1. Sufjan Stevens Carrie & Lowell
Sufjan was inspired by the death of his mother, Carrie, who suffered from mental illness and addiction. These quietly moving songs are like snapshots of his childhood and the family trips that they took to Oregon. He bares his soul on these songs, which explore family, grief, depression, loneliness, faith, and rebirth. It’s an honest and loving tribute to a woman who he may not have truly known but loved just the same.
2. Adele 25
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? It’s that good! This album is chock full of hooks and earworms, all propelled by her powerhouse vocals. The perfect balance of light and dark makes this a modern-day classic from pop’s old soul.
3. Laura Marling Short Movie
On her fifth album, Marling has created her most celebrated work to date. The record deals with Marling’s feelings of isolation and detachment while living in Los Angeles for a brief time. It’s a bit of a departure since it’s her first record in which she plays the electric guitar, in addition to the acoustic guitar, giving some songs an added urgency. While comparisons to Joni Mitchell continue, Marling is a true original with a unique voice and a gift for songwriting and storytelling.
4. Marina And The Diamonds Froot
The British singer-songwriter continues to make catchy, dance-pop music that is both playful and smart. As a solo songwriter and co-producer, Marina is in control and has described the album as considerably “reflective” in comparison to her previous releases. The quiet, stark opener “Happy” beautifully sets the tone for a cohesive collection where her powerful voice remains the focus.
5. Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
Lamar has proven to be a visionary and way ahead of the game. The album is very ambitious and was influenced by aspects of funk, jazz, and spoken word. There is a somewhat relaxed flow to his delivery, but his lyrical commentary on social issues is much more direct and in your face. This album is definitely a sign of the times.
6. Father John Misty I Love You, Honeybear
Josh Tillman doesn’t stray far from the formula that made his debut so dynamic. He described the album as a concept album about himself, sharing personal experiences about courting and eventually marrying his wife. Never one to shy away from the intimate details, he discloses them through his brand of satire, cynicism, and humor. He handles it with just enough reserve and tenderness to put you at ease.
7. Florence And The Machine How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Florence gets personal on this new venture and the results pay off. She is no longer hiding behind lyrical metaphors, instead of taking a more direct and honest approach to her writing. There is a good mix of rocking anthems with some beautiful ballads. When making the record she says “I wanted to make something that was big but that had a gentleness to it, that had a warmth, that was rooted.”
8. Low Ones And Sixes
The quintessential slowcore band has been on a roll recently, and this album is no exception, as they add another intense and self-assured album to their catalog. They stick to the same framework of balancing sparse instrumentation with ethereal vocals, yet somehow continue to expand their sound. Co-founders Mimi Parker and Alan Sparhawk, a couple since their late teens, continue to share the details of their relationship, for better or for worse. It sounds hauntingly familiar and remarkably beautiful.
9. Sleater-Kinney No Cities To Love
The former Nineties’ riot grrrls are back and ready to rock, as the trio returns with their first album in ten years. The opening track, “Price Tag” sets the fiery tone, and it doesn’t let up. The music is edgy and aggressive, proving they haven’t lost any of their angst from the decade that defined them.
10. Cassandra Wilson Coming Forth By Day
The contemporary jazz vocalist has been making innovative music for years. This particular outing is a tribute to Billie Holiday and she handles it with both grace and ease. Covering standards like “Don’t Explain” and “Strange Fruit”, she sings in her unmistakable vocal range, making the songs her own. A wide variety of musicians guest on the album, including T-Bone Burnett, Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), and a rhythm section from The Bad Seeds. She creates a compelling collection that would make Lady Day proud.
11. Janet Jackson Unbreakable
Ms. Jackson is back and what a welcome return it is. She reunites with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the first time in 8 years, and it’s exactly what she needed. This is the first time she has broken her silence since the death of Michael, and this feels like a fitting tribute, even channeling his vocal style on certain songs. His spirit appears throughout the record, but it’s Janet’s resilience that truly shines here.
12. Lana Del Rey Honeymoon
The queen of sadness continues her exploration of melancholy and desolation to create some mesmerizing music. There are plenty of modern-day references, but it still sounds like it’s from a different era. Cinematic is a word that continues to come to mind when describing her music.
13. Jamie xx In Colour
The debut album by the English producer and member of The xx blends electronica, house, dancehall, and rave to create an experimental ambient collection. It features his bandmates Romy Croft and Oliver Sim as guest vocalists on a couple of standout tracks. He plays nicely with tone and atmosphere to create moody ballads, dance floor anthems, and hypnotic instrumentals.
14. Julia Holter Have You In My Wilderness
This is the composer, keyboardist, and singer’s third album. Her brand of experimental pop has a dreaminess that recalls a ’60s Nico or a mellow St. Vincent. Light, airy and ambient, with an abundance of strings, you can lose yourself in the haze, but still feel wide awake.
15. Joanna Newsom Divers
The harpist and keyboardist enter Kate Bush territory with her distinct soprano and elaborate wordplay and compositions. While she may be an acquired taste, this album is a bit more refined and conventional than her previous work, but still draws on elements of each of them. The beautiful and complex compositions along with the delicate production make this record sound timeless.
16. Chris Stapleton Traveler
As a songwriter in Nashville, Stapleton has written hits for Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, and Dierks Bentley to name a few. On this debut, his brand of country is more reminiscent of Johnny Cash or Bruce Springsteen, rather than the artists that he writes for. His heartfelt music is a breath of fresh air for the genre.
17. Björk Vulnicura
Björk said that this album expresses her feelings before and after her breakup with artist Matthew Barney. She pours her heart out on these songs which take her from unease, to despair to eventual healing. Never one to shy away from experimentation, the album is primarily composed of string arrangements and electronic beats and would fit nicely between 1997’s Homogenic and 2000’s Selma Songs.
18. Built To Spill Untethered Moon
The band’s eighth studio album is their first to feature a new rhythm section. Despite the personnel changes, there is no lack of energy here. The sound is loose and free, with fuzzy guitars and melodious tunes still at the forefront. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
19. Panda Bear Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper
Noah Lennox, the experimental musician and co-founding member of Animal Collective, released his fifth solo album under his moniker Panda Bear. He continues to play with a variety of sounds, textures, and swirling effects. He was aiming for a more “lively” and “busy” sound, which he definitely achieved.
20. Modest Mouse Strangers To Ourselves
The Portland band took eight years off and come back sounding fresh as ever. Still letting their freak flag fly, the songs are accessible with just the right amount of peculiarity to make them interesting. They may not be breaking much new ground here, but songs like “Lampshades On Fire” and “The Ground Walks, With Time In A Box” are good examples of their continuing evolution.
Honorable Mentions
Mikal Cronin MCIII
The Decemberists What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
Madonna Rebel Heart
Tame Impala Currents
Wolf Alice My Love Is Cool
Overrated Album Of 2015
Courtney Barnett Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
I know that a lot of critics and friends like her music, I, however, do not.
Overlooked Album Of 2014
D’Angelo And The Vanguard Black Messiah