Best of 2015 - Albums

My annual best songs list is certainly a stronger showcase of any particular year's best music, but I'll always listen to music by albums, the books to their songs' chapters. My favorite songwriter, my favorite band from my high school years, and my current favorite band all brought something to the table. How did they fare against 2015's newcomers? Here are the strongest musical narratives of the year. The numbers in parentheses represent how many songs from each album made it into my best song countdown.

10. We Are All We Need - Above & Beyond (2)

Above & Beyond has been working on music continually since I first found them seven years ago, but We Are All We Need is their first record in a long time. As a sizable collection of years of work, this album offers many excellent tracks that, although originally unveiled alone, mesh very well with one another. In a year where I invested more time and money into electronic albums than ever before, this 15-song set is the best I heard.

9. Blue Leaves - Etherwood (1)

Etherwood is also a DJ, but his unique sound seems more at home in the R&B genre. Defined largely by its rapid drumming and simple piano lines, his music is some of the most refreshing I've stumbled upon in recent years. The album as a whole can feel monotonous at times, but enough variety is applied to the prevailing pattern throughout its run time that I found it a very strong project in the end.

8. Islands - Bear's Den (2)

Islands is another album that spans years of work, but it's the band's debut. I was firmly impressed by at least half of its ten tracks, which was exciting because I found quite a few similar-sounding bands this year that simply did not live up to my initial impression while Bear's Den went well beyond. I applaud the band for the emotional power that so effortlessly flows through their compositions. As an aspiring songwriter who struggles to do the same, I find it truly extraordinary.

7. Broken Into Better Shape - Good Old War (2)

Broken Into Better Shape is loads of fun. It's not particularly bold musically speaking, and some may even call it generic, but I find joy in every song. This feel-good set of songs won over more of my time than any other as the year came to an end. I think its messages are both heart-felt and eye-opening and its general optimism was a great transition into a new year.

6. #HIRAETH (2)

One of my favorite moments of the year was meeting my favorite songwriter, Ace Enders. He's worked in a few different bands over the years (including I Can Make a Mess, winner of my 2010 and 2013 albums of year), but never before has he released a full-blown solo album. Its release came as a total surprise in the middle of October and I quickly fell in love. It would rank higher if not so short, but it actually provides a good amount of extremely catchy songs in its short span. I couldn't have expected anything less from Ace.

5. We Were Here - Boy (3)

We Were Here is another fairly short album, which nearly discouraged me from picking it up at all. One third of its songs made it into my songs list so I'm glad I did. Boy's songwriting is simple, but almost immediately latched onto my heart in a way I can't explain. Its honest words are a major part of it, but I'm not so sure what it is about the music itself that I just can't get enough of. More likely than with the other albums on this list, this is one I think most everyone can enjoy.

4. Cathedrals - The Hope Arsenal (2)

Cathedrals is so obscure that I couldn't find the version of the cover that isn't an advertisement online, which is a real shame because I was shocked by its overwhelming beauty. This is the year's best kept secret. Massive orchestral pieces and folksy acoustic guitar tracks combine to construct an original journey for which the gorgeous album cover is a good.

3. Run Wild - Lydia (3)

Lydia, once my favorite band, has had hit-and-miss records for the last several years. There are always a song or two I really enjoy, but their last three albums weren't my favorite. This year, however, they won me back in a big way with Run Wild, so much so that I attended two of their concerts this year and snagged the chance to meet the whole band. I love this album from beginning to end.

2. Better Nature - Silversun Pickups (2)

The Silversun Pickups!!! With The Dangerous Summer recently disbanded, my "favorite band" position became a void that needed to be filled. The Silversun Pickups rose to the occasion by reminding me how much I've loved them over the years and throwing another excellent album into the collection. I was honestly disappointed after the first playthrough, but after a few months of listening, along with their thrilling SLC concert, I was sold.

1. Oh Wonder - Oh Wonder (6)

That's right. Six songs from one CD. Never before has an album had such a strong presence among my favorites. A brand new couple, Oh Wonder set out last September to write and release one song every month for a year. The result (and then some) is this self-titled album, 15 songs strong, which I've decided is one of the best albums I've heard in my entire life, nearly perfect according to my personal taste. No matter who you are, I highly recommend at least one full playthrough. It's the very best I have to offer this time around.

Best of 2015 - Video Games

Society keeps trying to tell me that gaming is a childish waste of time. Countless times this year, I asked myself if that was true, which was an internal debate of particular gravity for me personally because I'm devoting my extremely demanding college career to game development. Each time I questioned myself, I was reminded that my strongest passion is storytelling. It's the reason I want to be an author. It's the reason I look so closely at song lyrics. I was also reminded that this passion began with video games. Gaming is, in my opinion, the very best medium for stories because you don't just watch or read game narratives. You write them. You live them. It can be a deceptive waste of time when mishandled, yes, but I don't regret these games' strong presence in my 2015.

10. Mad Max

Even more beautiful and stylistically impressive than its film counterpart is Mad Max, the game, which breaks the traditional video game tie-in mold by being completely separate from the movie in terms of narrative and characters. This Max certainly isn't Tom Hardy's Max, and the world surrounding him is much more massive and diverse, feeling more at home in the game format. As the very last choice I allowed myself to purchase this year, this title turned out to be well worth my time.

9. Resident Evil: Revelations 2

Horror was a strong genre this year, and one of its highlights is Resident Evil: Revelations 2. I played the game through cooperatively with my sister in what were definitely the most memorable hours of gaming in the past twelve months. The Resident Evil series is notorious for making you feel weak, heightening suspense in intense moments and quiet ones alike. I enjoyed every bit of the tension.

8. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Game Awards named Witcher 3 the best game of the year. I'm almost certain I'd rank it higher if I'd had more time with it, but here it stands for now. The overriding story isn't one I'm particularly fascinated with, but the writing that backs it is impeccable. The interactions feel real. The fantasy language is a joy. The character building is superb. Even minor characters are given more essence than some of the shallow protagonists the film industry throws at us. I can't wait to dive deeper.

7. Dying Light

Mix zombies and parkour and you have Dying Light. I thought it somewhat mundane at first glance, but then found myself somewhat addicted to the thrills it provides with its occasional parkouring zombies and exhilarating night chases. 

6. Ori and the Blind Forest

If someone were to ask me to prove the worth of gaming as a storytelling medium, I'd first point them to Ori and the Blind Forest. Its first ten minutes are some of the most beautiful and heart-wrenching in the history of gaming. I don't usually spend much time with platformers, especially those as difficult as Ori, but I couldn't miss this talked-up adventure.

5. Batman: Arkham Knight

As a character, Batman isn't my favorite, but as far as superheroes go, he always seems to get the best movies and games. In fact, with so many, the word "overdone" threatens to put a damper on each new project, which is why I put this game aside until the last week of the year. Sure enough, it is a blast. The addition of the Batmobile gameplay is simply awesome. I was hooked from the first minute.

4. Life is Strange

A few years ago, Telltale Games got a good thing going with its widely acclaimed "interactive film" games starting with its rendition of The Walking Dead. Five games later, a few other developers have joined in on the episodic format. Some were disappointing, and then there's Life is Stange, which, for many, breathed new life into the concept. The dialogue is much too vulgar and hideously teenager-ish for me to give the title my full support (I swear Max, if you say "hella" one more time...). Still, the time manipulation and natural phenomena elements made this a refreshingly interesting experience.

3. White Night

White Night, our horror star of the year, is nothing like anything else I've played. The haunted mansion you explore is presented in a clean-cut black and white, and I mean only black and only white. The ghosts roaming around are distorted, blurry forms, which, although hard to describe here, come across as incredibly disturbing. All your character can do it is avoid them with the help of his severely limited stash of matches. Excellent, noir-style writing join with fantastic gameplay to make White Night one of a kind.

2. Tales from the Borderlands

Tales from the Borderlands, my new favorite series from Telltale Games, takes spot 2 on a merit few games even try for: humor. The Borderlands series itself has always been one of the funniest, but this version is funny like no other and each of the game's 7+ major characters are a joy to watch and even better when placed side by side. I love it for so many reasons: the over-the-top story, the awesome music sequences, the inclusion of Chris Hardwick and Patrick Warburton (Kronk from the Emperor's New Groove). A fun story, if there ever was one.

1. The Rise of the Tomb Raider

For the two years I spent on my mission, I patiently anticipated the new Tomb Raider more than any other game I missed. It's the first game I played when I got home and it turned out to be good. Just good. Turns out the game I should have been excited for was its sequel: The Rise of the Tomb Raider. This is, hands-down, the most beautiful game I have ever played. Breathtaking vistas wait at every turn. Lara's movement feels real with every step. The survival and puzzle elements are equally rewarding. And high praise goes to the genre's new developers for steering clear of the highly sexualized Lara Croft of years past. The new Lara is crafty, courageous, and endlessly persevering. I adore her and I adore this game.

Best of 2015 - Movies

Everyone knows 2015 was a year of huge releases, ending with the biggest of them all (perhaps the biggest of all time here soon). I rolled my eyes at some, but fell right into the general admiration surrounding others. My 2015 list consists of the widely acclaimed and scarcely watched alike. Although sequels ultimately came out on top, you'll see some much-appreciated original ideas as well.

10. Ant-Man

Moviegoers may well be getting tired of the rehashed superhero film formula, and I'm losing interest myself, but Ant-Man was just different enough to make me care. The plot wasn't anything special, and the characters, although somewhat unique in the Marvel movie universe, weren't my favorite end. I liked the movie a lot, however, because Ant-Man's ability, which was extremely well-executed visually, is a lot of fun to watch. I also adore that the hero's incentive is the wellness of his daughter because it's... well, adorable.

9. Unfriended

When I saw the trailer for Unfriended, I thought the concept was laughable and didn't take it seriously for one second. Then I had a strong craving for some horror and gave it a go, finding it genuinely unsettling and satisfyingly original. The entire movie is the desktop of a teenager engaged in a video chat with friends. One of their peers, who recently committed suicide, shows up online and all of the clever social media elements that take off from there are a treat, especially the creepy video-buffering distortions as seen above. Best horror film of the year if you ask me.

8. Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Yes, the Scorch Trials has terribly underwhelming writing. I winced at every cliché "what the hell was that!?" and "keep moving!". Still, I enjoyed the overriding plot, minus its cringeworthy moments, and I like the characters as well, cheesy lines aside. The real strength here, however, is the stunning visuals. The ruined city looked amazing and the portrayal of zombies was riveting in comparison with other recent interpretations. Far superior to the prequel for me.

7. Mad Max

Mad Max is crazy. Not a sort of crazy that I was entirely crazy about, but I appreciate its unique visual style all the same. I applaud it first and foremost for the excellent characters, both heroes and villains, that make this movie so entertaining, if not somewhat over-the-top. Mad Max stands out as a perfect example of an action film that doesn't bow down to any formula or expectation.

6. The Martian

The Martian's cast was my favorite part, and it was a huge one. The film did a great job of creating a sweet-sounding harmony between the stories of the lone Martian and his intelligent ramblings, his heartbroken crew floating in space, and the characters back on Earth with all of their politics and debate. The genius behind the film owes itself to the book from which it's derived. Still, the film was just about flawless in execution.

5. Love and Mercy

Love and Mercy, the heart-touching retelling of the life of Brian Wilson, leader of The Beach Boys, is a movie I can intimately relate to. It centers on two periods of Brian's life: the band's peak years where Brian begins to be overwhelmed by the obligations of being a popular creative genius, and decades later when he finds himself again after meeting his wife. The acting is fantastic. The story is endearing. The conflicts are real.

4. Inside Out

Critical acclaim and mega bucks aside, Pixar's recent films haven't intrigued me. Inside Out, on the other hand, is genius. It's story, centered on the enigma that is the human psyche, is one that's extremely hard to tell, but one that needed to be, and Pixar blew me away with how well they did it. It's packed to the brim with the sort of clever jokes I just devoured. Dreaming, imagination, memories, interests, emotions... cohesive, comprehensive, and brilliant.

3. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Here's the hidden gem of 2015, the film I was afraid I wouldn't find: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. It's endlessly quirky and even somewhat nonsensical, but the climax moment was perhaps the single most emotionally-packed moment of my life this year. Moreover, the concluding message left me in silent contemplation for a good thirty minutes after the movie was over. Go watch this movie if you're looking for a fresh take on something that matters.

2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron

Yeah, I know...all that talk of the mediocrity of superhero movies. The Avengers, though... The Avengers are different. My favorite part of storytelling has always been the characters. Put a team of them together and I am there. And Age of Ultron does it so well. Every character has his or her shortcomings and vital moments, throwing away the typical 'I can take on the entire world single handedly' vibe and turning toward a desperate need for cooperation, which is the type of story I crave. That and the two new characters are my favorite.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

No surprises here. I'm a fan of both the originals and the prequels and I think our introduction to the third trilogy is a fine union of the former's narrative strength and the latter's visual strength. It has a lot of things I would have asked for: great new characters I can cling to (pictured above), exciting sequences, an expanded look at the Star Wars universe, and even a female lead. Still no massive Jedi battles like I've always wanted, but I'm happy with what we got and I hope it goes on to break all of the records in the weeks ahead.

And your favorites?