I can't explain how excited I was to finally see Seasick Steve live this year. He the definition of cool. I love his creativity and uniqueness. He is like a crinkly little Rock 'n Roll Yoda. Sonic Soul Surfer is a great album, very different to his previous releases. It's eclectic, with a wide variety of different styles across the album. Opener Roy's Gang, is a big fat stomper of a track, played on a one-string washboard. There's plenty of slide-guitar rock tracks, but Steve's vocals really stand out in the softer songs, such as In Peaceful Dreams. His rasping and emotive vocals really compliment the melodies here. Cracking album that makes me want to sit in the sun with a beer, fuck you winter.
Favourite Tracks: Swamp Dog, In Peaceful Dreams, Roy's Gang.
2. Clutch- Psychic Warfare
Psychic Warfare is just a kick-ass album from start to finish. Big fat riffs, snarling bluesy guitars and Neil Fallon's awesome vocals all compliment each other perfectly. But the thing that makes Psychic Warfare stand out is the songwriting. This is a set of really strong tracks, that work well as an album and as individual songs.
X-Ray Visions is such an ear-worm and has been in my head constantly since first listen. I already liked Clutch, but this is a proper stand out album.
Favourite Tracks: Sucker for the Witch, A Quick Death in Texas, X-Ray Visions.
1. Ghost- Meliora
Meliora is just magnificent and so addictive. Weirdly, I wasn't won over on the first listen. It was only until a few days later, when I was trying to figure out what song I had been humming to myself constantly and realised it was opening track Spirit. Then I re-visited the album... then I re-visited it again... and again and again. I can't explain how many times I have binge-listened to it now. Every single track is good. Even my least favourite song on the album, (probably Mummy Dust,) is still great (even better live). Ghost are a refreshingly unique band anyway, with their infamous stage-shows, but this album brings out the best in them musically. There's such a mix of styles going on. It sounds like somebody put Abba, Alice in Chains, The Beatles and The Sisters of Mercy in a blender.
This is basically the world's scariest looking pop-band and I love it.
Favourite Tracks: He is, Absolution, From the Pinnacle to the Pit.
What were your favourite albums of 2015?