Albums that made a difference in 2015

Music has always reflected the times, so it’s fitting the best releases of the year are searching, personal works that defy compartmentalization in any particular genre.

Following are the albums that had the biggest impact on me over the past 12 months. They provided comfort, posed questions and served as solid ground in a tumultuous year of widespread violence and social change. A year that reminded us at every stop to never take for granted the most important things in life.

We can only hope the music of 2016 lives up to this year.

Here’s my best of the best:

1. “To Pimp A Butterfly” – Kendrick Lamar

Lamar captured 2015 in 80 sprawling minutes — at times violent, transformative, harrowing and beautiful. Lamar went beyond hip-hop, exploding the genre’s sonic palette through the incorporation of funk, acid jazz and come-to-Jesus gospel into his music.

The sheer scope of Lamar’s lyrical insights is astounding. From the new civil rights anthem “Alright,” to the vitriol (both outward and inward) of “The Blacker the Berry,” he covered all the bases and made it look easy. He also created President Obama’s favorite song of the year by breathing fire into a tired cliché on “How Much A Dollar Cost.”

Music didn’t get any more vibrant or vital.

2. “I Love You, Honeybear” – Father John Misty

The funniest, bitterest and wisest album about the trials of love in a long time, Josh Tillman (the real name of Father John Misty) created a masterpiece for romantics — secret, hopeless and everyone in between.

Although Tillman created a persona to give him a little distance on the album, “Honeybear” still ends up being a startlingly intimate story about falling in love with his now wife. He channels the wit and hidden romance of Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson and Tom Waits while sounding unlike any other artist.

To know what modern romance sounds like, check out this album: Tillman delivered a dissertation on the subject.

3. “E•MO•TION” – Carly Ray Jepsen

After creating one of the century’s biggest pop hits with “Call Me Maybe,” Jepsen disappeared for three years, and people began to write her off as a one hit wonder.

But one listen to “E•MO•TION” demonstrates why she was so quiet: she was busy crafting a pop masterpiece, the kind of knock-you-out, kick-down-the-door, hit machine that completely blasts away any who try to resist its charms. This is what musical joy sounds like.

Music snobs, consider yourself on notice — this thing goes from start to finish, and if you have a problem with pop perfection, get over it. Jepsen can’t be stopped.

4. “Surf” – Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment

The best soul and jazz album wrapped into one shining whole, “Surf” is home to perhaps the happiest and most hopeful music of the year.

The Social Experiment is a group of Chicago musicians formed and led by Chance the Rapper, who broke into the rap scene on his 2013 mixtape “Acid Rap.” Here, Chance demonstrates how visionary he is — he’s not bound just by rap and is looking to bring other genres into his orbit.

“Surf” is relentlessly positive. From the affirmations of “Wanna Be Cool” to the encouragement of “Slip Slide,” it’s an album to make you feel good. Press play and let it.

5. “Beauty Behind the Madness” – The Weeknd

Dark, mysterious, sexy. That about describes the music Abel Tesfaye creates as The Weeknd, and he’s built a pop album that filters this worldview through Michael Jackson’s knack for writing hooks.

Tesfaye isn’t searching for love. Any affection in his world is physical, flammable and fleeting. The deepest he feels is the desire that the women he meets find someone they can love — because it sure won’t be him.

It’s escapism and sounds fantastic coming out of any speaker.

Tesfaye produced the soundtrack for the Tinder world, where love is just a swipe away.

For a night.

Clarke Reader’s column on how music connects to our lives appears every other week. A community editor with Colorado Community Media, he is still annoyed Frank Ocean didn’t release his album this year. Check out his full end of year lists at calmacil20.blogspot.com. And share your favorite music of the year at creader@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

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