MCCh 2015 (02) February 15

[Otisredding]

The best albums of 2015 (update February 15)

The numbers presented next to each album title are the weighted average rating and the number of reviews (out of 32 included sources). The weighted average is based on a formula that includes a) the average of ratings and b) the number of sources that have rated the album.

The magazines I used for the ratings were:
EUR + Australia: Gaffa-dk; Gaffa-sw; Jenesaispop; Laut; LesInrocks; Mondosonoro; Music-story; Musikexpress; Nojesguiden; Ondarock; Plattentests; Playgroundmag; Sentire Ascoltare; The Music
UK: DIY; Drowned In Sound; The Guardian; Music OMH; NME; The Line Of Best Fit; The Skinny; The 405
USA + Canada: Allmusic; AV Club; Consequence Of Sound; Exclaim!; Paste; Pitchfork; Popmatters; Rolling Stone; Spin; Tinymixtapes

Highlights: These are the top three songs from the album according to Allmusic, Consequence of Sound, Jenesaispop, Plattentests, Gaffa.dk, Gaffa.se, The Irish Times, The Independent, Digital Spy, BostonGlobe, etc..

New entry or Re-entry
Albums that have obtained new reviews and improved the score
Albums that have obtained new reviews but worsened the score

15 - The Phantom Band: Fears Trending - 72,5 (7)
Highlights: Denise Hopper - Tender Castle - The Kingfisher
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 833658.jpg[/imgsize]

14 - Napalm Death: Apex Predator – Easy Meat - 73,1 (10)
Highlights: Hierarchies - Cesspits - Dear Slum Landlord...
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 819519.jpg[/imgsize]

13 - Ibeyi: Ibeyi - 73,6 (10)
Highlights: River - Oya - Ghosts
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 831095.jpg[/imgsize]

12 - Pond: Man It Feels Like Space Again – 73,7 (19)
Highlights: Elvis' Flaming Star - Waiting Around For Grace - Zond
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 830040.jpg[/imgsize]

11 - The Decemberists: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World – 73,7 (25)
Highlights: Cavalry Captain - A Beginning Song - Lake Song
[imgsize 260x260]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 824129.jpg[/imgsize]

10 - Ghost Culture: Ghost Culture – 75,0 (13)
Highlights: Glass - Guidecca - Mouth
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 828341.jpg[/imgsize]

09 - Jessica Pratt: On Your Own Love Again – 75,0 (17)
Highlights: Back, Baby - Game That I Play - Moon Dude
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 808446.jpg[/imgsize]

08 - Belle And Sebastian: Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance – 75,8 (31)
Highlights: Play For Today - Nobody's Empire - Ever Had A Little Faith?
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 817963.jpg[/imgsize]

07 - Bob Dylan: Shadows in the Night - 76,3 (22)
Highlights: That Lucky Old Sun - Full Moon and Empty Arms - I'm a Fool to Want You
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 819408.jpg[/imgsize]

06 - Viet Cong: Viet Cong – 78,9 (27)
Highlights: Death - Continental Shelf - Silhouettes
[imgsize 280x280]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 826763.jpg[/imgsize]

05 - Natalie Prass: Natalie Prass – 80,0 (15)
Highlights: My Baby Don't Understand Me - Violently - Bird Of Pray
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 825167.jpg[/imgsize]

04 - Panda Bear: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper – 80,5 (27)
Highlights: Mr. Noah - Boys Latin - Tropic Of Cancer
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 817921.jpg[/imgsize]

03 - Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear - 85,8 (24)
Highlights: I Love You, Honeybear - Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins) - The Ideal Husband
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 834125.jpg[/imgsize]

02 - Sleater-Kinney: No Cities To Love – 86,4 (30)
Highlights: No Cities To Love - Bury Our Friends - No Anthems
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 822345.jpg[/imgsize]

01 - Björk: Vulnicura – 86,4 (30)
Highlights: Black Lake - Stonemilker - Atom Dance
[imgsize 300x300]http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_50 ... 828436.jpg[/imgsize]

[Otisredding]

I also hope the 70.0 "honorable mentions" list will continue as a feature in coming weeks, too!

16 - John Carpenter: Lost Themes - 72,3 (13)
17 - Punch Brothers: The Phosphorescent Blues - 71,9 (10)
18 - BC Camplight: How to Die in the North - 71,3 (11)
19 - Gaz Coombes: Matador - 71,1 (15)
20 - Zun Zun Egui: Shackles Gift - 70,8 (9)
21 - Mount Eerie: Sauna - 70,5 (7)

[BleuPanda]

Could you use a different color for either the new entries or albums that have worsened their score? The colors are too close for me to easily distinguish between the two.

[Otisredding]

Could you use a different color for either the new entries or albums that have worsened their score? The colors are too close for me to easily distinguish between the two.

I don't know if that will be possible. I see the colors of these texts (new entry and worsened) very different

[Gillingham]

The green and brown are very different here too. Maybe it's your settings BluePanda?

[catsafterme]

Yes, they are very easy to distinguish in my opinion. As always, thanks Otis for compiling this list. I look forward to it every two weeks.

[Otisredding]

Thanks to Gillingham and catsafterme.

Anyone else can give their opinion on the problem of colors?

[BleuPanda]

Green and brown might be different to you, but as a color blind person it's hard to distinguish.

[Gillingham]

Green and brown might be different to you, but as a color blind person it's hard to distinguish.

Ah, that explains the problem! Didn't realise...

[BleuPanda]

Yeah, color blindness is weird, and the name is generally misleading. I'm red-green color blind but I actually tend to have more problems with brown and green than red and green. My fiancee actually pointed out a couple days ago that my favorite green shirt was actually brown, and I've owned it for years. Like, I can tell the two colors apart when they're side by side, such as at the top of the page, but as soon as they stand alone I have no idea.

[Jackson]

Absolutely shocking to see Bjork ahead of Sleater-Kinney!

[Otisredding]

color blindness

I'm sorry, Bleupanda. I did not understand your problem with distinguishing colors.

I propose that you yourself choose three colors (besides the black):


15 - The Phantom Band: Fears Trending - 72,5 (7)

14 - Napalm Death: Apex Predator – Easy Meat - 73,1 (10)

13 - Ibeyi: Ibeyi - 73,6 (10)

12 - Pond: Man It Feels Like Space Again – 73,7 (19)

11 - The Decemberists: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World – 73,7 (25)

10 - Ghost Culture: Ghost Culture – 75,0 (13)

09 - Jessica Pratt: On Your Own Love Again – 75,0 (17)

08 - Belle And Sebastian: Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance – 75,8 (31)

07 - Bob Dylan: Shadows in the Night - 76,3 (22)

06 - Viet Cong: Viet Cong – 78,9 (27)

05 - Natalie Prass: Natalie Prass – 80,0 (15)

04 - Panda Bear: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper – 80,5 (27)

03 - Father John Misty: I Love You, Honeybear - 85,8 (24)

02 - Sleater-Kinney: No Cities To Love – 86,4 (30)

01 - Björk: Vulnicura – 86,4 (30)

[BleuPanda]

Numbers 2, 3, and 7 are perfectly distinguishable from my perspective.

[Henrik]

If possible, I think it would be good with two colours that represent positive and negative.

[Otisredding]

But we need three colors. Pink, orange and purple (or blue?).
blue to "entry"; pink to "improved", orange to "worsened", ...

[BleuPanda]

Thanks for the change!

[sonofsamiam]

Absolutely shocking to see Bjork ahead of Sleater-Kinney!

That's an unusual reaction -- I think the Bjork album is fantastic! And while S-K are certainly critical darlings, and their album is excellent, Bjork's seems more likely to be an all-time list type than No Cities to Love.

[Jackson]

Absolutely shocking to see Bjork ahead of Sleater-Kinney!

That's an unusual reaction -- I think the Bjork album is fantastic! And while S-K are certainly critical darlings, and their album is excellent, Bjork's seems more likely to be an all-time list type than No Cities to Love.

I'm not speaking in quality - actually I still need to listen to the Bjork album. The S-K album is ahead on both AnydecentMusic (8.7 to 8.3) and Metacritic (90 to 87), so I would have figured it was an easy #1 of the year so far. I'm sure the discrepancy is in international critics, who probably favor Bjork.

[Jirin]

Should I just pay for the damn Bjork album? I keep waiting for it to show up on Spotify. Maybe if I wait for the original release date.

Bjork is a critical darling. Just, Sleater-Kinney has had ten years retirement following a huge critically loved album, and Bjork hasn't had a critically loved album since Vespertine, so an odds maker would put the money on S-K.

[Matski]

If you're a fan of Björk's work, regardless whether that's only her pre-Medúlla output or everything since Debut, I'd say it's easily worth picking up. If you're not already a fan, you can check out her other releases online for free first.

[Maschine_Man]

I think what is most impressive about Vulnicura is that it incorporates the last 15+ years of Bjork's career. Where all her albums from Homogenic onward have their own distinct sound/flavor Vulnicura blends many of these elements/themes while still standing out as it's own album. This isn't surprising given the subject matter and the retrospective at MOMA (which was to coincide with the album release). I'll be interested how it goes in the end of year critics list. As long as women keep kicking ass, i'll be happy.

I wonder if Biophilia is in need of a bit of a re-evaluation now. Many of the songs on the album, with hindsight, hint at the breakup that would inspire Vulnicura. Though I think the biggest problem with the album was the inability for most people to interact with the whole "Biophilia app/science education/concert experience".

"Appreciate,
Build a bridge to her.
Initiate a touch
Before it's too late,
Say the words to her
That will make her shine.
Tell her that you love her.
Your generosity will show
In the volume of her glow."

Sacrifice

[Otisredding]

MCCh 2015 (03) February 28