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Kworb's Best of 2015 | Top 100 Songs
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20. Natalia Lafourcade - Hasta la Raíz
This Mexican songstress returned with a beautiful and relaxing album, a captivating listen all the way through.
19. V V Brown - Glitch
She already stunned with her experimental set Samson & Delilah and built upon that to create Glitch. She has such a unique and commanding sound, it's a shame that hardly anyone knows about it.
18. Grimes - Art Angels
Grimes took her sound towards the pop realm while still remaining faithful to her quirks and unique flair. The result was met with universal critical acclaim, a truly fantastic album with a couple of stunning highs.
17. lecca - Maemuki
Japanese pop/reggae singer lecca is hardly ever missing from my year-end lists, as she's released five studio albums in the past four years, and she always manages to keep it fresh despite sticking to her formula. Maemuki didn't have any phenomenal songs like her previous albums, but it's her first that didn't have any filler at all.
16. Ayumi Hamasaki - A ONE
This J-Pop legend is still releasing music all the time, and A ONE was a more traditional Ayumi album compared to last year's Colours. She is definitely past her incredible peak, but she still knows how to create wonderful music.
15. Alvaro Soler - Eterno Agosto
Spanish singer Alvaro Soler was responsible for this year's summer smash "El Mismo Sol", which was a huge hit in Europe, particularly in Italy. Strangely the album was released in only a few countries (where the song had caught on), and it's a shame because it's actually very, very good.
14. Enya - Dark Sky Island
Enya returned after a long hiatus, taking us back to her world that we all know and love. Every song on Dark Sky Island is gorgeous. I had high expectations and the album ended up eclipsing them.
13. Wonder Girls - REBOOT
The Wonder Girls were one of the many artists jumping on the 80s craze, releasing an 80s inspired pop album. The difference with most others who tried is that REBOOT is pure brilliance. Lead single "I Feel You" is definitely the best song, but everything else is great too. The Wonder Girls were the ones keeping K-Pop alive this year.
12. Baby K - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Italian rapper and singer Baby K made a decent splash two years ago when she released her debut album Una Seria, which was produced by Tiziano. She didn't have the weight of his name this time around, so I wasn't expecting much from the follow-up. And yet the lead single "Roma-Bangkok", a duet with Giusy Ferreri (another amazing artist whose debut album was produced by Tiziano) became an absolutely massive smash in Italy, putting Baby K on the map for good. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is obviously not as good as Una Seria, but it's still an awesome collection of pop-flavored rap.
11. Florence + The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
After the disappointing Ceremonials I wasn't expecting much anymore from Florence, but she easily reeled me back in with the stunning "St Jude". This album is incredible, an Ultraviolence-style reinvention of her former self. Easily their best album so far, with "Hiding" and "Various Storms & Saints" as the other notable jewels.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
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Art Angels, Maemuki (not it being below underwhelming A One though), REBOOT
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Art Angels and Flo
You didn't like Ceremonials?
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 32,106
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Enya Lipton would be proud! Your taste is nice ( when it comes to albums )
And about ''Rebel Heart'', I wholeheartedly disagree with you, the whole album is beautiful, but you're right about one thing: MESSIAH, OMG MESSIAH
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Florence's album is alright! I love El Mismo Sol, need to listen to Alvaro Soler's album in full!
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 19,167
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I don't know any of the last 10 but I'm glad Revival, 25 made it to the top 40
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
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Art Angels
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ATRL Senior Member
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Not sure why I was surprised to see so many albums that I'm familiar with. Even with...um...your [i]quirks[i], you've always championed some damn good music, and this year is no exception.
Oh, and hi, Abel.
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Member Since: 6/20/2007
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Hasta la Raíz
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Banned
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Revival, Know-It-All, Beauty Behind the Madness (half of it), Unbreakable, Blue Neighbourhood, The Original High, Rebel Heart, 25
Great albums list so far! So true about Adam's single choices, though. Well, he still has some great ones but there's always at least one mishap every era, which usually causes the momentum to stop.
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ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 6/29/2002
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10. Alabama Shakes - Sound & Color
By far the best AOTY nominee at the Grammys, Alabama Shakes delivered a phenomenal record that is exceptionally written and performed. Brittany Howard has a legendary voice that continues to blow my mind.
9. Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon
While not as good as the immaculate Ultraviolence, Lana released another fantastic album that becomes more evocative the more you immerse yourself in it. Songs like "God Knows I Tried" and "The Blackest Day" are breathtaking.
8. Maria Mena - Growing Pains
Norwegian legend Maria Mena broke up with someone and channeled her pain into an album, resulting in one of the best break-up albums ever.
7. Marina and The Diamonds - FROOT
The title track was one of the best songs of last year, and the album contains more songs that are just as strong. Marina's songwriting is very impressive, she excels here melodically and lyrically. It's weird how much better it is than The Family Jewels and Electra Heart. It's like a different artist altogether.
6. Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful
It's crazy to think that I joined ATRL 13.5 years ago. Back then I was a pretentious Nightwish stan, though the concept of stanning hadn't been given that name yet. I couldn't imagine ever loving an artist more... Funny how that worked out. Anyway, Endless Forms Most Beautiful is their first album with new lead singer Floor Jansen (formerly of After Forever), and easily their best since 2004's Once. There are no songs that really blow me away, but the album is very well written and I love its theme. It's grown on me over time and I'm still not tired of it.
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
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Froot Honeymoon is a good album! better than UV imo
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ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 6/29/2002
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5. Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION
One of the biggest surprises of 2015, if not the biggest, was Carly Rae Jepsen releasing what can only be described as a masterpiece of pop music. I was never a fan of "Call Me Maybe", so I didn't think she was capable of something like this. Every song is a perfectly produced and catchy gem, infused with a healthy and genuine dose of emotion. I'm glad the critics recognized the album's brilliance, although I'd have preferred it to sell millions.
4. Suiyoubi no Campanella - Zipangu
My main discovery this year was the Japanese group Suiyoubi no Campanella, led by 23-year-old singer, rapper and performance artist KOM_I. She and her producers (who stay mostly in the background) are creating some of the best and most original electronic music the world has ever seen. Their music videos are also exceptional and incredibly creative. Their first proper album Zipangu is a bit on the short side (not much longer than the demos and EPs they released in the past) but it is fantastic from start to finish.
3. Jovanotti - Lorenzo 2015 CC.
Jovanotti is pretty much a legend in Italy. He was once a very successful rapper but is now more of a singer-songwriter and pop star. Despite his age and huge discography, I think this year's Lorenzo 2015 CC. is his best work. It's incredibly eclectic, its sounds carry you all over the world, and emotionally it hits all the spots as well. From the Africa-inspired "Si Alza Il Vento", to the quiet outer space in "L'Astronauta", back to the electronic wonders of "Una Scintilla", this album has it all. It's on top in terms of plays, but the problem is that it's a double album with 30 songs, and I don't really like about 10 of them. That's the only reason I can't call this the best album of the year.
2. Ai Otsuka - LOVE TRiCKY
One of my favorite artists of the 00s, Ai Otsuka went on a hiatus to start a family and raise her daughter. She came back in 2014 with the decent LOVE FANTASTIC, so I was not expecting her to get back to her best only a year later. LOVE TRiCKY is a lot more electronic than her previous albums (which were a mix of pop/rock and acoustic ballads) but it totally works for her. Her unique cutesy voice is still as amazing as ever, and every song here is extremely good.
1. Miley Cyrus - Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz
After careful consideration, I have to give this year's honors to Miley Cyrus and her Dead Petz. She released the album for free on Soundcloud, but music this good is easily worth $50. Dead Petz is very long (92 minutes, 21 songs + 2 interludes) but it never lets up and every song is unique and easily recognizable. Despite the crazy lead single and opening track "Dooo It!", the rest of the album can only be described as beautiful. Miley lets her thoughts roam free, resulting in lyrics that are sometimes funny, sometimes silly, and sometimes very poignant. In the end they don't matter much, as her wonderful voice and melodies are enough to paint the intriguing soundscapes and transmit the emotions. The production might not always be clean and polished, but this only adds to the album's wonderful atmosphere. Miley is by far the most interesting pop star in the Anglosphere, and I can't wait to see what she'll come up with next.
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Member Since: 12/1/2011
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I need to sit tight and give miley another listen, i get a migrane trying to get through the record. Love the EMOTION love though
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
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Not Dead Petz Kworb wyd! But so glad to see Conchita above Il Volo ( ), Alessia Cara, and Emotion
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
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Quote:
easily their best since 2004's Once.
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Imaginaerum >>> EFMB is a no-brainer but stan!
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
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Florence
Hasta La Raiz
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 6,864
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Emotion, Love Tricky, Zipang Great albums and thanks for promoting SnC on ATRL.
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Member Since: 9/1/2013
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