Alabama Shakes - Sound and Color ★★★★☆
The Alabama Shakes burst onto the scene in 2012 with their hit album Boys and Girls which produced the hit song Hold On which earned a Grammy nomination. In late 2013, they came back to the studio without much direction and spent a year writing songs. Out of that year came 2015’s Sound and Color, a bluesy-alternative mix of straight jams coming straight from the heart of sharp-witted Brittany Howard and the gang. She wrote all the hits on the album, and her distinctive singing definitely contributed to the album’s success. A mellow song, Sound and Color, starts the album off with a soothing, welcoming vibe but straight after that the hit Don’t Wanna Fight blasts on. With Brittany’s wailing singing and guitar playing, this is one of the jams of a lifetime here. This album is perfect for a long drive where you can just play it over and over and over again. But, the reason I gave it four stars is the same as Thrill of the Arts, there are about twice as many non-memorable songs as there are straight hits. Nevertheless, a great album that shall define 2015 for years.
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly ★★★★★
Rapper Kendrick Lamar struck gold when he released Good Kid, M.A.A.D City in 2012. To people who didn’t listen to lyrics, it was just another rap album about the hood and drugs and drinking with catchy tunes. But to people who understood the lyrics, this was a rap album to basically die for. Nobody thought Kendrick could top GKMC, but he did in the best way possible with To Pimp a Butterfly. With themes of racial inequality, black culture, depression, and institutional discrimination, this is a message to the masses. With hits like i, The Blacker the Berry, and Alright, this album is one that can pump you up, make you sad, make you more insightful, and educate you all at the same time. This album is considered a masterpiece, and rightly so. The album and its songs won over 5 Grammys and many other awards, accolades, and nominations. This earns the Ben seal of approval.