To Pimp a Butterfly– Kendrick Lamar proves that he is the king of hip-hop with this sixteen track epic about the racial struggles of a community that are personified through Lamar’s personal demons. Supported by flawless production that combines jazz, funk, R&B and hip-hop, as well as features by music legends such as George Clinton, Snoop Dogg and Ronald Isley, Lamar delivers an experimental and socially conscious album that leaves us thinking and evaluating the racial issues of modern times.
Carrie & Lowell– The banjo-welding soft-spoken Sufjan Stevens returns with his most heart wrenching album and a close second to this year’s list. Offering all of the guilt, sadness and isolation felt after his estranged mother’s death, Stevens immaculately crafts a solace to her memory, and his depression.
I Love You, Honeybear– Indie-folk hero Father John Misty has made a name for himself by making love songs with a satirical twist, and his latest album is no exception. Making humorous observations about everything from newlywed love to the culture of middle America, Misty certainly doesn’t confine himself to the stereotypes of his genre, and delivers a witty album that is as much a love letter to love itself as it is towards another person.
Have You in My Wilderness– Julia Holter shows again that the pop genre isn’t as one-dimensional as Top 40 radio would have you believe, as the sound on this album is more Pet Sounds era Beach Boys than Selena Gomez. Employing various instruments such as the organ and the harpsichord, Holter makes an interesting art-pop sound to complement her soaring voice, creating one of the most confident and unique sounding albums of the year.
If I Should Leave Before You– City & Colour seems to usually be Dallas Green and co., but on this release, the stakes are placed on recording what Green has capitalized as a “band” album. Yes, the iconic guitar and vocals of the one and only Dallas Green are forefront, but there also are not just atmospheric background players, but instrumental figures joining in, making this the most focused album as a group to date.
Andrew Zilbauer & Anthony Campbell // Web Team and A&E Editor
