The Music Ramble is the monthly music blog of Erik Ritland. The St. Paul, Minnesota journalist and musician is the founder of Rambling On. Learn more about us on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or our website.
Although sometimes I despair that this isn't the case, there was plenty of good music released in 2015 if you knew where to find it. The Rambling On Top 20 albums of 2015 goes beneath the surface of most music blogs and magazines, skipping over trendy picks like Tame Impala, Sufjan Stevens, Jason Isbell, Adele, and Kendrick Lamar (who have all gotten far beyond their due already).
Instead we feature a diverse amount of albums (many of which have been unduly ignored) from a diverse spectrum, including legendary rock stars, blues, punk, country, and more.
20. Don Henley – Cass County
It's easy to accuse Don Henley of attempting to cash in on the popularity of country music with Cass County. Two problems with that theory: country music today has no place for the more traditional country/rock approach of the album, and he was a huge influence on the genre from the time of his early work with the Eagles. As such, this isn't so much a cash in as it is a return to form. Henley brings Tift Merritt's beautiful "Bramble Rose" outside of her smaller audience with some interesting help from Mick Jagger. The highlights come from the more traditional duets, though, with Merle Haggard helping out on the weepy old school country of "The Cost of Living" and Dolly Parton singing her heart out on classic "When I Stop Dreaming." The poppier, more palatable songs ("Words Can Break Your Heart," "That Old Flame") are a bit less interesting.
19. Keith Richards – Crosseyed Heart
Check out our full review here.
Between dates with the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards found time to release a somewhat surprisingly strong set of blues, rock, soul, and boogie woogie. He sounds as comfortable channeling the Stones on tracks like "Amnesia," "Trouble," and "Blues in the Morning" as he does branching out on reggae flavored "Long Overdue," jazzy "Illusion," and a fun cover of Leadbelly's "Goodnight Irene."
18. Jonathan Rundman – Look Up
Look Up is something of a departure for Twin Cities songwriter Jonathan Rundman. Instead of his usual mix of pop, rock, and folk the album finds him embracing one of his first musical loves: 80s synth pop. Layers of spacey synths and fuzzed out guitars make for his best, most interesting album sonically, and the warm production fits his voice better than any of his previous releases. Most of the songs are fun and melodic ("Prioritize Us," "Northbound Traffic," "Helicopters of Love") and the tender, mature folk of "Home Unknown" finds Rundman at his pure songwriting best.
17. David Gilmour – Rattle That Lock
Check out our full review here.
Unlike his last solo album, 2006's On an Island, it actually sounds like David Gilmour is trying on Rattle That Lock. It's not that On An Island was bad, it just sounded like it was written and recorded on a yacht in his spare time (which it was) instead of conceived as an actual album. Rattle That Lock is more creative and varied in sounds, including the fun funk of the title track, the lounge jazz of "The Girl in the Yellow Dress," and Meddle-ish Richard Wright tribute "A Boat Lies Waiting." The highlight of the album is "In Any Tongue," a big, dark, classic Pink Floyd sounding song in the vein of "High Hopes" and "On the Turning Away." More than the best song here, it's easily one of the best of 2015.
16. The Wollen Men – Temporary Monument
Check out our full review here.
Temporary Monument is the third strong album from Portland mid-fi indie punk band the Wollen Men. Masters of short, catchy songs that are reckless without quite falling off the tracks ("Life in Hell," "Alien City," "The Desert," "The Wheel"), they can also be strongly melodic ("University," "On Cowardice").
15. Charlie Parr – Stumpjumper
Recorded in one day at his friends studio in North Carolina, Stumpjumper is a mature step forward for Twin Cities folk bluesman Charlie Parr. It has the fullest sound of any of his albums, most songs recorded with a trio that backs his country blues admirably. Guitars, banjo, and even drums add another dimension to stompers like "Empty Out Your Pockets" and "Frank Miller Blues." His songwriting is still rooted in deep folk blues but also has a fullness and richness that match the setting. We discuss the album and more on our exclusive interview with Parr.
14. Built to Spill – Untethered Moon
Built to Spill are one of the most consistent bands to come out of the '90s rock scene (even if they never had a hit). Every few years they release a new album of guitar heavy, blistering indie rock, and Untethered Moon doesn't disappoint. Hypnotic layers of dirty, distorted guitars are at the forefront of the album, and are especially stunning on murky "All Our Songs" and wild "Living Zoo." The band really lets loose on 8+ minute album ending "When I'm Blind."
13. Left Lane Cruiser – Dirty Spliff Blues
Check out our full review here.
Although all their records are worth listening to if you dig filthy hill country blues, Dirty Spliff Blues propels Left Lane Cruiser into a completely different stratosphere. It is somehow grittier than anything they’ve ever done, partially due to the addition of Joe Bent on bass (which they hadn’t had prior) and skateboard slide guitar. The manic solos on "Tres Borrachos," "Tangled up in Bush," and the aptly titled “Skateboard Blues” prove that the instrument is more than a novelty.
12. Gary Clark Jr. – The Story of Sonny Boy Slim
Check out our full review here.
Gary Clark Jr. continues the diverse, exploratory nature of his debut album Black and Blu with its follow up The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. Instead of relying solely on flashy guitar work, or sticking to ordinary blues/rock, he incorporates a variety of sources and sounds to fine effect. There are shades of Sly and the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, B.B. King, George Clinton, Robert Cray, Junior Kimbrough, Michael Jackson, and others.
Opening "The Healing" has a blues foundation but also features elements of soul, funk, and hip hop. The rest of the album touches on a similarly impressive array of Cosmic American Music. "Star," "Our Love," and "Cold Blooded" dip into deep funk and soul, "Church" is borderline folk/rock built around an unpredictable chord progression, and hypnotic "Shake" is straight up Junior Kimbrough.
11. Tommy Keene – Laugh in the Dark
Check out our full review here.
If anybody says that great pop songwriting is dead, tell them that Tommy Keene is still making albums. Laugh in the Dark is filled with catchy hooks and memorable melodies wrapped in a big, power pop wall of sound. Taking its cue from albums like Sgt. Pepper, there’s a cohesive sound and each track flows into the next without interruption. The bright jangle of "Out of my Mind," rocking Paul Westerberg-ish "All the Lights are Alive," and the sunny pop of "Last of the Twilight Girls” are each effortless. Maudlin "All Gone Away" is a classic epic album closer, led by spacey synths and swirling organ.
Check out our top 10 albums of the year here.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Recorded in one day at his friends studio in North Carolina, Stumpjumper is a mature step forward for Twin Cities folk bluesman Charlie Parr. It has the fullest sound of any of his albums, most songs recorded with a trio that backs his country blues admirably. Guitars, banjo, and even drums add another dimension to stompers like "Empty Out Your Pockets" and "Frank Miller Blues." His songwriting is still rooted in deep folk blues but also has a fullness and richness that match the setting. We discuss the album and more on our exclusive interview with Parr.
14. Built to Spill – Untethered Moon
Built to Spill are one of the most consistent bands to come out of the '90s rock scene (even if they never had a hit). Every few years they release a new album of guitar heavy, blistering indie rock, and Untethered Moon doesn't disappoint. Hypnotic layers of dirty, distorted guitars are at the forefront of the album, and are especially stunning on murky "All Our Songs" and wild "Living Zoo." The band really lets loose on 8+ minute album ending "When I'm Blind."
13. Left Lane Cruiser – Dirty Spliff Blues
Check out our full review here.
Although all their records are worth listening to if you dig filthy hill country blues, Dirty Spliff Blues propels Left Lane Cruiser into a completely different stratosphere. It is somehow grittier than anything they’ve ever done, partially due to the addition of Joe Bent on bass (which they hadn’t had prior) and skateboard slide guitar. The manic solos on "Tres Borrachos," "Tangled up in Bush," and the aptly titled “Skateboard Blues” prove that the instrument is more than a novelty.
12. Gary Clark Jr. – The Story of Sonny Boy Slim
Check out our full review here.
Gary Clark Jr. continues the diverse, exploratory nature of his debut album Black and Blu with its follow up The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. Instead of relying solely on flashy guitar work, or sticking to ordinary blues/rock, he incorporates a variety of sources and sounds to fine effect. There are shades of Sly and the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, B.B. King, George Clinton, Robert Cray, Junior Kimbrough, Michael Jackson, and others.
Opening "The Healing" has a blues foundation but also features elements of soul, funk, and hip hop. The rest of the album touches on a similarly impressive array of Cosmic American Music. "Star," "Our Love," and "Cold Blooded" dip into deep funk and soul, "Church" is borderline folk/rock built around an unpredictable chord progression, and hypnotic "Shake" is straight up Junior Kimbrough.
11. Tommy Keene – Laugh in the Dark
Check out our full review here.
If anybody says that great pop songwriting is dead, tell them that Tommy Keene is still making albums. Laugh in the Dark is filled with catchy hooks and memorable melodies wrapped in a big, power pop wall of sound. Taking its cue from albums like Sgt. Pepper, there’s a cohesive sound and each track flows into the next without interruption. The bright jangle of "Out of my Mind," rocking Paul Westerberg-ish "All the Lights are Alive," and the sunny pop of "Last of the Twilight Girls” are each effortless. Maudlin "All Gone Away" is a classic epic album closer, led by spacey synths and swirling organ.
Check out our top 10 albums of the year here.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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