My third annual list. This is mostly personal preference, but with an ear to recommend both popular and obscure (mostly alt-rock and electronic) albums to other music lovers. On this list, albums get either a 1 (best) or 2 (rest); within those two groups, most have equal ground. This may seem like a boring list with no explanations, but pick one of your favorite genres and zero in on just one album. Let loose and enjoy your SELF!
Top Six
- Gary Clark, Jr. – Live (Blues; September)
- Rosanne Cash – The River & the Thread (Americana; January)
- Röyksopp – The Inevitable End (Electronic; November)
- Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 2 (Experimental hip hop; October)
- The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream (Folk rock; March)
- Tycho – Awake (Ambient; March)
The Rest
- Beck – Morning Phase (Alternative; February)
- Flight Facilities – Down to Earth (Electronic; October)
- Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways (Rock; November)
- Geotic – Morning Shore (Eon Isle) (Ambient; July)
- Hozier – Hozier (Pop soul; September)
- Hundred Waters – The Moon Rang Like a Bell (Electronic; May)
- Jason Vieaux – Play (Classical guitar; January)
- Jenny Lewis – The Voyager (Indie rock; July)
- John Fullbright – Songs (Alt-country rock; May)
- Johnnyswim – Diamonds (Folk; April)
- Keb’ Mo’ – BLUESsamericana (Blues; April)
- Kiesza – Sound of a Woman (Pop/rock; October)
- La Roux – Trouble in Paradise (Synth pop; July)
- Lee Fields – Emma Jean (Soul; June)
- Lily Allen – Sheezus (Pop; May)
- Loscil – Sea Island (Ambient; November)
- Mary J. Blige – The London Sessions (R&B; December)
- Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint (Hip hop; December)
- Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love (Pop soul; April)
- Ralph Zürmuhle – Reflections (New Age, piano; March)
- Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour (Pop soul; May)
- Sia – 1000 Forms of Fear (Electronic; July)
- Silvia Nakkach and David Darling – In Love and Longing (New Age; April)
- Spiritual Rez – Apocalypse Whenever (Reggae; February)
- St. Vincent – St. Vincent (Alternative; February)
- Thom Yorke – Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes (Electronica; September)
- Tinariwen – Emmaar (World, folk; February)
- Todd Terje – It’s Album Time (House; April)
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Hypnotic Eye (Blues rock; July)
- tUnE-yArDs – Nikki Nack (Worldbeat; May)