Hamilton: An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) Producer – Lin-Manuel Miranda, Questlove, Bill Sherman In reality a musical about founding father and star of the US $10 bill, Alexander Hamilton, should not even rank. But in actual reality it ranks as one of the best musicals I have ever heard and equally the greatest…
Category: 2015
#2 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Coldplay – A Head Full Of Dreams Producer – Rik Simpson, Stargate Heralded as Coldplay’s final album A Head Full Of Dreams is the perfect epilogue to one of the all time greatest bands. While I don’t feel this is truly the last we will hear from them I do believe this story arc of…
#3 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind Producer – James Ford Mumford & Sons have transformed from a Hipster Folk/Bluegrass group to an Alt Rock mega-force. I never really got into their previous two albums but after seeing them play SNL to promote this album I was mesmerized at their new sound. I joked that they…
#4 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface Producer – Ricky Reed, Mike Elizonodo, Mike Crossey, Tim Anderson, Tyler Joseph I wasn’t expecting to like this album so much. I especially didn’t expect to love it on first listen. I think most of it has to do with how the song “Stressed Out” so closely matched my adolescent…
#5 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Death Cab For Cutie – Kintsugi Producer – Rich Costey There is something about the way Death Cab for Cutie writes songs about relationships. They just seem so much more real and heartfelt than anything else I have ever heard. If you are looking for a song to sum up your relationships past or present…
#6 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free Producer – Dave Cobb This album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Country, Folk and Rock charts and Number 6 overall. That is a huge accomplishment to have that much instant crossover appeal. One listen and I was hooked. I don’t usually listen to a lot of…
#7 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
James Taylor – Before This World Producer – Dave O’Donnell James Taylor is like a fine wine that gets better with age. It been a long 13 years of waiting for a album of new music but the wait has paid off. Taylor’s songwriting is top notch and his voice is a soulful as ever….
#8 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Fall Out Boy American Beauty/American Psycho Producer – Jake Sinclair, Fall Out Boy, Butch Walker, J.R. Rotem, Omega, SebastiAn, Young Wolf, Hatchlings Fall Out Boy continue to amaze me with how incredibly good they are. They are without a doubt one of the best hard rock acts around. Could you even imagine a Foo Fighter/Fall…
#9 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Collective Soul See What You Started By Continuing Producer – Ed Roland Collective Soul are back and better than ever. See What You Started By Continuing brings a return to their guitar driven sound of the 90’s. This album is definitely their best since 1999’s Dosage. Singles like This, AYTA and Exposed are instant classics….
#10 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
The Wonder Years – No Closer To Heaven Producer – Steve Evetts I was first introduced to The Wonder Years lead vocalist last year on his side project Arron West and the Roaring Twenties my #2 Pick for 2014. When I heard his full time band was releasing a new album I couldn’t wait to…
#11 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Fences – Lesser Oceans Producer – Fences, Jaquire King This album was one of the earlier finds I had this year. Upon first listen I knew it was destined to make my list. Beginning to end there is not a single bad song on this album. Favorite Tracks – The Lake, Dusty Beds Listen to…
#12 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Bring Me The Horizon – That’s The Spirit Producer – Jordan Fish, Oliver Sykes For the most part I have avoided listening to Bring Me The Horizon. Their Metalcore sound is just something I have never been into. After hearing some buzz about their departure from the Metalcore sound and vering more towards a less…
#13 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Elsie Binx – Smile and a Bullet Producer – Kevin Wesley Williams This local Detroit act recorded and released an extremely impressive crowd funded album. A slightly more rocking pop-rock album has hints of the late nineties and early 2000’s. So much so that the first track “Best of Me” sounds like a nineties sitcom…
#14 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Never Shout Never – Black Cat Producer – Dennis Herring Never Shout Never first made my list in 2010 (#2) with their album Harmony. Everything I loved about that album has been evolved into a more mainstream pop rock sound. The eveloution of their sound has not distracted from their ability to write unbelievably catchy…
#15 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
James Bay – Chaos And The Calm Producer – Jacquire King, Iain Archer James Bay shines on his debut album Chaos and the Calm. Soulful and deeply sentimental alt rock that seriously pulls on your heartstrings. If you like Ed Sheeran then give this album a listen it’s just as good if not better. Favorite…
#16 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Chris Cornell – Higher Truth Producer – Brendan O’Brien Chris Cornell consistently proves he has one of the best voices in rock music today with every new project he releases. On Higher Truth, his fourth solo album, he tones it down creating a Northwest Americana sound that is so delightful. Lead track Nearly Forgot My…
#17 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Sweet & Lynch – Only To Rise Producer – Michael Sweet Collaborative album by 80’s hard rock stalwarts Michael Sweet (Stryper) and George Lynch (Dokken) prove to be a perfect pair. This album reminisces on everything that was great about the hard rock scene in the late 80’s. Instant classic guitar riffs and soaring vocals…
#18 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Barenaked Ladies – Silverball Producer – Gavin Brown One of my ultimate dreams would be the return of co founding member Steven Page. That just doesn’t seem to likely to happen anytime soon. Even without Steven BNL has still been able to churn out some great albums. They have an amazing ability to craft unique…
#19 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Brandi Carlile – The Firewatcher’s Daughter Producer – Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth, Ryan Hadlock, Trina Shoemaker, Jerry Streeter Brandi and her collaborators “The Twins” Phil and Tim Hanseroth are an incredible songwriting trio. Over their ten years of working together they continue to get better at what they do. Favorite Tracks – The…
#20 My Favorite Albums Of 2015
Fiction Plane – Mondo Lumina Producer – Tom Syrowski When I first heard this album I thought I could hear a slight Police influence. Come to find out that lead vocalist and bass player is Sting’s son Joe Sumner. Just a great indie-pop rock album with catchy melodies and great musicianship. Favorite Tracks –…
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