sound is like a combination of St. Lucia and M83.  

“Somewhere” is a stand-out song full of the bright sparks, each illuminating something off in the distance that you want to run to. Like a pot of gold at the end of an arctic rainbow. The song slowly builds upon layers of robotic vocals and lush atmospherics, before reaching a cosmic interlude, full of laser-like synths. It’s the kind of track that just seems to hit you in all of the right places, and that’s why it’s number one on my best of 2015 music list.

Spotify Playlist/YouTube Playlist