Year in Rock 2015: Song of the Year Nominees (Part 1 of 5)
Typically a chance to take a breather from the year that had just passed and resolve to get through the winter while looking forward to some great albums in the spring, 2015 bucked that trend in grand fashion. From established artists releasing highly anticipated albums that met or exceeded expectations to hungry new artists looking to make their mark, the first quarter of 2015 provided an abnormally high amount of quality songs and albums. The tone was also set early with female-fronted projects that hit with force and built momentum for women in rock that carried through the rest of the year (I wrote about that here in April).
The first batch of Song of the Year nominees are:
THE DECEMBERISTS: A Beginning Song
From: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (Released January 20)
Moving further away from the highly conceptual storytelling of their early days and focusing in on a more mature brand of songcraft, The Decemberists put out another collection of beautiful songs this year, arguably none more beautiful and soaring than this.
MARILYN MANSON: Deep Six
From: The Pale Emperor (Released January 20)
While they should by rights be a footnote in music history by now, Marilyn Manson drew influence from new sources for The Pale Emperor, resulting in a rich, textured record. As Deep Six illustrates, though, there's still plenty of room for balls-out hard rock.
SLEATER-KINNEY: A New Wave
From: No Cities to Love (Released January 20)
What's better than a beloved alt/indie band returning after a decade-long absence? A beloved alt/indie band returning after a decade-long absence with the best record of their career.
SCREAMING FEMALES: Empty Head
From: Rose Mountain (Released February 24)
Making their music just a little more accessible with Rose Mountain, Screaming Females hit a real sweet spot with me this year. Raw, heavy and emotional, this is the sound of a band poised for a critical and commercial breakout.
TORCHE: Annihilation Affair
From: Restarter (Released February 24)
After slugging it out on smaller labels and building up a dedicated following, Torche signed to heavy music marquee label Relapse and proceeded to bring another dose of the thick grooves and pleasantly heavy metal that have set them apart from the pack.
CANCER BATS: True Zero
From: Searching for Zero (Released March 10)
Now five albums in, Cancer Bats have (not so) quietly established themselves as not just one of Canada's heaviest exports, but also one of our most dependable, album in album out. The slow and mean title track exhibits their songwriting chops and their brute force in equal measure.
MODEST MOUSE: Lampshades On Fire
From: Strangers to Ourselves (Released March 17)
Continuing their run of major label weirdness, Modest Mouse couldn't please everybody with the long awaited Strangers to Ourselves; but, as far as lead singles go, it's hard to be the off-kilter groove of Lampshades On Fire.
JOEL PLASKETT: Credits Roll
From: The Park Avenue Sobriety Test (Released March 17)
Joel Plaskett doesn't know how to make a bad record, and The Park Avenue Sobriety Test is no exception. His charming brand of homegrown rock and roll is true to his east coast roots while infusing melodies and chops that resonate from coast to coast.
COURTNEY BARNETT: Pedestrian At Best
From: Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Released March 24)
She took her time to make her full-length debut, but what a debut it was. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is impressive, bombastic and effortlessly charming. No song on the LP shows these qualities off quite like Pedestrian At Best.
DEAD SARA: Mona Lisa
From: Pleasure to Meet You (Released March 31)
It's been a good year for Dead Sara. After their major label chickened out of releasing their second album, they did it themselves, kicked all our asses and signed with another major label who, I assume, sees what the rest of us do: Dead Sara are one of the most exciting bands to emerge this decade.
Come back for more nominees next Monday.
The first batch of Song of the Year nominees are:
THE DECEMBERISTS: A Beginning Song
From: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (Released January 20)
Moving further away from the highly conceptual storytelling of their early days and focusing in on a more mature brand of songcraft, The Decemberists put out another collection of beautiful songs this year, arguably none more beautiful and soaring than this.
MARILYN MANSON: Deep Six
From: The Pale Emperor (Released January 20)
While they should by rights be a footnote in music history by now, Marilyn Manson drew influence from new sources for The Pale Emperor, resulting in a rich, textured record. As Deep Six illustrates, though, there's still plenty of room for balls-out hard rock.
SLEATER-KINNEY: A New Wave
From: No Cities to Love (Released January 20)
What's better than a beloved alt/indie band returning after a decade-long absence? A beloved alt/indie band returning after a decade-long absence with the best record of their career.
SCREAMING FEMALES: Empty Head
From: Rose Mountain (Released February 24)
Making their music just a little more accessible with Rose Mountain, Screaming Females hit a real sweet spot with me this year. Raw, heavy and emotional, this is the sound of a band poised for a critical and commercial breakout.
TORCHE: Annihilation Affair
From: Restarter (Released February 24)
After slugging it out on smaller labels and building up a dedicated following, Torche signed to heavy music marquee label Relapse and proceeded to bring another dose of the thick grooves and pleasantly heavy metal that have set them apart from the pack.
CANCER BATS: True Zero
From: Searching for Zero (Released March 10)
Now five albums in, Cancer Bats have (not so) quietly established themselves as not just one of Canada's heaviest exports, but also one of our most dependable, album in album out. The slow and mean title track exhibits their songwriting chops and their brute force in equal measure.
MODEST MOUSE: Lampshades On Fire
From: Strangers to Ourselves (Released March 17)
Continuing their run of major label weirdness, Modest Mouse couldn't please everybody with the long awaited Strangers to Ourselves; but, as far as lead singles go, it's hard to be the off-kilter groove of Lampshades On Fire.
JOEL PLASKETT: Credits Roll
From: The Park Avenue Sobriety Test (Released March 17)
Joel Plaskett doesn't know how to make a bad record, and The Park Avenue Sobriety Test is no exception. His charming brand of homegrown rock and roll is true to his east coast roots while infusing melodies and chops that resonate from coast to coast.
COURTNEY BARNETT: Pedestrian At Best
From: Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (Released March 24)
She took her time to make her full-length debut, but what a debut it was. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit is impressive, bombastic and effortlessly charming. No song on the LP shows these qualities off quite like Pedestrian At Best.
DEAD SARA: Mona Lisa
From: Pleasure to Meet You (Released March 31)
It's been a good year for Dead Sara. After their major label chickened out of releasing their second album, they did it themselves, kicked all our asses and signed with another major label who, I assume, sees what the rest of us do: Dead Sara are one of the most exciting bands to emerge this decade.
Come back for more nominees next Monday.
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