Conor’s Top 10 Albums and EPs Of 2015
Posted: by Conor
Top 10 Albums:
1. Pinegrove – Everything So Far
There’s no way to accurately describe how good this album is. These 21 songs are my favourite songs of the past few years, no question. There’s just something so special about this band and the songs they write. They make you feel like you’re meeting old friends after years apart and you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach that maybe everything’s going to be alright again. 2016 is going to be a crazy year for them and it is so good that label like for Run For Cover picked them up. This band is going to blow up and it’s going to be the best.
2. Marietta – As It Were
Marietta dropped ‘As It Were’ with very little fanfare and, man, this album blew me away. So twiddly, so exciting, so energetic, this band just absolutely killed it with this release. If you miss Algernon Cadwallader (and you should), this band will fill that hole in your life. However, this is so much more than just another Algernon, these dudes carry this emotional intensity that really comes through, especially in songs like “Hawaii 5-0 Noseblunt” (what a song name, too). If you’re a fan of emo, you’ll be a fan of this band.
3. Turnover – Peripheral Vision
I had completely overlooked Turnover until this year. I kinda felt like ‘Magnolia’ was just another one of those records from another one of those pop punk bands. Man, did ‘Peripheral Vision’ set me straight. This record is so fucking good, it has this super dreamy feel and it makes me wanna get in a car with all my friends and drive on some motorways with the windows down…or something. For me, this record just catapulted Turnover from just-another-pop-punk-band into this whole other level. This band matured so much and they’re still so goddamn young. I see big things ahead for them.
4. WOAHNOWS – Understanding And Everything Else
WOAHNOWS’ debut was everything I had hoped it would be. Their two EPs (2012’s Foma and 2013’s The Joy Disorder) had set them up as one of the most inventive and exciting UK bands and anticipation was high for their first record. Understanding And Everything Else more than lived up to the hype, with 11 perfectly formed and perfectly executed poppy/indie/punk songs ensuring WOAHNOWS released the best debut album from a UK band this year. Tim Rowing-Parker has such an insanely cool voice and some of his guitar playing is just wild. These dudes have a style that other bands just can’t get close to.
5. Hop Along – Painted Shut
Hop Along are a special band. In Frances Quinlan, they have the most unique and interesting vocalist in the ‘alternative’ music scene and this band is doing something no one else is doing right now. Joe Reinhart’s guitar work complements Quinlan’s vocals so perfectly and Mark Quinlan on drums keeps it so interesting without ever overplaying. If you’re ever in doubt of how great the vocals are on this record, just listen to ‘Happy To See Me’ and be prepared for full-body goosebumps.
6. Spraynard – Mable
After three years out, Spraynard came back and, shit, they absolutely killed it. I’ve had a soft spot for these guys since those demos came out back in 2008, but I always felt like they had more to give, that they could take it one step further. They totally did this with Mable. This album is just wall-to-wall bangers and is my favourite straight up pop-punk record for such a long time, I guess since that last Latterman record came out. This band is single-handedly pulling pop-punk from the gutter and I’m so glad they exist. Long live Spraynard.
7. Great Cynics – I Feel Weird
Every Great Cynics record has improved on the last one, every album has seemed more coherent and more thought-out. This band just writes songs that will make you grin from ear to ear and want to jump around. Bob Barrett is an exceptional drummer and some of the stuff he does just defies logic and both Giles Bidder and Iona Cairns are two of the best songwriters in England right now. This band are fun as hell and if you ever get the chance to catch them live, you absolutely should do.
8. Bangers – Bird
Bangers round up the UK bands on this list and ‘Bird’ is an exceptional punk record for anyone that’s ever felt isolated or like a weirdo. Roo Pescod, Andrew Horne and Hamish Adams have been absolutely dominating the punk scene for so long now and this is just another example of how great this band are. Inventive, weird and brave, Bird is a punk record for people who are fed up of punk just being the same old boring shit. This band is important. Listen to them.
9. Title Fight – Hyperview
Hyperview rubbed a lot of people the wrong way and I’m still struggling to see why. This record is so good and it’s so exciting to see a band change it up and do whatever the fuck they want to do. If Title Fight had put out another record that sounded like Shed or Floral Green, they would have been criticized for not changing it up, yet the second they decide to do just that they get slammed for abandoning their roots. This is a wonderful record and Title Fight deserve so much credit for the way they are forging their own path and doing whatever feels right for them.
10. Foxing – Dealer
Foxing are such an intriguing and interesting band. It feels like these dudes should be in their 40s, what with the maturity of their song writing and composition and it’s hard to believe this is only their sophomore release. Dealer is so incredibly put together and feels like a huge achievement. This band deserve all the plaudits coming their way and everything that’s happening for them at the minute. This is a record for those dark winter nights and one that will stay with you for a long time after you listen to it.
Top 10 EPs:
1). Shit Present – Shit Present
2) 52 Hertz – Twosome
3) I Love Your Lifestyle – I Was A Loser In School
4) Sandlotkids – The Kids From Memory Lane
5) Dikembe – Ledge
6) Beat Easton – In Situ
7) Owen/Into It. Over It. – Split
8) LUGUBRIOUS CHILDREN – LUGUBRIOUS CHILDREN
9) Sayth & North House – Body Pillow
