This past year was remarkable for the great music released. Adele may have justifiably dominated headlines later in the year, but she wasn't the only one to make terrific tunes. Here are this reviewer's Top 5 for 2015:
1. Kendrick Lamar, "To Pimp a Butterfly." The year's most exciting, thoughtful music came from Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar, who fused his singer's soul to larger issues in this reflective and magnificent work. If there was a single that captured the sociopolitical zeitgeist in a personal way more compellingly than "Alright," I haven't heard it. It's a jazzy jolt of hip hop genius. Song of the year, album of the year, artist of the year.
2. Tame Impala, "Currents." Psychedelic rock masters Tame Impala followed their super successful "Lonerism" by taking a musical turn, fusing pop elements and dance grooves with what they'd already built and relying more on synthesizers than guitar. The hypnotic, boogie-in-your-seat tune "Let it Happen" sets the tone for this new obsession for frontman Kevin Parker (he's pretty much the band). It's gorgeous and works.
3. Beach House, "Depression Cherry." Delicious dream pop purveyors Beach House followed up the expansive sound of their 2012 release "Bloom" with something that sounds more intimate, cozier, more reminiscent of their earlier sonic jaunts in this album, "Depression Cherry," the first of two they released in 2015. For fans of Beach House, it was an aurally satisfying year.
4. Courtney Barnett, "Sometimes I sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit." Like Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett also hails from Australia. But where Tame Impala set a psychedelic groove down, indie singer-songwriter Barnett invites you into her soul with witty, wry lyrics that populate their landscape with deadpan poetry, even if she's just singing about house hunting. She's nominated for Best New Artist at the next Grammy Awards. She deserves to be big, big, big. But she's too real for that nonsense.
5. Grimes, "Art Angels." With the first notes of the second-most-danceable-and-awesome single of the year in "Flesh without Blood," Grimes announced that "Art Angels" would pretty much be a classic, both entirely accessible and delightfully weird in that way Grimes perfects. It was a pleasure to see her back in business at the end of year, particularly as she'd scrapped a heap of songs last year. Welcome back, Grimes.