WHAT a TIME to Be ALIVE

Entertainment 8 December 16, 2015 What a time to be alive Best albums of 2015 according to Jacob by Jacob Shipley ing a house (“Depreston”), to a criticism of fun collaboration with Young Thug on “I simple, mostly acoustic instrumentation REPORTER Australia’s trucking industry (“Dead Fox”). Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times).” is complemented by Stevens’ quiet, me- lodic vocals that are surprisingly interest- Drake Kendrick Lamar ing and engaging for such a somber album. After the wake of disappointment left by If You’re Reading To Pimp a Butterfly 2014 musically, this year quickly became one This It’s Too Late Tame Impala of the best years of music in the last decade. After being “ac- Currents Despite the indefinite delay of Kanye Released as a sur- cidentally” released West’s SWISH and a continued silence prise mixtape with a week early on Following up on on Frank Ocean’s upcoming album, no promotion, If iTunes, Compton 2013’s critically 2015 still saw the return of Adele, the You’re Reading rapper Kendrick acclaimed psych- release of Kendrick Lamar’s highly ac- This sold nearly 500,000 copies in its first Lamar’s third studio album became an rock album Loner- claimed To Pimp a Butterfly, as well week, surpassing the 1 million mark only a instant classic, ranking among the top 10 ism, Tame Impala’s as Drake’s rise to becoming one of the month later. Drake bounces back and forth reviewed albums of all time on Metacrit- third album, Currents, takes a more elec- biggest names in the music industry. between rapping and singing, both over ic. Flawlessly blending elements of funk, tronic departure. Opener “Let It Happen” In the age of Spotify and Apple Music, fo- minimalistic production. Opening tracks jazz, and hip-hop, TPAB intensely focuses builds up over seven minutes into a huge- cus tends to sway from full albums to indi- “Legend” and “Energy” exude a nonchalant on racial conflicts (“Alright,” “Complex- sounding distorted guitar riff, cementing vidual songs. Users can simply find the song confidence, “Jungle” and “You & The 6” ion”), Lamar’s rise to fame (“King Kunta,” itself among Tame Impala’s best songs. they want to listen to, and move on. How- display Drake’s often-memed vulnerabil- “Mortal Man”), and personal moments as “The Moment” shows the first signs of ever, there are still artists making complete ity, and “Know Yourself” instantly became he encounters God in the form of a home- disco influences on the album, and “The projects worthy of a full listen. In a year known for the most iconic hook of 2015. less man on “How Much a Dollar Cost,” Less I Know the Better” fully capitalizes full of surprise releases and impressive de- and sobs through the second half of “u” on those influences, driven by a smooth buts, here are the albums worth revisiting. Jamie xx as he reflects on his flaws and mistakes. bass line. Unfortunately, the only thing In Colour keeping Currents from being a potential Courtney Barnett Sufjan Stevens classic is the cringe-inducing “Past Life,” Sometimes I Sit and Best known as Carrie & Lowell in which a low-pitched, robotic sounding Think, And Some- the producer of voice talks about a trip to the dry cleaner. times I Just Sit minimalistic in- Inspired by the die band The xx, death of his mother, Honorable Mentions Australian guitarist Jamie Smith, Sufjan Stevens’ sev- A$AP Rocky - At.Long.Last.A$AP Courtney Barnett’s known by his stage name, Jamie xx, re- enth studio album Beach House - Depression Cherry debut album dis- establishes electronic dance music as an tells an understated CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye plays an impressive art form on his debut solo album. Each yet beautiful story of loss and depression. Drake & Future - What a Time To Be Alive blend of casual, yet thought-provoking lyri- song effortlessly glides into the next Stevens recalls his failure to properly grieve Father John Misty - I Love You, Honey- cism and intricate guitar riffs, exploring top- with thumping beats (“Gosh,” “Loud on “Should Have Known Better,” and reen- bear ics ranging everywhere from daydreaming Places”), ambient synths (“Just Saying,” acts dialogue between him and his mother Mac DeMarco - Another One (“An Illustration of Loneliness”), to buy- “The Rest Is Noise”), and an irresistibly in the hospital on “Fourth of July.” The Travis Scott - Rodeo