Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2015. Our next list is from DJ (Thursdays 3-6pm) Mauricio Reyes.

Since it was released after my 2014 list was made...

Black Messiah by D'Angelo (RCA)

I'm gonna put this one in it's own special category due to its late release last year. And it deserves its own category. I spent most of 2014 listening to "Voodoo" over and over again, so it was an early Christmas present for me when D'Angelo dropped this gift on to the world. Though the release date was rushed, which sounds kinda funny cause it took 15 years in between albums, the timing was impeccable and truly captured the moment that America was going through (and still is). The chaos in the music of "1000 Deaths" is the sound of the unrest that Michael Brown's death brought to the U.S. and the line in "The Charade" All we wanted was a chance to talk, 'stead we only got outlined in chalk, tugs at the hearts strings but Trayvon Martin... Tamir Rice... Freddie Gray... Walter Scott... Eric Gardner... LaQuan McDonald... This is not an album that will be remembered by its placement on lists in 2014 or 2015 but an album that will remain timeless.

#1   The Epic by Kamasi Washington (Brainfeeder)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

The name of the album says it all. I'm not even gonna begin to act like I know what I'm talking about when it comes to jazz but I do know that this album blows my mind every time I listen to it. Clocking in at a brief 3 hours, The Epic is a bizarre ride to the far side worth taking.

#2   Full Communism by Downtown Boys (Don Giovanni)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

You're really getting to the point when you call your album Full Communism. 23 minutes of punk rock fury. Downtown Boys sounds like they were shot out of cannon. There's an urgency in the music and in Victoria Ruiz's vocals as she switches between English and Spanish, just like I switch between the two when I'm talking to my parents. The saxophone takes Downtown Boys to the next level and the "Dancing In The Dark" cover is the icing on the cake. WE ARE BROWN!!! WE ARE SMART!!! LA RAZA 4 EVER!!!

#3   Escape From Evil by Lower Dens (Ribbon Music)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Jana Hunter.

#4   The Good Fight by Oddisee (Mello Music Group)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

I know it's sacrilegious to put this above Kendrick but I just did. Oddisee's flow is flawless.

#5   To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar (Aftermath/Interscope)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Like Che Guevara with bling on, COMPLEX. I get goosebumps every time I hear somebody on TV or on the street singing "We gonna be alright."

#6   The Agent Intellect by Protomartyr (Hardly Art)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Dark & punishing & amazing.

#7   Begging Please by Samo Sound Boy (Body High)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Jamie who?

#8   Dealer by Foxing (Triple Crown Records)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

The music and arrangements on Dealer are a cut above the rest when it comes to the new emo bands. Hear me now, believe later, Foxing is one of the best live bands out there right now, if not the best.

#9   Needs by Needs (Allegro)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Canadian hardcore at its best and with titles like "Walk, Cycle or Take Transit Like Jehu" and "We Forgot the Records to Our Record Release Party" could a hardcore comedy record be in the pipelines??? Probably not, but some kind of award should be given out for song titles like that.

#10   Painted Shut by Hop Along (Saddle Creek)
BUY: Reckless / Amazon

Hop Along - raspy voices are the new black and pretty cool that a Saddle Creek band is creating buzz in 2015.

10b. Libertines - Somebody give Pete Doherty a visa so they can play in the U.S.!!!

Honorable Mentions:

A$AP Rocky - At.Long.Last.A$AP

The Bright Light Social Hour - Space Is Still The Place

Blur - The Magic Whip

Bjork - Vulnicura

Donnie Trumpet - Surf

Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear

Flesh Panthers - Ngc 2632

Larry Gus - I Need New Eyes

Sleaford Mods - Key Markets

Tunde Olaniran - Transgressor