{"id":112,"date":"2015-12-31T20:51:40","date_gmt":"2016-01-01T04:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/highdesertmg.wpengine.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/2015\/12\/31\/my-incredibly-subjective-top-10-of-2015\/"},"modified":"2015-12-31T20:51:40","modified_gmt":"2016-01-01T04:51:40","slug":"my-incredibly-subjective-top-10-of-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/2015\/12\/31\/my-incredibly-subjective-top-10-of-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"My Incredibly Subjective \u201cTop 10 of 2015\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

By pcsanchez7505<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

So it’s just like me to procrastinate. It’s currently Dec. 31 with just a few hours left before New Year’s, and I’m in beautiful Los Angeles, California. As sendoff to 2015, I’d like to talk about my top 10 albums of the year. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.<\/p>\n

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10. \u201cBeauty Behind the Madness\u201d by The Weeknd:<\/strong> There are those who love to suffer, those who indulge in drugs and the insanity of life. Then there’s The Weeknd, who takes all of the above to give us a perfect recipe for destruction. With unbalanced lyrics that are painfully honest and musical arrangements perfect for indulging in certain vices, \u201cBeauty Behind the Madness,\u201d released Aug. 28, is an album that regrets nothing and gives no apologies. It’s not an ambitious piece of work, but there’s a certain attraction to the agony and nonjudgmental attitude of it.
Essential Tracks: \u201cThe Hills,\u201d \u201cEarned It\u201d and \u201cCan’t Feel My Face\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

9. \u201cI Love you, Honeybear\u201d by Father John Misty: <\/strong>In his second album, released Feb. 9, Father John Misty, or Josh Tillman, has a lot to say about love, and behind his rich voice and decadent melodies, he creates a wonderfully ironic concept album that’s both indulging and hard-hearted. It avoids being overly sentimental while still dealing with romance and relationships. The lyrics in this album are wavering and uncertain with just a hint of sarcasm. Father John Misty catches us somewhere between day-dreaming and overbearing inner-monologues, all of which make for a great album.
Essential Tracks: \u201cWhen You’re Smiling and Astride Me\u201d \u201cI Went to the Store One Day\u201d and \u201cChateau #4 (in C for Two Virgins)\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

8. \u201cChasing White Light\u201d by The Lonely Wild: <\/strong>The Lonely Wild produces beautiful streams of contradictions in \u201cChasing White Light,\u201d released Oct. 2. The band chases a white light, not so much a reference to cocaine, but rather a long and distant journey to come to terms with death. It’s an album about the inevitable end, yet, reflects on moments in life to come to a significant acceptance \u2013 we live, we love, we die.
Essential Tracks: \u201cScar,\u201d \u201cChasing White Light\u201d and \u201cSnow\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. \u201cTraveller\u201d by Christ Stapleton: <\/strong>While \u201cTraveller\u201d was released May 5 of this year, it feels right at home with the old-time country I’ve grown to love. This album would certainly find friends among the likes of George Jones and Willie Nelson \u2013 it even includes a cover of the famed \u201cTennessee Whiskey.\u201d Although it has a familiar sound, it doesn’t feel outdated. Rather it mixes in a little soul and southern rock to create a refreshing album paying homage to the honky tonk heroes, cowboys and rambling travellers of old.
Essential Tracks: \u201cWhiskey and You,\u201d \u201cWas it 26\u201d and \u201cTennessee Whiskey\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

6. \u201cInanimate Objects\u201d by Atlas Genius:<\/strong> \u201cInanimate Objects,\u201d released Aug. 28, is a great progression from the band’s first musical endeavor to a more mature sound. Jeffery’s lyrics are those of experience, and the songs are seasoned with love, heartache and perspective. The album itself is laced with upbeat songs and slower pieces alike, and the band gave its fans moments to connect with.
Essential tracks: \u201cMolecules,\u201d \u201cRefugees\u201d and \u201cStockholm\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. \u201cWhat Went Down\u201d by Foals: <\/strong>What went down for Foals in 2015? Well, the band released a powerhouse album with vigor and vitality. What I love about \u201cWhat Went Down,\u201d released Aug. 28, is its mix of sounds \u2013 from tunes you can dance to, to music that makes you want to mosh, to songs that compel you think. It’s true, this album set many bodies in motion and in between whirlwinds of movement, there are moments of beauty to slow down the time.
Essential Tracks: \u201cBirch Tree,\u201d \u201cMountain At My Gates\u201d and \u201cNight Swimmers\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Sound and Color by Alabama Shakes:<\/strong> Those looking for a soulful and honest album should look no further than Alabama Shakes’ \u201cSound and Color,\u201d released April 21. With bluesy guitars, amazing rhythms and powerhouse vocals \u2013 lead singer Brittany Howard distills every ounce of emotion into her singing \u2013 the album sits as one of the more unique collection of works this year. Alabama Shakes’ album manages to sound distinct while still being accessible to the masses. It’s not mainstream, but it’s easy for anyone to enjoy and appreciate.
Essential tracks: \u201cSound and Color,\u201d \u201cFuture People\u201d and \u201cThis Feeling\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. \u201cThe Great Pretenders\u201d by Mini Mansions:<\/strong> Mini Mansions, the eccentric desert\/LA rock group wowed fans earlier this year with sophomore album \u201cThe Great Pretenders,\u201d released March 23. The album, full of colliding sounds and ambitious tunes, melts into your soul with great precision and makes for a standout piece. Mini Mansions’ musical vision paired with amazing collaborations, such as the one with Arctic Monkeys’ front man Alex Turner, gives this album great texture and depth.
Essential tracks: \u201cAny Emotions,\u201d \u201cVertigo\u201d and \u201cMirror Mountain\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. \u201cCurrents\u201d by Tame Impala:<\/strong> Just like its title, this album pulls you in like shifting tides and currents. With its great blend of psychedelic sound and honest lyrics, Tame Impala’s \u201cCurrents,\u201d released July 17, is a beautiful piece of art with elements that come together in magical ways. Listening to it feels like an all-encompassing experience. All this is accomplished with ease, and every song feels in its place.
Essential tracks: \u201cThe Lesser I Know the Better,\u201d \u201cCause I’m A Man\u201d and \u201cYes, I’m Changing\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. \u201cDark Bird is Home\u201d by The Tallest Man on Earth: <\/strong>Kristian Matsson, better known by his stage name, The Tallest Man on Earth is not an artist for everyone. His strung-out voice is reminiscent of Bob Dylan, his lyrics are a bit ambiguous at times, and let’s face it, folk music isn’t the most popular genre around. But, even those facts can’t deter from the genius that is \u201cDark Bird is Home,\u201d released May 12. Breaking the three-year silence from his last studio album, Matsson gave fans a piece of work that expands the horizon of his open note guitar playing and solitary vocals. The songs in his latest album include various instrumentals and collaborations with other singers to bring a fuller sound and richer arrangement. His lyrics, always poignant even when they’re vague, give the weary and wanderlust a voice, and he provides a sense of home to the endless traveler. Pairs of opposites are where Matsson hits his strong point in \u201cDark Bird is Home,\u201d and all these elements come together seamlessly to make you feel like everything will be alright, which is why it’s my favorite of the year.
Essential Tracks: \u201cSagres,\u201d \u201cSlow Dance\u201d and \u201cSingers\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

And, as if this list weren’t enough, here’s all the essential tracks on one, weird playlist.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

Source:: My Incredibly Subjective \u201cTop 10 of 2015\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By pcsanchez7505 So it’s just like me to procrastinate. It’s currently Dec. 31 with just a few hours left before New Year’s, and I’m in beautiful Los Angeles, California. As sendoff to 2015, I’d like to talk about my top 10 albums of the year. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it. 10. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.highdesert.com\/505-reasons-to-believe-the-hype\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}