Just like last year, we’re currently in the process of unveiling our 50 favourite records of 2015. However, this year we’ve also reached out to some of our favourite artists of the year to ask them which records or artists they’ve personally enjoyed over the last twelve months, whether they be from 2015 or not. Read on to find out who the likes of Hinds, Neck Deep and The Neighbourhood have all been enjoying this year!
HINDS
“We love a guy called Juan Wauters! He made this record called Who Me? and he makes, like, simple music and simple melodies. Maybe it’s a little bit childish at times, but I love it. I love the way he sees the world and puts it into words.”
-Carlotta Cosials, guitar
ENTER SHIKARI
Back in January, we spoke to rhythmic duo Rob Rolfe (drums) and Chris Batten (bass, below), with Rolfe telling us that the band have really enjoyed listening to Krept & Konan on the road, alongside the likes of Noisia and (then support band) Hacktivist.
ALBERTA CROSS
“There’s a lot! I love Kurt Vile, I think he’s amazing. I also like an LA-based guitarist called Blake Mills, he’s great. The War on Drugs’ most recent record, Lost in the Dream, is also amazing [it did come out in 2014, though – Ed]. There’s so much great music coming out lately, even the Tame Impala record was great. I also thought that Nick Cave put out a great album”
-Petter Ericson Stakee, founding member
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Just like Alberta Cross’ Peter Ericson Stakee mentioned, Kurt Vile seems to be a pretty popular choice amongst artists and critics alike. When we spoke to The Neighbourhood’s Zach Abels and Brandon Fried, the pair told us both Vile and ex-Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante have been blaring through their speakers in 2015. One thing they’re quite embarrassed to mention, though, is The Beach Boys’ classic Pet Sounds. “Don’t say fucking Pet Sounds, that’s Jeremy’s shit”, said Fried.
ALABAMA SHAKES
When we spoke to three-quarters of Alabama Shakes earlier this year, guitarist Heath Fogg told us that Sun Kil Moon’s album Benji worked for him “in a way that no other album did”. Drummer Zac Cockrell also tells us that the whole band have really enjoyed Californian musician Morgan Delt this year.
LONELY THE BRAVE
When we spoke to drummer Gavin Edgeley and guitarist Mark Trotter last month, the pair told us that they’d not really enjoyed much music from this year. Edgeley, just like Alabama Shakes’ Heath Fogg, namechecked Sun Kil Moon’s Benji. Black Peaks, whom Lonely the Brave have toured with this year, also received a mention.
BLOOD RED SHOES
Earlier this year, Laura and Steve of Blood Red Shoes spoke to All Things Loud in a dodgy Bastion hotel to the south of Amsterdam. Discussing their own record label Jazz Life, Ansell namechecked the Belgians in Raketkanon. “Absolutely mental” is all he could use to describe the band, whom he claimed to be his favourite band of the moment.
NECK DEEP
During our discussion with frontman Ben Barlow earlier this year, it was very clear that there was only one new band on his mind – WSTR. The frontman spoke highly of the up-and coming pop-punkers, and you can listen to them below.
JUDAS PRIEST
This one would fit in quite nicely in and amongst the rest of our artist submissions, if it weren’t for the fact that guitarist Glenn Tipton doesn’t know the names of any bands he listens to. “I like bands that I can’t even pronounce the names of, but we like them a lot and they inspire us” said Tipton earlier this year in discussion with All Things Loud.
Over the course of December, All Things Loud will be unveiling their Top 50 Albums and Top 75 Songs of the year. You can follow the progress of announcements here, and here. You can also listen to a playlist of all mentioned artists below.