Top 10 Albums - 2015 Halftime

It’s hard to believe sometimes, but 2015 is halfway over. During the past 6 months, tons of new music has delighted our ears and made us feel all those happy feels. To help you sift through this year’s releases, we here at Legendary Kids Press have created a top 10 list, highlighting what we feel are the best releases of 2015 thus far. Let us know if you agree!
10. Citizen - Everybody Is Going To Heaven
Citizen’s sophomore album, Everybody Is Going To Heaven, showcases the band at its finest. However, it has a much more brooding and dark tone to it. It’s quite obvious that the band is making it clear they’re not the same as on 2013′s Youth. Many of the songs mix together madness and beauty, as brooding tones clash with harmonious melodies. Citizen really took the effort to dive deep into the idea of them moving forward as a band, which was nailed in Everybody Is Going To Heaven. -Hailey Lotzgesell
9. As It Is - Never Happy, Ever After
Never Happy, Ever After is As It Is’ Fearless Records debut and boy, is it a good one. Blending melodic pop-punk with aspects of alternative rock and relatable lyrics, the Brighton five piece have shown they’re a force to be reckoned with. One listen-through will show that these guys are the real deal, and I’m excited to see what they do in the future. -Clare Fitzgerald
8. Our Last Night - Younger Dreams
Our Last Night’s album, Younger Dreams, was a much more balanced release of hard-rock and vibrant pop melodies, which is a major change for the band whose previous work featured a more metalcore-centric sound. It’s a style fans have taken to pretty well. Lyrically, Younger Dreams can be seen as empowering and inspirational, and it deserves its spot on our top 10 list, not only because of its lyrical sense, but also with how it leaves fans wanting more. -Savannah Lee
7. All Time Low - Future Hearts
Future Hearts shows a “grown up” All Time Low, as a new found maturity shines through the album, demonstrating how the band are no longer afraid to experiment with new styles and genres. With the album charting at #1 across the world - including in the UK and US - the record is clearly a huge achievement for All Time Low, and furthermore is proving to be quite the fan favourite. In short, I’d say Future Hearts is definitely worth the hype. -Shannon Morton
6. Jule Vera - Friendly Enemies
If solid alternative-pop is your thing, then Jule Vera’s Friendly Enemies is the album for you. Eight songs of solid music, the Pure Noise Records signees have released what is sure to be one of the year’s best releases. Songs like “Die Trying” and “Friendly Enemies” feature unique sounds, showcasing the band’s ability to think outside the box, while “Scarlett Letter” and “One Little String” are tracks any pop fan can get behind. With an album as strong as Friendly Enemies, Jule Vera are definitely a band to keep on your radar. -Clare Fitzgerald
5. Young Guns - Ones And Zeros
Blending the sounds of 2010′s All Our Kings Are Dead and 2012′s Bones, Young Guns’ Ones And Zeros is without a doubt the band’s strongest release. Tracks like “Rising Up” and “I Want Out” feature arena-ready vocals and guitars, while the likes of “Lullaby” and “Die On Time” showcase the quintet’s ability to delve into the lighter side of rock. The band’s ticket to a break out in North America, Ones And Zeros is an album every music fan needs on their iPod. -Clare Fitzgerald
4. The Early November - Imbue
The Early November’s Imbue is the band’s first release since 2012′s In Currents. The album as a whole is a big step up from their previous work, with frontman Ace Enders calling it his favourite release thus far. The story behind Imbue is one of a band who created fresh music with as much enthusiasm as they’d initially started out with. With tunes for everyone to enjoy, such as the rocky “Nothing Lasts Forever” and the slower “Digital Age”, Imbue deserves its place on this list. -Savannah Lee
3. Enter Shikari - The Mindsweep
Enter Shikari have always been a standout in music with their unique blend of rock, post-hardcore and electronica, and The Mindsweep is another prime example of this. Hard-hitting tracks mix with the band’s best lyrics, which cover economic and political issues. Never ones to skip over important issues, Enter Shikari have shown that you can spread knowledge and enlightenment while still keeping music enjoyable and catchy. The Mindsweep is without a doubt one of the best albums of 2015. -Clare Fitzgerald
2. The Maine - American Candy
The Maine’s strongest release to date, American Candy is a mixture of old and new styles that encompass the band’s immense talent. The (mainly) upbeat record perfectly compliments any mood and proves to be a fairly easy listen. American Candy is lyrically brilliant and musically phenomenal and, in short, is nearly flawless. -Shannon Morton
1. twenty one pilots - Blurryface
Blurryface is twenty one pilot’s fourth album and possibly one of their greatest. It’s a mixture of chaos and control all at once. The amount of creativity that was put into the making of this record has truly made it stand out. The idea of having a character within a story representing vocalist Tyler Joseph’s insecurities and doubts within a CD makes it more than just an album title. The jump between rock, hip-hop and pop allows the boundaries of genres to be broken. Blurryface is a refreshing rap-rock revival from Linkin Park in the early 2000s. It’s an altogether extremely artistic breakthrough, from the cover to the sound. -Hailey Lotzgesell
