NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums of 2015

Albums that we loved in 2015 swept us away, seduced us, reckoned with the politics that shape our moment or our nation and taught us something new about ourselves.

Published: December 07, 2015 12:25 Source

# 2

Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes

Album • Apr 21 / 2015 Blues Rock

# 3

Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano by Anthony de Mare

Album • Oct 02 / 2015 Modern Classical

# 4

The Blade by Ashley Monroe

Album • Jul 24 / 2015 Contemporary Country Country Pop

# 5

Beauty Pill Describes Things As They Are by Beauty Pill

Album • Apr 21 / 2015 Indie Rock Art Rock

# 6

Amanecer by Bomba Estéreo

Album • Jun 02 / 2015 Latin Electronic Latin Pop

# 7

Andrew Norman: Play by Boston Modern Orchestra Project

Album • Dec 23 / 2014

# 8

The Firewatcher's Daughter by Brandi Carlile

Album • Mar 06 / 2015 Folk Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 9

Amor Supremo by Carla Morrison

Album • Nov 06 / 2015 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 10

E•MO•TION by Carly Rae Jepsen

Album • Aug 21 / 2015 Dance-Pop Synthpop

# 11

For One to Love by Cécile McLorin Salvant

Album • Sep 04 / 2015 Vocal Jazz

# 12

Traveller by Chris Stapleton

Album • May 04 / 2015 Americana Contemporary Country

# 13

Stretch Music by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Album • Sep 18 / 2015 Post-Bop Nu Jazz

# 14

Captain Of None by Colleen

Album • Apr 07 / 2015 Art Pop

# 15

Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit by Courtney Barnett

Album • Mar 23 / 2015 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter Lo-Fi / Slacker Rock

# 16

Nueva Era by Daymé Arocena

Album • May 18 / 2015 Afro-Cuban Jazz

# 17

Litany by Dead To A Dying World

Album • Oct 16 / 2015 Atmospheric Sludge Metal Post-Metal

# 19

I Dont Like Shit, I Dont Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt by Earl Sweatshirt

Album • Mar 23 / 2015

# 20

Elaenia by Floating Points

Album • Nov 06 / 2015 Progressive Electronic

# 21

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful by Florence + the Machine

Album • Jun 01 / 2015 Art Pop Alternative Rock

# 22

Morning / Evening by Four Tet

Album • Jul 10 / 2015 Microhouse Minimal Techno

# 23

DS2 (Deluxe) by Future

Album • Jul 17 / 2015 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 24

Before The World Was Big by Girlpool

Album • Jun 02 / 2015 Lo-Fi / Slacker Rock Indie Pop Bedroom Pop

# 25

Ibeyi by Ibeyi

Album • Jul 28 / 2015 Art Pop Alternative R&B

# 27

In Colour by Jamie xx

Album • May 29 / 2015 UK Bass

# 28

Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell

Album • Jul 17 / 2015 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 29

Reality Show by Jazmine Sullivan

Album • Jan 12 / 2015 Contemporary R&B

# 30

Over and Even by Joan Shelley

Album • Sep 04 / 2015 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 31

Divers by Joanna Newsom

Album • Oct 23 / 2015 Chamber Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 32

Pageant Material by Kacey Musgraves

Album • Jun 23 / 2015 Contemporary Country Singer-Songwriter

# 33

The Epic by Kamasi Washington

Album • May 11 / 2015 Spiritual Jazz

# 34

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Mar 16 / 2015 Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 35

Hamilton: An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Lin-Manuel Miranda + Leslie Odom, Jr. + Phillipa Soo + Daveed Diggs + Christopher Jackson

Album • Sep 25 / 2015

# 36

Ones and Sixes by Low

Album • Sep 11 / 2015 Slowcore Indie Rock

# 37

From Kinshasa by Mbongwana Star

Album • May 18 / 2015 Tradi-Modern

# 38

Adams: Absolute Jest & Grand Pianola Music by John Adams + San Francisco Symphony + Michael Tilson Thomas

Album • Aug 14 / 2015

# 39

Servant of Love by Patty Griffin

Album • Sep 25 / 2015 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 40

Tomorrow Is My Turn by Rhiannon Giddens

Album • Feb 06 / 2015 American Folk Music

# 41

The Fade in Time by Sam Lee & Friends

Album • Jun 16 / 2015 Contemporary Folk Chamber Folk

# 42

Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens

Album • Mar 31 / 2015 Indie Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 43

The Documentary 2 by The Game

Album • Oct 09 / 2015 Gangsta Rap West Coast Hip Hop

# 44

Ego Death by The Internet

Album • Jun 26 / 2015 Neo-Soul Alternative R&B

# 45

Sprinter by TORRES

Album • May 04 / 2015 Indie Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 46

Free TC by Ty Dolla $ign

Album • Nov 13 / 2015 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B

# 47

Break Stuff by Vijay Iyer Trio

Album • Jan 16 / 2015 ECM Style Jazz

# 48

Summertime '06 by Vince Staples

Album • Jun 30 / 2015 West Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 49

Imaginary Life by Worriers

Album • Aug 07 / 2015 Pop Punk Punk Rock

# 50

Xaos by Xaos

Album • Dec 29 / 2016