Up until this year, I'd been consistently and very unfortunately, missing my chance to see Bring Me The Horizon live. Now I've seen them twice and they just get better and better each time! It's crazy to think that up until three years ago I hated this band. I've not once seen an artist turn around my opinion so fast and with just one album. If you don't already listen to them, see exhibit A and exhibit B - thank me later.

First things first the support. Basement are another band I've loved listening to this year. I recently stumbled upon their new album on Spotify and couldn't get enough, so when I saw them on the bill I was buzzing. On stage they sounded great, and it was amazing to hear the songs I've been listening to so much, live. However, they didn't play like they were playing in an arena. Some bands are made for smaller venues and I get that, but they were put on the tour for a reason and I definitely expected more of a show from them. They have songs that could fill an arena! Especially after seeing them tear it up at Reading Festival earlier this year, I have to say I was a tiny bit disappointed. All in all though, good set - I see big things to come for these guys.

Next up, one of my long time favourites - Don Broco. Well it's no secret that I love this band. Their debut album Priorities even made it to number two on my "Top Albums of 2012" list. However, my interest has dwindled a little bit since their second record came out last year and even after seeing them live here, it's not been able to improve my opinion of the new album. The performance was great, super engaging and really fun, but all in all, the newer material just didn't compare to the older songs and this "newer" show didn't seem to compare to any of the other times I've seen them live. I definitely enjoyed myself as always, but there was something missing for me this time around. I wonder what they'll put out next.

BRING. ME. THE. HORIZON. My oh my - what a band! I have nothing but praise for the performance they put on, the album they've recently put out and the progress they've made over the years. After making their latest album That's The Spirit my number one for "Top Albums of 2015"; again you can assume that I was over the moon to be seeing them live. Opening up with "Happy Song" had the crowd's feet off the ground immediately, heads banging, hair swinging, mouths wide open shouting "S-P-I-R-I-T!" and they just went from song to song taking the audience on an emotional journey. Every person in that arena was having their own individual experience but at the same time we definitely felt together. I came to that show alone and still felt a part of something - that's what a good show does! As well as the set list contributing to the spectacle, the visuals were breathtaking. From beginning to end, the stage set up, lights and visuals had me stumped. This was my first live show since being back in the UK and I wouldn't have it any other way.  This wasn't a show that anyone in attendance would forget anytime soon.

Overall rating - 9/10


Here are some pictures from the show...

After listening back through my list of the top 10 albums of 2015 on Christmas Eve, I honestly just thought "There's no way that these are the best things to have come out in 2015!" So I went back and did my research - listened to heaps more records that I hadn't already heard this year (lots of new discoveries coming your way), went to see a few bands live that released records this year, and re-listened to the list I had settled on before. FINALLY - I think I have my final 10...


10. Hiatus Kaiyote - Choose Your Weapon
I didn't actually expect this album to make the top 10. When I first heard about Hiatus Kaiyote, everyone was raving about them. At least 10 people told me that I should check them out. So when I actually got round to listening to them I was expecting a lot more than what they gave. It wasn't until I saw them live late last year and properly listened to the album that I realised what people had been saying all along. Super funky record and super talented band. Give them a gander.
 
9. Foals - What Went Down 
I've gone back and forth about putting this album on the list. Especially after my review of it here, but the more I think about it, the more I realise that it is a good album, I just wanted more. Again, after seeing it played live late last year, I can see how strong each of the songs are. Although this didn't make it as high up my list as Holy Fire did when it dropped in 2013, Foals continue to produce material that draws me in.

8. Lianne La Havas - Blood
It took me a lot longer than I'd expected to fully get into this album. Lianne's debut will always be one of my all time favourite albums and so I've been anticipating this follow up for the longest time! So when I first listened to the album, I had a few clear standouts ("Midnight" is still my favourite on the album), but nothing really stuck to me the way that I was expecting. It wasn't until maybe the fourth listen that the penny dropped and I realised just how much of a musical masterpiece this album is. I still prefer numero uno but my oh my, Lianne is one hundred percent somebody not to overlook.

7. Disclosure - Caracal
It's normally hard to top a debut of Disclosure's calibre but their sophomore album, Caracal might just have done it. It's pretty hit-laden and featuring the likes of Gregory Porter, Nao, Lion Babe, Kwabs and more, it was practically fool proof from the get-go. We already know that a team up with Sam Smith is a tried and tested winning combo and they've got him on the record again on quite a different type of song, but generating just as big of a reaction. Big album, both live and on record.

6. Neck Deep - Life's Not Out To Get You 
Speaking of second albums topping debuts, Neck Deep have easily cleared the bar that their first album set. Not just song quality-wise but production, lyrics and instruments (just to name a few things) have really knocked it out of the park on this one. If you'd have spoken to me at the beginning of 2015 I would've said without hesitation that I was looking forward to The Story So Far's new record more than Neck Deep's... well, one has made the list and the other hasn't. I enjoyed every song on this album and I can happily say I'm looking forward to album number three.
 
5. Ghostpoet - Shedding Skin 
I actually almost forgot that this came out this year. Since it was released, I've listened to it so much that it feels almost like a classic. Ghostpoet has really mastered being able to connect with the listener through his music on the most ordinary things that you could imagine. Like I said in my track-by-track here, this record just feels like a continuation of everything that he's already put out and as simple as it is, it adds such an essential layer to his body of work. Quality album.

4. Florence + The Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
If you read my review of this record earlier this year here, I'm sure you had no doubt that this would make it onto my list somewhere. I definitely didn't expect it to fall out of the top three ranking. However, after seeing them perform live here in Australia, although musically spectacular, I realised that it just doesn't resonate with me as much as their first two records. Still a very enjoyable record with multiple shining moments, but it just got pipped at the post.

3. The Internet - Ego Death 
I wasn't really expecting this album to get so high up the list. I listened through The Internet's Purple Naked Ladies in 2011 and to be honest, I wasn't the slightest bit impressed. So when my friend asked me to have a listen to their single "Girl (feat. KAYTRANADA)" earlier this year, I wasn't expecting much at all - they completely blew me away! Although the average song on this record is about 5 mins long, they were all ingrained in my head after first listen. I can't even count the amount of times that I woke up with one of their songs stuck in my head. Huge transformation, and 100% for the better.

2. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly 
Now, this record would've been my number one choice had it not been so tough to listen to, beginning to end. After maybe the second listen, I don't think I've listened to it all the way through since. Each track is fantastically crafted, lyrically genius, and I'd listen to them individually, but my oh my is it hard to listen to in one go. It's definitely a concentration piece. I feel like every time I come back to it, I learn something new. Kendrick is a phenomenal story teller, and although considerably different from Good Kid... it tells a completely different chapter in Kendrick's life. Full of big tracks, both provocative and commercial - well deserving of the number 2 spot.

1. Bring Me The Horizon - That's The Spirit
Well, well, well... when I first heard this record, there is no way that you could've got me to believe that it would make it's way to the top of my albums of the year list. I shamefully admit that I was among the skeptics after first listen - not sure whether I was impressed or not. I still think that Sempiternal is a better record in comparison but there isn't one track on this album that I would skip listening through it. Beginning to end, back to front, this is a diverse, layered and just lyrically brilliant album. Oli has truly honed in his talent for song-writing and both live and in studio BMTH excel. They may have taken a risk with this album and no doubt lost some fans in the process but they've smashed it again and I expect nothing less than upwards from here on out.

FINALLY, a list that I am 100% content with. 2015 was a humongous year for music and somehow I think 2016 might just be bigger. Here are some shout outs for honourable mention...

• Tame Impala - Currents
• Drake - If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
• Everything Everything - Get To Heaven
• Justin Bieber - Purpose
• Young Fathers - White Men Are Black Men Too 
• The Maccabees - Marks To Prove It 
• Don Broco - Automatic 
• The Story So Far - The Story So Far 
• Jamie xx - In Colour
  
• mewithoutYou - Pale Horses
• Thee Oh Sees - Mutilator Defeated At Last

With all of these new videos and singles, come some brand new videos. Here are just a few of the ones that've stuck in my memory over the past couple of months...

CHARLES DIXON - Milky Wave
The latest track from Charles Dixon is a big'un. This beat is fantastic! His debut album Cloud Walking Vol. 1 came out earlier this week (get it for FREE here) and simply from his singles you can see that he's always improving. The video features a female bodybuilder, a dwarf dressed as Tyrion Lannister, a fire breather and so much more in just the first shot of the video!! And it's all nicely put together with awesome edits. Get on the wave...

Only up to the fifth album but every day it just gets a little bit harder to write these! I'm always going back and forth in my head about whether I made the right decisions and today, at this exact moment, I've actually changed my mind and opted for my initial number five choice...

My fifth favourite album is 2014 is Love Letters by Metronomy. This was probably the hardest choice out of the seven because this was up against Sam Smith's brilliant debut - In The Lonely Hour. An equally awesome record but at the end of the day, the deciding question was, "which one did I actually come back to the most after first listen?" and Metronomy won out.

Love Letters is Metronomy's fourth album and it definitely has some of my favourite songs of theirs on it. I really overdid this album this year. So much so, that I actually saw it performed live three times (here, here and here) in the space of four months. Weirdly, I'm still not tired of it. It's just a very well crafted album! When I heard their first single from it "I'm Aquarius" I knew it'd be a catchy album but I didn't think it'd be this hard to shake. In fact, when I first heard the single, I wasn't actually sure whether I'd like the album at all - boy was I wrong! I actually think that it's their only album that I can listen to without feeling the need to skip a track. My current favourites are "Love Letters", "Reservoir", "Monstrous" and "Month Of Sundays", but they tend to change from time to time.

I think that this is a record I'll certainly be bringing back for years to come - as I will with all of the records that make/almost make this list! Metronomy have done well with this one. It's versatile and an incredibly enjoyable listen. Looking forward to the seeing how the next record matches up.

I didn't even intend to do a music news post this week but all of the following things have literally just popped up these past couple of days and they're just too interesting to let pass by!!

BRING ME THE HORIZON NEW SINGLE "DON'T LOOK DOWN"
I was actually really disappointed with this single after hearing their single "Drown". I really liked that release despite the controversy but this one I can't stand behind. It's a bit all over the place.  There are some better bits towards the end but overall I was like this sounds like (the current) Enter Shikari not BMTH. Either way, have a listen and form your own opinion here.


WHILE SHE SLEEPS NEW SINGLE "NEW WORLD TORTURE"
While She Sleeps on the other hand have gone above and beyond. This new single leaves me with nothing but high hopes for the new record. This Is The Six is a pretty hard debut to follow but WSS don't seem to be dipping in quality any time soon. Memorise the lyrics here. Preorder Brainwashed here out on the 23rd of March.


COASTS NEW SINGLE "WASH AWAY"
I actually found out about Coasts when I shazam-ed their song "A Rush Of Blood" and have been trying to catch up on them ever since. Before I could even do the rest of my research, they've already gone and released a new song! Have a listen here - it's a good'un.


FKA TWIGS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "VIDEO GIRL"
She just doesn't stop does she! After her latest self-directed video "#throughglass" here, she's now released another new music video, this time directed by Kahlil Joseph but FKA is still just as fabulous. The video is more my speed but the best part of all this is the song - one of my favourites on the record. Looking forward to more from this lovely lady. Have a watch and a listen here.


SOUNDGARDEN NEW SINGLE "STORM"
That I am able to even write this in my generation makes me ridiculously happy! It feels like absolutely ages since I heard new music from Soundgarden. Have a listen to the new track "Storm" here. I'm not sure if this means a new album but I sure hope so.


BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB NEW MUSIC VIDEO "HOME BY NOW"
From Bombay Bicycle Club's recent album Song Long, See You Tomorrow comes another music video. A great video for a great song. I feel like this record didn't get as much recognition as it should've because there is an abundance of tunes on it, this being one of them. Stream the new video here.


14TH NEW SINGLE "SWEET LIES"
14th have been busy since I last wrote about them as a new discovery here and it seems that they've welcomed a new member and to commemorate this they've released a new track here. I'm looking forward to some album buzz now. They've been dormant for quite a while so I'll be expecting lots more activity in 2015.


NICK MUVLEY NEW MUSIC VIDEO "I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME"
After seeing Nick Mulvey last week here I still haven't had enough of him yet. I loved this song when he performed it live and I still love it here. Maybe even more so with this brilliant new video shot in Australia to go along with it. Fantastic voice and equally talented songwriter.


THE BONGO CLUB NEW SINGLE "GET MYSELF TOGETHER"
The follow up to the recent single "The Hush Hush Song" from their upcoming debut record and an awesome follow up at that! I am loving all of these music videos as well, they are both brilliantly shot. I am ridiculously excited for this debut!! Have a listen to their new single here.


FOO FIGHTERS NEW SINGLE "CONGREGATION"
Another great song from their upcoming Sonic Highways record (out on the 10th of November)  has been released. I like it but so far nothing has been able to top "Something From Nothing" for me. That song is huge. This has some great elements though for sure. Excited is an understatement for how I feel about this album/project. Have a listen to "Congregation" here.

The music world is blowing up this month! I thought September was the month to beat but October isn't going without a fight. New bands, new albums, new singles, new EVERYTHING coming out left, right and centre.

FKA TWIGS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "#THROUGHGLASS"
2014's topic of conversation. As much buzz as Royal Blood have created this year, I think FKA Twigs has actually managed to match that. It's like as soon as I learnt her name, so did the rest of the world. This self-directed video (here) is art. Fantastically directed, super interesting and such a fresh idea! This is what I love FKA for, BUT I think that it overshadowed the song in quality and took focus away from it too.


CLEAN BANDIT & JESS GLYNNE NEW MUSIC VIDEO "REAL LOVE"
How could we go wrong with another Clean Bandit, Jess Glynne collabo? The answer is, we couldn't. A match made in heaven right now. Doubt it'll be as big a hit as "Rather Be" but it's a banger nonetheless. Jess Glynne's voice is just fabulous anyway and I love the slight 'old school' vibe there is about it. Check out the cool new video here.


FOO FIGHTERS NEW LYRIC VIDEO "SOMETHING FROM NOTHING"
If you haven't already heard the single, I wrote about it here a few days ago. However, now it has a killer new lyric video to go with it and I didn't think it would have much an impact but I think it actually made me like this song even more! I am literally buzzing for the new Foo Fighters record. Learn the lyrics before the rest of the album drops here.



SAINT RAYMOND NEW LYRIC VIDEO "FALL AT YOUR FEET"
Still waiting for an album! I know that when we eventually get a debut record it will be fabulous but until then, this awesome single and the few great EPs already available will have to do! I really love this song. I feel like Saint Raymond's debut might sound like what I originally wanted Ed Sheeran's debut to sound like. Watch the lyric video here.


CHANCE THE RAPPER NEW SINGLE "NO BETTER BLUES"
After watching Chance at Glastonbury here, I've been keeping an eye out for him since. He's releasing a collaborative album before the end of the year with The Social Experiment entitled Surf. This new single is actually taken from that record and if it's anything to go by, I don't know how I'll feel about the rest of the album - not sure what I even think of the song yet! Have a listen here.


GENGAHR NEW SINGLE "BATHED IN LIGHT"
I keep forgetting how I ever got into Gengahr, but regardless, I'm glad I did. This is an interesting track. Sounds a bit Tame Impala-esque at times and if I'm honest I was waiting for a bigger development/change towards the end but it's a solid song no doubt. Check out the new single here.


DARLIA NEW MUSIC VIDEO "STARS ARE ALIGNED"
When I started listening to Darlia, around "Napalm" and "Queen Of Hearts" times here, they were a lot more of a Grunge band. Now they seem very Pop Rock. Not sure if I'm complaining though because I love the instrumental on this song here. The video isn't great. I'm not sure where I stand with this band to be honest, I'll just have to wait for an album or a live performance.


PISSED JEANS NEW MUSIC VIDEO "BORING GIRLS"
An old song with a new video - I like. However, video is super random. Song is super random. But the reason I was ever interested in this song was because there's only one chord throughout. I don't think it's something that I'll ever really get into but I admire Pissed Jeans for what they've done. Have a listen and a watch here.


BRING ME THE HORIZON NEW SINGLE "DROWN"
I LOVE this song. There was a lot of expected controversy as this song sounds 'lighter' than most of the songs on their most recent record Sempiternal but despite the slight change, they still kill it in my opinion. It's still the same Bring Me The Horizon, people need to calm down. Nobody freaked out when D.R.U.G.S. put out "I'm Here To Take The Sky". In my opinion, old bmth fans should embrace this new single here.


ENTER SHIKARI NEW SINGLE "THE LAST GARRISON"
I feel like Enter Shikari should've stopped after "Paddington Frisk". I really hate this song. It sounds like CHVRCHES tried and failed to remix this song. Sadly, they did this to themselves. I'm actually upset that they chose to release a new album - The Mindsweep but who knows, their first three albums still give me a little bit of faith that they might just surprise me. Here's the new single.


GWEN STEFANI NEW MUSIC VIDEO "BABY DON'T LIE"
I forget that Gwen Stefani makes pop music when she's solo, but I really like this song. If I'm honest, I could really imagine Nicole Scherzinger singing it instead or at least her collaborating. However, this is still a very catchy pop song and a big radio hit. In regards to the video, it's great to have the harajuku girls back on my screen. Watch it all here.