Following our look at the first half of our list for the top 10 albums of 2015, we're now looking at the three albums taking the fifth, fourth and third spots this year. Let us know if you agree and what you think should be making an appearance on our list in the comments section below!
5) The Weeknd - 'Beauty Behind The Madness'
This year really has been the year of The Weeknd. With the news that he'll be touring stadiums throughout the UK next year with Rihanna, he has quickly cemented himself as one of the most impressive modern-day RnB stars the world has seen. Though he presents a shut-off and mysterious persona, he's a man the listener can't help but want to get to know. Whether or not we can do so through his music is open for interpretation.
What we know for sure he's achieved this year is the opening wide of his arms to an audience reaching far more people than his cult fans to which he could once upon a time play small shows to. He's now a mainstream artist, and we're thankful for it. Last year, I hadn't heard a thing of The Weeknd, either through my own ignorance or because he wasn't interested in chasing the limelight. Now though he's happy to do so in his own way, and it's that individuality which really shines through not only in the glimpses of personality we see, but through his music.
4) Kendrick Lamar - 'To Pimp A Butterfly'
Kendrick Lamar isn't a happy man in latest record 'To Pimp A Butterfly', and for good reason. The past few years have seen injustice on a frankly disgusting level simple due to race, and people are beginning to wonder exactly what rights they've been fighting for, for all these years. Ignorance and arrogance plagues the minds of hundreds of thousands leading to tragic consequences, and it's these events of the past and the inevitable ones of the future that Kendrick alludes to through this LP.
In fact, he does more than allude to it, he tackles it head on. He's not interested in sugar coating, an example coming firm and thick in 'The Blacker The Berry', where he spits: "My hair is nappy, my d**k is big, my nose is round and wide / You hate me don't you? / You hate my people - your plan is to terminate my culture / You're f**kin' evil, I want you to recognise that I'm a proud monkey". It's unsettling, but that's exactly what it needs to be in order to make an impact.
There's one simple thing that Kendrick wants to share with the public and gain back in return; love. If everybody could give a little love rather than spewing out hatred, then we'd be living in a much more forward-thinking and accepting world.
3) Duran Duran - 'Paper Gods'
When Duran Duran revealed they'd be returning with a brand new album of original music featuring Lindsay Lohan, the world winced. Thankfully the worries were for nothing, and they delivered a fine return to form through 'Paper Gods', showing everybody exactly how a reunion album should be done and punching right to the heart with some nostalgic and modernised tunes that really allowed them to shine.
In our review I said: "In all, 'Paper Gods' is a collection of head-bopping, toe-tapping tracks that Duran Duran should be immensely proud of. Personality is stamped throughout all 12 tracks. They've got nothing left to prove at this point in their career, but have done well to remind people just why they're still remembered 14 studio albums into the industry."
I also noted that there wasn't a single fault I could find in the album. So why not put it at number one? Because now after a few months of it being released, I've stopped listening. Replayability plays a huge part in a ranking, and those coming in at numbers two and one will be sticking around in my playlists for at least the next 12 months...
The list so far:
10) Muse - 'Drones'
9) Florence + The Machine - 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'
8) Elle King - 'Love Stuff'
7) Little Mix - 'Get Weird'
6) Adam Lambert - 'The Original High'
5) The Weeknd - 'Beauty Behind The Madness'
4) Kendrick Lamar - 'To Pimp A Butterfly'
3) Duran Duran - 'Paper Gods'
Check back tomorrow to see which album of this year made it to number two on our list!
Tagged in Duran Duran Kendrick Lamar The Weeknd