Steve McLean's favourite music of 2015

The top 10
 
1. Guantanamo Baywatch - Darling … It's Too Late
2. J.D. McPherson - Let The Good Times Roll
3. The Mavericks - Mono
4. Tough Age - I Get The Feeling Central
5. Frank Turner - Positive Songs For Negative People
6. Dogheart - What Burns The Best
7. Best Coast - California Nights
8. The Bottle Rockets - South Broadway Athletic Club
9. Wilco - Star Wars
10. Dune Rats - Dune Rats


Honourable mention

Twin River - Should The Lights Go Out
The Libertines - Anthems For Doomed Youth
The Strypes - Little Victories
Lindi Ortega - Faded Gloryville
Whitehorse - Leave No Bridge Unburned
Elvyn - Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour
Barrence Whitfield and The Savages - Under The Savage Sky
Blur - The Magic Whip
Kitty, Daisy and Lewis - Kitty, Daisy and Lewis The Third
Beans On Toast - The Grand Scheme Of Things
Corb Lund - Things That Can't Be Undone

EPs

The Struts - Have You Heard
Sam Roberts Band - Counting The Days EP
The Bends - Bikini Grandma
The Key Frames - Monophone Heart
Jennie Vee - Spying EP

 





Reissues, compilations and live albums
 

Stompin' Tom Connors - Collector's Series: Bud The Spud & Other Favourites
Bob Marley and The Wailers - Easy Skanking In Boston '78
Pete Townshend - Truancy: The Very Best Of ...
The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers: Deluxe Edition
Drive-By Truckers - It's Great To Be Alive!
Frank Turner - The Third Three Years
Simple Minds - Sparkle In The Rain (Reissue)


 
Concerts (chronological order)

Frank Turner at South by Southwest

Steve Mahabir - Feb. 6, Cameron House, Toronto
Dwayne Gretzky - Feb. 6, Horseshoe, Toronto
Hushdrops and The Dickens - Feb. 21, Cameron House, Toronto
J.D. McPherson - March 7, Lee's Palace, Toronto
Beans on Toast and Frank Turner - March 9, Horseshoe, Toronto
South by Southwest Music Festival - March 16-22, various venues, Austin
The Real McKenzies - March 26, Horseshoe, Toronto
Canadian Music Week Festival - May 6-9, various venues, Toronto
The Pixies - June 7, Horseshoe, Toronto
North by Northeast Music Festival - June 17-20, various venues, Toronto
The Black Lips - July 10, Horseshoe, Toronto
Teddy Fury's 60th birthday party with Beatles cover band and The Millwinders - Aug. 6, Horseshoe, Toronto
Catl and Barrence Whitfield and The Savages - Aug. 22, Horseshoe, Toronto
Robyn Hitchcock - Sept. 11, The Drake Underground, Toronto
Robyn Hitchcock with The Sadies - Sept. 13, The Drake Underground, Toronto

The Pixies at Toronto Urban Roots Fest

Toronto Urban Roots Fest - Sept. 18-20, Fort York, Toronto
Low Cut Connie - Nov. 7, The Drake Underground, Toronto
The Arc Sound - Nov. 29, Artful Dodger, Toronto
Communism and The Lowest of the Low - Dec. 4, Horseshoe, Toronto
The Skydiggers - Dec. 19, Horseshoe, Toronto
Joe Strummer tribute with The Kensington Hillbillys (The Crooked Beat) and others, Dec. 22, The Old Laurel, Toronto
The Sadies with Robyn Hitchcock - Dec. 31, Horseshoe, Toronto