Official Twangville Best New Album of 2015:
JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
Here it is. Our official pick for Best New Album of 2015 is Something More Than Free by Jason Isbell. Isbell beats out Josh Ritter’s Sermon on the Rocks which is eerily reminiscent of 2013 when Isbell and Ritter also came in #1 and #2.This list combines best of year picks from our Twangville authors plus the Readers’ Tops which you helped us create. Congrats to all the finalists. Now, on to 2016.
Official Twangville Top 25 of 2015:
- 1. JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free (157)
- 2. JOSH RITTER, Sermon on the Rocks (95)
- 3. JAMES MCMURTRY, Complicated Game (77)
- 4. THE MAVERICKS, Mono (69)
- 5. KEVIN GORDON, Long Gone Time (63)
- 6. ALABAMA SHAKES, Sound & Color (52)
- 7. CHRIS STAPLETON, Traveller (51)
- 8. NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (50)
- 9. THE BOTTLE ROCKETS, South Broadway Athletic Club (48)
- 10. DWIGHT YOAKAM, Second Hand Heart (43)
- 11. JOE PUG, Windfall (42)
- 11. LUCERO, All A Man Should Do (42)
- 13. RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, Ruffian’s Misfortune (40)
- 14. HOUNDMOUTH, Little Neon Limelight (38)
- 15. BRANDI CARLILE, The Firewatcher’s Daughter (37)
- 16. SONNY LANDRETH, Bound By The Blues (36)
- 17. JJ GREY & MOFRO, Ol’ Glory (35)
- 17. STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES, Terraplane (35)
- 19. RYAN ADAMS, 1989 (34)
- 20. LINDSAY LOU & THE FLATBELLYS, Iona (32)
- 21. DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE, Nashville Obsolete (31)
- 21. JD MCPHERSON, Let the Good Times Roll (31)
- 23. MY MORNING JACKET, The Waterfall (29)
- 24. BLUR, The Magic Whip (25)
- 24. DONNIE TRUMPET & THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT, Surf (25)
- 24. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Asbent Fathers (25)
- 24. TINSLEY ELLIS, Tough Love (25)
Additional Twangville Best of 2015 lists:
- Readers’ Pick: Best Album of 2015: “Mono†by The Mavericks
- Jeff’s Best of 2015
- Eli’s Favorites of 2015
- Bill’s Blues-Based Best – 2015
- Tom’s Picks: Best of 2015
- Shawn’s Picks – Best Albums of 2015
- Mayer’s Picks – Best Songs of 2015
- Todd’s Tops of 2015
- Mayer’s Picks – More Favorites from 2015
- Mayer’s Picks – Best Albums of 2015, Boston Edition
- Mayer’s Picks – Best Albums of 2015
Twangville Hall of Fame
Finally to celebrate our 11th year, the Twangville Hall of Fame. Here’s our #1 picks from as many years back as we can recall. You could have guessed who would win in 2015.
- 2015:Â JASON ISBELL, Something More Than Free
- 2014: JOE FLETCHER, You’ve Got The Wrong Man
- 2013: JASON ISBELL, Southeastern
- 2012:Â I SEE HAWKS IN L.A., New Kind of Lonely
- 2011:Â JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT, Here We Rest
- 2010:Â JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, Harlem River Blues
- 2009: LUCERO, 1372 Overton Park
- 2008: DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark & THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (tie)
- 2007:Â JASON ISBELL, Sirens of The Ditch
- 2006: JACKIE GREENE, American Myth
- 2005:Â KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Back to Me
About the author: Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.