XS NOIZE – ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2015

XS NOIZE - ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2015 11

Hi, every week I have to coax the XS Noize writers away from listening to the latest Justin Bieber and One Direction albums to listen to some decent stuff to keep the music police away and to give our readers their valued opinion on the latest releases. 2015 was another great year for music so instead of boring you all with an exhaustive list we have compiled the top 10 albums of the year we have loved the most.

XS NOIZE – ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 2015

 

 

 

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10. MARTIN GORE – MG

David McElroy wrote:

There are also moments where the music becomes more ambient such as on the aforementioned Europa Hymn or on the likes of Islet. All in all, the album is a mixture of styles and moods that all accompany each other perfectly, creating a hugely enjoyable listening experience. I for one hope that Martin carries on this electronic mood into the next Depeche Mode project as the thought of the band producing tracks in a similar vein to MG is a hugely exciting proposition.

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9. NEW ORDER – MUSIC COMPLETE

David McElroy wrote:

Every time one of the big influential acts of the 80’s and 90’s comes back, it’s usually said that their new album is up there with their best and, sadly, it’s usually wrong. Music Complete bucks that trend and with this record New Order have scaled heights that even the most optimistic fan must have thought they wouldn’t scale again. What appears to be central to it all is that they’ve fallen in love with electronic music again and as masters of that craft, we should rejoice in that. The fact they’ve released it on Mute Records is a lovely thing too as it fits perfectly on that label. Let’s hope it’s not, but if this is the last New Orderalbum we ever get, then their musical mission is complete. A brilliant, effervescent, joy of a record and one everyone should hear.

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8. BJORK – VULNICURA

David McElroy wrote:

Vulnicura is a tough, fairly uncompromising listen and the austere lyrics are sometimes almost too much to handle, but it’s a compelling album and one of Bjork’s best.

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7. DESTROYER – POISON SEASON

Fionn Crossan wrote:

Overall this is a fantastic project filled with excellent performances, with really fantastic production that keeps the tracks sounding fresh and upbeat, while not over produced.  Poison Season has definitely motivated me to dig deep into the Destroyercatalogue, as well as patiently await the next project.

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6. FOALS – WHAT WENT DOWN

Lori Gava wrote:

Foals have a proud history of musical mastery in their discography and What Went Down is not only a worthy entry into that register but possibly their best work to date. Foals do not settle for anyone or anything. That has made them rightfully one of the most respected bands to have originated in the 00’s. There is always intensity and a sense that each member leaves it all on the disc, never holding back until the best is captured in the studio. Their attempts to deliver what they see as their vision are what captivate the listener. What Went Down is Foals at their most daring and engaging. To my mind it is a masterwork and in the running for one of the best releases of the year.

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5. THE MACCABEES – MARKS TO PROVE IT

Thomas S. Day wrote:

Overall the effect of album is atmospheric and hypnotic, the sort of collection of songs you’ll catch yourself listening to with your eyes closed and nodding along slowly. Following the example of Spit it Out the tracks all build in intensity as each note passes, that is with the exception of the beautifully melancholic Silence which is a welcome break from the intensity before going right back into it for the remainder and finishing on a high. Marks to Prove It is a truly sterling album and one that will certainly be featuring in my collection for years to come. Highly Recommended.

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4. NOEL GALLAGHERS HIGH FLYING BIRDS – CHASING YESTERDAY

Mark Millar wrote:

Noel Gallagher has pulled out another ten tracks from his endless bag of songs to bring us his best album yet.

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3. SUFJAN STEVENS – CARRIE & LOWELL

Lori Gava wrote:

Carrie and Lowell will make followers of Sufjan’s career feel like after all of the noteworthy prior albums, Stevens has cleared his throat and produced his definitive masterpiece. It is a heartbreaking and intimate look into the most painful events of his existence. The music is so pure it can be equated to his having burnt off the dross and produced pure gold. The album like an Elgar cello concerto cannot help but stir your emotions. Carrie and Lowell will haunt you and draw you back again and again to try and understand each rich emotional layer of the album. It is a moving journey through grief and loss, beautiful and melancholy. The songs shapeshift with each listen and drudge up additional meanings and phrases to appreciate. The simple but powerful accompaniment only enhances the emotional weight of each song. The album is certainly in the running for one of the best albums of 2015.Sufjan Stevens has a masterpiece on his hands, I cannot recommend it enough.

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2. WOLF ALICE – MY LOVE IS COOL

Lori Gava wrote:

My Love is Cool finds a band that is standing on the edge of popular fame and has been able to retain their sense of proportion and playfulness. The album is a perfect amalgam of their prior sonic fingerprints married to the band’s new material and development. Wolf Alice sounds like they are three or four albums into their career instead of just releasing their first long play debut. Almost every great band has the ability to take what has proceeded their incarnation and transform it into their own manifestation. Wolf Alice shows every symptom of becoming one of those bands. Their performance on My Love is Coolshows seamless, effortless rock sophistication. So to answer the question, yes they have delivered on their promise.

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1. SLEAFORD MODS – KEY MARKETS

Lori Gava wrote:

Sleaford Mods Key Markets is not for the faint of heart and those who dislike confrontation or discussing politics. The Mods hold up a mirror to our civilization and reflect a very unattractive picture. Surprisingly for all the venom and anger that almost boarders on madness at times, the Sleaford Mods are very relatable. You don’t have to have all of Williamson’s convictions and complaints to appreciate his viewpoint. You just have to have a general intolerance for small minds and thieving bastard hypocrites no matter the political stripe. The attraction is how unfiltered and forthright the Sleaford Mods are in delivering their jeremiad. We live in a cautious age where no one wants to offend or be offended; it is refreshing to encounter the truth as the Mods see it in language anyone could understand. Other artists may say the same things more tactfully but never with more conviction. Here is a duo who are the fearless Cassandra of our age.

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Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast. Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

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