Year-End Lists

The A.V. Club: 15 Best Albums of 2015

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. No Cities To Love
   Sleater-Kinney
3. Carrie & Lowell
   Sufjan Stevens
4. Art Angels
   Grimes
5. I Love You, Honeybear
   Father John Misty
6. Summertime ’06
   Vince Staples
7. The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
   Beach Slang
8. Ivy Tripp
   Waxahatchee
9. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
10. Sprinter
    TORRES
11. The Agent Intellect
    Protomartyr
12. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
13. Sprained Ankle
    Julien Baker
14. Star Wars
    Wilco
15. Painted Shut
    Hop Along

Time Magazine: Top 10 Best Albums of 2015, as selected by Nolan Feeney and Maura Johnston

[see also 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019]

1. Wildheart
   Miguel
2. No Cities To Love
   Sleater-Kinney
3. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
4. E•MO•TION
   Carly Rae Jepsen
5. Holding Hands with Jamie
   Girl Band
6. Pageant Material
   Kacey Musgraves
7. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
8. Break Stuff
   Vijay Iyer Trio
9. In Colour
   Jamie xx
10. The Blade
    Ashley Monroe

NME: Top 50 Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Art Angels
   Grimes
2. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
3. In Colour
   Jamie xx
4. My Love Is Cool
   Wolf Alice
5. Currents
   Tame Impala
6. Every Open Eye
   Chvrches
7. Honeymoon
   Lana Del Rey
8. What Went Down
   Foals
9. Marks to Prove It
   The Maccabees
10. Multi-Love
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
11. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
12. AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
    A$AP Rocky
13. No Cities To Love
    Sleater-Kinney
14. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
15. The Magic Whip
    Blur
16. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
17. Divers
    Joanna Newsom
18. Mothers
    Swim Deep
19. Beauty Behind the Madness
    The Weeknd
20. Half Free
    U.S. Girls
21. Ratchet
    Shamir
22. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
23. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
24. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
25. Vulnicura
    Björk
26. Platform
    Holly Herndon
27. Another One
    Mac DeMarco
28. Short Movie
    Laura Marling
29. Anthems For Doomed Youth
    The Libertines
30. Fetty Wap
    Fetty Wap
31. Are You Satisfied?
    Slaves
32. SUCKER
    Charli XCX
33. Inji
    LA Priest
34. Man It Feels Like Space Again
    Pond
35. A Head Full of Dreams
    Coldplay
36. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
37. DS2
    Future
38. Undertow
    Drenge
39. White Men Are Black Men Too
    Young Fathers
40. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
    Florence + The Machine
41. Drones
    Muse
42. Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz
    Miley Cyrus
43. Key Markets
    Sleaford Mods
44. Barter 6
    Young Thug
45. For All My Sisters
    The Cribs
46. Viet Cong
    Viet Cong
47. West Kirby County Primary
    Bill Ryder-Jones
48. Music Complete
    New Order
49. That’s the Spirit
    Bring Me the Horizon
50. 1989
    Ryan Adams

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Carrie & Lowell
   Sufjan Stevens
3. Art Angels
   Grimes
4. Garden of Delete
   Oneohtrix Point Never
5. Currents
   Tame Impala
6. In Colour
   Jamie xx
7. Black Messiah
   D’Angelo and The Vanguard
8. No Cities To Love
   Sleater-Kinney
9. The Most Lamentable Tragedy
   Titus Andronicus
10. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
11. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
12. Sprinter
    TORRES
13. The Agent Intellect
    Protomartyr
14. In Plain Speech
    Circuit Des Yeux
15. Gliss Riffer
    Dan Deacon
16. Vulnicura
    Björk
17. Grief’s Infernal Flower
    Windhand
18. A Flourish and a Spoil
    The Districts
19. Natalie Prass
    Natalie Prass
20. After
    Lady Lamb
21. New Bermuda
    Deafheaven
22. It Follows (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Disasterpeace
23. Goon
    Tobias Jesso Jr.
24. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
25. Music Complete
    New Order
26. Surf
    Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
27. Deep In the Iris
    Braids
28. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
29. Platform
    Holly Herndon
30. Star Wars
    Wilco
31. Four Phantoms
    Bell Witch
32. Multi-Love
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
33. Universal Themes
    Sun Kil Moon
34. Mutant
    Arca
35. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
36. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
37. Magnifique
    Ratatat
38. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
39. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
40. Dirty Sprite 2
    Future
41. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
    Florence + The Machine
42. Feels Like
    Bully
43. Frozen Niagara Falls
    Prurient
44. Painted Shut
    Hop Along
45. AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
    A$AP Rocky
46. Too
    FIDLAR
47. Are You Alone?
    Majical Cloudz
48. Back to the Woods
    Angel Haze
49. White Reaper Does It Again
    White Reaper
50. Divers
    Joanna Newsom

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. DS2
   Future
3. SremmLife
   Rae Sremmurd
4. 25
   Adele
5. Purpose
   Justin Bieber
6. Dark Sky Paradise
   Big Sean
7. AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP
   A$AP Rocky
8. I Love You, Honeybear
   Father John Misty
9. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
   Drake
10. Ego Death
    The Internet
11. Tetsuo & Youth
    Lupe Fiasco
12. You Should Be Here
    Kehlani
13. Surf
    Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
14. The Documentary 2
    The Game
15. In Colour
    Jamie xx
16. Reality Show
    Jazmine Sullivan
17. Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
    Skrillex & Diplo
18. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album
    Earl Sweatshirt
19. Lantern
    Hudson Mohawke
20. Currents
    Tame Impala
21. GO:OD AM
    Mac Miller
22. Ratchet
    Shamir
23. Beauty Behind the Madness
    The Weeknd
24. Amethyst
    Tinashe
25. Free TC
    Ty Dolla $ign
26. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
27. .Wav Theory
    Towkio
28. Art Angels
    Grimes
29. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
30. M3LL155X
    FKA twigs
31. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
32. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
33. 56 Nights
    DJ Esco & Future
34. Integrity
    Jme
35. MMM
    Diddy
36. Rodeo
    Travis Scott
37. Vulnicura
    Björk
38. Hallucinogen
    Kelela
39. Reflection
    Fifth Harmony
40. Fetty Wap
    Fetty Wap
41. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
42. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
43. T R A P S O U L
    Bryson Tiller
44. VEGA INTL. Night School
    Neon Indian
45. Foil Deer
    Speedy Ortiz
46. The Album About Nothing
    Wale
47. Compton
    Dr. Dre
48. Brava
    Brodinski
49. Dreams Worth More Than Money
    Meek Mill
50. What a Time to Be Alive
    Drake & Future

Crack Magazine: Albums of the Year 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Vulnicura
   Björk
3. Platform
   Holly Herndon
4. Wildheart
   Miguel
5. Have You In My Wilderness
   Julia Holter
6. Hunch Music
   Hunee
7. Carrie & Lowell
   Sufjan Stevens
8. Fingers, Bank Pads & Shoe Prints
   RP Boo
9. Currents
   Tame Impala
10. Lantern
    Hudson Mohawke
11. Black Messiah
    D’Angelo and The Vanguard
12. Barter 6
    Young Thug
13. Before the World Was Big
    girlpool
14. Integrity
    Jme
15. SremmLife
    Rae Sremmurd
16. Art Angels
    Grimes
17. Ones and Sixes
    Low
18. Dark Energy
    Jlin
19. Time to Go Home
    Chastity Belt
20. Grind
    DJ Richard
21. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
22. Garden of Delete
    Oneohtrix Point Never
23. Dirty Sprite 2
    Future
24. The Ark Work
    Liturgy
25. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
26. LP
    Container
27. Dream a Garden
    Jam City
28. Kahraba
    Eek!
29. Folk
    Nick Höppner
30. Holding Hands with Jamie
    Girl Band
31. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
32. Volume One
    Commodo, Kahn & Gantz
33. Apocalypse, Girl
    Jenny Hval
34. Levon Vincent
    Levon Vincent
35. Dumb Flesh
    Blanck Mass
36. On Your Own Love Again
    Jessica Pratt
37. Key Markets
    Sleaford Mods
38. Ivy Tripp
    Waxahatchee
39. Ego Death
    The Internet
40. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
    Courtney Barnett
41. Frozen Niagara Falls
    Prurient
42. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album
    Earl Sweatshirt
43. The Original Faces
    Helen
44. Viet Cong
    Viet Cong
45. Discreet Desires
    Helena Hauff
46. Super Saiyan Vol. 2
    Sicko Mobb
47. A Distant Fist Unclenching
    Krill
48. Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
    Godspeed You! Black Emperor
49. Paranoid London
    Paranoid London
50. Free TC
    Ty Dolla $ign
51. Solo
    Nils Frahm
52. Me
    Empress Of
53. Projections
    Romare
54. You Should Be Here
    Kehlani
55. Sun Coming Down
    Ought
56. Morning / Evening
    Four Tet
57. Untethered Moon
    Built to Spill
58. I Declare Nothing
    Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe
59. From Sleep
    Max Richter
60. Honeymoon
    Lana Del Rey
61. Adult
    Blacklisters
62. Edition 1
    King Midas Sound & Fennesz
63. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
64. Piteous Gate
    M.E.S.H.
65. Black Body Radiation
    October
66. Murder
    Miss Red
67. EVENIFUDONTBELIEVE
    Rustie
68. Nozinja Lodge
    Nozinja
69. 32 Zel/Planet Shrooms
    Denzel Curry
70. This World Is Not Enough
    Marching Church
71. St Germain
    St Germain
72. Exercises in Futility
    Mgła
73. Seems Unfair
    Trust Fund
74. Another One
    Mac DeMarco
75. Four Phantoms
    Bell Witch
76. Rose
    Abra
77. Safe
    Visionist
78. Hermits On Holiday
    Drinks
79. Who’s Gonna Get Fucked First?
    Father
80. Are You Alone?
    Majical Cloudz
81. Body Pill
    Anthony Naples
82. Proto
    Mumdance & Logos
83. Cherry Bomb
    Tyler, The Creator
84. Dying
    Spectres
85. Winter’s Diary 3
    Tink
86. Candy, Diamonds & Pill's
    Gangsta Boo
87. La Di Da Di
    Battles
88. Knockin’ Boots
    Julio Bashmore
89. Manhattan
    Jeffrey Lewis
90. Compton
    Dr. Dre
91. Modern Dancing
    traams
92. Foil Deer
    Speedy Ortiz
93. Invisible Switch
    Joey Anderson
94. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
95. Women's Rights
    Childbirth
96. Good Sad Happy Bad
    Micachu & The Shapes
97. Carter Tutti Plays Chris & Cosey
    Carter Tutti
98. Cascade
    William Basinski
99. Chain Of Flowers
    Chain Of Flowers
100. Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz
     Miley Cyrus

Gorilla vs. Bear: 50 Favorite Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Art Angels
   Grimes
2. Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
   Panda Bear
3. In Colour
   Jamie xx
4. Coming Home
   Leon Bridges
5. Act of Tenderness
   Cindy Lee
6. Summertime ’06
   Vince Staples
7. The Original Faces
   Helen
8. Escape From Evil
   Lower Dens
9. Thank Your Lucky Stars
   Beach House
10. 100% Electronica
    George Clanton
11. Half Free
    U.S. Girls
12. Product
    Sophie
13. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
14. Garden of Delete
    Oneohtrix Point Never
15. Barter 6
    Young Thug
16. Have You In My Wilderness
    Julia Holter
17. Constant Bop
    Bop English
18. Suffolk County
    Cousin Stizz
19. Age Of Transparency
    Autre Ne Veut
20. Calling Card / Mezzanine
    The Galleria
21. Samantha
    Toro y Moi
22. Comme ça
    Domenique Dumont
23. It Follows (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Disasterpeace
24. Honeymoon
    Lana Del Rey
25. RIP Chrysalis
    Eartheater
26. But You Caint Use My Phone
    Erykah Badu
27. Ten Love Songs
    Susanne Sundfør
28. Rose
    Abra
29. Divers
    Joanna Newsom
30. Me
    Empress Of
31. Mr. Foolish
    Airbird & Napolian
32. Malenkost
    Cindy Lee
33. Body Pill
    Anthony Naples
34. Sore
    Dilly Dally
35. VEGA INTL. Night School
    Neon Indian
36. Zenith
    Molly Nilsson
37. Hud Dreems
    Knxwledge
38. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
39. EP II
    Yumi Zouma
40. Nature
    Valet
41. Pray For Rain
    Pure Bathing Culture
42. Just
    Bicep
43. Dark Energy
    Jlin
44. No Language
    Caroline No
45. Verde
    Tei Shi
46. Not Real
    Stealing Sheep
47. On Your Own Love Again
    Jessica Pratt
48. SremmLife
    Rae Sremmurd
49. Broken Flowers
    Danny L Harle
50. Palmbomen II
    Palmbomen II

Rolling Stone: 50 Best Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. 25
   Adele
3. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
   Drake
4. Black Messiah
   D’Angelo and The Vanguard
5. Beauty Behind the Madness
   The Weeknd
6. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
7. Something More Than Free
   Jason Isbell
8. Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
   Lin-Manuel Miranda and the Original Broadway Cast
9. Yours, Dreamily
   The Arcs
10. The Magic Whip
    Blur
11. No Cities To Love
    Sleater-Kinney
12. Honeymoon
    Lana Del Rey
13. Currents
    Tame Impala
14. Star Wars
    Wilco
15. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
16. Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
    Skrillex & Diplo
17. Crosseyed Heart
    Keith Richards
18. A Fool To Care
    Boz Scaggs
19. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
20. Cass County
    Don Henley
21. Traveller
    Chris Stapleton
22. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
    Florence + The Machine
23. Tracker
    Mark Knopfler
24. Surf
    Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
25. Introducing Darlene Love
    Darlene Love
26. DS2
    Future
27. Mr. Misunderstood
    Eric Church
28. Wildheart
    Miguel
29. Divers
    Joanna Newsom
30. Teens of Style
    Car Seat Headrest
31. Coming Home
    Leon Bridges
32. Reality Show
    Jazmine Sullivan
33. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
34. The Pale Emperor
    Marilyn Manson
35. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
36. Painted Shut
    Hop Along
37. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
38. The Blade
    Ashley Monroe
39. Drones
    Muse
40. Music In Exile
    Songhoy Blues
41. The Epic
    Kamasi Washington
42. Vulnicura
    Björk
43. Revival
    Selena Gomez
44. SremmLife
    Rae Sremmurd
45. Rebel Heart
    Madonna
46. Tomorrow Is My Turn
    Rhiannon Giddens
47. Before This World
    James Taylor
48. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
49. Shadows In The Night
    Bob Dylan
50. Amanecer
    Bomba Estéreo

Spin: 50 Best Albums of 2015

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2012 • 2011]

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
3. In Colour
   Jamie xx
4. Currents
   Tame Impala
5. Summertime ’06
   Vince Staples
6. Ivy Tripp
   Waxahatchee
7. Fading Frontier
   Deerhunter
8. Pageant Material
   Kacey Musgraves
9. Ratchet
   Shamir
10. Beach Music
    (Sandy) Alex G
11. No Cities To Love
    Sleater-Kinney
12. New Bermuda
    Deafheaven
13. I Love You, Honeybear
    Father John Misty
14. Wildheart
    Miguel
15. High
    Royal Headache
16. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
17. DS2
    Future
18. Honeymoon
    Lana Del Rey
19. Product
    Sophie
20. The Agent Intellect
    Protomartyr
21. Carrie & Lowell
    Sufjan Stevens
22. E•MO•TION
    Carly Rae Jepsen
23. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
    Drake
24. Poison Season
    Destroyer
25. Hallucinogen
    Kelela
26. Art Angels
    Grimes
27. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album
    Earl Sweatshirt
28. Vulnicura
    Björk
29. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
30. Garden of Delete
    Oneohtrix Point Never
31. I Want to Grow Up
    Colleen Green
32. The Most Lamentable Tragedy
    Titus Andronicus
33. Everything Is 4
    Jason Derulo
34. Time to Go Home
    Chastity Belt
35. Communion
    Years & Years
36. Surf
    Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
37. The Magic Whip
    Blur
38. M3LL155X
    FKA twigs
39. Feels Like
    Bully
40. From Kinshasa
    Mbongwana Star
41. Fetty Wap
    Fetty Wap
42. California Nights
    Best Coast
43. Every Open Eye
    Chvrches
44. Ygg Huur
    Krallice
45. Pretend
    Seinabo Sey
46. Sauna
    Mount Eerie
47. Fingers, Bank Pads & Shoe Prints
    RP Boo
48. Are You Alone?
    Majical Cloudz
49. Before the World Was Big
    girlpool
50. Unbreakable
    Janet Jackson

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2015

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. I Love You, Honeybear
   Father John Misty
2. To Pimp A Butterfly
   Kendrick Lamar
3. Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
   Courtney Barnett
4. No Cities To Love
   Sleater-Kinney
5. Painted Shut
   Hop Along
6. Carrie & Lowell
   Sufjan Stevens
7. Natalie Prass
   Natalie Prass
8. Currents
   Tame Impala
9. Coming Home
   Leon Bridges
10. Fading Frontier
    Deerhunter
11. Beat the Champ
    The Mountain Goats
12. The Agent Intellect
    Protomartyr
13. B’lieve I’m Goin Down…
    Kurt Vile
14. Teens of Style
    Car Seat Headrest
15. Sprinter
    TORRES
16. Every Open Eye
    Chvrches
17. The Epic
    Kamasi Washington
18. Something More Than Free
    Jason Isbell
19. Depression Cherry
    Beach House
20. In Colour
    Jamie xx
21. Platform
    Holly Herndon
22. Goon
    Tobias Jesso Jr.
23. On Your Own Love Again
    Jessica Pratt
24. Art Angels
    Grimes
25. Then Came the Morning
    The Lone Bellow
26. Summertime ’06
    Vince Staples
27. Pageant Material
    Kacey Musgraves
28. Darling… It’s Too Late
    Guantanamo Baywatch
29. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
    Florence + The Machine
30. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
    Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
31. Star Wars
    Wilco
32. High
    Royal Headache
33. Range Anxiety
    Twerps
34. Let the Good Times Roll
    J.D. McPherson
35. Dry Food
    Palehound
36. La Di Da Di
    Battles
37. The Blade
    Ashley Monroe
38. Sound & Color
    Alabama Shakes
39. What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World
    The Decemberists
40. 1989
    Ryan Adams
41. The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
    Beach Slang
42. The Waterfall
    My Morning Jacket
43. Are You Alone?
    Majical Cloudz
44. Another Eternity
    Purity Ring
45. Payola
    Desaparecidos
46. No No No
    Beirut
47. Don’t Lose This
    Pops Staples
48. Sore
    Dilly Dally
49. Sprained Ankle
    Julien Baker
50. Edge of the Sun
    Calexico