2015 - the albums

[Fretless]

What were the great releases of the last year?
What really turned you on?

And what were the horrific clunkers that you wish you hadn't heard?

[BillyBones]

I've not bought many 2015 released albums, mainly older ones this year.

However, Richard Thompson's Still was his usual high standard, and had many plays throughout the year.

I recently bought Guy Garvey's Courting The Squall , and that too is excellent. Just like Elbow's albums it didn't wow me on first listen, but given a few listens it just grows and grows in stature. Superb.

Finally, Eva Cassidy's Nightbird is simply wonderful, a lovely live recording. It's the full concert recording of her Live At Blues Alley album.

I can't think of any clunkers I've heard this year, I've certainly not bought any CDs that I regretted,

[slinger]

My 10 favourite albums of 2015, in no particular order....

Aly & Fila - The Chill Out
Don Henley - Cass County
James Taylor - Before This World
Dave Gilmour - Rattle That Lock
The Proclaimers - Let's Hear It For The Dogs
The Waterboys - Modern Blues
Richard Thompson - Still
Lonely Robot - Please Come home
Jeff Lynne's E.L.O. - Alone In The Universe (still growing on me)

My favourite song of the year has to be The Proclaimers - Then Again. Any song with the chorus "I'm sleeping soundly in my bed, 'cause Jimmy Saville's still dead" is OK with me.

[Fretless]

Looks like there are already a couple of discs that I'll have to investigate in the new year (Guy Garvey, Lonely Robot, ELO).

I found 2015 to be a surprisingly good year for music, Here are my favourites (in no specific order):

Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase (his best work yet)
Florence + The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (personal and soaring)
Editors - In Dream (hauntingly powerful)
First Aid Kit - Stay Gold (just too good to be true)
Anathema - Distant Satellites (deeply moving, rock masterpiece)
Iron Maiden - Book Of Souls (a truly great and monumental album)
Jean Michel Jarre - Electronica 1 – The Time Machine (intriguing collaborations)
Lanterns on the Lake - Until the Colours Run (intelligent dreampop)
Spock’s Beard - The Oblivion Particle (simply wonderful prog veterans)
Tesseract - Polaris (mind-blowingly ecstatic)

The album that disappointed me somewhat was:
Daft Punk- 'Random Access Memories'
Which just didn't seem to live up to the hype (or maybe I haven't listened to it enough).

Happy New Year - Roll on 2016

[jammy395]

Some fine albums there lads......
I will need to rack my brain (all 170 IQ of it) and get back to ya.....

[George Hincapie]

I forget where we were - Ben Howard
Last smoke before the snowstorm - James Francis Leftwich (not 2015 but first time I heard him and bought his CD)
My head is an animal - Of Monsters & Men (as above)

There are more, but that'll do for now.

[Firebug1]

From Fretless

Iron Maiden - Book Of Souls (a truly great and monumental album)

I really can't decide is this good or just average IM album...

[BillyBones]

Steven Wilson - Hand Cannot Erase (his best work yet)

Oh I forgot that one, I agree. Probably my favourite SW solo album so far, certainly his most accessible.

[Fretless]

From Fretless

Iron Maiden - Book Of Souls (a truly great and monumental album)

I really can't decide is this good or just average IM album...

I'm not a Maiden fan, but I loved this. Tasty, classic Rock made by experienced musicians.

[jammy395]

This is the album ya want..........

81XeIxWi6FL._SL1426_.jpg (393.45 KiB) Viewed 3456 times

Iron Maidens 1980 debut, and their best....