Top 10 Albums of 2015

1. FIDLAR, Too
2. Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit
3. Sleater-Kinney, No Cities to Love
4. Tallest Man on Earth, Dark Bird Is Home
5. Ezra Furman, Perpetual Motion People
6. Bad Bad Hats, Psychic Reader
7. Bully, Feels Like
8. Wolf Alice, My Love Is Cool
9. Leon Bridges, Coming Home
10. Disclosure, Caracal

Top 10 Songs of 2015

1. Ezra Furman - "Restless Year"
A frenzy of poppy synths, rackety percussion and a throbbing bassline, this song effectively blends Ezra's visceral indie rock roots with his newer, glossier throwback sound. He desperately wants to avoid being pinned down or classified, and certainly doesn't afford us any time to try to do those things in this song. It's just good to be along for the ride.

2. FIDLAR - "Why Generation"
FIDLAR ushers in a slightly more grown-up sound on Too: the songs are a little more melodic, they're longer, and ... they're not all about drugs. "Why Generation" is still playfully beachy and delightfully raucous (the chorus is basically coordinated yelling), but it hinges on the smartly simple theme of twenty-something ennui.

3. Courtney Barnett - "Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party"
I've dubbed this one the "introvert's anthem" and it's my favorite yet from Courtney Barnett. The line "I wanna go out but I wanna stay in" mirrors my near-constant inner conflict and gives us all license to release all that #FOMO anxiety and seriously Netflix and chill in peace.

4. The Arcs - "Put a Flower in Your Pocket"
This is a storytelling song that really works for me. A dangerous plot, a few shady characters, some scuzzy guitars, and an irresistible underlying groove. I can't get enough. The music video is pretty mesmerizing, too.

5. Bully - "Trying"
I love this song mostly for its escapist quality. Alicia Bognanno unabashedly sings about the nagging desire to literally run away from worries that are all too familiar. On this self-produced album, she strategically places this weighty emotion amidst layers of shrieking guitars and guttural vocals that you can't help but get swept up in.

6. Bad Bad Hats - "Things We Never Say"
It's a simple love song, but "Things We Never Say" is one of the most poignant tracks I've heard this year. Kerry Alexander beautifully captures the innocence of a new relationship, taking care not to airbrush the blemishes of nerves and embarrassment that result from inevitable over-thinking. Perfectly paired with a stripped-down guitar arrangement, this song is an ingenuous depiction of modern day romance.

7. Wolf Alice - "You're a Germ"
If you don't already believe that Ellie Rowsell and the rest of the Wolf Alice crew are intimidatingly cool, this song will change your mind. The huge two-part chorus in "You're a Germ" just begs for a cathartic singalong and light headbanging. It also highlights Rowsell's versatility as a vocalist, juxtaposing softer singing with some vindictive yelps and screams.

8. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment - "Sunday Candy"
This collaboration between Donnie Trumpet (Nico Segal), Chance the Rapper, and many other talented musicians does a fantastic job of seamlessly blending elements of rap, gospel, jazz, and dance into one catchy and uplifting package. "Sunday Candy" is a song that is best heard with the windows rolled all the way down on the way to the beach.

9. Carroll - "Bad Water"
This song conjures nostalgia for summery days with an unfocused sepia tint. Carroll expertly highlights elements of the mundane and set them to a catchy, subdued vibes. "Drop pennies in a shallow pool just to see if luck feels heavy" is one of my favorite lyrics of this year and I couldn't be prouder than it comes from our own backyard.

10. John Grant - "Disappointing"
Well. As the most surreal love song I've heard this year, there was no way this wouldn't make it into my top 10. Name checks include: Gilda Radner, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Francis Bacon, and ocelot babies. 'Nuff said.

Top 10 Local Songs of 2015

1. Bad Bad Hats - "Things We Never Say"
2. On an On - "Drifting"
3. Atmosphere - "Finer Things" feat. deM AtlaS
4. Low - "What Part of Me"
5. Fury Things - "Honest"
6. Kitten Forever - "Temple"
7. Bruise Violet - "Maybe You're the Problem"
8. Mixed Blood Majority - "Same Thing Coming"
9. Reina del Cid - "The Cooling"
10. Hippo Campus - "South"

Vote for your Top 89 of 2015!