A Fan's NotesI really wrestled with this. I wasn’t sure I wanted to create a list. After all, you can pretty much hear any record that you want to hear on-demand. Why do you need me to tell you what I like? I suppose my hope is that there’s an album here that you’re not familiar with, or that you haven’t heard yet, and perhaps its inclusion will get you to listen. It’s pretty diverse list, musically. There are jazz, hip-hop, rock, soul, and Americana artists, so hopefully there is something for everyone.

As I say each time I create one of these lists, these are not necessarily the best albums of last year. They are the albums that I liked most, but there are many albums that I never got to hear. If you don’t see your favorite, there is no slight intended. With no further adieu, here are my favorite albums of 2015.

Top 5

The Top 10

Kamasi Washington – The Epic
 
Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear 
 
Leon Bridges – Coming Home 
 
Tobias Jesso Jr – Goon 
 
Bettye Lavette – Worthy 
 
John Moreland – High on Tulsa Heat 
 
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly 
 
Brian Wilson – No Pier Pressure 
 
Beth Hart – Better Than Home 
 
Matt Pond PA – The State of Gold 

 

 

Second five

 
 
 
 
 

 

Other Notables
 
 

 

James Taylor – Before This World
Rudresh Mahanthappa – Bird Calls 
 
Allison Moorer – Down To Believing
 
Deerhunter – Fading Frontier
 
Shelby Lynne – I Can’t Imagine 
 
 
 
Sunchymes – Present
 
William Alexander – Strangest Things 
A Fan's Notes, Music

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About the Author

Ken Shane

Ken Shane lives in Narragansett, R.I. He is a freelance writer and far and away the oldest Popdose writer. In fact, he may be the oldest writer, period. He wants you to know that he generally does not share his colleagues' love for the music of the '80s, and he does not forgive them for loving it. (Ken passed away in November 2022. R.I.P. —Ed.)

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