The Jarvis Lounge

1. D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Black Messiah – Technically this came out at the end of 2014, but I listened to it most of 2015. Great R&B record. 

2. Alt-J – This Is All Yours – This album also came out in 2014, but conceptually, was a great record overall. 

3. The Amazing – Picture You – My favorite album by the Swedish band most people haven’t heard of. Seventies feel.

4. Royal Blood – Royal Blood – One of my favorite new bands from last year. This duo kicks ass. Play loud!

5. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly – My favorite album of the year, hands down. And having George Clinton on your tracks is always a plus in my book.

6. Rival Sons – Great Western Valkyrie – Love this band from Long Beach. Kick ass Zep-style Rock and roll. And the singer’s voice is mindblowingly good.

7. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit – She sold me live. Great lyrics, and a voice and style you won’t forget.

8. Xavier Rudd – Nanna – Some spiritual reggae for the list. I found myself hooked to this album. Great group live.

9. Dawes – All Your Favorite Bands – Great record. Think Jackson Browne, with a touch of Mark Knofler at times. 

10. Mansions on The Moon – Mansions on the Moon – Another small group that I found myself constantly listening to. Think Foster the People. Good dance pop.

11. Tame Impala – Currents – Tame Impala added more keyboards to their psychedelic trip. When it’s great, it’s great. “Let it Happen” was one of the year’s best cuts.

12. Caribou – Our Love – After seeing them live, I found myself constantly listening to this record. Good stuff.

13. Hanni El Khatib – Moonlight – At times still sounding like The Black Keys, this album has some great cuts. The album closer “Two Brothers” is mesmerizing.

14. Jamie xx – In Color – I was late to this party, but I like this album overall. I’m a fan of the xx, so I dig some of these tracks.

15. Lianne La Havas – Blood – “Unstoppable.” Her voice and style are both gold.

16. Alabama Shakes – Sound and Color – I saw them a few years ago, and with this album they blew up. Some really great tracks. My favorite? “Gimme All Your Love.” Blew my mind.

17. Gary Clark Jr – The Story of Sonny Boy Slim – My favorite modern blues player, he went further, venturing into other genres.

18. Borns – Dopamine – Great pop songs. Most people know “Electric Love,” but I prefer “Holy Ghost” and “Dopamine.”

19. Sam Outlaw – Angeleno – This country singer flew under the radar, while putting out an album that included songs I really like. “Country Love Song” is my fav.

20. Kamasi Washington – The Epic – This album is 3 hours long. That aside, it is indeed epic. At times conjuring my beloved Coltrane, Kamasi is the real deal. He also played sax on Kendrick’s album.