2015 Favorite Songs - Summa Cum Laude (top ten)

#10 Ship to Wreck by Florence + The Machine


#9 High by Zella Day


#8 Go by Gracie and Rachel


#7 Authority by Genevieve


#6 New Americana by Halsey


#5 Woman by Joy Williams


#4 Shadow Preachers by Zella Day


#3 Blood by ARCHIS


#2 Mayhem by Halestorm


#1 Used to be Mine by Sara Bareilles

2015 Favorite Songs - Magna Cum Laude

#25 -tie Written in Water by Gin Wigmore


#25 -tie Desire by Meg Myers


#24 Ghost by Ella Henderson


#23 Glow by Ella Henderson


#22 Oh My My by Little May


#21 Remedy by Adele (sorry once again, nothing to link to )

#20 Undo by Sanna Nielsen


#19 Fighter by Sumo Cyco


#18 Light Up the Dark by Gabrielle Aplin


#17 Ex's and Oh's by Elle King


#16 Lie Lie Lie by Metric


#15 Freak Machine by Fit For Rivals


#14 Gonna Get Mine by Halestorm


#13 Queen of Peace by Florence + The Machine


#12 Colors by Genevieve


#11 New Rush by Gin Wigmore

2015 Favorite Songs - Cum Laude

I've been holding back when linking songs from my top albums. But no more! What follows is some of the very best stuff!

The "cum laude" part of the list is not rank ordered. FYI
You Don't Like Dancing by Gabrielle Aplin


What Kind of Man by Florence + The Machine


Vaganbond by MisterWives


Stranger At My Door by Brandi Carlile


The Shade by Metric


Suicidal by Dead Sara


Sorry by Meg Myers


Smoke And Mirrors by Imagine Dragons


Roll Up your Sleeves by Meg Mac


Rescue by ZZWard


Never Ending Circles by Chvrches


Million Years Ago by Adele ( sorry, nothing I can link to right now. But this song is on this list)

Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding


Instigators by Grace Potter


I Bet My Life by Imagine Dragons


Hello by Adele


Dear Daughter by Halestorm


Blue Skies by Lenka


Black Water by Of Monsters and Men


Black Eye by ARCHIS


Apocalyptic by Halestorm


Alive Tonight by Grace Potter

2015 Summa Cum Laude Albums - part II (top 5)

Woot! Here they are.

#5 Light Up the Dark by Gabrielle Aplin.

I admit, UK women do well with me. Even so, this album deserves to be here. And maybe higher.

Sweet Nothing


Skeleton


Fool's Love


#4 Midnight by Grace Potter

To paraphrase a review I saw recently: There are two kinds of people, those that love Grace Potter; and those that have never seen here live.

Hot to Touch


Your Girl


Empty Heart


Delirious



#3 How Big How Blue How Beautiful By Florence + The Machine

Such a privilege to have seen this act at ACL in 2015.
Delilah


How Big How Blue How Beautiful St. Jude


Third Eye



#2 Kicker by Zella Day

This 20 year old from Arizona has blown me away. Love, love this album!

Sweet Ophelia


Jameson


Mustang Kids


1965



#1 Into The Wild Life by Halestorm

I loved this album from the word go, and every time I listened to it, it got better. and better. and better. I love Lzzy Hale

Amen


I am the Fire


Sick Individual


What Sober Couldn't Say


I Like it Heavy


Note: You may think I skipped some of the best songs on many of these albums. I did that on purpose. First, so I could put them in my top song without repeating songs. And second, because a great album isn't carried by just one or two hits.
So stay tuned! There is lot's of really great music to come.

2015 Summa Cum Laude Albums - Part I

There are my 10 favorite albums of 2015. Rank ordering them was tough.

#10 Endless Forms Most Beautiful by Nightwish

This Finnish band is the quintessential symphonic metal act. Their 2015 album is a tribute to the theory of evolution and Darwin.

Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Élan


The Greatest Show on Earth


#9 Smoke and Mirrors by Imagine Dragons

Who doesn't like this band?

Gold


Polaroid


Friction
Trouble


#8 Love Stuff by Elle King

I was planning to include Elle King on my list somewhere. But every time I listened to this album, it went higher up my list. Oh, and I only recently found out who her father was, so that had no influence on me.

America's Sweetheart


Where the Devil Don't Go


Make You Smile


#7 Chapter One by Ella Henderson
What an amazing young talent! The UK just keeps bringing stars in this genre.

Mirror Man


Hard Work


Yours


#6 25 by Adele

Did I just say something about the UK? I suppose the only surprise here is that it's only #6. It's very, very good.

Now, there is not a lot out there yet I can link to, so just trust me on this album .

When We Were Young

2015 Magna Cum Laude Albums - Top 25 part II

#14 Beneath the Skin by Of Monsters and Men.

Saw them live at the ACL Festival and they were wonderful. And so is this album.

Crystals


Organs


I of the Storm


#13 Show Your Colors by Genevieve.

This is only an EP by the former front for Company of Thieves. But I love it so much, it makes the list.

Human


For You


#12 Venus by Joy Williams

Former member of the duo Civil Wars, this solo album is fantastic.

Before I Sleep


What a Good Woman Does


Welcome Home


#11 ARCHIS by ARCHIS

I can't say enough good things about this Dia Frampton lead band.

Let Me Love


Bittersweet


I Need You

2015 Magna Cum Laude Albums - Top 25 part I

Just a quick reminder, this is a list of my favorite albums. That is the primary criterion, how much I like it (as an album).

#25 After by Lady Lamb and the Beekeeper
I really love this Maine product. Her second album did not disappoint me in anyway.

Billions of Eyes


Violet Clementine


Atlas


#24 Liberman by Vanessa Carlton
I've been a fan of hers for a long time.

Blue Pool


Willows


Operator


#23 Badlands by Halsey
What a great debut from this 21 year old from New Jersey.

Drive


Ghost


Hold Me Down


#22 Delirium by Ellie Goulding

I admit, I am generally skeptical of "pop" albums with many producers. I just happen to like this one.

Army


Outside


Scream It Out


The Greatest

#21 Our Own House by Misterwives
It's getting harder for me to differentiate. This album from this New York band is really good.


Our Own House


Reflections


Best I Can Do



imagination infatuation



#20 Never Want to Grow Up by Katrina Stone
LA based Katrina Stone may well be my best Noisetrade discovery ever.



#19 The Bright Side by Lenka
If you know me, you know I love this Australian singer.

Unique


The Long Way Home


The Bright Side


#18 Pagans In Vegas by Metric
One of the many things I love about Toronto. And I really love this band.

Too Bad So Sad


The Governess


The Shade (Acoustic)


#17 Lost in Cyco City by Sumo Cyco

Why didn't I discover this band sooner? Well, I have now. <3 Canada! eh?

Brave


The Ugly


Cry Murder


#16 Blood to Bone by Gin Wigmore

What's the best thing about New Zealand after the Lord of the Rings Movies? Perhaps Gin Wigmore?

Nothing to No One


Black Parade


I Will Love You


#15 Drones by Muse

It's just good.

Mercy


Dead Inside


Reapers


Drones

2015 Cum Laude Albums - Part II

Natalie Prass is a Singer-Songwriter from Virginia. In 2015 she released her first full album, Natalie Prass

My Baby Don't Understand Me


Your Fool


Purity Ring is a duo from Edmonton. 2015 brought us another eternity

Begin Again


Sea Castle


Rachel Sage is an old favorite from NY. She has released many albums over the years and most recently gave us Blue Roses

Happiness


Blue Roses


REMMI is another Nashville band on my list. New America is the album.

Awake Asleep


Star Spangled


Ruelle is a project of Nashville bases singer-songwriter Maggie Eckford. Up In Flames is a really good album that very nearly made my top 25 list.

Up in Flames


War of Hearts


Ryn Weaver is a 23 year old Singer-Songwriter from California. Her first full album is titled The Fool

The Fool


Free


Sanna Nielsen may be relatively unknown in the US, but she is very well known in Sweden. 7 is the first album of hers that caught my attention.

Skydivin


You First Loved Me

Probably no better measure of how much adore my top 25 albums (Magna Cum Laude) that Sara Bareilles' What's Inside: Songs from Waitress did not make the list. I love this album.
Bad Idea



You Matter to Me



Everything Changes


Opening Up


Sirenia hails from Stavanger, Norway. (A city I will be visiting this Summer FWIW). Seventh Life Path is their latest offering. And it's a good one.

Once My Light
Serpent


Earendel


Insania


Ume is a recent discovery of mine hailing from Austin TX. Great band! Here are a few from Monuments

Black Stone


Chase it Down


Barophobia


Reason


Xandria is a great symphonic metal band from Germany. This year they put out Fire and Ashes
Unembraced


In Remembrance


I'd Do Anything for Love(but I won't do that)



ZZ Ward is from Portland OR. An amazing talent I had the pleasure of seeing live a couple of years back. Her 2015 EP Love and War easily makes this list.

Love 3x


Lonely


That's the Cum Laude albums (not rank ordered I should say, though you might have guessed that). I am truly enjoying putting together. Hope you are enjoying this too (to some extent). And yes, I prefer female vocalists. Duh!

2015 Cum Laude Albums - Part I

Top 25 to come. But these are pretty damn good! Bad Bad Bad Hats is a wonderful band from Minnesota. They released Psychic Reader this year.
Shame


Midway
Things We Never Say


Brandi Carlile is one my all time favorites. She is especially wonderful live. This year she gave us The Firewatcher's Daughter

Things I Regret

Wherever is Your Heart


The Eye


Chvrches is one of those bands that just grows and grows on you. Right now, I love this band from Scotland. In 2015 they gave us Every Open Eye

Clearest Blue

Afterglow


Dead Sarah is hard rocking band from California. They released Pleasure to Meet You which I think is their second album.

Mona Lisa


Something Good


The Gentle Storm is from the Netherlands. They put out this great concept album The Diary with two CDs. CD1 is the "Gentle" version is acoustic while CD2 "Storm", is the metal version of the same tracks. Here are both versions of Endless Sea

Gentle

"Storm"


And here is Heart of Amsterdam , the official video


Holy Child is a cool duo out of Los Angeles. The Album is called The Shape of Brat Pop to Come.

Running Behind

Money All Around


Juliet Simms first came to my attention a while back as the lead singer for Automatic Loveletter. She was later runner-up on The Voice (not a show I watch). In 2015, she released a solo EP titled All Or Nothing

End of the World

All Or Nothing


Ms Mr is a great duo from New York that I had the pleasure to see at 7th Street entry a couple of years ago. Love these guys. In 2015, they released How Does It Feel?. I was not disappointed.
Tripolar


How Does it Feel?


All Things Lost


Marina and the Diamonds is a very fun singer from the UK. Froot was her 2015 effort.
Froot

Happy


Meg Mac is talented 25 year old form Down Under. Her EP Meg Mac is a very impressive debut.

Every Lie


Grandma's Hands


I was a fan of LA's Meg Myers' Daughter in the Choir back in 2012. In 2015, she released Sorry

Lemon Eyes


Make a Shadow


The Mynabirds is a very nice band originally from Nebraska, but currently based in LA. Interestingly, when I saw them recently at 7th Street Entry, Bad Bad Hats was one of the warm up acts. Their album is called Lovers Know
All My Heart


Semantics


Velveteen OK, this is not the album version, but so what?


Hanged Man

2015 - Best Songs not from top 50 albums Part III

Marian Hill is a duo from Philadelphia. Here is One Time



Murder Shoes is a band that hails from Minneapolis

Under the Sea



Charlotte Manning



Myzica, a duo from Nashville, put out a neat EP out this year.

Wait Just a Minute



Ready or Not


Poema may well be the first act from New Mexico ever to make my list. Anyway, here is Forget You in LA



Samantha Taggart is yet another great artist based in Nashville.

All You Need


Light in the Attic


Torres is originally from Georgia and is currently based out of (where else?) Nashville.

Strange Hellos


Zara Larsson is a talented 18 year old from Sweden

Uncover


Rooftop


That's it for this part of the list. A couple of things. First, it seems like of the artists I found from the Nashville Indie Spotlight made it onto this list, so I recommend people check this out every year it comes out.
Second, there has been only a handful of non-US acts so far. That will change.

2015 - Best songs that are not from my top 50 or so albums - part II

Continuing on... Jenny and Tyler are a husband and wife duo based in Nashville who create some great music.

Song for You



Beloved One



Jess Glynne is powerful singer from the UK. A lot to like.
Hold My Hand


My Love(Accoustic)


Saddest Vanilla (Feat. Emile Sandé




Jill Andrews is a very nice new (to me) talent based in Nashville

Get Up, Get On


Rust or Gold


JR JR , Hailing from Detroit (that's two on this list, how about that?), they used to be known as Dale Earnhardt JR. JR.

As Time Goes


Gone


Julien Baker hails from Memphis. Here is Go Home



Sprained Ankle


Jule Vera is an awesome band from Alabama. Yes, that's correct. Gary likes a band from Alabama. You'll see (and hear) why too.

Light the Night


Scarlett Letter


Chemical Machine


Karina Noel is a young talent from New York, NY.

Blue Collar Love


Laces. The Singer Jessica Charlotte Poland won me over with her 2008 album Waves and the Both of Us, which used the name "Charlotte Sometimes" as the artist. I have followed her on Facebook and have some of her subsequent EP's hoping she would release a new album. Then, in 2014, she rebranded (so to speak) as "Laces".

Enemy

Love Me Sober


Leah is a Celtic Metal Symphonic Band from British Columbia. Such things exist. And they rock!

The Present Darkness



Remnant


Alpha Et Omega


LEVV. Another band based in Nashville. Here is Darkness


Little May is a nifty band from Australia.

Home


Seven Hours


Bow & Arrow

2015 - Best songs that are not from my top 50 or so albums - part I

OK, that is probably a terrible name for this list. But that's what it is. I purchased 93 albums this year that were released this year, and I have managed so far to filter down to 50 or so really good albums. But there are a lot of great songs on the remainder. So here they are. These are not rank ordered.

Bebe Rexha has three songs. She is a 26 year old singer from NY, perhaps her album should have made my album list. But even so, here you go.

I'm Gonna Show You Crazy



Pray



I Can't Stop Drinking About You



Brandy Zdan is a Canadian living in Nashville. What could be bad about that?
Back on you



If you follow me, you know I love females from the UK. Here is Charolotte OC.

If My House Was Burning



Emily Hearn is a wonderful singer from Georgia (USA). Enjoy.


Volcano


Worth Fighting For


Fit For Rivals hails from Florida. We'll hear from them again in my top song list.
Here is Hit Me



Fleurie is based in Nashville. They put a very nice album out this year. Here is Fire In My Bones



Sparks

Ghost Lit Kingdom hails from LA. Here is You Don't Know Me



Holly Miranda hails from Detroit Michigan.

All I Want Is To Be Your Girl


Time to sleep. Part II later.