Sam's albums of the year: 2015

I can’t quite remember a year better for music in recent times than 2015. There seems to have been so many good releases across all styles. Old acts have returned with wonderful comeback albums, established acts have kept form with their new releases, while there have been some amazingly talented new artists emerge onto the scene. With this, I have chosen my top ten albums or 2015. This was a very hard task as there have been so many good albums and I do not for one second consider this a complete list, or indeed a list of the “best” albums of the year. Just the ten albums that stood out for me in 2015 and that I connected to in a big way.

Fat Freddy’s Drop – Bays

New Zealand’s reggae fusion kings came back in 2015 with their fourth album Bays. This album was a continuation from Blackbird with techno, funk and soul elements being explored more by the band, but without compromising their traditional reggae and dub influences. I thought they wouldn’t top Blackbird but they matched it with Bays, an album that will be played at many BBQs over summer. 

Key Tracks: Wairunga Blues, Slings and Arrows, Fish in the Sea, Cortina Motors

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday

Noel has been in the news more for his mouth than anything else this year, but he did also release an album and a very good one at that. Chasing Yesterday is a big step forward musically from his debut, exploring prog and jazz influences more especially. The anthemic Oasis-like songs are still there, but these are balanced out nicely by tracks such as “Riverman” and the brilliant “The Right Stuff”. P.S. there are sax-crimes galore throughout this album and it is wonderful.

Key Tracks: Riverman, The Right Stuff, Do The Damage, Ballad of the Almighty I

Marlon Williams – Marlon Williams

Marlon Williams was one of the stars of New Zealand music for 2015, with his debut album of alt-country folk wowing everyone that has listened to it. His musical success also earned him a best male solo artist Tui at the New Zealand music awards. Williams' songwriting on his self-titled debut is stunning, while his voice is truly unique and to my ears sounds like a mash up of Roy Orbison and the Ink Spots. Williams definitely has the star quality to make it overseas and that should be a formality that happens sooner rather than later.

Key Tracks: Dark Child, Lonely Side Of Her, When I Was A Young Girl

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love

The band whose currency has arguably grown the most this year is Unknown Mortal Orchestra, with their alt-pop masterpiece Multi-Love being recognized across multiple music publications as one of the best records to come out this year. I loved this album from the first listen with its pop, funk, psychedelic and indie influences absolutely hooking to me. Tracks like “Ur Life One Night”, “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” and “Necessary Evil” are just full of infectious grooves that get you dancing, while the delicate jazz experimentation seen in “Extreme Wealth and Casual Cruelty” with its sax solo was an unexpected, but pleasant twist in proceedings. Ruban Nielson got this one spot on and he deserves all the accolades coming his way as a result of it.

Key Tracks: Ur Life One Night, Can’t Keep Checking My Phone, Extreme Wealth and Casual Cruelty, Necessary Evil

New Order – Music Complete

One of the comebacks of the year had to be New Order with their album Music Complete. What an absolute banger of an album with pop and dance tunes coming at the listener from everywhere. I wasn’t planning on listening to this album because you don’t often expect “older” acts to continue to release music as good as their glory days. However, New Order surprised me and released a top class album almost as good as their classic 80s material. Even a lawsuit and an ongoing spat with former member Peter Hook won’t dampen the success the band deserve out of this release.

Key Tracks: Restless, Plastic, Tutti Frutti, People On The High Line

Paul Weller – Saturns Pattern

Paul Weller’s 2015 album Satturns Pattern for me is his best in years. The song-writing was well crafted, while the Modfather seemed intent in experimenting with different styles and sounds. On this album there is Velvet-Underground avant-garde, good old-fashioned soul, pop, psychedelia and even hard rock, something incredibly unusual for Weller. Along with New Order’s album, Saturns Pattern is the biggest surprise for me album-wise in 2015 and hopefully Weller makes it out to New Zealand as I for one would love to see these songs performed live.

Key Tracks: Pick It Up, I’m Where I Should Be, Phoenix

Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

Courtney Barnett is what guitar music needs right now, a confident lyrical singer-songwriter. She sings in an Aussie accent and plays distorted raucous guitar. Her wonderful album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is one of the albums of 2015, with its mixture of indie pop sing-a-longs and loud guitar-heavy belters shaking what is currently a monotonous rock scene. I came to this album late in the year as I had to hear what the fuss was around Barnett. I am so glad I got to her music in the end and I am pretty sure she ain’t going anywhere. Her success in 2015 has been rewarded with a Grammy nomination for best new artist.

Key Tracks: Elevator Operator, Small Poppies, Dead Fox, Debbie Downer

Blur – The Magic Whip

If I had to pick one album that to me was the album of 2015, I would probably pick Blur’s comeback album The Magic Whip. This album was released under a weight of anticipation from myself as I had been waiting for new music from Blur for a long time. And, they delivered over and above my expectations with an album arguably as good as their great 90s albums. This album has it all, classic pop Blur “Lonesome Street”, Damon Albarn Blur “New World Towers”, Gorillaz Blur “Ice Cream Man” and some areas where Blur have never been before in the form of funk reggae “Ghost Ship” and prog space rock “Thought I Was A Spaceman”. The songs are brilliant and the fact they recorded in Hong Kong with the album coming from a series of jam sessions adds to the narrative around the album in what was a great comeback from these britpop masters. Please, please, please Blur come to New Zealand, even if it is just for the cheese rolls Alex James.

Key tracks: Lonesome Street, Go Out, Thought I Was A Spaceman, Ghost Ship, Pyongyang

Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly

Everything has been said and written already on Kendrick Lamar and this album that there really is nothing left to say. This album to many is the defining album of 2015 and probably deservedly so. For me, I think it is just bloody fantastic a rapper is again picking up on the social themes within the African-American community and going in deep with this lyrically. I am a critic of a lot of modern hip hop as I think much of it has been co-opted and lacks the authenticity of a lot of old school 80s and 90s hip hop. Kendrick is a massive exception and this album is a modern-day masterpiece which will be remembered in the hip hop canon for a long time to come. The added bonus of the likes of George Clinton, Kamasi Washington and Thundercat featuring are an added bonus musically that makes this record just that extra special.

Key Tracks: These Walls, Alright, Complexion

The Arcs – Yours, Dreamily

Dan Auerbach debuted his latest project The Arcs this year and their album Yours, Dreamily explored both old and new ground. Yes, you could hear the Black Keys in tracks like “Outta My Mind” and “Pistol Made Of Stone”, but there was also some experimentation and musical development on this album which made it very enjoyable. The bands alternative/contemporary take on blues, soul and R&B on tracks such as “Cold Companion” and “Chains Of Loves” well and truly established Auerbach’s position as one of the leading blues rock collaborators going round. The fact he surrounded himself with awesomely talented musicians such as Leon Michels for this project also helped a lot. Jack White I guess it is your turn now to match the marker laid down here.

Key Tracks: Outta My Mind, Cold Companion, Chains Of Love, Rosie (Ooh La La)

Karl's albums of the year: 2015

 Following on from my favourite tracks of 2015, here are the 10 albums from this year that got the most replay value out of me. There were plenty of contenders, and it took me forever to whittle this down from 30 to 20 to 15... to 13... and finally to 10, which just indicates how robust the field was this year. It's really pleasing to see artists continuing to approach albums as a communicative piece of art, as opposed to a collection of good songs with occasional filler. I feel that every album here had a clear message, a cohesive sound, and above all, they're as fresh as it gets.

Grimes - Art Angels
  

 The eagerly anticipated follow-up to 2012’s Visions, Grime’s colourful, melodic modern synthpop & electronic album Art Angels is a clear progression in Claire Boucher’s approach to songwriting, composing and singing in particular. I think this album is incredibly accessible, the lead singles pack one hell of a punch, “REALiTi” especially. Grimes continues to be a dynamic and exciting figure in the contemporary electronic scene.

Key Tracks: Flesh Without Blood, Kill V. Maim, ArtAngels, REALiTi, Venus Fly, Butterfly

Joey Bada$$ - B4.DA.$$

 Brooklyn-based rapper Joey Bada$’s debut album B4.DA.$$ is essentially a throwback to early 90s style Boom Bap, executed brilliantly. There’s a superb mix of socio-politically conscious and introspective lyricism, with some more upbeat party songs, such as the bonus track “Teach Me”. Clever album title too – a play on Joey’s stage name, pronounced ‘before da money’. Seemed to attract a fair amount of criticism for oversaturating the album with old school beats and not sounding contemporary enough, I think it was fresh, the subject matter is especially relevant and contemporary, but it’d be great to see Joey show his versatility by going down a different path in his next project.

Key tracks: Paper Trail$, Piece of Mind, Hazeus View, Like Me, No. 99, On & On

Erykah Badu - But You Caint Use My Phone

 We gotta thank Drake later for this! Erykah Badu proves she can churn out quality material even when inspired by light pop rap, in this case Drake's “Hotline Bling” which sparked her remix, leading to this phone-themed mixtape. Quite remarkable that this was recorded in just a few weeks, and the tracks sort of flow seamlessly like it was one big recording session, as all good concept pieces should. Didn’t expect an appearance from Andre 3000 ("Hello"), who absolutely nailed the best feature spot of the year.

Key tracks: Caint Use My Phone (Suite), Cel U Lar Device, Phone Down, Dial A'Freaq, Hello

Pusha T - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude

 IT’S JUST A PRELUDE?! Pusha T has claimed the late-year honours with this substantial yet punchy 30-minute album, acting as a precursor to King Push which is expected to drop early 2016. Of all the elements you look for in a hip hop record, I think the verses and wordplay here are what really sells it, I’ve listened to it multiple times and keep hearing new lines or quips that surprise me. The production and feature spots are also major strengths, at times it sounds like a best-of Kanye’s production (mainly College Dropout & Late Registration but there are elements of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy too) which makes sense considering Pusha’s now the president of GOOD Music.

Key Tracks: Untouchable, M.F.T.R., M.P.A., Keep Dealing, Sunshine

Carly Rae Jepsen - Emotion

 Three years in the making, and it shows! Another example of how much great electronic and synthpop there was this year. I still remember hearing “Run Away With Me” for the first time and nearly falling off my seat. Described by her as a love-letter to 80s pop music, but I think it transcends that aesthetic. Everything on this album is vibrant and packed with well-crafted melodies and Carly delivers some of the best hooks I’ve heard this year. Be warned, a large majority of the album is infested with earworms. It’s a massive progression in her development as a musician, she’s taken huge strides since the days of “Call Me Maybe”.

Key Tracks: Run Away With Me, Emotion, Gimme Love, All That, Boy Problems

Royal Headache - High

 Rock & Roll in 2015? Still sounding fresh? That’s exactly what High delivers, an excellent follow-up to Royal Headache’s self-titled 2011 debut. It’s a mix of British-style punk rock, garage rock that takes cues from The Strokes, and as with the previous album, lead singer Shogun is what seperates this band from the rest. His vocal style, which ranges from punkish yells and screams (“My Own Fantasy”, “Another World”), to sombre, soulful crooning (“Wouldn’t You Know”). The last album was kinda noisy and lo-fi, this one’s more polished with some better production without ruining the group’s sound. 

Key Tracks: My Own Fantasy, Need You, Another World, Wouldn’t You Know, Carolina, Little Star

The Chills - Silver Bullets

 The first Chills album since 1996, and Martin Phillipps delivered in every regard. I’d rank this right up there with their best output, slotting in easily alongside Submarine Bells. From those first resonant chords of “Warm Waveform” right up until the bright, upbeat guitar throughout “Molten Gold”, Silver Bullets is simultaneously familiar and fresh. 

Key Tracks: Warm Waveform, Silver Bullets, Underwater Wasteland, America Says Hello, I Can’t Help You, Molten Gold

Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

 Courtney Barnett proves she can do just about anything with a guitar and a captivating set of lyrics on Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, the quintessential folk-rock portrayal of quarter-life crises that people in their mid-20s often experience in this part of the world. Ranges from rollicking & energetic (“Pedestrian at Best”, “Aqua Profunda!”) to melodic & heartfelt (“Depreston”, “Small Poppies”), a tour de force in the truest sense.

Key Tracks: Pedestrian at Best, Small Poppies, Depreston, Aqua Profunda!, Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

 What can I say that hasn’t been said? I was anticipating this album ever since good kid, m.A.A.d city and it exceeded my expectations in every way possible. So pleased to see Kendrick’s efforts pay off by breaking through into mainstream appeal and acceptance. It’s staggeringly well produced, features a range of eclectic sounds, instrumentation and sampling, and Kendrick’s rapping and wordplay has reached another level. It’s really just a celebration of African American music, and another chapter in Kendrick Lamar’s engrossing journey.

Key Tracks: Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, These Walls, Alright, The Blacker The Berry, i

Neon Indian - VEGA INTL. Night School

 VEGA INTL. Night School is loosely a concept album, fashioned in the style of 1980s synthpop around the façade of a neon-lit nightclub, just as the artwork suggests. Chillwave tends to get a bit of a bad rep for its obsession with nostalgia and older aesthetics, but I think this album is incredibly fresh and original, outshining a few contemporary releases that blatantly re-hashed 1980s synthpop. (CHVRCHES, looking at you) The middle section in particular is spectacular, starting with the infectiously groovy “The Glitzy Hive” and ending with prog-synth extended piece “Slumlord” and “Slumlord’s Re-lease”.

Key Tracks: Annie, The Glitzy Hive, Dear Skorpio Magazine, Slumlord, Slumlord’s Re-lease, 61 Cygni Ave

Karl's songs of the year: 2015

Another year, another best-of list. 2015 was the first year in which I felt truly engaged with modern and contemporary music, perhaps as a result of a greater quantity of quality music, or more likely due to a degree of effort on my part to actually listen to the damn stuff. Needless to say I thought this this year had a superb array of music, not just alternative / underground but also mainstream, which I think is reflected  with the choices in my list. These are the songs & tracks I enjoyed the most this year, limited to 30 and arranged alphabetically.

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

 Kicking off my list of favourite songs this year is Kendrick's anthem of positive reinforcement, "Alright" from the album To Pimp a Butterfly. Based on themes of hope and assurance, the song's message was so powerful it was adopted by Black Lives Matter protesters, chanting the refrain of "we gon' be alright". A defining moment of 2015's soundtrack for sure.

Anderson .Paak - Am I Wrong feat. ScHoolboy Q

 Loved this track from the first listen, previously I've only heard Anderson .Paak appear here and there as a featured artist, but his fresh brand of West Coast neo-soul & g-funk is really exciting on this track. Look out for him to explode on the scene in early 2016 with a full-length project, having been recently signed by Dr. Dre.

Action Bronson - Baby Blue feat. Chance the Rapper

 This one's more on the light-hearted and silly side, but the Motown-inspired piano, rhythm and sax elements in this track are irresistibly groovy, and chef-turned-rapper Action Bronson surprises with some great singing and delivers trademark food-related funny lines like "the specialty is white snake and underwear sauce". Chance the Rapper just caps it off with an equally funny verse, very much in the style of OutKast's "Roses".

David Bowie - Blackstar

 The legend marches on! Bowie continues to fuck with the edges of genre, releasing this experimental, 10-minute progressive set piece. The middle section is what really blew me away, where the tempo changes and Bowie proves he can still hit those glam notes. Still in the process of deciphering what exactly this is about. Something occult? Major Tom Part 3? All might become clearer/foggier come January 8.

The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face

 The jam that was everywhere this year when it dropped, skyrocketing Abel Tesfaye aka The Weeknd to #1 for the first time in his six-year career. It's also evidence of Michael Jackson's legacy and influence continuing to inspire, it's got that kind of synth-funk-R&B vibe that MJ executed so perfectly in Off the Wall and Thriller, clearly a timeless sound.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Can't Keep Checking My Phone

 This song is just incredibly addictive, the frantic handclap-disco beat, (reminds me a lot of Santa Esmerelda's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood") THICK bass line and kinda wonky guitar all mesh perfectly. Superb production, obviously a lot of work went on in the studio. Gotta say that this music video is one of my favourites for the year too. Has a kind of mid-1970s sci-fi feel to it, with gorgeous cinematography.

MED, Blu & Madlib - Drive In feat. Aloe Blacc

 Always love a bit of soul infusion into hip hop, particularly with capable producers at the helm to channel the grooves, and Madlib is one of the best at this. Aloe Blacc steals the show with the hook, "She got style and grace / Oooh she's a beauty", no disrespect to MED and Blu, but their verses take a back seat in this track. There were a couple of other tracks I enjoyed from Bad Neighbor (Knock Knock with MF DOOM, The Strip with Anderson .Paak) but this is too damn fresh to ignore.

Everything Everything - Get to Heaven

 Striking. That's one word I'd use to describe this group, their sound, and especially that album artwork (made by kiwi illustrator Andrew Archer, by the way). This is the title track from Everything Everything's Get to Heaven, a straight psych-pop-rock-electronic banger, full of colourful melodies and soaring falsettos from lead singer Jonathan Higgs. Gotta love the refrains like "what was my password?" and "where in the blazes did I park my car?"

Blur - Ghost Ship

 The Magic Whip isn't a typical Blur album, and this isn't a typical Blur track either. The instrumentation is unusual, (57 seconds in you'll hear air escaping a balloon) the lyrics mention places in Hong Kong like Kowloon and Po Lin, but it's got a strong groove section, and Albarn's crooning manages to shift from forlorn to impassioned and back again in the space of 4:50. It's just a great, intimate little track.

Erykah Badu - Hello

 Erykah Badu saved the best for last with her phone-themed mixtape But You Caint Use My Phone, with this closing track featuring her baby-daddy Andre 3000. Yes, "ice cold" Andre 3-stacks casually drops an incredible verse, then proceeds to sing with Badu. This is the kinda thing I recall hearing on The Love Below, and I absolutely love it. Was a real surprise and delight to suddenly get this so late in the year, especially as a huge fan of Badu and OutKast.

Drake - Hotline Bling

 From Erykah's mixtape to what inspired the mixtape. This joint is just straight up infectious, the Timmy Thomas sample works perfectly, and for once Drake's flow is pretty damn good! Caps off what was an extremely successful year for the Canadian rapper, and if he were to continue making catchy pop rap in this vein, I wouldn't mind hearing it.

Kendrick Lamar - King Kunta

 I GOT A BONE TO PICK! Check that bubbling, deep, nasty West Coast funk. Kendrick's re-assertion of his dominance in the rap game is everything it needed to be, not only is he dissing his contemporaries but he's doing it over one of the hottest beats of the year. "I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghost writer? What the fuck happened? Oh no! I swore I wouldn't tell, but most of y'all sharing bars like you got the bottom bunk in a two-man cell" just lay down and take that gunfire.

The Chills - Molten Gold

What a comeback! Iconic Dunedin group The Chills came through with one of my favourite releases this year, their first since 1996. I could've picked any one of the tracks on Silver Bullets, but I particularly enjoy the closer "Molten Gold" which harks back to the bright, upbeat Chills from the psychedelic soundings of "Kaleidoscope World" alongside the heavenly pop jangles of the Submarine Bells-era.

Czarface - Nightcrawler feat. Method Man

 Wu-Tang Clan's Inspectah Deck and underground duo 7L & Esoteric teamed up this year to release the comic book villain-themed Every Hero Needs a Villain under the name Czarface. Featuring some very inventive sampling of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" (the original lyric "when lights close" is morphed to say "nightcrawl") and Wu-Tang heavyweight Method Man, "Nightcrawler" is old school boom bap at its finest, with a couple GOAT microphone fiends.

Travi$ Scott - Oh My Dis Side feat. Quavo

 Up-and-coming Houston-based rapper Travi$ Scott has injected a healthy dose of creativity into the Southern Hip Hop trap scene this year. This track's actually split into two parts - "Oh My" is the hook-laden trap banger, 2 minutes in it switches to "Dis Side" where the beat changes and seamlessly transforms into an introspective and reflective piece, by the end Travi$ trails off completely and leaves us with a skeletal beat. A real rollercoaster of a track.

Joey Bada$$ - Paper Trail$

This is one for the old school hip hop heads. Produced by the legendary DJ Premier, "Paper Trailquot; sets the scene in Joey Bada$$' superb album B4.DA.$$ (pronounced 'before da money'), detailing the Brooklyn rapper's perspectives on the pursuit of money as a corrosive but necessary evil in modern society. He interpolates Wu-Tang's immortal socio-economic anthem 'C.R.E.A.M.' but twists it up - it's now "cash ruin everything around me" and "it's the dolla bill that kills, y'all". Definitely among my favourite hip hop tracks this year.

BBNG & Ghostface Killah - Ray Gun feat. MF DOOM

 Going through all these songs has made me realise how many great collaborations there were in 2015, among these was the project Sour Soul between Canadian jazz/electronic/instrumental hip hop outfit BadBadNotGood and Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah. Love the instrumental portion in this cut, feels very reminiscent of the funk-filled blaxploitation soundtracks of the 1970s, and hearing Ghost go toe-to-toe with MF DOOM exceeded my expectations. Bodes well for their future project Doomstarks.

Grimes - REALiTi

 As someone who loves synthpop and electronic-based music, I was spoiled with an abundance of quality this year. Case and point right here with this absolute monster banger by Claire Boucher aka Grimes. For a song that she originally classified as a "demo", "REALiTi" absolutely floors me with every listen, due to its gorgeously airy vocals pitched all across the spectrum and boisterous interweaving synth melodies. Great hook, too: "Get up this is what I see / Welcome to reality", if I had a top 10 this would be way up there.

Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

 If someone asked me for proof of a powerful, danceable pop song from 2015, I'd play this to them on repeat for the foreseeable future. The blaring saxophone melody sets it up, supported by a driving synth beat and Carly's vocals match both perfectly. It's indicative of the high level of songwriting and composition present in her acclaimed album Emotion, which she described as a love letter to 80s pop music. "Run Away With Me" is my summer party anthem of the year.

Julia Holter - Sea Calls Me Home

 Singer/songwriter Julia Holter seems to have a knack of combining heavenly vocal harmonies with punchy instrumentation, in this case harpsichord, strings and a kickass saxophone solo. "Sea Calls Me Home" represents everything I love about her music - soothing and upbeat with complex melodies that really just leave you wanting MORE.

New Order - Singularity

 New Order's comeback LP Music Complete was a powerful reminder of the Manchester group's influence and status as pioneers in the electronic, synthpop, dance and alternative movements during the mid-1980s and beyond. Tracks like "Singularity" offer a fresh but familiar take on their classic sound, a throwback to their output between 1981 and 1989. Pulsating, driving synth beats and guitars, thick bass lines and soaring vocals from Bernard Summer all combine to make one of my favourites from the year.

Neon Indian - Slumlord

 "Slumlord" is the centrepiece in Neon Indian's third album VEGA INTL. Night School, a conceptual project based around a love for the 1980s musical aesthetic - analogue synthesizers dominate the aural landscape, coupled with vocals reminiscent of '80s titans Prince and Michael Jackson. But "Slumlord", as with many other tracks on this great project, is as fresh as it gets in 2015. It's an ambitious, extended piece that builds, has a great climax with a stunning hook, is extremely danceable and still manages to blow my socks clean off with every listen.

Deerhunter - Snakeskin

Shades of '77-era Talking Heads in this track from Deerhunter's Fading Frontier, which saw the group opting for a crisper, funk-sprinkled rock-based sound as opposed to their earlier psychedelic and experimental works. It's a rollicking foot-stamper with some howling vocals by lead singer Bradford Cox, one of the great rock tracks this year.

Beach House - Space Song 

 Baltimore dream-pop duo Beach House were back in full force in 2015, releasing Depression Cherry in August and following up with the surprise album Thank Your Lucky Stars in October. The quality of music on Depression Cherry can partly be attributed to its rich and layered production, evident in "Space Song" among others. The achingly beautiful, almost drawn out guitar melodies, along with Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally's harmonised vocals that seem to glide in gracefully then retreat with an echo, it's a gorgeous piece of music that pulls at the emotions a wee bit.

Oneohtrix Point Never - Sticky Drama 

 Experimental & electronic producer/composer Oneohtrix Point Never's Garden of Delete was one of the most unnerving, atmospheric and creepy listening experiences I've ever had. "Sticky Drama" is a good representation of the overall vibe of the project, it's electronic-based on the surface but there's elements of industrial, noise and distortion, the glitchy vocals are unintelligible but does that really matter? Somewhere in this wilderness there's a melody that surfaces briefly then dissipates before you get too comfortable. Stylistically, this stands so far apart from anything else I heard this year. It confuses the fuck out of me, and for that I have to give it respect.

Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment - Sunday Candy feat. Jamila Woods

 I remember hearing glimpses of old-school gospel in Chance the Rapper's previous project Acid Rap but he never went the whole hog with it, until this absolute stunner of a track surfaced leading up to the release of Surf by his backing band/posse Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment. Starting with a light, playful piano intro, Chance toes the line between rapping and sing-speak, but the song ascends to a new plateau when Jamila Woods delivers the rousing gospel-infused hook "You gotta move it slowly / Take and eat my body like it's holy", tying in the religious motif with a love story. Old school freshness.

The Underachievers - The Dualist

 Brooklyn hip hop duo The Underachiever's LP Evermore: The Art of Duality is partly a concept piece split into two halves, the first being thoughtful and introspective with classic 1990s jazz rap production, the second being more contemporary with catchy energetic hooks, 808s and trap fills as a contrast. From the first half is this highlight "The Dualist" which emanates vibes from the peak of the jazz rap era - along the lines of Tribe, De La Soul and Gang Starr. There's plenty of intelligence in the lyricism and a particularly well-crafted sound with jazzy trumpet loops and boom bap beats. Under the guidance of Flying Lotus these two should be in good hands.

Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better

 Damn you, Kevin Parker. Damn this track and its finger-snaps, livewire bass line, psychedelic guitars, hovering synths and wailing falsettos. "The Less I Know the Better" is essentially everything a pop song aspires to be, insatiably catchy but far from repetitive. Be warned, it'll wriggle into your subconscious like the earworm it is, and before you know it you'll be belting out the refrains "Oh, my love / Can't you see yourself by my siiiiiiiiiiide" while busting out your best slappa-da-bass impression (the bass line really is that groovy and distinctive). Of all my picks so far, this was probably the best one I heard this year. Tame Impala deserve the damn grammy.

Royal Headache - Wouldn't You Know

 Usually frenetic and wild, power pop Sydneysiders Royal Headache showed their versatility in tracks like "Wouldn't You Know" from their follow-up release High. Typically their sound is a captivating mix of late-70s British punk rock, Strokes-esque garage rock and a dash of soul from lead singer Shogun, however this plays as a sort of emphatic power ballad with a beautiful melody, sticking out like a blistered finger amongst the chaotic garage-punk that drives the rest of the album.

Missy Elliott - WTF (Where They From) feat. Pharrell Williams

 Missy Misdemeanour is back! This song brought back all the great memories I have of her output during the late '90s - early 2000s, when she was amongst the best of the new wave of contemporary r&b / hip hop artists, utilising hard-hitting beats with a slightly exotic or unusual flair, and that's exactly what this brings. Gotta love the hook which fires not-so-subtle shots at a certain M. Cyrus (fair game) "The dance that you doing is dumb, how they do where you from? Stickin' out your tongue girl, but you know you're too young"

Sam's songs of the year: 2015

2015 for me has been the best year for music in a while. So many good songs have been released that it has been virtually impossible to pick thirty stand out tracks. But that is what I have done, with this list being not a complete summary of the year in music, but a list that contains some of my favourite tracks from the year. Hope you also appreciate some of the best music that has been released this year. - Sam 

David Bowie - "Blackstar"

Entry one of my best songs of 2015 list is the wonderful ten minute masterpiece that is "Blackstar". This song is the newest entry on the list, with its experimental alt-jazz and fantastic dark video mesmerizing me from the get go. I can only hope for good things from the album in January.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Can't Keep Checking My Phone"

The second single from UMO's brilliant album Multi-Love, this track is a dance pop club banger. As soon as I first heard it, I noticed how different it was from their other work and that is when I began to realize there could be a good album that followed it. I was right.

Leon Bridges - "Coming Home"

Leon Bridges has bought Sam Cooke-era soul back to prominence. His debut album was as old school as they come, with his silky smooth voice and delicate backing instrumentation bringing classic soul into the 21st century. Coming Home was the lead single and from the get go he had me hooked. What a voice, what a sound.

Quantic - "Creation (East LA)"

The British producer pulled one out of the hat with this Bossa Nova influenced LA jazz track. From the opening percussion to the horns, this track has all the essential elements that make a classic fusion dance track. No question around this being one of the ultimate boogie tracks of the year. 

Fat Freddy's Drop - "Fish In the Sea" 

This ten minute funk fusion epic is one of the best tracks off the Freddy's new album and quite frankly one of the best songs they have put out. It starts slowly, and builds and builds before this all out funk jazz attack happens in the middle of the song, with raging horns and thundering beats. I just bloody love it. Listen to it, if you haven't already. 

Blur - "Ghost Ship"

From their brilliant comeback album The Magic Whip, Ghost Ship is a tropical reggae-influenced track with a slippery bass line and some awesome R&B guitar licks. The imagery in the lyrics of Hong Kong where the album was recorded also lends itself well to the music, with lines such as "I'm on a Ghost Ship drowning my heart in Hong Kong". I love this track so much because of its sick groove and just the fact it is so un-Blur and quite Gorillaz-like. One of the standouts of what was a a great comeback for the band.

The Phoenix Foundation - "Give Up Your Dreams"

The Wellington band came back with a fantastic dreamy alt-pop track that had overtones of New Order in both the vocals and melody. With its honest lyrics, driving synths, and searing guitars "Give Up Your Dreams" is definitely one of the best tracks to come out of Kiwi-land this year.

The Libertines - "Glasgow Coma Scale Blues" 

The Libertines made a very good comeback album in 2015, with driving guitars and sing-a-long melodies ever-present. One of the standout tracks on Anthems For Doomed Youth was "Glasgow Coma Scale Blues". This is a typical Libertines track with a scorching opening guitar lick, heavy rhythm guitar, Barat/Doherty harmonies and a rousing chorus. This song got me from the get go and deserves it place in my top thirty.

Gary Clark Jr. - "Hold On"

Gary Clark Jr. came back with a solid R&B-infused studio album this year. One of the stand out tracks was "Hold On". The track opens with a falsetto vocal before transitioning into a Stax-influenced R&B/soul track complete with horn section. The track ends with Clark Jr. showcasing his guitar chops with some Hendrix-like riffing. Very impressive stuff from this modern day guitar god.

Leisure - "Hot Love"

Auckland act Leisure burst on to the scene earlier this year with the track "Got It Bad". What made them even more interesting, was that for the first few months they did not reveal who they were and instead chose to let the music speak for itself. The second track they released "Hot Love" had an electro-soul feel and instantly hooked me. It was just so smooth and chilled and nothing else really sounded like it. Since its release, I eagerly wait for any new music from this group and cannot wait for a full album to drop.

Jamie xx - "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" feat. Young Thug & Popcaan

The British producer and The xx member released his debut solo album this year. The album contained the absolutely stunning "I Know There's Gonna Be Good Times", a track based around the sample of The Persuasions 1971 track "Good Times". Featuring Young Thug and Popcaan, the track's barbershop opening, sick beats and catchy lyrics made it a favorite in electronic and alternative circles and one of the great trip out bangers of the year.

Paul Weller - "I'm Where I Should Be"

Oh yes, the Modfather released his best album in years with Saturns Pattern, a whirling kaleidoscope of electronica, psychedelia, soul and more. One of the stand out tracks was "I'm Where I Should Be", a soulful melodic pop track in the style of one of Weller's previous bands the Style Council. The best part about this song for me is the bridge where there are some stunning chord changes that music nerds everywhere would appreciate. Top work Mr Weller.

Tame Impala - "Let It Happen"

Tame Impala returned this year with their third album, the psychedelic electro-pop of Currents. Opening track "Let It Happen" is one massive trip of sorts, starting off almost as a dance club banger before morphing into the classic psychedelic Tame Impala sound. The key to any good album is the opening track because it sets the tempo for the rest of the album. And on "Currents", these Aussie lads do just that. What an opener, what a statement.

Fazerdaze - "Little Uneasy"

One of the things that has impressed me this year is the quality of music in New Zealand, especially in the indie and alternative scenes. And one of these impressive musicians is the Auckland-based artist Amelia Murray also known as Fazerdaze. Her song "Little Uneasy" is a gorgeous dreamy pop tune that is full of melody and floats along thanks to a simplistic but very effective rhythm track full of swirling guitars. The DIY approach she takes to her music and the fact it is mostly recorded from her bedroom makes this track even more impressive. I expect to hear more good things from her in 2016. 

Jamie xx - "Loud Places" feat. Romy

"I go to loud places" Romy sings at the start of Jamie xx's stunning soul-infused electronic track off his critically acclaimed album In Colour. The first time I listened to this track I couldn't help but imagine this could have been recorded in the late-70s, I guess this is largely thanks to the Idris Muhammad sample "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" which appears in the song. "Loud Places" is a very smooth track with a chilled feel to it and is Jamie xx's second song to appear in my top thirty list. Jolly good show old chap.

Average Rap Band - "Mother Mary"

Tom Scott is a very talented lyricist and rapper and his latest project Average Rap band released their debut E.P this year. I was fortunate to see the duo's first ever live performance at Real Groovy and I was impressed from the get go with the jazz influences that Tom seems to have brought into his music. This particular track "Mother Mary" has quite a jazz fusion feel to it, something I really enjoy in hip hop and was one of the stand out tracks on what was a highly enjoyable little EP. The accompanying video of the guys photoshopped into video clips was also very clever. It remains to be seen how long this project goes for, as we know Tom does not stay on specific projects for too long before turning his attention elsewhere.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Necessary Evil" 

Another stellar track off UMO's brilliant Multi-Love was the slow trippy funk of "Necessary Evil". The song is held down by some of the best beats of 2015, combined nicely with Ruban's falsetto vocals. This was the song that sealed the deal for me when I first listened to Multi-Love as it was so unexpected and quite simply brilliant. Easily in the top ten grooviest tracks of the year.

Alabama Shakes - "Over My Head"

Brittany Howard and her band of throw back blues/soul rockers were back with their second album in 2015 and it was a stunner of an album that highlighted their musical progression since their debut. "Over My Head" is the album closer and what a closer it is. This is old-school gospel soul, simplistic yet grand with lots of moments that make the hairs on your neck stand up.That moment when the backing vocalists kick in with Brittany leading the charge is simply wonderful.

New Order - "Plastic"

The ultimate dance club banger of the year has to be "Plastic" off New Order's brilliant comeback album Music Complete. I had absolutely no intention of listening to this album, but then heard it was getting a good rap, so I checked it out. And, I am glad I did as it is full of bangers like this wonderful throwback to the band's glory days in the 80's. "Plastic" is classic New Order and sounds like it could have been pulled from their great 80's records. Peter Hook might be gone, and bitter about the band continuing without him, but the music isn't suffering and this track proves it.

Courtney Barnett - "Small Poppies"

I love Courtney Barnett. She is such a talented vocalist and song-writer and her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is one of the true highlights of 2015. The album goes along in a summary indie-rock vain before out of nowhere this heavy blue song "Small Poppies" emerges, and it is simply wonderful. To be thrown completely as a listener and then taken on a journey of thrashing distorted guitars and a vocal that even the best blues singers would be proud of, one can only say props miss Barnett props.

Bailey Wiley - "Still On My Mind"

Bailey Wiley is an Auckland soul singer and another artist I discovered this year via-live performance. I saw her perform at Real Groovy and was instantly hooked by her amazing vocal performance of this particular song. Her delivery is so smooth, with a sort of "neo-soul" vibe going on, while the very simple instrumentation increases the potency of her vocals and is just what is required with this song. I look forward to seeing if she releases an album. 

Tame Impala - "The Less I Know The Better"

What a song. The bass riff pounds, the vocals glisten, the guitar and synths sync together to hold the song down. When this track was released people were like oh this is rubbish its disco, its pop. Not me, I was like this is the best thing ever, and in my opinion "The Less I Know The Better" is the best track on Currents.

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - "The Right Stuff"

Noel returned in 2015 with his second solo record Chasing Yesterday. Musically it was a big advancement from his debut, exploring prog, jazz and psychedelic influences. The centrepiece of this advancement was a track called "The Right Stuff". This is a prog jazz experimental piece complete with Pink Floyd-like sax riffs and female backing singers. It really is nothing like Noel has done before and proves that he can experiment musically when he wants to. 

Kendrick Lamar - "These Walls" feat. Thundercat, Anna Wise & Bilal

This track reminds me a lot of Prince. The featured backing vocalists, the funky arrangements, and I also think Kendrick's vocals on here sound a lot like Prince. There is an infectious 80s-like R&B groove to this track which is quite different from some of the more hard-edged tracks on To Pimp a Butterfly. This for me is a good thing as it gives the album some variety. "Complexion" is another track on the album that also does this. 

Blur - "Thought I Was A Spaceman"

The Magic Whip had so many good tracks on it, it was always going to be hard to pick songs for my top thirty. With this said, "Thought I Was A Spaceman" was one of those songs that had to be there. This is Blur doing space alt-rock, with Damon's atmospheric vocal-lines "thought I was a spaceman digging out my heart" and some really good drum work from the underrated David Rowntree, Then of course there is Graham Coxon, with his space guitar and amazing child-like vocals in the bridge driving the song home. This track is unlike anything Blur have done previously and for me rates very high up in the canon of best Blur songs.

Thundercat - "Them Changes"

Thundercat is one of the stars on the R&B and fusion scene currently. The prestige he is held in is seen in how he earned high profile spots on albums by both Kendrick Lamar and Kamasi Washington this year. This track "Them Changes" is off his latest LP "The Beyond/Where The Giants Roam" and it is a beauty. The vocals are real smooth, while the funky clavinet-driven beats are reminiscent of the great 70s Stevie Wonder records. I'm sure this will continue to be a big track over summer.

New Order - "Tutti Frutti"

"Tutti Frutti" is another dance pop banger off New Order's terrific comeback album Music Complete. This driving dance track has an infectious groove that would have gone down a treat in Manchester in the 80's, while it possesses a catchy chorus which sees Bernard Summer and Gillian Gilbert trading vocal lines. For me, "Tutti Frutti" is easily one of the best dance tracks of 2015 and would be great for summer parties.

Fat Freddy's Drop - "Wairunga Blues"

All albums need a good opener to set the tone for the rest of the record to follow. On Fat Freddy's Drops 2015 album "Bays", the opening track "Wairunga Blues" does the trick perfectly. This song is a killer funk blues track with some banging horns and some smooth guitar licks. They lay down the marker straight off the bat with this booming track of which the rest of the album follows suit. If you get a chance, get along to a Freddy's gig this summer, you won't regret it.

Anthonie Tonnon - "Water Underground" 

The New Zealand music scene is in a healthy state, as evidenced by the outstanding music released this year. One of the artists who is testament to this is Anthonie Tonnon, who released a great album "Successor" this year. He was also nominated for a Silver Scroll with his track "Water Underground" missing out to UMO. What makes this song so great aside from the instrumentation and melody are the lyrics. This is a rare political song and tells a strong tale of greed and corruption, while looking at the exploitation of the environment in the name of profit. This for me is the best song to come out of New Zealand this year and showcased the promise that Anthonie Tonnon has as a songwriter.

Erykah Badu - "Medley: What's Yo Phone Number / Telephone (Ghost of Screw Mix)"

My final choice for my top 30 songs of 2015 is Erykah Badu. The soul singer released a fantastic mixtape last month with some stunning chilled soul and R&B on it. One of the standouts was the smooth "Medley: What's Yo Phone Number / Telephone (Ghost of Screw Mix)". This is classic 90's Badu and is so perfect to the point I cannot really describe its smoothness. Badu's vocals are liquid gold, while the beats are just stunning. This is the perfect laid back summer R&B track, and is the perfect way to end the year with.