Albums of the Year 2015

Fetty Wap Fetty Wap

'Trap Queen', '679', and 'My Way' all managed to find their way into the US top 10, but there's just not enough diversity to fill the hour Fetty's debut takes.

Logic The Incredible True Story

Sitting somewhere between Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino is a very good place to be, and Logic manages to channel both into his second full-length. The album is littered with 'scenes' that progress the album's sci-fi storyline. Plus, it features Lucy Rose on 'Innermission'. Peculiar, but it works.

Sam Russo Greyhound Dreams

Greyhound Dreams includes one of the best tracks of the year in 'Eye Candy'. Despite this, it's all a little too minimal. Beyond Russo and his guitar, there isn't much other accompaniment. It's a slow Sunday afternoon album, but it's solid.

Woahnows Understanding and Everything Else

Woahnows were first brought to my attention early in the year, but foolishly I waited until December to give their debut a proper once over. The fast fuzz-pop-grunge-punk-rock is enthralling, and it turns out this is where my ex takes her screen name (neutralhaste) from, rather than - as I had foolishly assumed - Milk Teeth. You learn something new every day.

Brandon Flowers The Desired Effect

Brandon Flowers' unashamed, infectious pop-goodness is enough for anybody. The same influences that drive much of The Killers are evident, but accentuated. Singles 'Can't Deny My Love', and 'I Can Change' are clear standouts.

Defeater Abandoned

Defeater's concept career was furthered by 'The Priest's Story', told through a collection of eleven tracks. There's nothing particularly revolutionary; it's another Defeater album - though that's not the worst thing in the world.

Imagine Dragons Smoke + Mirrors

There can't be many bigger bands right now than Imagine Dragons. 'Warriors', included in the 'Super Deluxe' version of the album, was used in everything from the League of Legends World Championships, to the Women's World Cup, to WWE Survivor Series. Every part of this album screams 'stadium-rock'. From the absolutely enormous choruses, to the video for 'Gold' - which is just the band standing in front of a lighting rig. The only criticism possible is that the album's just a little too polished, and radio-friendly.

Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late

2015 was really Drake's year. Dropping IYRTITL out of nowhere - which broke streaming records, before bodying Meek Mill, having the year's hottest track with 'Hotline Bling', and then rounding up with his collab with Future, What a Time to Be Alive. He even Shutdown Wireless in July. This particular mixtape opens with Drake's exclamations that "If I die, I'm a legend", which at this point is undeniable.

Caspian Dust and Disquiet

Post-rock isn't going to be for everybody, but Dust and Disquiet has so much to offer that it's difficult to find anyone who dislikes it. From the quieter 'Separation No. 2' to the powerful 'Arcs of Command'; it's no surprise in a genre which encapsulates so many others. 'Run Dry' even has some singing on it, for those who don't really 'get' the whole instrumental thing.

Halsey Badlands

Halsey came out of nowhere to take 2015 by storm; selling out her UK tour months in advance, and a date at the world famous Madison Square Garden (so MSG - the TV channel - keeps telling me) to come next year. My brother described Badlands as "Taylor Swift with emo lyrics", and that's a perfect description. Need I say more?

The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness

The Weeknd has had an absolutely monumental year; lead singles 'The Hills' and 'Can't Feel My Face', an ode to cocaine (potentially), both hit the top spot across the pond, while making it to no. 3 on our shores. There are some absolute gems amongst the album tracks though; opener 'Real Life' is punchy, with the softer 'Shameless' a low-key classic. There's not a bad track in sight - unless you count 'Earned It', which featured on the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack, but we'll gloss over that monotonous four-and-a-half minutes.

Of Monsters and Men Beneath the Skin

Beneath the Skin completely managed to evade my radar until about a week before I was due to see the Icelandic quintet (or nine-piece live). While My Head is an Animal was the bigger commercial success, Beneath the Skin, for myself personally, surpasses their debut. There's the big choruses - bonus track 'Winter Sound' is huge - and the quieter, introspective tracks in 'Hunger', 'Organs', 'I of the Storm', the slow building folk-rock ('Thousand Eyes'). Iceland don't do bad albums.

Purity Ring Another Eternity

Another Eternity had a lot to live up to, but that's just what it managed to do. If there's a better trio of than 'Begin Again', 'Dust Hymn', and 'Flood on the Floor' I haven't found them. There's a fiercer edge that wasn't evident in Shrines, sawtooth waves are absolutely everywhere (probably, I haven't brushed up on my music tech in a while). The album starts off calmly, before descending into absolutely glorious chaos. Electronic music done correctly.

Seaway Colour Blind

While many have branched out in pop-punk - as far as is possible in the narrow confines of such a genre, Seaway have smashed it with one of the most straightforward albums of the past couple of years. Being from Canada they've even managed to spell the title right; what more do you want? 'Best Mistake' has some beautiful melodies, and 'Airhead' will leave you singing for days. There may not be much nuance, but none's needed.

Justin Bieber Purpose

Undoubtedly the story of the year was Justin Bieber's comeback. Beginning the year with 'Where Are Ü Now', on a collaboration with Skrillex - responsible for a few tracks on the album, Diplo, and Jack Ü, and ending with three songs in the UK's Top 5. Right from the off there's a total different feel to previous full lengths - there's no Ludacris, for one. In fact, there's very few 'token rappers' to lend their name to tracks. Ludacris, Big Sean, Nicki Minaj, and Drake all appeared on Believe, whereas Purpose only has Travi$ Scott alongside another feature from Big Sean. This album is more about the Canadian, and it works. It's brilliant.

The Wonder Years No Closer to Heaven

Possibly harshly far down in this list, but unlike previous efforts by the pop-punk royalty this doesn't leave you elated, just mildly enthused. Which is a shame for an album that contains 'Cardinals' and 'I Don't Like Who I Was Then', which are among the band's best tracks. Where The Greatest Generation finished by tying the album together with 'I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral', No Closer to Heaven ends with its downtrodden title track which saps the joy a little too much.

Don Broco Automatic

The highest UK act on this list is obviously Bedford quartet Don Broco. Automatic fuses the 80s feel-good vibes with huge, arena-rock - there's genuinely not a track on it that isn't a potential single. 'What You Do to Me' is potentially the best 'rock' song of the year. With a sell out show at the massive O2 Academy Brixton earlier this month it's difficult to see Broco's assent stopping any time soon.

Beach Slang The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

Being signed to BSM is a pretty good place to kick start any career, and to have as solid debut as Philadelphia punk-rockers Beach Slang has only increased the hype. 10 songs in 26 minutes is exactly how you make an impression, there's no filler here. Plus it contains the brilliantly named 'Porno Love' ("California is full of porno love... We took a lot of time, but not enough drugs").

Foxing The Dealer

It was always going to be difficult for Foxing to live up to The Albatross, and while The Dealer may not quite reach the heights of its predecessor there's plenty to adore. "Future love, don't fall apart", croons Conor Murphy on the beautiful 'Night Channels'. The album closes with the haunting 'Three on a Match', a saying from the first World War how when three soldiers light their cigarettes off one match, one of them will be shot. It doesn't have an 'Rory' moments, but it's a valiant effort.

Senses Fail Pull the Thorns From Your Heart

When Buddy Nielsen isn't antagonising fans on Senses Fail's Facebook page, he's penning some absolute tunes. The band's 'new direction' was evident on Renacer, but this far more personal effort far surpasses that. This is a journey from, as mentioned in 'Wounds', "depression, anxiety, and shame", to a form of 'enlightenment' - Buddhism is a running theme. All of this, however, is done in a way that's so easy to relate; there are few specifics, but as 'Take Refuge' screams "Just let go", it's a feeling everyone can associate; and there lies the genius of this LP.

Citizen Everybody Is Going To Heaven

The follow up to Youth saw Citizen go off at a tangent. This new album isn't quite so straightforward, but instead laced with foreboding. From the soft 'Heaviside', to 'Stain' - a raw (read: shouty), unintelligible mess of words that go over my head.  It's difficult to explain, but everything fits. It's emotional, unkempt, but perfect.

Pentimento I, No Longer

On I, No Longer Pentimento have embraced what makes them special, and if the formula works why change it? Clocking in at 36 minutes it may not be the longest album ever, but the ebb and flow is exquisite. Alongside that, 'My Solution is in the Lake' and 'Tiger Eye' are up there with the very best tracks of this year.

Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly

Unequivocally the rap album of the year - even Barack Obama loves it. Similarly to Gambino's because the internet this feels as much of an event as just an album. 'Alright' won videos for both for the song, and its accompanying video; plus 'The Blacker the Berry' is the track of the year. A lot of the content in, and around, the album is about race, and race relations, in America - even going so far to perform at the BET Awards standing on top of a beat-up police car. To sum it up, there's very, very few albums of the year lists where TPaB didn't hit the no. 1 spot.

Turnover Peripheral Vision

Much like Citizen, Turnover have undergone a similar makeover for Peripheral Vision. Dropping any remaining pop-punk influence for a straight up (sort of) emo album was the wisest choice the Virginia quartet have ever made. Much like Pentimento, everything flows so beautifully that it's crazy how quickly forty minutes passes. Broken hearts make the best music, it's true.

Mayday Parade Black Lines

It may not come as much of a surprise, but it turns out a Mike Sapone produced Mayday Parade album is everything I've ever wanted. Energetic opener 'One of Them Will Destroy the Other' sets the tone; both musically and lyrically - The album details the end of a doomed relationship. 'Classic' Mayday still has a place on offerings like 'Keep In Mind, Transmogrification Is A New Technology' and 'One Of Us', but where the album comes into its own is the grittier, straight-up rock tracks in 'Hollow', and 'All on Me'. Album of the year, almost hands down.

Brand New Leaked Demos 2006

The songs that became the greatest album ever.