Best albums of 2015
1. Ezra Furman - Perpetual Motion People (Bella Union )
Furman celebrates the complexities and eccentricities of humanity and individuality, arguing for people to have the freedom to be who they truly are. It also makes sense Furman is indie to the core, given the freedom it allows to explore a variety of genres.
2. Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars (Bella Union )
Filled with beautiful dream pop and shoe-gaze, this album has toughness, grit, delicacy, grace, imagination, and melody in abundance.
3. John Grant - Grey Tickles, Black Pressure (Bella Union )
Superior to Pale Green Ghosts, this magnificent album finds Grant's singer-songwriter talents and electro obsessions working in perfect harmony.
4. Father John Misty - I Love You Honeybear (Bella Union )
Get past the sometimes heavy handed humour, and this is a rich, country-fied work, that only truly reveals many gems on repeated listens.
5. Tame Impala - Currents (Carloline International/Fiction )
From indie-rock to the discotheque dancefloor, Currents is not just a break from what Kevin Parker has done in the past, it is the album where he properly transcends his influences.
6. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - The Third (Sunday Best )
The London siblings best release to date, where they emerge as fully fledged, diverse songwriters.
7. Gaz Coombes - Matador (Caroline International )
The former Supergrass man's second album was a triumphant return to serious solo duties, and a deserved Mercury Award nominee.
8. The Go! Team - The Scene Between (Memphis Industries )
A return to dream pop, shoe gaze, and indie, but with the verve, energy, and anthemics of their funk obsessions. Inspired.
9. Pale Honey - Youth (Bolero Records )
This went somewhat under the radar, but this debut by the Swedish duo is essential listening for indie enthusiasts with a nineties fixation.
10. Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass (Caroline International )
A wonderful new singer whose voice can take on Southern blue eyed soul, country, orchestral pop, and chanson.
Best songs of 2015
1. 'Nobody's Empire' - Belle & Sebastian
2. 'Cause I'm A Man' - Tame Impala
3. 'Restless Year' - Ezra Furman
4. 'The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apartment' - Father John Misty
5. 'Reason Left To Destory' - The Go! Team
Galway concerts of 2015:
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1. John Grant, Big Top, Galway International Arts Festival, Thursday July 23.
2. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Strange Brew, Róisín Dubh, Thursday May 21.
3. Gaz Coombes, Strange Brew, Róisín Dubh, Thursday December 3.
4. Girl Band, Strange Brew, Róisín Dubh, Thursday October 1.
