The Finest Vinyl of 2015

It's that time of the year again. And while going through my vinyl purchases of this year to select my favourite ones, i realise that not only i haven't posted something about all of these albums; i even haven't had the time yet to post something about what became my #1 album of the year. Shame on me! Time is my enemy.

Anyway, 2015 was a good year as far as i'm concerned. So good, that i decided to not only make a Top 10 list, but make a Bubbling Under list as well for 10 extra albums. More about that later.

These are The Fine Vinyl's albums of choice:

01. NEW ORDER - Music Complete
Brilliant album, even without Hooky on bass. All-time heroes of mine, i guess you can say that.

02. SWERVEDRIVER - I Wasn't Born To Lose You
Glorious comeback of one of my favourite bands. They still got the magic.

03. GIRLS NAMES - Arms Around A Vision
Giant leap forward for the coolest Irish band around.

04. TAMARYN - Cranekiss
I completely fell in love with this album. Simply stunning.

05. EDITORS - In Dream
Beautiful album, with guest vocals by Rachel Goswell on some tracks.

06. SPECTRES - Dying
2015's best noise maelstrom there was.

07. THE CHARLATANS - Modern Nature
Like the Swervedriver album, a return to form from another favourite band of mine.

08. PINKSHINYULTRABLAST - Everything Else Matters
Besides t.A.T.u. i only know one other Russian band, and they released the best debut album this year.

09. CHEATAHS - Mythologies
Another great album by these Londoners. Murasaki is arguably the year's best single.

10. TAME IMPALA - Currents
Took me a while to really get into it, but now i am.

Like said, there are plenty of other albums that should not remain unmentioned.
So here's the Bubbling Under list:

11. PAUW - Macrocosm Microcosm
I think it's fair to say that if this would've been an English band, these guys would be huge already.

12. JAMIE XX - In Colour
Some really excellent tunes on his solo debut.

13. RINGO DEATHSTARR - Pure Mood
Was released late in the year, and might have ended up higher if i had the chance to spin it more often.

14. HEALTH - Death Magic
More accessible than their previous stuff. Stonefist is a killer track.

15. A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS - Transfixiation
Eventually it ends up higher in this list than i first expected when it just came out.

16. PURITY RING - Another Eternity
I just love this band's sound.

17. FOALS - What Went Down
Solid album. As in: really good, but not as adventurous as their previous work.

18. VENERA 4 - Eidôlon
Sensual shoegaze from France. Excellent debut full length.

19. CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye
Difficult second? Fact is i like the debut better, but this is still really good.

20. BATTLES - La Di Da Di
Even though instrumental, i like this better than Gloss Drop. Mirrored still remains their best though.

So there you go.

I´d also like to share my 5 favourite reissues of the year. It´s not only brand new releases that got the vinyl treatment in 2015!

01. SLOWDIVE - Blue Day
Their earliest work finally also on vinyl again! RSD15 edition on blue vinyl.

02. SECRET SHINE - Untouched
Shoegaze classic. Happy to help Saint Marie Records out, getting it realised via Pledgemusic.

03. LEVITATION - Meanwhile Gardens
Never officially released before in this original form, with Terry Bickers on vocals.

04. LUSH - Ciao!
Compilation that never was released on vinyl before. So happy they're back!!!

05. RIDE - OX4 (Best Of)
RSD15 edition on red vinyl of this great compilation.

Looking at all those albums that haven't been featured on this little blog of mine yet, i see there's a lot of catching up to do. I might skip a few, but many are just too good to leave unnoticed. So you know what to expect over next few days/weeks/months.