KamerTunesBlog Year In Review 2015

2015 has been a tumultuous year for me. As suggested in the Wait Until The Summer’s Gone and Long Time Gone posts that bookended my six month break from writing about music…and connecting with my readers, other bloggers and fellow music lovers…a combination of good, bad & time-consuming life events kept me focused on other things for nearly half the year. Whereas in the past I’ve revisited the complete catalogs of ten or more artists, this year I only managed to cover two (Toto and Supergrass), but I also wrote about my Not-So-Guilty Pleasures, my Favorite Debut Albums, my First Five Concerts and my appreciation for the non-stop hook-fest that is Survivor’s “High On You.” Although I was “off the grid” for much of 2015 I still managed to accumulate lots of CDs & LPs (I am an obsessive music collector just like you, after all), and somehow I found the time to listen to each new acquisition at least a couple of times. As I looked through the list of albums I got this year, I expected to vaguely remember most of them but was pleasantly surprised at how many wonderful discoveries I made, in addition to all the excellent new releases by artists I already love. What could have been a down year for me, musically-speaking, turned out to be another winner, with just as many memorable albums as the last few years.

Below you’ll find two lists. The first one highlights the albums that were released in 2015 (and some from 2014 that I didn’t get to last year) which made the biggest impression on me, while the second list covers the reissues, live albums, compilations, box sets & other older releases that I spent the most time with. Just like last year, I didn’t have time to include links to audio clips but everything on these lists is worth seeking out, whether it’s via YouTube, a streaming service or a “give it a shot without hearing it first” CD or LP purchase (which is often my preferred method of musical research).

Thanks to everyone who stopped by in 2015 and shared your stories, opinions, suggestions and support. I hope you & your loved ones are enjoying the holiday season. Wishing you a happy, healthy & musically adventurous New Year.

Albums Released In 2015, and 2014 Releases I Finally Heard This Year (in alphabetical order)
The Autumn Defense – Fifth
Marshall Crenshaw – #392: The EP Collection
The Dear Hunter – Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise
The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
Steve Earle – Terraplane
Echolyn – I Heard You Listening
Fish On Friday – Godspeed
David Gilmour – Rattle That Lock
Steve Hackett – Wolflight
Glen Hansard – Didn’t He Ramble
Don Henley – Cass County
Iron Maiden – The Book Of Souls
Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free
Joe Jackson – Fast Forward
Dave Kerzner – New World
Knifeworld – The Unravelling
Mark Knopfler – Tracker
Matt Pond PA – The State Of Gold
Allison Moorer – Down To Believing
My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall
Ben Ottewell – Rattlebag
Joseph Pagano – Graveyard Of Dreams
Keith Richards – Crosseyed Heart
Sanguine Hum – Now We Have Light
Schnauser – Protein For Everyone
Smallpools – Lovetap!
Spock’s Beard – The Oblivion Particle
Squeeze – Cradle To The Grave
The Tangent – A Spark In The Aether
Toto – XIV
Umphrey’s McGee – The London Session
Steven Wilson – Hand. Cannot. Erase.
The Winery Dogs – Hot Streak
The Zombies – Still Got That Hunger

Newly Acquired Reissues, Live Albums, Compilations & Box Sets (And Artists I Finally Checked Out) In 2015 (in alphabetical order)
Anathema – Fine Days: 1999-2004
Bad Company – Bad Company + Straight Shooter (Deluxe Editions)
The Beach Boys – Beach Boys’ Party Uncovered And Unplugged
Ry Cooder – Soundtracks
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – CSNY 1974
The Czars – Best Of The Czars
Del Amitri – Into The Mirror – Del Amitri Live In Concert
Kevin Gilbert – Toy Matinee Acoustic + Thud (20th Anniversary Edition)
Hitchcock, Robyn – Uncorrected Personality Traits
The Isley Brothers – The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters
The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy – Draining The Glass: 1982-86
King Crimson – Thrak Box
Led Zeppelin – Super Deluxe Box Sets of last four albums
Jeff Lynne’s ELO – Alone In The Universe
Wes Montgomery – Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sides
The Moody Blues – The Magnificent Moodies (Deluxe Edition)
John Power – The Complete Studio Recordings 2002-2015
Pugwash – A Rose In The Garden Of Weeds
Eddi Reader – The Blanco y Negro Years
Saxon – The Complete Albums 1979-1988
Shoes – 35 Years – The Definitive Shoes Collection 1977-2012
Jane Siberry – Love Is Everything – The Jane Siberry Anthology
Frank Sinatra – Portrait Of Sinatra – Columbia Classics
Super Furry Animals – Songbook – The Singles Volume One
Tangerine Dream – The Virgin Years 1974-1978 + The Virgin Years 1977-1983
20/20 – 20/20 + Look Out!
Wilco – Alpha Mike Foxtrot – Rare Tracks 1994-2014
XTC – Drums And Wires (Blu-ray edition)
Yes – Relayer (Blu-ray edition)
Neil Young – Bluenote Café