Five Albums You May Have Not Heard in 2015: Tyler Hodg

By Tyler Hodg

Every year, certain albums fly under the radar despite their worth. It’s impossible to get around to listening to everything, so I’ve compiled a small list of my favorite records released in 2015 that deserve to be looked at more closely.

Coheed and Cambria, The Color Before the Sun
Call me biased, but I can’t write a list without Coheed and Cambria on it. The once prog-rock band has transformed into something a bit more commercial, but succeeds in keeping the essence of what the group is. This year saw the band releasing The Color Before the Sun, their first studio album not featuring the sci-fi storyline that ran through their entire catalogue. The decision was generally met with applause from fans, as was the music itself.

Key Tracks:
“Island”
“You Got Spirit, Kid”
“The Audience”

Wordburglar, Rapplicable Skills
Toronto hip-hop artist Wordburglar released what very well may be my favorite album of the year. A unique blend of humorous and hard-hitting rhymes makes Rapplicable Skills a necessity for all music fans. From top to bottom, every track on the album sits on the same level, and Wordburglar’s flow is impeccable throughout its entirety.

Key Tracks:
“Word The Frig Up”
“Sentenced To Phrase”
“Narc Hi-Score [In Nintendo Power]”

The Darkness, Last of Our Kind
The fourth album from The Darkness is easily the worst of their career, but still a favorable offering. The band is so much more than Justin Hawkins’ voice, which is obviously what most remember about the band. Last of Our Kind is a straightforward rock’n’roll album with a few surprises sprinkled in.

Key Tracks:
“Mudslide”
“Mighty Wings”
“Last of Our Kind”

Ella Squirrell, Loop
There is one major flaw with Ella Squirrell’s Loop: it’s too short. Hopefully a full-length album is on the way from the English artist, but in the meantime, let’s all enjoy what we do have. The soulful EP blends jazz, pop and rock into one blended genre that isn’t easy to describe, but easy to listen to.

Key Tracks:
“Quiet Fire”
“Loop”
“Trust Is a White Dove”
“Trouble”

Bill Fay, Who is the Sender?
Bill Fay’s Who is the Sender? is nothing short of a masterpiece. A gentle, yet haunting sway floats across the entire album, leaving the listener in a reflective state. It’s not enough to be told about this audible treasure, you have to hear it for yourself. Bill Fay isn’t exactly a household name, so if you’ve never heard him, do yourself a favour and take this advice: listen to Who is the Sender?.

Key Tracks:
“War Machine”
“Who is the Sender?”
“World of Life”