10.

The 1975 — A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships

Top Tracks = Love It if We Made It // It's Not Living (If It's Not With You) // I Couldn't Be More in Love

I'm not sure that The 1975 have been around long enough to get nostalgic about, but listening to them always reminds me of my student house on Mulcaster Crescent, listening to their tracks on MySpace and @Parkinson increasing the volume on his iMac. As much as I try not to like this band, the record is actually quite good. Certainly the singles are all top notch and although the approach is a bit all over the place; when it works, it really works

9.

Robyn — Honey

Top Tracks = Honey, Send To Robyn Immediately, Missing U

I first listened to this record on my way home from work. The sun was setting in front of me, my fuel tank and the motorway were almost empty and the skyline was cinematic. At this point the perfect segue between "Send To Robyn Immediately" and "Honey" happened. Something about the open road, the glowing red sunset and the kick drums made it a magical moment. I like it when artists take their time and make really good music. A long awaited record from a great artist

8.

SiR — November

Top Tracks = Something Foreign // Dreaming of Me // Summer in November

It would have been easy for me to forget about this gem that dropped early in the year but it was too good to let go. SiR sometimes feels like the forgotten artist in the TDE roster with Kendrick, SZA and Schoolboy Q getting most of the hype. Sure there are a few tracks in the middle that kill the vibe slightly, but the standout stuff is so good that they are easily forgiven. The production, sampling, features and vocals are all top notch

7.

Jungle — For Ever

Top Tracks = Heavy California // Cherry // Pray

I loved the first Jungle record so when the follow up was announced I was pretty excited. The formula is pretty much the same but I'm not sure that is necessarily a bad thing. For the most part Jungle stick to what they are good at but the Californian sunshine seems to have helped shape the sound

6.

Chvrches — Love Is Dead 

Top Tracks = Get Out // Graffiti // Forever

I've got a lot of love for synths and I love bands with female lead singers so it's not surprising Chvrches ended up on this list. Big hooks and big synths all held together by Lauren Mayberry's vocals. The singles got played to death on radio/playlists but I still get a buzz when I hear the record now, 7 months after it dropped

5.

Djrum — Portrait with Firewood

Top Tracks = Sex // Creature, Pt.2 // Blue Violet

As kids we are told to never judge a book by its cover but as a graphic designer I judge almost everything on its appearance. Something about this record drew me in: the cover, the colour palette, the tracknames. Once I listened I was transfixed: the piano, the hi-hats, the mix of live instruments and electronic sounds and most of all... the cello. I love a good cello. The music flows from distorted synths and crushing hi hats to soft piano and arps. It's a complex album, thoughtfully put together; beautiful at times and hitting like a sledgehammer at others

4. 

Rhye — Blood

Top Tracks = Phoenix // Count To Five // Stay Safe

Something about the overall sound of this record is soothing. Although it can be slightly melancholic at times, its slow, soft vibe is incredibly enjoyable and doesn't drag or get boring. The addition of live instruments like horns gives it a warmth that perfectly compliments the ice cold vocals

3.

Mumford & Sons — Delta

Top Tracks = Delta // Guiding Light // Slip Away

The last person who expected a Mumford & Sons record to end up on this list was me, but I'm not going to pretend I didn't really enjoy it. Perhaps its all those years playing in a worship band but the spiritual undercurrent throughout the lyrics and tension/release of the tracks really grabbed me on a deeper level than almost anything else I heard

2.

Kacey Musgraves — Golden Hour

Top Tracks = Slow Burn // Oh, What A World // Golden Hour

It's rare to find a record that my whole family can enjoy, so when I do it gets played a lot. Sometimes simple pop music about love is the best kind of music. Slow country vibes and soothing vocals... the soundtrack of many family mealtimes this year

1.

Metric — Art of Doubt

Top Tracks = Now or Never Now // Underline the Black // Dressed to Supress

Perhaps it's because I listen to a lot of rap and electronic based music but when I heard this record from a "real" band, playing "real" instruments it absolutely blew me away. There are moments where a guitar line explodes onto a track or a snare hit thunders into a build up and it is just magical. And "Now or Never Now" is literally the best song I heard all year

*Bonus*

The Weeknd — My Dear Melancholy

Top Tracks = Call Out My Name // Wasted Time // Hurt You

I think the reason I enjoyed this EP so much is that it reminds me of the very first time I downloaded the "House of Balloons" mixtape from Drake's blogspot before either artist was the global megastar that they are today. The production is closer to the downcast "House of Ballons" era than the sugarcoated "Starboy". Nobody does melancholic music better than The Weeknd and over just six tracks he proves it