Polo's Top 25 Releases
Album / EP / Compilation releases that were my favorites of 2015, in order. Merry Christmas. |
| 1 |  | DJ Richard
Grind
One of the few albums this year that wasn't quite impactful on first listen. DJ Richard's previous work was much more divisive and schizophrenic, but Grind combines all the beautiful elements of techno, minimalism and ambient into a complete album. It's an alluring piece of work that, unlike most albums, is strengthened by its ambient portions that thread every track instead of displacing them. |
| 2 |  | Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly
Evident is Lamar's willingness to explore his beginnings with lots of soul and funk influence splattered across his latest. It is musically diverse, but leaves the focus of lyrical content on the backburner - even if it is just as strong as his previous. |
| 3 |  | Romare
Projections
Projections feels like an ode toward the beginnings of house. The sample choices Romare instills in Projections creates a sense of historical perspective, but the fact he wields them so well is what sets Projections past other such efforts this year. |
| 4 |  | Vril
Portal
Vril's Portal is a substantive album, through every phase of "Portal 1" to "Portal 8" is another sequence to the ride. Moving in and out of noise aesthetic toward rampaging and blistering dark techno that rivals some of the best this year. |
| 5 |  | Jenny Hval
Apocalypse, girl
Hval has a sense of snarling manner within her lyricism, that for me, puts her over the top of other folk heavyweight releases this year. The Norwegian puts out for us to see - her insecurities, feelings of dominance, sexual frustration, all of it. It's not necessarily daring, but refreshing to hear, where others would bring out the sense of the brood, Hval stands out with her absurdity and comedic backlash that never tips over the line of either. |
| 6 |  | Levon Vincent
Levon Vincent
Levon Vincent's self-titled release this year was all about restrained discussion. It never quite gets to that point of overwhelmingly energetic, sometimes going into the tepid. But, what it achieves is a more centrally honed vision of his techno and house. Last I checked, Levon released this LP free. |
| 7 |  | Head High
Home. House. Hardcore.
Through its entirety, the best compilation for me this year. A mixture of Shed's aliases of previously buried released material that syncs so well you would believe it was all one track. |
| 8 |  | Julia Holter
Have You In My Wilderness
It's a charming accessible work that seems to hold its pop ballads grounded and not over the top. Unlike Joanna Newsome's cumbersome narrative (in my eyes), Holter hones lyrically while freely moving through some injections of somewhat unexpected genres that compliment toward the acoustics. |
| 9 |  | Gesloten Cirkel
M012
The M011-M012 EPs that released this year are some of the best electro and acid tracks to grace my ears this year. Whether that is "Chasing Away The Night," "Charming," or "Never". You'll be hard-pressed to find any better. |
| 10 |  | Blanck Mass
Dumb Flesh
My favorite part of Dumb Flesh? It retains all the signature of Fucked Up components, but moves into more rhythmic techno aspects from one of the duo. Mixing his prototypical noise swings into more dance heavy moments that reach pinnacle on "Dead Format". Increasingly abrasive, yet underneath this flesh are pop aspects melded within its structure that give it a sense of aim. |
| 11 |  | Beach House
Depression Cherry
I've never been into Beach House, but Depression Cherry is their best work for melancholy dream tunes . This first LP released in 2015 by the group (Thank Your Lucky Stars released later) finally opened up after a few more listens later this year. For many this would feel like they're in familiar waters, but for me it didn't feel that way because to be frank, I never quite enjoyed them before this. |
| 12 |  | Mumdance and Logos
Proto
A collaboration of signature sound makers Mumdance and Logos perfect their sporadic feel ethereal and diverse enough to break off from their solo efforts. Proto is sneaky in its approach and brings lots to the table, never quite showing its face until album's end. |
| 13 |  | Bjork
Vulnicura
One of my favorite breakup / recovery albums that is masterly produced by Arca. The album feels like they were made to work together and the closer, "Notget," one of the best this year. |
| 14 |  | ASC
Fervent Dream
This dropped inconspicuously late this year, as many are familiar with his earlier release Imagine The Future. Unlike, the aforementioned, Fervent Dream does not seem to muddle and warp itself in a standstill for some time. Instead, it doesn't languish in its ambient undercurrent and ventures by mid-album into a space odyssey feel. Although gone are the days of his drum and bass iterations (as it would seem), ASC's exploration of atmospheric ambient music has had mixed results - this being a clear positive. |
| 15 | | Container
LP3
Container's LP3 is a beautiful mix of experimental electronic noise and minimal techno that obliterates everything by track two - "Remover." It's one of the best tracks this year and the rest of the album is just as good. From "Cushion" forward, Container mixes his brand of noise into other experimental electronic variations, toeing the line between rhythmic and plain noise. |
| 16 |  | Bicep
Just
The Just EP is one the best house efforts this year, original mixes and alternate takes are similarly pensive as the title track reverberates the words "I'm just the same as you," you can't help but feel like moving through its decisive executed buildup. |
| 17 |  | Protomartyr
The Agent Intellect
Most would say that this is a weak album to respond to their strong post-punk offering Under Color of Official Right. But what what it lacks in seemingly musical continuity is salvaged by lyrical prowess that Joe Casey seemingly spins effortlessly on corruption, politics, hypocrisy and the like in his home of state of Michigan. |
| 18 |  | Roots Manuva
Bleeds
While many will not agree, I believe Bleeds is the second strongest offering of Roots Manuva's illustrious career. Like his previous effort, 4everolution, the production on Bleeds is upped and far more thematic. Some would say a bit overly pretentious or hypocritical as he jabs at the system of its unjust treatment (a heavy theme this year). While that may not be new, his strength behind the mic is still as strong as ever. |
| 19 |  | Zenker Brothers
Immersion |
| 20 |  | Deafheaven
New Bermuda |
| 21 |  | Viet Cong
Viet Cong |
| 22 |  | Lapalux
Lustmore |
| 23 |  | r.roo
Deviation |
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