Guest Lists: Paul McLoone’s 10 best albums of 2015
Radio presenter and vocalist with the Undertones Paul McLoone is the third of our guest contributors highlighting the best albums of 2015. Paul is one of Ireland’s most popular radio DJs, presenting his Mon – Thurs show on Today FM from 9pm to midnight. He also sings with one of Ireland’s most iconic and influential punk bands, the Undertones.
1. At the End of a Winding Day – Hedge Schools
Understated perfection from the brilliant Pat Barrett et al. If Winter Coats doesn’t trouble
your tear ducts your eyes need a plumber. Barrett equals the best work of his acknowledged
idols on these nine flawless mood pieces. Simply perfect.
2. Music Complete – New Order
Yes, I’m a biased New Order nut and there’s no getting round it, Hooky is missed, but this is
a great set of perfectly produced sleek dance-pop; nearly prime NO, which makes it very fine
indeed.
3. The Magic Whip – Blur
The return of another pop institution, this time seeing the reinstatement of a key member
and Graham Coxon’s subtle but vital paw marks are all over an album which combines the
surprise value of classic Blur with the wonky grooviness of Gorillaz, adding a large dollop of
recent solo – Albarn melancholia.
4. Vulnicura – Bjork
Speaking of which, heartbreak and hope vie for centre stage on the latest work from the
Icelandic genius: one of those albums that occasionally makes one wonder if one should
really be listening, but its emotional punch and musical brilliance cannot be denied.
5. Stories from the Surface – HamsandwicH
Another often moving exploration of affairs of the heart from a band who are growing in
confidence, stature and song-writing smarts, and who really could be on the verge of
deservedly-bigger things in 2016.
6. Currents – Tame Impala
So hip, but so good, Kevin Parker’s slick, groovy sequel to Lonerism managed to make good
on that record’s promise, whilst warping his patent day-glo psychedelia into new, fun
shapes.
7. Depression Cherry – Beach House
A bit overlooked, I thought. The better of two back to back releases from the Sonny and
Cher of woozy dreampop vibes, Depression Cherry envelops and caresses like a duck down
duvet on a hungover Sunday.
8. Anniversary – North Sea
Impressive, urgent debut from a Dublin band who deserve more attention both here and in
the UK; a masterful, moody collection that recalls such greats as The Smiths, The Bunnymen,
The Go-Betweens and even the peerless A House. The lyrics are bloody good too.
9. Return to the Moon – El Vy
Side projects can be tricky: perfectly legitimate work in their own right, but occasionally
fenced off by an understandable sense of self-indulgence. Matt Berninger and Brent Knopf
avoid the pitfalls by sounding exactly as one might expect, with a more lyrically-capricious
Mr. Berninger still managing to give the heartstrings the occasional yank in that wonderfully
oblique way of his.
10. Courting the Squall – Guy Garvey
Solo debut from the rightly-beloved Elbow singer, and thankfully not the point at which he
has chosen to reveal his long-standing obsession with Grime. This is prime Garvey: warm,
careworn, slightly lachrymose but never anything less than big-hearted on an expansive yet
personal excursion into darker blue, jazzier waters.
