Over the next two weeks I will reveal my picks for the best albums of 2015. I have to say it was really tough to pick just 10.
This year Canadians have experienced more ways than ever before to listen to, download or purchase their favorite music.
With the popularity of steaming sites like Spotify, Rdio, YouTube, and Apple Music, exposure to more diverse music has never been easier or cheaper. In Canada we are approaching 20 billion songs streamed in 2015. That’s an amazing and exciting number.
My first choice of music media, vinyl LP’s, has experienced a 40 per cent increase in sales in Canada in 2015, mainly due to the improved sound quality of 180-200 gram vinyl offerings. Hundreds of classic album reissues on high quality vinyl has been a highlight for me this year.
Ok I’ll shut up and get to my picks for best of 2015. They are in no particular order.
Early in 2015 British singer songwriter Marika Hackman released her debut full length album “We Slept At Last”. Hackman writes the most hauntingly beautiful, dark, sullen, and exquisite songs. With intelligent lyrics and sparse musical arrangements this album was a joy to my ears and brain. Hackman’s song “Ophelia” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
Phil and Dave Alvin returned in 2015 with a follow up to their Grammy nominated album ‘Common Ground” in 2014, called “Lost Time”.
Once again the brothers cover classic and obscure songs from the masters of the blues. “Lost Time” features some of the best musicians in the business including Dave Alvin on guitar and Phil Alvin’s incredible raise the hair on a dead man’s neck vocals. Give this one a listen, it won’t disappoint.
Bob Dylan’s 2015 release, “Shadows in the Night”, was probably the strangest in his legendary musical career. Consisting of Dylan crooning out the covers of Frank Sinatra tunes resulted in album that Dylan fans either loved or despised. I was in the former camp. I absolutely loved the sparse musical arrangements backing Dylan’s vocals weaving and wavering in and out of tune. Pure genius.
Richard Thompson returned this year and released “Still”, a collection of intricate dark stories set to music. The music? Wow the music. His usual dazzling guitar playing and vocals are all included here. The vinyl’s vivid sound quality is a must for your record collection.
The thrash metal masters, Slayer, assaulted the ears of metal aficionados this year with the bands eleventh album “Repentless”. Slayer fans got what they wanted and deserved. Presenting their latest offering of fast and furious metal loveliness, Slayer proved they’ve still got it. With lyrical content of the usual high quality and the addition of a new guitarist, Slayer produced my favorite metal album of 2015. Get it, or else.
That’s it for this week. Please give some or all of these a listen and next week I will continue to annoy you with my remaining favorite albums of 2015.
Included in my final five best of 2015, is a Canadian artist that has impressed myself along with many other music critics as well. His album just might be the best album of 2015. See you next week.
