Month: December 2015
December 31, 2015
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Top 30 Albums of 2015
A bit of background from my 2013 preamble for those new to my lists:
I do this more for me — as a way of discovering new music — than for you, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you to get as much joy from these amazing artists as I did this year. My list-making secret is to start a “long list” of albums I like at the beginning of the year. I keep adding when something strikes my fancy and use the year-end holidays to figure out which ones really made the cut.
There are seven females (or female lead bands) on the list this year — same as last year, but better than 2013. This year I notice the laid-back sound of many of these albums and I’m particularly struck by the split between other-worldly electronic stuff and rootsy singer-songwriter stuff.
I’d say the Allan Rayman album is my favorite of the year that just about no one knows about.
Finally, this list was made a bit harder this year with the shutting down of Rdio and my move to Spotify thereafter. Having tried them all, I still think Rdio had the best service with a good understanding of how community can make a service richer and increase lock-in. I don’t think the race to be the ultimate music streaming service is near complete — I only hope we can keep the competition healthy and innovating until we get there.
For those interested, my previous Top 30 Albums are still online:
- Top 30 Albums of 2010
- Top 30 Albums of 2011
- Top 30 Albums of 2012
- Top 30 Albums of 2013
- Top 30 Albums of 2014
And now, my Top 30 Albums of 2015! Enjoy!
Note these are in alphabetical order. I could never rank these absolutely — it would change daily.
- Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes
- But You Caint Use My Phone (Mixtape) by Erykah Badu
- Imager by Barbarossa
- Fi by Bibio
- Vulnicura by Björk
- The Magic Whip by Blur
- Another One by Mac Demarco
- Caracal by Disclosure
- Surf by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
- Elaenia by Floating Points
- Morning/Evening by Four Tet
- Currency of Man by Melody Gardot
- Vestiges & Claws by José González
- Art Angels by Grimes
- Sunday by HNNY
- Ego Death by The Internet
- In Colour by Jamie xx
- Goon by Tobias Jesso Jr.
- To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
- Lustmore by Lapalux
- Peace Is The Mission by Major Lazer
- Beauty Pageant by Kacey Musgraves
- Hotel Allan by Allan Rayman
- Company by Slime
- Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
- Songs to Make Up To by Ta-ku
- Currents by Tame Impala
- Love Songs For Robots by Patrick Watson
- White Men Are Black Men Too by Young Fathers
- XTLP by μ-Ziq
I’d love to know what albums we have in common and which ones you think should have made my list but didn’t. Use the comments people, don’t be shy!
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Thought
That @sulemaan’s 6 YEAR OLD son is on the terrorist watchlist is both ridiculous and disturbing:
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Thought
💯
you used to commie on my cell phone pic.twitter.com/5tmnujTXFU
— Ivor Tossell (@ivortossell) December 31, 2015
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Thought
Happy New Year Samuel! I hope 1663 will be a good year for you.
Having staid as long as I thought fit, to my infinite content, it being the greatest pleasure I could wish now to see at Court, I went out.
— Samuel Pepys (@samuelpepys) December 31, 2015
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Thought
Just published my Top 30 Albums of 2015.
THREE of them will SHOCK YOU!!!
http://schafer.com/2015/12/top-30-albums-of-2015/
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Thought
Star Wars is pretty much Hogan’s Heroes In Space
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Thought
Just hit a page on last.fm that had 109 trackers/tags/cookies on it.
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Thought
Toronto’s Donut Raccoon is better than New York’s Pizza Rat.
December 29, 2015
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Thought
Had to look at a picture of myself to know what colour my eyes are.
December 27, 2015
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Thought
Rewatching the first season of Fargo just to remember what snow looks like
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Thought
Tweet like no one is watching, because no one is.
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Thought
I have no idea why you follow me, but thanks for letting me into your life in itty bitty bits.
December 26, 2015
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Thought
My mom is healthy, happy, and sharp at (almost) 95 years old.
I really hope I got her genes! pic.twitter.com/jkJ99Cfh2f
December 25, 2015
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Thought
So pretty, I’m having a hard time reconciling they’re meant to be eaten. Then again, what’s Venus ever done for me. pic.twitter.com/ljJoUyI9Xl
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Thought
Japanese chocolate solar system is wonderful despite lack of Pluto pic.twitter.com/Td3VP8O6GQ
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My Christmas loot. These people know me. pic.twitter.com/GTOl5cwQSF
December 24, 2015
December 23, 2015
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Thought
Don’t think I shared any of these fake virals but I did fall for a few.
http://factually.gizmodo.com/76-viral-images-from-2015-that-were-totally-fake-1747317711
December 22, 2015
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Thought
Now that I’VE seen Star Wars TFA I guess we can start talking about spoilers.
December 20, 2015
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This is really hot stuff
Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge sing "Help Me Make It Through The Night" https://t.co/DvjZZInBal Jesus. They're practically making out.
— Julie Penner (@julespenner) December 20, 2015
December 19, 2015
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Thought
Close your eyes and Martin O’Malley sounds just like William Sanderson. pic.twitter.com/Grkb3j03DI
December 15, 2015
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Thought
I think they have a side bet that the first person who says “boots” pays for the first round at the bar later.
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Thought
The minor candidates should work to get Trump’s goat. Needle him and talk over him until he snaps.
December 13, 2015
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Thought
🎤 “Now we can swim any day in November.” 🎤 pic.twitter.com/0NSObNErkV
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Thought
Reminder: Weather is not climate, even if it supports your argument.
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Thought
The distinction between Islamism and Islam is crucial.
This is particularly difficult for atheists to see.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-beat-islamic-state-1449850833
December 12, 2015
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Thought
Imagine you’re the company rep at this town council meeting.
My eyes would roll so hard they’d fall out.
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Thought
While I love the praise Canada is getting for taking 25K refugees, Germany is the role model – over 1 million so far.
December 11, 2015
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Thought
Kickstarter to get Luis Scola a haircut