Albums 6-4

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This is the highest mixtape on my list I don't think any release stuck with me through the year and raked in as many plays as this album, I mean, he is my favorite artist working today. To be honest, I kind of like his R&B leanings more than his rap leanings, but he's able to blend both together in an interesting enough way that I don't really think anyone is working on the same level he is right now, and that definitely makes If You're Reading This, and exciting listen. There were a lot of reasons why I liked this project. For one, Drake is my favorite artist working today, so a new release from him always has the chance of doing well. I don't really think there is a big name artists playing around with sound and style to the extent the 6 Man is (outside of Kanye of course). In the past year alone, Drake's sampled spacey R&B, cha-cha, DRAM, video game soundtracks, Quentin Miller, Ginuwine, the list goes on... He also really has his finger on the public's pulse and is able to get certain lines and songs to really connect, which let's him get away with more than he should sonically (I mean, who else could pull off the beat for Hotline Bling and that song's switch-up?) He's an interesting guy that's for sure and I really appreciate how he's always trying something new and interesting with his sound and trying to grow. As for the mixtape, I think it's one of his most cohesive projects yet. The way I see it, it's Drake establishing his version of the 6, his Toronto. It's one in which he rules over without any contender to his throne. It's a narcissistic album, it's lonely and isolated (I mean, who else is at the top to keep him company?), it's egotistical, but still very vulnerable and real. It's confident and self-assured, but also frosty. He says he's a legend, he's in his prime, he can make someone big as Madonna, calls himself the 6 God, it's his world and we're invited in. At the same time though, you know, he's lonely, he doesn't have everything he wants, and finds it more or less impossible to settle. It's a complex album, and it really sets up a great mood for Views to (hopefully) capitalize on.

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This was my favorite hip-hop album released this year by far. It's funny that my number two album slot for two years in a row is taken up by a debut rap album (last year it was Azealia Banks's Broke With Expensive Taste), but hey, Summertime '06 is definitely deserving of the acclaim. Vince quickly became one of my most played artists and Summertime one of my most played albums. The album itself is dark and gritty, but still knocks at times. It's, I don't want to say it's an enjoyable album, because it's a downright downer at times, but it's an incredibly compelling and listenable album and Vince's story-telling and world building is stellar. One listen of Norf Norf is enough to set the tone for the whole album; Vince delivers line after line of crushing detail "Hit the corner, make a dollar flippin / Split the dollars with my mama children / Folks need Porsches, hoes need abortions / I just need y'all out of my business / Never no problem playing no bitches" all over a shuffling beat. The whole album follows suit. Vince's Long Beach is dangerous, bleak, and sinister and he drops you right in the thick of it. It's a powerful album, filled with drugs and violence, all presented as a acceptable part of daily life. Should be essential '15 listening.

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Hmmm, how surprising... the fact that he isn't #1. I wasn't a big fan, honestly, although there are quite a few bops, I'm still waiting for the big stuff. And Vince is cool too! Can't wait to see who takes the #1.



Honestly, TRF.

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Alright, it's a curveball for sure, but this was my favorite album released last year. Vince gave them some competition and, to be honest, the albums are basically tied, but I prefer this one just a little bit more. Punch Brothers are a progressive bluegrass group from New York per my understanding. I first came across them sometime in 2012 I think, when I heard them cover The Cars. The cover quickly became one of my favorite covers and I made a resolution to get into them. I checked out their Who's Feeling Young? album that same year, and was completely won over when they did a bluegrass version of Radiohead's Kid A. They're a nontraditional group and I love that about them. I was incredibly excited for their album this year, and initially let down just a little bit. It was a little too gloomy and downtempo originally, but as I said in my write-up for Forgotten, the album just clicked all of a sudden. I fell in love with the instrumentation throughout the album. They create this really cool, gloomy folk atmosphere (think Taylor Swift's Safe & Sound), and still maintain really well-written and catchy songs. For me, the musicianship is also quality, they incorporate classical interludes from Debussy and Scriabin and they sound completely natural. I just... I was completely blown away by the album. I love every track and how they all work together, love how they explore album's prevailing themes of death in the most playful ways. I don't really have anything else about the album than to say, I just really enjoyed it and it connected with me like no other album. I'm glad I had it, and happy to call it my favorite album from 2015.

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Alright, That will complete my Best Of for the year. The countdown took just a little longer than I had originally planned, but I still finished and had a great time putting it together.

The trio of Rihanna, Kanye West, and Paul McCartney ended up with my favorite single of the year (and we finally got the fabled R8!) and Punch Brothers ended up with my favorite album, an album I know I will continue to enjoy for a long time from this post.

Like I said, I had a lot of fun putting my Best Of together and seeing what everyone else liked throughout the last year. I would like to thank everybody for taking the time to check out or comment on Best Of, I really appreciate it.

Looking forward to 2016! If The first month has been any indication, it's going to be a great year!

OK, I really need to check out the Punch Brothers album. Not a big bluegrass fan exactly, but always loved that album cover. I'll let you know when I listen to it! Overall nice countdown, your taste always slays.



Honestly, TRF.