Top 5 Jazz Albums of 2015 Lea DeLaria, “House of David” (Ghostlight) Cécile McLorin Salvant, “For One to Love” (Mack Avenue) Fred Hersch, “Solo” (Palmetto) Vijay Iyer Trio, “Break Stuff” (ECM) Keith Jarrett, “Creation” (ECM) —Robert Rodi
Top 5 Jazz Clubs of 2015 The Green Mill Jazz Showcase Constellation Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant Untitled Supper Club —Robert Rodi
Top 5 Concerts of 2015 Mozart, “Requiem,” Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Benefit for Marty Grebb, Arcada Theatre Ars Viva Farewell Concert, Alan Heatherington Ramsey Lewis 80th Birthday Celebration, Ravinia Festival Boulez Complete Piano Music, Symphony Center Presents — Dennis Polkow
Top 5 Rock (etc.) Albums of 2015 Joan Shelley, “Over and Even” (No Quarter) Twerps, “Range Anxiety” (Merge) Courtney Barnett, “Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit” (Mom+Pop) Joshua Abrams, “Magnetoception” (Eremite) Eleventh Dream Day, “Works for Tomorrow” (Thrill Jockey) — Robert Loerzel
Top 5 Rock Albums of 2015 Low, “Ones and Sixes” (Sub Pop) Bully, “Feels Like” (Columbia/Star Time) Circuit Des Yeux, “In Plain Speech” (Thrill Jockey) Tame Impala, “Currents” (Interscope) Wilco, “Star Wars” (self-released) —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 Shoegaze Albums of 2015 Westkust, “Last Forever” (Run For Cover) Static Daydream, “Static Daydream” (Saint Marie) No Joy, “More Faithful” (Mexican Summer) A Sunny Day In Glasgow, “Planning Weed Like It’s Acid / Life is Loss: Pop Songs 2015” (self-released) Swervedriver, “I Wasn’t Born To Lose You” (Cobraside) —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 Hip-Hop Albums of 2015 Kendrick Lamar, “To Pimp A Butterfly” (Top Dawg/Aftermath) Vince Staples, “Summertime ‘06” (Def Jam ARTium) Doomtree, “All Hands” (Doomtree) Mick Jenkins, “Wave[s]” (Cinematic/Good Years) ProbCause, “Drifters” (Lowtemp) —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 Unjustly Overlooked Records of 2015 Frank Turner, “Positive Songs For Negative People” (Interscope) The Very Best, “Makes A King” (Moshi Moshi) Anti-Flag, “American Spring” (Spinefarm) Pale Honey, “Pale Honey” (Instant Records) Whitehorse, “Leave No Bridge Unburned” (Six Shooter) —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 Festival Sets of 2015 Swirlies at West Fest First Aid Kit at Lollapalooza Doomtree at Riot Fest Tenacious D at Riot Fest The Julie Ruin at Pitchfork —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 Best Music Venues Lincoln Hall Schubas Tavern Constellation Empty Bottle The Hideout —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 New Chicago Bands Clearance Varsity Meat Wave WHITEGOLD (now known as SUPERMAGICAL) Swimsuit Addition —Craig Bechtel
Top 5 Musical Anticipations for 2016 Naked Raygun new album The Wedding Present new album Lush reunion tour and new EP Husker Du reunion at Riot Fest (hope springs eternal) Long awaited Monsters of Swee Tour from Sweden’s Labrador label —Craig Bechtel
Related Stories
Music Top 5: May 2020 Steve Dawson’s new album features highly sophisticated songwriting gilded with dazzling orchestral colors—plus of course that gorgeously evocative voice.
Music Top 5: October 2019 Indie pop star Gus Dapperton tours his first studio album, which cloaks verbose ponderings on Gen Z loneliness behind bouncy drum machine bedroom beats.
Music Top 5: September 2019 Vic Mensa and Jesse Rutherford head up a month of powerhouse acts including Weyes Blood, Aldous Harding, Black Keys and Marquis Hill.
