2015 Countdown: Top 10 Albums

The time has come to countdown my favorite albums of the year!

10.) Reflection

Fifth Harmony

(#6 Pop Album of 2015)

Fifth Harmony emerged this year with one hell of a debut album. It was pop, it was R&B, and it was memorably catchy. Almost every song could be a hit. Here’s to hoping their next album is just as good, if not better.

Best Single: “Worth It”

Favorite Song: “Everlasting Love”

9.) Caracal

Disclosure

Disclosure’s debut was a cohesive piece of art. Where electronic music is concerned nowadays, it all seems to feel and sound the same. Disclosure came out of the gate with something very refreshing and different. “Latch” catapulted them to success and they followed with this impressive roster of talent for their sophomore album. Lorde, Miguel, Sam Smith, the list continues but never overshadows the magical music moments.

Best Single: “Magnets”

Favorite Song: “Moving Mountains”

8.) I Cry When I Laugh

Jess Glynne

(#5 Pop Album of 2015)

It’s a shame that Jess Glynne didn’t get catapulted into superstardom with this album. “Rather Be” was a hit last year and her debut album was filled with Euro-dance pop goodness. It’s addictive fun from beginning to end.

Best Single: “Hold My Hand”

Favorite Song: “Ain’t Got Far To Go”

7.) Rebel Heart

Madonna

(#4 Pop Album of 2015)

After the little fumble that was MDNA, Madonna came out this year stronger and fiercer than ever. Enlisting a great group of collaborators including Diplo & Kanye West, she came out with a very smart and well put together album that was sexy, revealing, and another step in her musical evolution.

Best Single: “Bitch, I’m Madonna”

Favorite Song: “Devil Pray”

6.) Fifty Shades of Grey

Various Artists

Every year there’s always at least one soundtrack that compiles a list of songs that fit the movie or television show perfectly. Two years ago it was The Great Gatsby and this year it was Fifty Shades of Grey. With 2 incredible singles from The Weeknd & Ellie Goulding, sexy slow jams from Sia & Jessie Ware, great throwbacks from Annie Lennox, Frank Sinatra, & The Rolling Stones, and not to mention two…TWO Beyoncé tracks including a very heavenly re-work of “Crazy in Love”, it’s safe to say I think very highly of this soundtrack!

Best Single: “Love Me Like You Do”

Favorite Song: “Crazy in Love (2014 Remix)”

5.) Beauty Behind the Madness

The Weeknd

The Weeknd has been around for quite a while, but 2015 was his breakout year finally. With a hit song from a hit film (“Earned It”), he started out with a bang and continued his streak with “Often”, “The Hills”, and “Can’t Feel My Face”. His debut album is edgy, dark, mysterious, and full of great material. Believe the hype, he’s insanely talented.

Best Single: “The Hills”

Favorite Song: “Dark Times”

4.) Blue Neighbourhood

Troye Sivan

(#3 Pop Album of 2015)

Troye Sivan came out of nowhere in my opinion. With one of the last albums released this year, it’s a wonder to behold! His voice is so deep and moody, but so telling. His album is a great representation of 2010’s electronic-pop music for all the right reasons. It’s relevant and current, fresh and hip, and very well-produced.

Best Single: “YOUTH”

Favorite Song: “FOOLS”

3.) Reality Show

Jazmine Sullivan

My girl. Jazmine came back with another solid album, proving that she just gets better and better with each new release. This time, Jazmine showed a sexier side, more rough around the edges than she usually is. I’ve missed that raspy, deep voice and those runs for days. Keep ‘em coming girl!

Best Single: “Let It Burn”

Favorite Song: “Brand New”

2.) E•MO•TION

Carly Rae Jepsen

(#2 Pop Album of 2015)

Everyone knows juts how obsessed I was with this album. “Call Me Maybe” seems to overshadow everything she does following. This album was pop perfection from beginning to end, a collection of songs reminiscent of 80’s pop but for today’s world. Give it a chance people, I’m telling you.

Best Single: “Run Away With Me”

Favorite Song: “Boy Problems”

1.) 25

ADELE

(#1 Pop Album of 2015)

As if I could put anything else at the top of the list when ADELE comes back. As I said in my review a couple weeks ago, it may not be on the same level as 21, but there’s no denying how well-produced and how mature this album was. Great moments, great emotion, and one hell of a voice. It’s truly breathtaking.

Best Single: “When We Were Young”

Favorite Song: “All I Ask”

2015 Countdown: Top 20 Songs

The time has come to countdown what I feel like are the best, most memorable songs of the year.

20.) “Downtown”

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Eric Nally, Kool Mo Dee, & Grandmaster Caz

It may not be Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ proudest body of work when you stack it up against songs like “Same Love” or “Can’t Hold Us”. Still, it’s a “Thrift Shop” part 2, a fun little song with a whole lot of guests. It may not be the greatest, but it’s one of the most memorable.

19.) “Used To Love You”

Gwen Stefani

Last year we heard a somewhat return of Gwen Stefani as a solo artist. It was all material that felt recycled and old. After a very public split from her husband, she found a way to cope with the pain by singing this song of heartbreak. The video is raw and so visceral and her vocals are heartfelt and meaningful. This is the Gwen Stefani we were waiting for, a “Don’t Speak” anthem for 2015.

18.) “Thinking Out Loud”

Ed Sheeran

You couldn’t go anywhere this year without hearing this song, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The song is catchy and very heartfelt, not to mention it helped solidify Ed Sheeran’s presence in music with his melodies and songwriting.

17.) “WTF (Where They From)”

Missy Elliott & Pharrell Williams

There were a lot of great comebacks this year from some amazingly talented women in music, but Missy Elliott’s was one of the most welcome returns. It’s been a while since we’ve heard that flow and that creativity on the radio and Missy didn’t disappoint. She brought us a memorable song and an eye-catching music video just like old times.

(#7 Dance Song of 2015)

16.) “Lean On”

Major Lazer, DJ Snake, & MØ

From commercials to radio, this song was everywhere too. The beat is danceable and the song in general is very well-produced and crafted. Tip of the hat to you Major Lazer and especially to the genius that is Diplo.

(#6 Dance Song of 2015)

15.) “Where Are Ü Now”

Jack Ü & Justin Bieber

It was the first return of The Biebs, and it was a very welcome one at that. Diplo had quite the memorable year (he does have 3 songs he produced on this countdown) and this addition to his credits is one of his best. Who knew a dolphin sound effect on Justin Bieber’s voice would be something to talk about in a good way?

(#5 Dance Song of 2015)

14.) “See You Again”

Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth

Anyone who saw the latest Fast and Furious movie knows how emotional it was to see the closing montage in honor of Paul Walker. This song is heartfelt and meaningful and had us all feeling a lot of different things. Who would’ve thought that a Fast and Furious movie would be considered for all of these major movie awards?!

13.) “Bitch, I’m Madonna”

Madonna & Nicki Minaj

Yet another amazing Diplo production to make the countdown for this year, this time it’s with the icon Madonna. This song should’ve have been bigger, it should’ve gotten more attention than it did. Regardless, it’s on the countdown so please enjoy for yourself.

(#4 Dance Song of 2015)

12.) “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”

Meghan Trainor & John Legend

Meghan Trainor had a lot of hits this year and in 2014, and they were all very upbeat and catchy. This song however is the standout in my opinion. It’s a sweet love song about appreciating what you have because you never know when it’s gone. And you can’t get mad when John Legend joins.

11.) “Cool for the Summer”

Demi Lovato

The angry guitar chords, the “woo-oo-oo”, the dramatic build, and that powerful voice. It was sexy and one of the best moments of the year musically.

(#3 Dance Song of 2015)

10.) “Hotline Bling”

Drake

I have to include this song for many reasons. Not only was it one of the most infectious songs of the year (and the past several years at that), but the damn video is one of the most amazing moments in pop culture this year as well. Damn those hilarious memes, they can’t get in the way of how amazing this music moment was this year.

 (BlogSpot and YouTube is making it pretty hard to post the actual music videos, so I was reduced to only post a cover version of Drake's song. Therefore, here is my favorite cover to watch.)

9.) “Sorry”

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber had quite the comeback this year with some great music. Whether it was his collaboration with Skrillex & Diplo or his lead single “What Do You Mean”, it was some great stuff we were hearing. Nothing was as memorable though as his second single from his album Purpose, “Sorry”. The beat and music alone make it a standout of the year. It made us want to dance and jump for joy. There’s nothing to be sorry about with this song.

(#2 Dance Song of 2015)

8.) “Chains”

Nick Jonas

Technically this song was released in 2014, but it didn’t really make a big impact until 2015. Nick Jonas had us feeling all sorts of things whether it was his shirtless appearances, his intense scowl, or his addictive music. This lead song from his impressive self-titled album was haunting, bump-tastic, and sweet in all the right spots.

7.) “Worth It”

Fifth Harmony & Kid Ink

The X Factor US edition may not have had the lasting power as it’s UK edition has, but it graced us with this girl supergroup. Their debut album was full of some great moments, but none could be as memorable as their third single. The saxophone seems to be a making a great comeback, and it’s very much welcome in this sexy song. This song is definitely worth all of it!

(#1 Dance Song of 2015)

6.) “Gimme All Your Love”

Alabama Shakes

Their sound is soothing and hard all at once, and Brittany Howard’s voice is a revelation. This song is sexy, it’s soothing, it’s relaxing, and hits all the right spots.

5.) “Earned It”

The Weeknd

The Weeknd had quite the year in 2015 with some great songs. None was as catchy or as sexy as this song from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack. It’s a slow song, but never boring. It brought a beautiful orchestra onto the radio and has one hell of a melody. This song still hasn’t gotten old to me yet.

4.) “FourFiveSeconds”

Rihanna, Kanye West, & Paul McCartney

There may not have been a new album, but there was plenty of Rihanna songs to go around this year. “Bitch Better Have My Money” and “American Oxygen” just don’t even hold a candle to the gem that was “FourFiveSeconds”. It’s folk influence and musical simplicity made it one of the best Rihanna moments of her entire career thus far.

3.) “Love Me Like You Do”

Ellie Goulding

This song is already being nominated for almost every major music and film award this season and an Oscar nomination could very well be on the way. This sweet pop love song is one of the loveliest musical moments of the year. It’s a damn catchy chorus, beautiful vocals from Goulding, and a perfect production quality from Max Martin.

2.) “When We Were Young”

ADELE

Just when we thought we’d have to wait until 2016 for new ADELE material, she surprised us all and said “Hello” right before the year was up. Her first single may still be #1 nine weeks since it first debuted, but “When We Were Young” is the more emotional ballad with better stamina and an exceptional vocal, stronger than anything we’ve heard form her yet.

1.) “Run Away With Me”

Carly Rae Jepsen

It’s a shame that Carly Rae Jepsen didn’t get the credit she deserved for her work this year. This is undoubtedly one of the most perfect pop songs in the last couple of years and definitely the best of 2015 for sure. From it’s 80’s influence, it’s catchy chorus, and the great build musically, “Run Away With Me” is the song that got away from everyone.