2015 Countdown: Top 10 Pop Albums

I’m always a huge fan of pop music, and 2015 brought a lot of great pop music. There are 15 pop albums this year that really caught my eye (6 of which will be in my top 10 albums of the year countdown later). Please enjoy and let me know if you agree or disagree with any of these.

15.) Piece by Piece

Kelly Clarkson

A very solid offering from Ms. Clarkson. It can be hard sometimes to spend the majority of your career writing songs about heartache and breakups and suddenly be in a place where you’re happy, married, and with a kid. Your perspective can change. Kelly Clarkson’s perspective may have changed with this album (and the majority of the album isn’t as memorable as her previous albums) but there is still a lot of growth, a lot of heart, and you bet there’s still a lot of soul and power in her voice.

Best Single: “Piece by Piece”

Favorite Song: “Run Run Run”

14.) Sway

Marian Hill

Marian Hill had one of their songs used on So You Think You Can Dance this summer, and I was hooked right away. Their 7-song EP released earlier this year is a whole lot of sexiness done in a really smart way. It’s jazz-infused electronic pop music. So many different elements in so little time, but this EP is shockingly catchy and well-crafted.

Best Single: “Got It”

Favorite Song: “Lips”

13.) Revival

Selena Gomez

It may bug the hell out of me how she says “good” in the lead single “Good For You”, but there’s no denying how much Selena Gomez has grown with this album. She leaves the bubblegum pop music behind (for the most part) in exchange for a sexier, more mature sound in her music. Her sexy whispers, the low tone of her voice, and the infectious beats from beginning to end make this personal revival quite entrancing.

Best Single: “Hands To Myself”

Favorite Song: “Revival”

12.) Pentatonix

Pentatonix

They’re personable, they’re hilarious, and they’re insanely talented. Making history as the first a capella group (or a cappella solo act for that matter) to debut at #1 is pretty amazing. For years they’ve been known for just doing very clever covers and mash-ups of other artists’ songs. This time around, they had the chance to write their own music, and the result is delightful to the ears. It’s all catchy, it’s all memorable, and it’s all super impressive to hear every time.

Best Single: “Can’t Sleep Love”

Favorite Song: “Rose Gold”

11.) Confident

Demi Lovato

I’ve been a fan of Demi Lovato for a long time. There’s a lot of strength in her voice (when she’s not straining it of course) and something very attractive about how she sounds. Confident brings out a (dare I say it) more confident side of her musically. It’s mature, sexy, and very powerful. She can make you question your sexuality, she can make you feel empowered, and she can break your heart. It’s a well-rounded album filled with a lot of great highlights.

Best Single: “Cool for the Summer”

Favorite Song: “Stone Cold”

10.) Title

Meghan Trainor

She has the hits, she has the personality, and she has the voice to bring out one of the most cohesive albums of the year. It’s 50’s-60’s pop music with a 2015 twist. Her songs are catchy and radio-friendly, but still different than everything else we heard this year.

Best Single: “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”

Favorite Song: “No Good For You”

9.) Delirium

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding has quite a unique voice, and she has assembled quite an impressive group of people to bring out every nuance in it through this album. Whether it’s dancing off the pain or singing her heart out, this album is pure 2010’s pop at it’s finest. Current, refreshing, and all her own.

Best Single: “On My Mind”

Favorite Song: “I Do What I Love”

8.) Purpose

Justin Bieber

It’s hard to be annoyed and mad at someone who makes albums like this. He may be a little punk, but damn him and his musical genius for creating this amazing piece of work. It’s his most grown up album to date, a far cry from the teeny-bop days of My World and Believe. It’s honest and heartfelt in every song, whether he’s pleading for a loved one to come back or asking for forgiveness from the millions of people he may have let down through the years.

Best Single: “Sorry”

Favorite Song: “I’ll Show You”

7.) Unbreakable Smile

Tori Kelly

Just like with Pentatonix, Tori Kelly has spent most of her career covering other artists’ songs. Now she gets to be in the spotlight with her own songwriting skills, creating a very cohesive and beautiful album. The melodies are infectious and catchy, the writing is heartbreaking at times, and her voice is perfection whether it’s cooing the lows or belting out the highs.

Best Single: “Should’ve Been Us”

Favorite Song: “Unbreakable Smile”