Belleza Moda’s 20 Best Albums of 2015 – Part I

What a year 2015 was and what a year 2016 promises to be!

Now that the holiday festivities including all our Christmas eating and New Year’s Eve partying have slowly but officially become embers of our past, we take this opportunity to celebrate the best 2015 had to offer in the world of music.

With an entire array of albums we could not get enough of, compiling a shortlist of our essential favourites was not an easy task by any means. Therefore, I take this moment to recognize efforts from Tame Impala, Ta-Ku, FKA Twigs, Majid Jordan, Vince Staples,  Big Sean, The Internet, Rae Sremmurd, CHVRCHΞS and Kehlani as truly outstanding pieces of art (albums and EPs) that we unfortunately had to eliminate bearing a heavy heart.

Without further ado, here’s presenting Part I of Belleza Moda’s Favourite Albums of 2015.

Photo: Rolling Stone

20. Adele – 25 | XL
After taking the world by storm with 21, Adele waited four long years before releasing 25. To be exact, the music world waited for 1761 days to receive new material from the British crooner. However, with 25 possessing grand quality ranging from 80s balladry to classic gospel and blues, all is forgiven Mrs. Adkins; just don’t make us wait another four years for the next one. Please.

Album Highlight: “When We Were Young”

 

Photo: Rolling Stone

19. Nate Ruess – Grand Romantic | Fueled by Ramen 
High off winning two Grammys in 2013, fun. decided to embark on an extended hiatus. This solo effort from fun frontman Nate Ruess is as catchy as it epic. You simply cannot help but admire Nate’s romantic fervor on the entire album especially on his more vulnerable tracks in “Take It Back” and “Grand Romantic”. The album further shows that musical hiatuses are not the worst thing in the world after all.

Album Highlight: “Nothing Without Love“

 

Photo: EMI Music

18. Troye Sivan – Blue Neighbourhood | EMI
Troye Sivan – A name the music world is bound to hear a lot of in the years to come. The Aussie’s debut album captures our ears with his sultry vocals and electronic production while capturing our hearts with his truthful and vulnerable lyrics. Troye Sivan has successfully gone from famous YouTube vlogger to international recording artist with Blue Neighbourhood and the North American and European tour that has soon followed.

Album Highlight: “Wild“
 

Photo: Rolling Stone

17. Mumford & Sons – Wilder Mind | Island
On Wilder Mind, AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine notes, “now that everybody else sounds like Mumford & Sons, Mumford & Sons decide to sound like everybody else.” Odd for some including Erlewine, electric guitars replacing their banjos felt like a natural and welcome transition for us. With guitar-oriented instrumentation serving as the backbone of the album, Wilder Mind highlighted why the Londoners are still one of the biggest bands in the world today.

Album Highlight: “Just Smoke” // “The Wolf“

Photo: Consequence of Sound

16. Jack Ü – Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü | Atlantic
Two EDM powerhouses came together to give us a whole album filled with dance-floor fillers and there was absolutely nothing wrong with that. While the Bieber track received all the plaudits and radio airplay possible for a heavenly drop like none others before , the Kiesza and AlunaGeorge features highlight the album’s production value and just how far Skrillex and Diplo have come from their early days. That being said…

Album Highlight: “Where Are Ü Now” feat. Biebs

Hope you’ve enjoyed Part I and tune in tomorrow for Part II: 15 – 11!

“I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring.” – David Bowie; Rest in Peace Ziggy.

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