THE BEST OF 2015
Never ones to miss out on a “Best of” list, chorusVERSEchorus wanted to make sure that we threw our two cents in on what kind of year it’s been in our world of music. So with out further ado, here is Johnny and Leks’ rundown of top 5 albums and songs of 2015!
-Johnny
ALBUMS
1. Built To Spill – Untethered Moon What can you say about Doug Martsch and the boys that hasn’t already been said? Here you have ten more classic gems to add to the already amazing catalogue of music by one of indie rock’s finest acts!
2. Deerhunter – Fading Frontier Deerhunter main man Bradford Cox was able to put the effects of a devastating car accident behind him and put pen to paper to recording equipment and produce one of his finest works yet.
3. Metz - II The Toronto based noise rockers have built on the abrasive reputation of their debut and solidified the Jesus Lizard and Nirvana comparisons, but the question is where do they go from here?
4. The Dead Weather – Dodge and Burn The super group of Jack White, Alison Mosshart, Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence return after a five year absence and release an album that easily recaptures, and maybe even surpasses the sleazy blues glory of their previous two records.
5. Failure – The Heart is a Monster Without doubt the most self assured and highest quality release of new material by any of the 90s era reunited bands, but this record doesn’t just rehash what worked before…it shows the new way forward.
6. Evening Hymns - Quiet Energies After a three-year hiatus from Canadian indie-folk darling Jonas Bonnetta, this album marks a departure from the sombre tone of 2012's acclaimed Spectral Dusk LP. The results are equal parts Tom Petty and Neil Young & Crazy Horse.
7. Buffy Sainte-Marie - Power In The Blood This 2015 Polaris Prize winning album lives up to the hype, featuring an eclectic cast of surprisingly diverse guest musicians, such as Toronto's own Ian Blurton on standout track "Not The Loving Kind."
8. Public Animal/Napalmpom - Split 12" This cross-Canadian hard rock offering pairs two of the country's loudest bands in a head-on collision of all things raw. Features a handful of new songs from both bands, as well as covers of Living Proof and Jr. Gone Wild.
9. Bob Dylan & The Band - The Basement Tapes: Complete This widely bootlegged body of recordings dating back to 1968 finally saw the light of day in 2015, featuring six glorious discs of home recordings which collectively serve as the original lo-fi DIY release in the history of modern recorded music.
10. Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late The first album-length love letter to the city of Toronto. Enough said.
SONGS
1. Deerhunter – “Breaker” Sounding casual and carefree, Bradford Cox and Luckett Pundt have never harmonized so beautifully.
2. Built To Spill – “Living Zoo” Sweet indie rock perfection that has a couple of cool time changes and an irresistible melody
3. Failure – “Hot Traveler” Nineteen years out of the game hasn’t diminished Failure’s ability to write a crunching hook apparently!
4. Metz – “Spit You Out” If you take your rock music with pine tar, sandpaper and razors then this trio is right up your alley. I prefer it when Metz slows down to get their groove on!
5. Modest Mouse – “The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box” Isaac Brock stole from himself on this one…it’s got the same guitar riff that their hit “Dashboard” has, but it’s as catchy as anything else I heard this year.
6. The Dead Weather - "The Impossible Winner" The left-field album closer on Dodge and Burn, this song features Alison Mosshart in balladeer mode, backed by a string quartet and Dean Fertita on piano. Surprisingly effective.
7. Buffy Sainte-Marie - "Not The Loving Kind" This blues-soaked number is elevated to new heights by Ian Bluton's sleazy slide-guitar work and Sainte-Marie's impassioned lead vocal.
8. Evening Hymns - "Evil Forces" A song that has been kicking around in the Evening Hymns live setlist since 2013, the studio recording successfully captures all of the raw energy and passion displayed on stage every night. Definitely an ear worm destined to never leave your head.
9. Public Animal - "Stained Glass Heart" A balls-to-the-wall rocker with a surprise twist in the bridge section. Features some of the finest vocal interplay between Caitlin Dacey and Ian Blurton committed to tape thus far.
10. Friday Night Trend - "Wasted Youth" The first FNT offering since 2012, this one-off single distills all of the elements that made their debut EP so great: raw energy, impassioned vocals, and guitar riffs not soon to be forgotten!