Rick's Five Albums from 2015

Now that another year has come to completion, the best-of lists may flow freely. However, I much prefer to not assume I know what is best, and rather simply present things I liked for whatever reason.

Amason- Sky City

This was an early pick from me. I liked it immediately, and was somewhat surprised that I did. I usually go for something more complex, or more emotional. It feels polished without being overdone. There are even songs on here that I don't really like, but I kept going back to this album every time I needed quiet, background music. Surprisingly, I never ready about or heard about this album or band throughout the rest of 2015.

Father John Misty - I love you, Honeybear

This was a no-braner for me.  I loved FJM's debut, Fear Fun. This album is an amazing mix of gut-punch humor, layered sarcasm, soulful crooning, genuine feeling, and really good songs that you'll sing along to. The second half of this album is the true star as it continues to build into an emotional experience for musician and listener alike.

Emily King - The Switch

I typically do not like R&B at all, but I love Emily King. She's pulls back on the R&B reigns and presents music that sounds restrained and controlled in a really accessible way. She's not screaming every word, nor is she overly-sappy. The Switch hits a lot of the right notes.

Half Moon Run - Sun Leads Me On

If 2003 made an album, this is it. There are traces of countless other bands in these songs, and yet Half Moon Run gets all the elements mixed right. This is not a groundbreaking album in any way, but it feels familiar and comforting on its first listen.

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell 

It hurts to listen to this album. It's full of the kind of pain and heartbreak that only your parents can provide. This album feels like a scar so visible, so distorted that every new person you meet asks about it. There's forgiveness here too, and acceptance, and whatever you call it when you decide to take your pain as something that's undeniably a part of you, and you turn it in to something so beautiful it becomes inspirational.

I saw Sufjan Stevens live this year. Going in, I didn't really like his music much. I disliked his voice, and never heard more than a handful of his songs that I wanted to hear again. I came out reformed. It was perhaps the most impressive live performance of music I've ever witnessed. The combination of lights and sounds was so compelling that at one point I thought the theater might take off like a rocket and propel us into a new world. I kept thinking about how the people walking by the building had no idea of what was happening on the inside. After, I went back to Carrie & Lowell and confirmed that it is music that is not just heard, it's felt.

A few other things I liked this year: Will Butler (brother of Wyn) - Policy; Waxahatchee - Ivy Tripp; Pale Honey - Pale Honey; Rubblebucket - Survival Sounds; Wolf Alice - My Love is Cool; Iron and Wine, Ben Bridwell - Sing Into My Mouth; The Mynabirds - Lovers Know; Andra Day - Cheers to the Fall; Matt Latterall - Phase & Field; Summer Fiction - Himalaya; EL VY - Return to the Moon;