G.L.O.S.S.

Demo

Not Normal Tapes

You will not have heard a more urgent and powerful recording this year, no matter what genre or format, than the debut cassette by Olympia’s hardcore punk outfit G.L.O.S.S. It stands for Girls Living Outside Society’s Shit and their message is clear: We are tired of being cast aside and misrepresented, so we are representing ourselves; queers, trans-women, women of color, gender queer femmes, and feminists TO THE FRONT. (Nathan)

Blind Idiot God

Before Ever After

Indivisible

As great as their earlier works were, Before Ever After finds Blind Idiot God playing in a whole different level. The fluidity that they are able to achieve is highlighted perfectly by the stellar production of this album. It is just one of these weird cases, with a band going away for so long and then manages to comeback not just with a reprisal of their previous material, but rather with their best work to date. (Spyros)

Sophie Lillienne

The Fragile Idea

IRMA Records

For me to get behind an album that’s an hour or more long, it has to be solid throughout the entirety of that time and thankfully, Sophie Lillienne’s is. Since this album is more about creating atmosphere than unleashing catchy singles, it might present a challenge for some listeners, making it difficult for them to enjoy. Even so, it’s hard to knock this album’s sense of vision and the amount of talent that went into its construction. Every track here is masterfully crafted, and there are some really neat elements buried in the mix. While it seems that there’s a new “breakthrough” electronic artist every other week, I’d have no problem calling Sophie Lillienne one of my favorite musical discoveries of the past few years. This group doesn’t make EDM and seems to have no intention of attracting that sort of crowd, but I’d be shocked if many of this year’s electronic albums surpass The Fragile Idea in terms of overall quality. (Andy)

Swami John & The Blind Shake

Modern Surf Classics

Swami

Calling it Modern Surf Classics may be presumptuous, but this record blows away from the get go. Starting with “See Saw” it quickly established a firm base in traditional surf, but louder, more disjointed, and not so much riding of the wave, commanding and steering it. It’s a ripper that plays into wild and unexpected territory at times (especially when the sax kicks in), rides a mellow traditional groove at others, and is always consistent, yet varied as it cascades through 13 songs in 35 minutes. This record had high expectations and it delivers in full. 2015 is off to a strong start. (Loren)

Tame Impala

Currents

Modular

The third album of Aussie psych-rock hero Kevin Parker and he's showing no signs of complacency. Dancier than previous efforts and arguably more focused, this is perfect for the background to an evening of chilled partying as well as deep concentration. Guitar music can't create moods like this. (Matt)

Shape of Despair

Monotony Fields

Season of Mist

Finland is known for it's cold, harsh landscapes and the music that comes from there is often as dark and tortured as its land. Shape Of Despair took well over ten years to release a follow up to Illusion's Play but Monotony Fields was well worth the wait. Epic, desperate and melancholy, this record is one of the most emotional records of 2015. (Cheryl)

Apollo Brown

Grandeur

Mello Music Group

All the signature dusty soul loops you’ve come to expect from this beast behind the boards, and with a bevy of lyricists in tow; among them are Evidence, Vinnie Paz, Your Old Droog, and the recently deceased Sean Price. Building upon the foundation laid by Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Large Professor, Brown is without a doubt in the upper echelon of current hip-hop producers. (Nathan)

The Necks

Vertigo

Northern Spy

It is a truly unique experience listening to any album by The Necks. Their works since the beginning have been filled with their distinctive approach to post-jazz. Compared to Open, Vertigo is less minimalistic and it does follow down a more cinematic path. However the dreamlike sceneries are still present, with the smoky appearance of the band lucid and at the same time obscure. Vertigo is dominated by this paradox. Minimalistic but also expansive, with a strong dose of melancholy, but also filled with energy. It is up to the listener to seek and find all the information that The Necks store in their music. (Spyros)

El Vy

Return to the Moon

4AD

The side project of The National's Matt Berninger and Menomena's Brent Knopf, Return to the Moon is an expansive, otherworldly offering. Berninger claimed that his work with El Vy was his most autobiographical yet, and it's filled with eccentricity ("Scratched a ticket with the leg of a cricket/And I got triple Jesus"), and powerful instrumentation from Knopf. Return to the Moon is a glimpse into a surreal but utterly unforgettable world that demands your attention. (Aideen)

Le Butcherettes

A Raw Youth

Ipecac

A Raw Youth is about perseverance through progression. Or maybe that should be pro-aggression. Every sound made on this album is used as a weapon. This shit is dangerous in the best possible way. The album shows a great deal of attention to detail - leaving no sonic stone unturned - as well as a love for the music being created. These kinds of albums are exciting because it shows a young band with raw talent but seasoned professionalism. A band who very much knows who they are but isn't afraid to not just push, but completely obliterate the boundaries of what they're capable of. (Kevin)

Sunn O)))

Kannon

Southern Lord

Album seven for the drone pioneers and it's a comparatively short outing at 33 minutes. Often unintelligible and always rumbling and deep, this is the sound of a band who are masters of their sound. (Matt)

Night Birds

Mutiny at Muscle Beach

Fat Wreck Chords

Mostly brutal and rough but also joyous and self-aware. The transition between harsh and positive repeats throughout, keeping the negativity from getting overbearing with the surf songs that pop up every now and again. Mutiny at Muscle Beach riles the nerves but without any foreboding doom. Instead, it’s got a cathartic feel that’s conversely fleeting and in the moment. As “Left in the Middle” sings out “There’s no one left in the middle” at the album’s close, it’s both a memorable hook and pissed off nihilism: a frustrated call of resignation that begs for real action. That first action should be hitting repeat and turning the volume dial clockwise. (Loren)

Tribulation

Children Of The Night

Century Media

The third album from these Swedish metalheads and it tells a story over its hour-long length that takes listeners out of their regular metal worlds and into one of psych rock, prog and even hints of Zeppelin. Even if this isn't normally your jam, it might just lure you in. (Matt)

Dawn of Humans

Slurping at the Cosmos Spine

Toxic State Records

Queasy, rhythmic, filthy sounds from NYC that dares to challenge your preconceived notions of what punk is or is not. (Nathan)

Dodheimsgard

A Umbra Omega

Peaceville

With A Umbra Omega, DHG are at their best. The band has never dwelled into just one side of their music and with their latest album they continue to expand their horizons. The album is as bitter and broadminded as anything they have done since the Satanic Art EP, but it gives rise to different aspects of the band. The incorporation of a stronger psychedelic and ambient vibe, the melancholic tonality of the album and the inclusion of majestic and melodic moments do not taint their sound. On the contrary, they just make them even more intriguing to listen to. (Spyros)