My best/worst singles/albums of 2015 (add yours too)

[StrawberryBlond 14,828]

It's here - my annual list of the best and worst of last year. For those who don't know, I'm an amateur music reviewer (by the way, there's too much hassle in going pro, I'm happy doing this for free out of the love of music) and I've been making these lists on here for the last 2 years. Because a lot of people only listen to their favourites or only pay attention to the most popular artists, there's a lot of good things that slip under the radar, so I like to hope my thread alerts them to things they never even knew existed as well as give everyone an opportunity to share their own favourites and post their own lists. But understand that I never intend my word to be law - everyone's entitled to their own opinion and mine is no more than that. This is just how I choose to devote my spare time, so I just like to put the fruits of my labour out there.

This year's list is very within the lines, to say the least, which is unusual for me. I usually feature a good mixture of mainstream and indie but I don't know, I think mainstream's won this year and indie's let me down a bit or wasn't as good as I expected. There's a lot of surprising choices here. Suffice to say, this was a really bad year for music, in my mind. I had to put in so many lower ranked albums this year, it was so depressing. And picking out the worst singles was a nightmare because while there were a lot of terrible songs out there, most of them weren't being made into singles, so the biggest crime with singles this year is that they were just boring and separating boring from boring is a very hard task. With all that in mind, my list this year isn't as...sure. Even though I like my choices, I still don't feel quite comfortable with them. But I think it's just because there was such a lack of truly outstanding stuff this year that I'm left wanting. Bear in mind that the lower ranked songs and albums have the most minute difference between them. Please don't take offence if a favourite of yours is on the list, particularly if it's a single because they're all basically the same ranking anyway, especially the ones in the lower half. In all lists, it's only the top ten where massive distinction starts to come into play.

With that, here's my lists, half-spoilered for length. Please don't kill me if you don't agree with some choices!

Best Singles Of 2015

40. Janet Jackson - No Sleeep (feat. J. Cole)

39. Britney Spears & Iggy Azalea - Pretty Girls

38. Mark Ronson - Feel Right (feat. Mystikal)

37. Maddie + Tae - Shut Up And Fish

36. Leona Lewis - Fire Under My Feet

35. Little Mix - Black Magic

34. Halestorm - Amen

33. Sia - Alive

32. Melanie Martinez - Pity Party

31. Carly Rae Jepsen - I Really Like You

30. One Direction - Perfect

29. Little Mix - Love Me Like You

28. David Guetta - Hey Mama (feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack)

27. Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall

26. Carly Rae Jepsen - Your Type

25. A$AP Rocky - Everyday (feat. Rod Stewart, Miguel & Mark Ronson)

24. Carrie Underwood - Smoke Break

23. Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

22. Charlie Puth - Marvin Gaye (feat. Meghan Trainor)

21. The Weeknd - Earned It

20. Carrie Underwood - Heartbeat

19. Fifth Harmony - Worth It (feat. Kid Ink)

18. Rachel Platten - Stand By You

17. Lana Del Rey - High By The Beach

16. Meghan Trainor - Dear Future Husband

15. Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money

14. Rachel Platten - Fight Song

13. Selena Gomez - Good For You

12. Eminem feat. Gwen Stefani - Kings Never Die

11. Florence + The Machine - What Kind Of Man
 

Spoiler

 

10. Taylor Swift - Wildest Dreams

09. Adele - Hello

08. Lana Del Rey - Music To Watch Boys To

07. David Bowie - Lazarus

06. Demi Lovato - Confident

05. Halestorm - Apocalyptic

04. Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer

03. Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

02. Rihanna - American Oxygen

01. Brandon Flowers - Can't Deny My Love

 

 

Worst Singles of 2015

40. The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face

39. Kacey Musgraves - Dime Store Cowgirl

38. Chris Brown - Zero

37. The Vamps - Wake Up

36. Big Sean - Play No Games (feat. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign)

35. Grimes - Flesh Without Blood

34. Duran Duran - Pressure Off (feat. Janelle Monae & Nile Rogers)

33. Jason Derulo - Want To Want Me

32. Hurts - Lights

31. Snoop Dogg - So Many Pros

30. R. Kelly - Switch Up (feat. Lil Wayne & Jeremih)

29. OMI - Hula Hoop

28. Marina And The Diamonds - Blue

27. The Corrs - Bring On The Night

26. Years & Years - Shine

25. Roisin Murphy - Exploitation

24. OMI - Cheerleader

23. Meghan Trainor - Better When I'm Dancin'

22. Chris Brown & Tyga - Bitches N' Marijuana

21. Roisin Murphy - Evil Eyes

20. Rixton - We All Want The Same Thing

19. Ty Dolla $ign - Drop That Kitty (feat. Charli XCX & Tinashe)

18. Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

17. Miley Cyrus - Dooo It!

16. Justin Bieber - Sorry

15. Future - Rich $ex

14. 5 Seconds Of Summer - She's Kinda Hot

13. John Newman - Come And Get It

12. Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?

11. Future - F**k Up Some Commas
 

Spoiler

 

10. Taylor Swift - Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

09. Justin Bieber - Love Yourself

08. Rihanna - FourFiveSeconds (feat. Kanye West & Paul McCartney)

07. Madonna - Bitch I'm Madonna (feat. Nicki Minaj)

06. Maroon 5 - Feelings

05. Fetty Wap - My Way feat. Monty

04. Future - Blow A Bag

03. Fetty Wap - Trap Queen

02. Pentatonix - Can't Sleep Love

01. Psy - Daddy (feat. CL)

 

 

Best Albums of 2015

20. Muse - Drones  3/5

19. Janet Jackson - Unbreakable  3/5

18. Nate Ruess - Grand Romantic  3/5

17. Marilyn Manson - The Pale Emperor   3/5

16. James Bay - Chaos And The Calm  3/5

15. One Direction - Made In The A.M.  3/5

14. Kacey Musgrves - Pageant Material  3/5

13. Adele - 25  3/5

12. Maddie + Tae - Start Here  3.5/5

11. The Weeknd - Beauty Behind The Madness  3.5/5
 

Spoiler

 

10. Little Mix - Get Weird  3.5/5

09. Dr. Dre - Compton  3.5/5

08. Melanie Martinez - Cry Baby  3.5/5

07. Joss Stone - Water For Your Soul  3.5/5

06. Carly Rae Jepsen - E*MO*TION  3.5/5

05. Halestorm - Into The Wild Life  3.5/5

04. Halsy - Badlands  3.5/5 (deluxe version included would have made it 4/5)

03. Carrie Underwood - Storyteller  4/5

02. Demi Lovato - Confident  4/5

01. Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon  5/5

 

 

Worst Albums Of 2015

20. Justin Bieber - Purpose  2/5

19. Chris Brown - Royalty  2/5

18. Giorgio Moroder - Deja Vu  2/5

17. Kid Rock - First Kiss  2/5

16. John Newman - Revolve  2/5

15. Ben Haenow - Ben Haenow  1.5/5

14. Lil Wayne - Free Weezy Album  1.5/5

13. Years & Years - Communion  1.5/5

12. Hilary Duff - Breathe In. Breath Out.  1/5

11. Jess Glynne - I Cry When I Laugh  1/5
 

Spoiler

 

10. Roisin Murphy - Hairless Toys  1/5

09. Bjork - Vulnicura  1/5

08. Tyler, The Creator - Cherry Bomb  1/5

07. Future - DS2  1/5

06. The Corrs - White Light  1/5

05. Rixton - Let The Road  1/5

04. Snoop Dogg - Bush  1/5

03. Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise  1/5

02. R. Kelly - The Buffet  1/5

01. Fetty Wap - Fetty Wap  0.5/5

 

 

So, there we have it. As you can see, a very odd year, by my standards. A lot of mainstream stuff, especially in singles. But I'm proud to say the genres are quite diverse this year in the best of category. Pop, rap, rock, RnB, world, even country! I have never featured a country album on a best of list and I had 3 this year, so things are looking up for that genre in my eyes. I hope no one interprets my lack of black artists and an overabundance of them in the worst of category as anything malicious - it was just the way it worked out and I hope next year will be better. Obviously, I can't provide an explanation for everything or it would take too long but if there's any single or album you want to ask my reasons for ranking it so, just let me know. And if any of your favourites aren't here or there's just a song/album you want my opinion on as to why it didn't make the lists, let me know. I've listened to over 100 albums this year, so it might be there, unless it's super indie! I hope this is the worst year I've experienced in music for a while and 2016 will get better - already there's promising artists due to release. But for now, understand that this list was very difficult to compile and rank. But I hope you enjoy reading it nevertheless!

Agree? Disagree? Post your own personalised lists if you want.

[Blade 5,603]

I feel like you should add "Focus" by Ariana Grande to worst songs and this comes from a huge fan of hers. I sometimes even bop to that song but yeah....it's a bad song imo.

 

I agree with the rest!

[Gohan 16,413]

"06. Demi Lovato - Confident

04. Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer"

"02. Demi Lovato - Confident  4/5"

Slay me!!!!!!

[ARTPOPisaChoice 946]

My Top 5 Albums of 2015

#5 : E•MO•TION - Carly Rae Jepsen

#4 : FROOT - Marina & The Diamonds 

#3 : How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful - Florence + The Machine 

#2 : Blurryface - twenty one pilots 

#1 : Art Angels - Grimes 

My Top Singles of 2015

"In The Night" - The Weeknd 

"Glass & Patron" - FKA twigs 

"Can't Deny My Love" - Brandon Flowers 

"World Princess Part II" - Grimes 

"Ship To Wreck" - Florence + The Machine 

"Heavydirtysoul" - twenty one pilots 

"Roman Holiday" - Halsey 

"E•MO•TION" - Carly Rae Jepsen 

"Can't Pin Me Down" - Marina & The Diamonds 

"Sippy Cup" - Melanie Martinez

"Cool For The Summer" - Demi Lovato

[PabloDaBlowfish 428]

11 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

02. Rihanna - American Oxygen

 

11 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

09. Bjork - Vulnicura  1/5

cool. don't do year end lists ever again though

[Mister Gaga 22,897]

What a job to analyze all that music  i enjoyed reading your choices, although i don't agree with some of them (Demi is way too high imo). Where's TIHTY?  

[Rocketno10 2,062]

Best album: how big how blue how beautiful, honeymoon, froot, art angel, Me, Architech, ESKA, Carrie and Lowell 

Ok album: blue neighborhood, revival, emotion, badland, crybaby

 

[ManuelColon 702]

Vulnicura 1/5. Okay, bye.

[Ferrer Zorola 3,966]

In my opinion, the best singles of 2015 were:

17. Selena Gomez: same old love
16. Madonna & Nicki Minaj: bitch I'm Madonna
15. Demi Lovato: cool for the summer
14. The Weeknd: earned it
13. Ariana Grande: one last time
12. Selena Gomez: good for you
11. Jason Derulo: want to want me
10. Ariana Grande: focus
9. Taylor Swift: wildest dreams
8. The Weeknd: can't feel my face
7. Taylor Swift: style
6. The Weeknd: the hills
5. David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack: hey mama
4. Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar: bad blood
3. Adele: hello
2. Major Lazer, DJ Snake & Mø: lean on
1. Lady Gaga: til it happens to you

Spoiler

til it happens to you and focus are my favorite songs right now 

 

[Riot Poof 2,236]

Poor Vulnicura. I know it's just your opinion, but oh my goodness. That was my #1 of 2015. 

[Bio 23,538]

Loool not Pretty Girls, Confident and American Oxygen being on the best list and Blue, Vulnicura and Shine on the worst.

[Prismatic 4,789]

Best Album

1. Emotion

2. Art Angel

3. Vulnicura

4. Honeymoon 

5. Rebel Heart

[Cameltoe Chariot 15,153]

lol at "Confident" by Poot Lovato being higher than Adele's "Hello" 

[SirLudicopro 1,351]

Keep doing what you're doing hun, but this list seems kind of biased to me. You seem to be Lana fan, which I respect, but you can't just give an album a 5/5 because it's your fave's. Every album has flaws. ARTPOP slayed my life, but I wouldn't go as far as giving it 5/5. The Fame Monster is a goddamn masterpiece with 8 outstanding songs, but it still does not deserve a 5/5 because that kind of perfection is not really attainable. Still, good job, you seem to have put a lot of work and time into this list.

Also... Pretty Girls in the top 40 best singles?... Really? I am not a professional whatsoever, but I'm pretty sure that objectively speaking, it is a known fact that that song's lyrics and composition are not exactly good.

[PabloDaBlowfish 428]

10 hours ago, CameltoeKween said:

lol at "Confident" by Poot Lovato being higher than Adele's "Hello" 

Which is accurate.