The BEST Albums of 2015

Following up from our Best sheBOPS of 2015 post, we bring you a selection of just some of this year’s greatest albums.

1. Dawn Richard – Blackheart

I have made many attempts to try and describe Dawn’s music, but I always come up pretty speechless. Then again, Dawn tends to have that effect on me. To label Dawn Richard as a unique artist is a severe understatement. There genuinely is nobody else making music like her. Blackheart is career-defining work and a truly phenomenal experience from start to finish. From the explosive “Calypso” and bittersweet “Warriors”, to the melancholic “Swim Free” and hauntingly introspective ballad “The Deep”, Blackheart demonstrated that in a world of throwaway radio hits, the album format is still very much alive. It is a legitimate and sincere body of work. The best part is, Dawn Richard is an independent artist. Know what that means? There’re no major label agendas here, just one woman pouring out her heart and the “little soul” she has left. If “James Dean” and “Dance” are anything to go by, Dawn’s upcoming follow-up The Red Era could be even better. If possible. Shine on, Miss Dawn!

Standout tracks – “Calypso”, “Warriors”, “Blackheart (Outro)”

2. BoA – Kiss My Lips

Iconic and legendary Korean singer BoA delivered to us her eighth studio album, to mark her 15^th year in the business. In an industry that is virtually a hit pumping factory, 15 years of success is unheard of. Yet here BoA is, still releasing outstanding pop music and generating buzz worthy comebacks. Slay! Compared to the aegyo doo-wop trend currently overpowering K-pop, BoA bucked the trends with the risky title track, comprising of slinky synths, mellow guitars and thumping bass. It showed in the song’s chart performance, which sold a ~modest~ (read – terrible) 128,000 digital copies and peaked at 18 on the GAON charts. Unfortunately, the album’s buzz track and radio friendly “Who Are You” sold triple the amount and peaked at 3 on the charts, demonstrating that perhaps Korea isn’t quite ready for BoA’s Blackheart era just yet. That shouldn’t deter her though, as Kiss My Lips is one of her strongest and most creative albums to date.

Standout tracks – “Kiss My Lips”, “Shattered”, “Fox”

3. Demi Lovato – Confident

Confident is the fifth studio album from Poot Lovato’s more successful sister Demi, and was fronted by the edgy lead single “Cool for the Summer”. Featuring Demi’s best tracks to date (such as the reflective banger “Old Ways” and “Father”, a heart-wrenching ode to her deceased father) Confident spotlighted Demi’s powerhouse vocals and triumphant victory against addiction issues, which had plagued her over the last few years. Unfortunately, the album seemed to be dwarfed by a slew of Internet memes, like “delete it fat” and the “vagina flick” story. Most infamously was “Poot Lovato” (the far-fetched fiction that Demi’s secret basement sister had escaped) making Time magazine’s Most Influential list. Piled on top of these memes were fan accounts painting Demi as less than accommodating at Meet and Greets plus plagiarism and scamming accusations. The best music of her career had been forgotten. People weren’t talking about it. Much like how I’m doing right now. Demi’s solution? Absolutely slay her song “Stone Cold” at the Women in Music awards, stunning the crowd and silencing haters across the world. As she chants on “Waitin’ For You”, Demi “only gets stronger, she only bites harder”.

Standout tracks – “Cool for the Summer”, “Wildfire”, “Father”

Due to unforeseen circumstances, comments for the rest of these albums will not be making an appearance. Do not let this affect your perception of them though. They’re all thoroughly entertaining, with their own respective highs and lows. Give them a shot if you haven’t already, you won’t regret it.

• LOVE TRiCKY – Ai Otsuka
• Collxtion I – Allie X
• Heart Attack – AOA
• Undress – BENI
• Basic – Brown Eyed Girls
• E•MO•TION – Carly Rae Jepsen
• #AndSeeThatsTheThing EP – DeJ Loaf
• Pırlanta – Demet Akalın
• 4 Walls – f(x)
• BLACK LABEL – Fiestar
• Hawwah – Gain
• Breathe In. Breathe Out. – Hilary Duff
• The Gift Rap EP – Honey Cocaine
• Wonderland – Honey the Hippie
• A+ – HyunA
• No Romeo – Indiana
• Unbreakable – Janet Jackson
• Reality Show – Jazmine Sullivan
• Fantasia – Jun Hyo Seong
• Emotionally Unavailable – Justine Skye
• Roxbury Drive – Kat Graham
• &I – Kate Havnevik
• You Should Be Here – Kehlani
• WALK OF MY LIFE – Koda Kumi
• Honeymoon – Lana Del Rey
• Simple Mind – Lim Kim
• Working Girl – Little Boots
• Hello – Lyrica Anderson
• Rebel Heart – Madonna
• Hey Hey – Mapei
• Beyond the Basics – Maya Vik
• Cry Baby – Melanie Martinez
• The Waiting Game – Mila J
• Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz – Miley Cyrus
• Ego – MINMI
• February 15^th EP – NAO
• DRAMA – Nine Muses
• 9MUSES S/S EDITION – Nine Muses
• Rub – Peaches
• Revival – Selena Gomez
• Taxidermy – Sharon Needles
• Calling All Lovers – Tamar Braxton
• Unbreakable Smile – Tori Kelly
• Nightmares and Lullabies Part 2 – Victoria Monet
• Reboot – Wonder Girls
• BLUE – Yumi Shizukusa

… And none for Adele. Bye!