This was a monumental year for music! A lot of artists brought out their best and gave us a hard time narrowing down noteworthy pieces. Nevertheless, here are our top picks of the year…
Mainstream Pick: Adele’s “25”
After a long hiatus in the music scene, the songstress/songwriter queen from the UK has come back with another masterpiece. The successor of the Grammy-winning album ‘21’ does not disappoint and delivers an even more emotionally satisfying track list – making you believe in the existence of heartfelt songwriting once again. Containing hit singles like early releases; ‘Hello’ and ‘When We Were Young’, it assures that your expectations are met. It is Adele we are talking about here everyone.
Indie Pick: Sleater – Kinney’s “No City To Love”
If you are looking for an album to recommend to your hipster crowd (or any crowd for that matter), Sleater-Kinney’s latest release is the way to go. The American rock band’s eighth studio album comes after a ten-year dry spell and is worth the wait, showcasing songs of reality and honesty. The lyrics are hard-hitting and the instrumentals provide an extra punch to the messaging. Be sure to watch out for the singles, ‘No Cities To Love’ and ‘Gimme Love’, they are conversation starters for sure.
Wildcard Picks:
Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”
Hard-hitting. Frank. Direct. Inspirational. Kendrick Lamar has outdone himself on his third studio album delivering hits like ‘Alright’, ‘The Blacker the Berry’ and I. If you want to get into the mind of a hip-hop legend in the making, this one’s for you.
Justin Bieber’s “Purpose”
Mature. Emotional. Personal. From puppy love songs to the “real stuff”, Justin Bieber has finally evolved into the artist that we always thought he could be. Having a more pop electronic genre compared to its predecessors, he maintains composure on his catchy songwriting with singles such as, ‘Sorry’, ‘The Feeling’, ‘What Do You Mean’ and ‘Love Yourself’. Let’s all raise a toast to Bieber – welcome to adulthood!
Pentatonix’s “Pentatonix”
Need a break from all the instruments, synthetic beats, etc.? Thanks to this Grammy-winning quintet this album is a refresher for the ears. A group famous for their acapella covers of hit songs, their self-titled album is now focused on original music, inspired by their own story as a group (though they kept a few covers in there for fans to fully enjoy their vocal prowess). First single release ‘Can’t Sleep Love’ is just the tip of the iceberg.
