My Top Albums of 2015

Being the music obsessed person that I am, I thought I'd throw together a list of my top 6 albums for the year (because 5 just wasn't quite enough), along with a list of honorable mentions that I enjoyed very much, but maybe didn't get to listen to this year as much as I would have liked. Obviously this list is merely my opinion, and I am no expert on the subject, but these are the albums that have been the most influential and important to me this year, and the albums that have excited me the most. I hope you enjoy.

6. Islands (Deluxe) -- Bear's Den

I recently wrote about Bear's Den on the blog for my latest addition of Music Monday, and because I loved Islands so much, I knew I needed to add them to this list. They are the perfect mix of folk and indie and rock all rolled into one. And lately there hasn't been a playlist I've made that hasn't included at least one of their songs. They are a great band who deserve all the success they've achieved, and I can't wait to see, and hear, what they create in the years to come.

Favorite Songs from Islands: Above The Clouds Of Pompeii, Agape, Bad Blood, Elysium, Isaac, Magdalene, When You Break

5.  Know-It-All (Deluxe) -- Alessia Cara

Alessia Cara is another artist I mentioned in last month's Music Monday and since then I've enjoyed her album immensely, so much so that I knew this list wouldn't be complete without her. I love both the innocence and the depth of Know-It-All, and the way that Alessia isn't afraid to be herself and sing about things that matter to her. She makes you feel that it's okay to be you, and it's okay to be the girl at the party who just wants to go home. Or better yet the girl who doesn't even show up to the party at all, and would much rather hang out with her friends and listen to music and talk about things that matter. Alessia shows young people everywhere that you don't have to do what everyone else is doing, and most of the time life is a lot more interesting and better when you don't. And because of this I look forward to whatever these next few years have in store for her. 

Favorite Songs from Know-It-All: Scars To Your Beautiful, Here, River Of Tears, Outlaws, I'm Yours, Overdose, Stars

4. Wilder Mind (Deluxe) -- Mumford & Sons

After fearing that the Mumford & Sons hiatus might last much too long, I was wonderfully surprised this year when they announced they would be releasing a new album. And being one of my favorite bands, of course I had to make sure they made this list. Though a bit different than most of their previous stuff, with much more rock and less folk, I was still very pleased after listening to Wilder Mind for the first time. The gradual change in their sound and the harder rock elements seem like a natural growth for the band, while still remaining true to who they've always been. And I only hope that the band will continue to make music together for a very long time.

Favorite Songs from Wilder Mind: Only Love, Believe, Hot Gates, Tompkins Square Park, The Wolf, Snake Eyes 

3. I Swam Out To Greet You -- Slow Club

If I'm being honest, I've only just started listening to Slow Club very, very recently, but after spending some time with their music and hearing their newest album, I Swam Out To Greet You, I decided they needed to be on this list. And so here they are. I read about Slow Club in a book that both stole my heart and then destroyed it completely, so I guess to punish myself further I decided to check them out, and I was not disappointed. I hope you aren't either. And now that I know about Slow Club, I know I'll be listening to them for a long time to come.

Favorite Songs from I Swam Out To Greet You: I Couldn't Say It To Your Face, I Threw It All Away, Willow Tree, Seasons (Waiting On You), Birds, Desperado (Cover), Blue Harbour, The Prophet

2. 25 (Deluxe) -- Adele

Of course Adele's 25 is on this list, regardless of how late in the year it was released. Since I first heard that she was releasing a new album I was waiting impatiently to hear her new music and I was not disappointed. My mom and I went out and bought the album the day it was released and I've been listening and belting out the entire album ever since. After the first initial listen there were a few stand out favorites for me that I really, really loved, but after listening to it a second time I fell in love with every single song. And after listening to it on a long car ride just as the sun was setting and it became dark outside, the album became something else entirely. It's beautiful, it's haunting, it's just magic, and if my number one album wasn't so important to me the way that it is, then Adele's 25 would definitely be number one for this year and the next. 

Favorite Songs from 25: When We Were Young, Million Years Ago, Hello, Sweetest Devotion, Can't Let Go, All I Ask, Remedy, Water Under The Bridge, River Lea...basically all of them.

1. Blurryface -- Twenty One Pilots

Over the course of a few short months this band that I have loved for more than two years has worked their way up the list of my top ten favorite bands to take their place at the very top, at number one. And with the release of their newest album Blurryface earlier this year they have also gained the number one spot on my list of top albums of 2015. This album holds an incredible significance for me and it came into my life at exactly the right time when I needed it most. It's gotten me through these past few crazy, confusing, stressful months after graduating college and trying to find my way in the world and I love every single song. There isn't one thing I would change about this album, or one song I'd want to lose. In my opinion, it's perfect. And come August of next year I will be standing in an arena with thousands of other people who love this band and this album almost as much as me and singing along to every song at the top of my lungs as Tyler and Josh do their thing on stage. It's going to be incredible, and I can't freaking wait. Blurryface isn't just my number one album for the year, it's my number one album for me, and for this strange time in my life when nothing seems to make much sense, but Twenty One Pilots and their music, they always do.

Favorite Songs from Blurryface: All of them. Every single one.

Honorable Mentions
7. BADLANDS -- Halsey
8. Beauty Behind The Madness -- The Weeknd
9. Every Open Eye -- CHVRCHES
10. Made In The A.M. -- One Direction 
11. Grand Romantic -- Nate Ruess
12. HAIZ (EP) -- Hailee Steinfeld 
13. Pentatonix -- Pentatonix
14. Emotion -- Carly Rae Jepsen
15. Communion -- Years & Years

So those are my top albums for 2015. Hopefully there are a few albums and artists here that you haven't heard before, and hopefully in the coming year you'll give them a listen, along with all of your favorites. Here's to a new year full of good music, good friends, good stories, and lots of love.

Happy New Year, loves.

Love & Chaos,
Sam