The Return of the Seattle Scene: Music in 2015
From Kendrick Lamar and Grimes growing musically to the return of Sleater-Kinney and Adele, 2015 proved to be an amazing year musically. For me, indie releases from the Northwest especially Seattle proved to hit home the most. Year end lists are always so hard because everyone’s taste is so different and music is pretty subjective. There are definitely releases though that resonate with a lot more people.
Album of the Year
10. Black Messiah by D’Angelo and The Vanguard- I have always been a D’Angelo fan but waiting for a new album felt like Godot was a good friend of mine. This album again proved why it was worth the wait. D’Angelo’s soulful wails hit the deepest part of your soul and draw it out. The political tone of the album is perfect in the current climate we live in. Racism in this country is alive and well and D’Angelo won’t let you forget that.
9. Emotion by Carly Rae Jepsen- The best pop album of 2015 came out of nowhere. Admit it, we all loved “Call Me Maybe” but thought that Ms. Jepsen probably wouldn’t ever top that. I was wrong. This album is a perfectly crafted pop album and something of a shocker. I will never doubt my new Canadian pop best friend.
8. Carrie and Lowell by Sufjan Stevens- The deepest personal album from a musician known for personal albums, Sufjan hits you with the hardest wave of sadness and is relentless. It never lets up on this album. I was sad to miss his live show but I’ve cried enough this year that I probably didn’t need to cry anymore.
7. Suitcase by wimps- Named the best local punk band of 2015, wimps released their Kill Rock Stars debut album in November. I had the fortune to attend it and hear the entire album live. They did not disappoint. The trio of Rachel Ratner, Matt Nyce, and Dave Ramm have harnessed a sound that sticks with you. I look to good things in the future from these three. The album name comes from a vibrating suitcase found by the band from the 1950s. It apparently was an early form of vibrator because sex toys were banned in most states. Never underestimate human ingenuity.
6. Ivy Tripp by Waxahatchee- On Kate Crutchfield’s Merge Records debut, she shows off her songwriting prowess. She produced the album and wrote all the songs in a house. Her emotional lyrics meld completely with her musical compositions. I can’t help but almost cry every time I listen to this album. It draws something out from me.
5. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett- The longest title on this list comes from Barnett, an Australian singer-songwriter who’s jangly garage fun compositions leave you wanting more. She spits lyrics over these compositions with power. The almost stream of consciousness on “Pedestrian at Best” demonstrates this.
4. Time to Go Home by Chastity Belt- This foursome from Walla Walla now living in Seattle have built a reputation of fun ethereal punk. Julia Shapiro’s voice backed by her and Lydia Lund’s guitar, Annie Truscott’s bass, and Gretchen Grimm’s drums provide a breathtaking delivery system for some of the best lyrics of 2015. The song “Cool Slut” has spawned bathroom graffiti in at least three places in Seattle I can think of so that’s pretty cool too.
3. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar- This is probably the best album of 2015 if done on an aggregate. So many people have chosen it as 2 or 1. I agree it is a great album. Kendrick continues to grow as an artist and has almost surpassed Kanye as my favorite artist in Hip-Hop. The complexity of beats and lyrics are layered so well. It gets better each listen.
2. Women’s Rights by Childbirth- A local Seattle supergroup featuring Julia of Chastity Belt in her second appearance on this list, Bree of Tacocat, and Stacy of Pony Time, this riot grrl esque album dropped in October to lots of acclaim. Their raucous irreverent songs are a mix of The Ramones and Fugazi if written by Kathleen Hanna. The album also features two songs with Lisa Prank, one of my favorite up and coming artists. They have to be seen live to really experience them. Watching these three women clad in hospital gowns shred harder than most is a must see sight.
1. No Cities to Love by Sleater-Kinney- Big shock here. If you know me you know how much I love S-K. This album has entered my top 3 favorite Sleater-Kinney albums too. S-K returned with an amazing aural assault. They seemed to have never really been away with how they returned.
Honorable Mentions: Grimes, Alabama Shakes, Protomartyr, La Luz, Screaming Females
Song of the Year
5. “All Day” by Kanye West- Since his album hasn’t dropped yet, this was the only good thing to come from Kanye this year. Theophilus London has the best parts on the song.
4. “Hello” by Adele- Of course this is on here. You couldn’t move in November or December without hearing Adele’s vocals beckon Hello to you.
3. “These Walls” by Kendrick Lamar- My favorite track off of the album, Kendrick hits peak awesome. Bilal is one of my favorite guest artists on Hip Hop albums. His appearance on this track increases my love for it.
2. “Surface Envy” by Sleater-Kinney- This song encapsulates Sleater-Kinney’s return ascent to rock stardom. It might not have been a single but it hits hard. It is the reminder that Corin, Carrie, and Janet didn’t soften up during their hiatus.
1.“Dump” by wimps- I can’t stop listening to this track. It is catchy as hell and realistic to living situations I have found myself in before. You too will be singing I live in dump really loudly after listening to it. The music video cracks me up.
Honorable Mentions- “Siri,Open Tinder” by Childbirth,”Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes
Disappointing Album of the Year
25 by Adele is my most disappointing album of 2015 for a myriad of reasons. We waited almost 5 years for it to come out. By the time it dropped and hearing “Hello” I had the realization that Adele can fucking sing. She just hasn’t or maybe can’t explore other genres or grow musically. She will always sound like Adele. This is ok, it just isn’t special. Adele’s superstardom is cemented. She will always be a huge hit with soccer moms. I guess I just want her to branch out musically. She should try something else. This is the same criticism I levy at a lot of crooners and a lot of punk musicians. Try something new and different. It might flop,like Trans by Neil Young, but at least you tried something new.
Dishonorable mention: 1989 by Ryan Adams, Strangers to Ourselves by Modest Mouse
Best Cassette Only Release
Cassettes are back in a big way. They are a lot cheaper to manufacture than either vinyl or CDs. I do not know if this is a thing outside of the Northwest yet, but we seem to have embraced it here. Cassette Store Day was a thing this year even. Labels like Sub Pop and Kill Rock Stars reissued old albums on cassettes for this day. My favorite cassette only release this year is Rumours 2: The Rumours are True by Pony Time. Pony Time is a local two piece garage rock band that absolutely slay. Stacy and Luke have entwined with each other to produce masterful rock.
Honorable Mentions: Life Rips by Mommy Long Legs, Super Me EP by wimps
Best Live Album
Against Me! has been around for a long time. They have even previously released a live album. It pales in comparison to 23 Live Sex Acts. Laura’s transition has opened up a whole new can of musical worms. I haven’t seen them this tight ever. The best part of the album is hearing Laura finally sing the correct and original lyric to “Pretty Girls(The Mover)” featuring the phrase gender identity. Having seen them twice on the tour that begat this album, it definitely triggers those amazing memories of meeting her and seeing them kick ass.
Best New Music, Seattle edition
As I am really only involved with the scene here at the moment, I would like to take some time to highlight some of my favorite bands that are up and coming.
Boyfriends- Like Talking Heads? Like the Cure? Like Television? Listen to these four people making new new wave. Their lyrics are best described as future sex. They have a future making it big.
Lisa Prank- Described by herself as Babysitter punk, Lisa produces tender songs that will punch your heart out. She and her drum machine will keep you entertained. She will be on a West Coast tour with Childbirth in January and February. Go see her and them!!!!
Mommy Long Legs- Probably the closest thing Seattle has to a reimagined Riot Grrl band, Mommy Long Legs hits hard.
2015 kicked ass musically. I look forward to 2016 with Kanye West, Tacocat, and countless others releasing new albums.