Over the past six months, there have been various albums released by artists in several genres that have caught our ears. They span countries, continents and experience. For this series of articles, some of the plasticmag staff have compiled their respective lists of ‘Top 5’ albums and listed them with their reasons as to why.
The second half of 2015 is littered with high-profile projected releases from the likes of Jamie xx, Tame Impala and Frank Ocean, so these lists are almost certainly going to change by the end of the year.
Part 1: Jade Collier – Editor-in-Chief
Jade’s list is made up of albums from a variety of eclectic acts.
05. Pale Honey – Pale Honey
Self-titled debut album from Pale Honey, a laid-back rock ‘n’ roll duo from Gothenburg, Tuva (vocals/guitar) and Nelly (drums) contrast their soft vocal tones with indie rock guitar riffs. Taking their influences from Queens of the Stone Age and PJ Harvey, their producer Harvey Anders Lagerfors captures the pair’s varied intensity in their wistful and fiery songs. Youth is a perfect example of their flirtation with the calm and the storm.
Recommended Tracks: “Youth”, “Fish” and “Fiction”
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04. The Vaccines – English Graffiti
The indie four piece returned with their 3rd album in May and a few changes to frontman Mr Justin Young’s vocals. The signs were there when the band released the melancholy Melody Calling EP back in 2013 where they adopted a fresh new sound compared to their angsty 2012 album Come of Age. The Vaccines know how to go away and come back unrecognisable but with the same flare and reliability.
Recommended Tracks: “Denial”, “Handsome” and “20/20”
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03. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Kendrick’s latest album, To Pimp A Butterfly, hits us in the core with compelling racial tones as he highlights the inequalities, appropriation and discrimination of his race. In “The Blacker The Berry” the racial tones are most evident as he talks about how he killed another black man and that he feels this act from his past makes him a hypocrite and it doesn’t matter what he does to stand up to racism, support the black community or fall into a black stereotype, he has still been subjected to structural racism that has been ingrained in his mind. “When I finish this if you listenin’ sure you will agree”; just leave that track on repeat and listen.
Recommended Tracks: “The Blacker The Berry”, “These Walls” and “King Kunta”
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02. The Skints – FM
East London reggae four-piece, The Skints, released their 3rd album based around Big FM / Frequency Murderation, 103.Skints – an imaginary radio station. The band’s influences combine the genres of reggae, ska, soul, rocksteady, dancehall and grime tackle inequality and social injustices in their lyrics, like the line “Officer put away your taser and gun”. Collaborations with MC Rival, Tippa Irie and reggae legend Horseman add to the authentic bass line filled collection of reggae. We reviewed the full album here.
Recommended Tracks: “In The Night (feat. Horseman)”, “Friends & Business” and “Tazer Beam (feat. Tippa Irie)”
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01. Slaves – Are You Satisfied?
London duo, Isaac and Laurie A.K.A. Slaves return with their new album Are You Satisfied? which can only be explained as a pit of punk that hits the spectrum somewhere in between Mike Skinner and Sham 69. Track “Ninety Nine” appears very post-punk, fast-fueled and Joy Division infused along with “Sockets” which comes across as more of a traditional dirty punk track. Album track “Are You Satisfied?” shows the more tender side to the duo as they don a simple guitar and put their punk influences to one side whilst keeping their 1970s attitude.
Recommended Tracks: “The Hunter”, “Cheer Up London” and “Ninety Nine”