TranscendNoise

80. The Weeknd – Wasted Times (My Dear Melancholy,) The old mixtape Weeknd will never return, but his moody craft is still within the work of My Dear Melancholy and tracks like "Wasted Times". Heartbreak and a darker mindset are what made the Weeknd, not simply being drugged out and lustful. Here we get the best of both worlds. A springy and dynamic instrumental removed from all syrupy smugness and a spiteful and boasting Abel switching between hurting and being hurt. Amidst the poppy vibe, the dark tone of the track might be lost, but with The Weeknd´s voice and his powerful outro of “I don´t want to wake up / if you ain´t laying next to me” the strength of his sadness is as striking as in 2011. 79. Steven Julien – Roll Of The Dice (Bloodline) Apart from many themes and inspirations running through Bloodline , “Roll Of The Dice” is a beauty for its glowing love for 808 drums. Transcending a pure homage, Steven Julien unpacks the bumping and trippy...

50. Mothers – When You Walk A Long Distance You Get Tired // Graveyard Lovers – Past The Forest Of The Fruitless Thoughts For the first spot, I couldn´t help myself and decided to let two records take the merit. There isn´t that much similarity between Mothers debut album and Graveyard Lovers sophomore release, musically. Mothers take a route of silent disruption and diminutive vulnerability, while GL change between subversive sucker punches against the system and introspective anecdotes and encounters of personal growth. Yet, they both share the spirit of thought-provoking rock / folk music, neither of them play music solely for entertainment purposes or to create music that just sounds good. The instrumental choices of both bands are reflected in their musical messages. In When You Walk , you´ll get the forlorn opener “Too Small For Eyes”, sounding almost like sung in solitude, more for Leschper herself, then for a crowd or microphone for that matter. But Mothers will step...

80. Isaiah Rashad – 4r Da Squaw ( The Sun´s Tirade ) A kid to take care of, the pressure of releasing an album on the same roster as Schoolboy and Kendrick and the undertow of addiction are what made Rashad piece together one of the most recognizable rap albums of this year. “4r Da Squaw” shows his lyrical capabilities mixed with his astonishing cadence and flow. He goes from scatting and muffling his word into transforming played-out lines like “finding the message in a bottle” into something profound, while also giving off the vibe of singing a lullaby for his son and giving thanks for his success. Getting the bills paid is a first and the struggles of being a father, whilst still growing up yourself makes for a ton of issues, but maybe also for the creativity and playfulness to make Rashad the rapper he is.  79. Graveyard Lovers – Told A Lie ( Past the Forest of the Fruitless Thoughts ) After three years we finally got a new album by the Graveyard Lovers an...

Before the numbered lists start, I present to you my honorable mentions of 2015. All the tracks that are worth being listened to, but didn´t make the final cut. A simple alphabetic order and one sentence to get you hooked. Enjoy and stay tuned for the real deal. As this year was packed with great releases, expect to be blown away. So in the spirit of 2015: A$AP Rocky – Canal Street feat. Bones ( AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP ) As Rocky presents himself and his persona, there isn´t much sadness and grit. But by A.L.L.A , it exists. Akisai – Sicilienne ( Images ) A dreamy ballad, think Studio Ghibli and tender emotions. (A snippet of Sicilienne starts around 0.47) Alpines – Up For Air ( Yuck ) Straightforward drum beat muzzled through a crashing of layered vocals full of longing. Andrea – Without You ( Black Magic ) Not a big year for trap infused beat music, but Andrea knows how to keep it solid and banging. href =...