It’s very hard not to put something personal in the introduction of this blog post because my last entry was in January and from that point up to this very minute where my fingers are fidgeting over the keyboard of my laptop, turning my head left and right as people come and go and having my ‘katkat’ moment here inside a Starbucks outlet in SM City Davao before I head back home to Surigao, 42,462 things happened to me. I went to several photowalks this year, travelled to some places I had never been to, sat in hundreds of meetings in and out of the office, posted a handful of hugots in Instagram, spent hours of overtime at work, discovered that I love Japanese food and of course, had my heart broken (again). Before, during and after those moments, I held on to songs and albums as I have always done for most of my life. 2015 was just a good year for music.

So let me lay down my top 10 most played albums of the year.

10. WE LOVE DISNEY – Various Artists (2015)

Is it weird that this compilation album made it to my list? Nah, I don’t think so. I have a lot to confess about this album. First, I only heard of this because news came to me that Ariana Grande will be part of this album which features classic Disney songs as remade by current Pop Stars. You know me, my Arianator heart is always alive. Though I’m really still not happy that Ariana only got that Hercules song I never even remember hearing when I was still a child, there are other precious discoveries about the album that I made. Jessie J dialed down the crazy vocal riffs and made “Part of Your World”, a song I didn’t appreciate years ago, as a track that every Disney fan would be proud of. Jhene Aiko’s rendition of “In a World of My Own/Very Good Advice” puts every person, regardless of age, to sleep at any time of the day. But on top of it all, Tori Kelly’s soaring vocals slayed “Colors of the Wind” and made everyone agree that it is the album standout. Listening to this album brings back a lot of childhood memories – a perfect album to listen to when you want to chill out.

Album picks: Colors of the Wind, Part of Your World, A Whole New World

9. WANTED ON VOYAGE – George Ezra (2014)

There are just albums from last year that spill over and you still can’t resist putting on queue when you listen to music. This is one of those. This is probably my third most played album of 2014 behind Ariana Grande’s My Everything and Yours Truly. Yet I still play it every week when I walk home from the office. This is the best album to listen to if you’re travelling to a place for the first time or when you are jogging. George Ezra’s vocals aren’t going anywhere but in your head. I have yet to hear someone in person who sings these songs like he does. His lyrics are wicked, bleak and dark that they wander. Look at the title of the tracks. The European reference is all over the place. I used to say that I feel like I am having a free European trip when I listen to this album. It still holds true even today.

Album picks: Leaving It Up to You, Barcelona, Listen To The Man

8. MONTEVALLO – Sam Hunt (2014)

I fell in love with Sam Hunt during my CPA Board Exam review days with the release of his 2014 EP “X2C”. His kind of country music is something that people need to listen to. I have observed that only a few Filipinos are into country music. I get it. Monotonous. Homogenous. Every song almost sounds the same. But let Sam Hunt take your time (pun intended). This guy made me doubt if Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum is really my favorite male voice in country music. Sam Hunt’s album is something that I always play when I am cleaning the room or washing my clothes while wanting to waste every minute of my time. The beats of his songs truly deserve to go multi-platform in the industry. Pop, R&B and Hiphop incorporated to Country Music in a dope way? Yeah, Sam Hunt is a genius when it comes to that. That is why even in 2015, I still figure out why I don’t get tired of Montevallo.

Album Picks: Take Your Time, House Party, Leave The Night On

7. PURPOSE – Justin Bieber (2015)

One of the best memes I have seen this year is that which shows the evolution of Beliebers. The left portion shows screaming teenage girls in 2014 and the right side shows swag, untouchable guys at their 20’s or 30’s in 2015. With someone like me who openly admits that I used to hate Justin Bieber, I feel guilty. First two tracks from the album and he gained my respect. Going the EDM route and being friends with Diplo and Skrillex (hello Where Are U Now!) doubtlessly paid off. Justin Bieber did it right this 2015. He should continue this momentum so everyone would forget all the not-so-good stuff he did in the recent years. And so that people can focus more on what they miss when it comes to him – his talent.

Album Picks: Love Yourself, Sorry, What Do You Mean

6. GET WEIRD – Little Mix (2015)

I’d have to confess. I learned about Little Mix 2 years ago but I didn’t give a damn about them. I thought that they were just another overrated girl group forced to be together to release nonsense, pop trashes and compile them into an album that will be forgotten 2 weeks after release. Then while sitting all laid-back in a serviced residence in Makati watching V Channel, the lead single from the album “Black Magic” played on screen. I couldn’t understand why something of that tune had me poppin’. The song is very simple but very catchy. So I made an effort to listen to what the rest of their discography could offer. I then discovered that they are the group behind a song that I always loved jamming to but never knew about the artist – their club-banger ‘Move’ from the Salute album. The rest is history in my becoming a Mixer. Get Weird is such a pop gem well-loved in Europe but has yet to break into the US Market. Oh man, you have no idea how flawless these girls’ vocals are. If you are into a good jam for the day, listen to Grown or I Won’t. But if you want to be a Mixer (if you still aren’t), listen to their ballad “Secret Love Song Pt. II” and you’ll get what I am saying.

Album Picks: Secret Love Song Pt. II, I Won’t, Grown

5. PHARMACY – Galantis (2015)

This is the part where I would apologize to all fans of David Guetta, Zedd, Avicii, Axwell^Ingrosso,Calvin Harris, Diplo, Skrillex, Felix Jaehn, Disclosure, Steve Aoki, Martin Garrix and all other related artists because I believe Pharmacy is the best EDM album of all times. That may be very highly debatable if faced with EDM fans but know this, Galantis’ style of electro-house music is my cup of tea. I’d drink, dance or get wasted with any Galantis song at any night of the week if only I drink and go to clubs but I don’t (lol). Some critics are hitting on the similarity and lack of originality of many of the tracks but that is actually what makes this album special. Since the vocals on the songs are almost similar on each track, it gives you a sense of familiarity – that kind of familiarity which you would always crave for after tasting one of them. It is very silly that sometimes I lip-synch these songs as I walk when they are on my earphones. I just make sure no one is watching though so that I wouldn’t look crazy even if I naturally am. I consider myself as one of the biggest members of the Seafox Nation here in the Philippines. So any Galantis fan out there is meant to be my good friend.

Album Picks: Runaway (You and I), Dancin’ To The Sound of a Broken Heart, Peanut Butter Jelly

4. I CRY WHEN I LAUGH – Jess Glynne (2015)

This is probably one of the most underrated albums of the year but absolutely one of the best. I would understand people’s opinions, however. My first album run-through was like “Uhm. That it? Okay.” I know it might be underwhelming at first because Jess has set the bar high with “Rather Be” and “Hold My Hand” but after several repeats, I became very close to this album. There were times when I wanted to go out of a meeting because I needed to listen to “Take Me Home” and eventually release any stress with the tracks that follow. There is something about her voice that people can’t get enough of. No wonder why she has had five no. 1 UK hits. Her voice is enough to take you to a journey. This album just gives details to that journey.

Album Picks: Take Me Home, Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself, My Love (Acoustic)

3. 25 – Adele (2015)

I don’t think I am alone with this. To say that ‘25’ is a worldwide phenomenon may already be an understatement. So hello! Adele came back. So did our hope for “real” music. This album only had one month to be part of my most played albums in 2015 but as someone whose one of the most read blog entries is about Adele, this was expected. I think I memorized the lyrics to most of the songs in a span of two weeks. I don’t even want to discuss how much love and respect I have for Adele. She always just brings it. The stories and emotions to the songs make them huge. Each song is like a movie you would play depending on the extent of your pain or the lack of it. And the standout track, “All I Ask” - Oh God, this is probably her most honest and begging song to date. I remember listening to this song as I cried myself to sleep, as I laid my head on the window glass of a bus off to nowhere, and as I walked along the streets at night alone figuring what I want to feel or what I don’t want to. I just want to thank Adele for being effortless. People listen to her songs like they are drugs. They play 25 and relive the moments. Getting listeners stuck at a moment and a feeling – that’s Adele’s secret weapon. As always.

Album Picks: All I Ask, When We Were Young, Water Under The Bridge

2. BLUE NEIGHBOURHOOD – Troye Sivan (2015)

You only have two options: 1. Adore Troye Sivan or 2. Get a life. I have long been a fan of this guy since the release of his “TRYXE” EP. A proof of that is a profile pic on my Facebook account that copies the same concept of the EP’s album art. I always knew that his voice is special. It’s weak, fragile, subtle and very, very pleasant to the ears. Then he went full-fledged with dreamy pop and just exploded with synths and beats that only he gives justice to. He released his first single “Wild” this year with an accompanying music video that started a trilogy the whole Youtube nation talked about. Troye and his released songs just kept getting better thereafter. Fools. Talk Me Down.

And the crowning glory of the album came out – ‘Youth’. I suggested several friends to listen to this track and they were all on board. Not until people realize Troye Sivan’s musical style and identity, I believe they’re missing, big time, something amazing. The album is full of songs that are too honest, too bold, sometimes repetitive but mostly euphoric. 

He is just my type of eccentric musician. That type which I know some people would not like but it’s perfectly okay. Troye’s fans would like to keep him to ourselves.

Album picks: Youth, Lost Boy, Talk Me Down

1. CHAOS AND THE CALM – James Bay (2015)

Oddly, I don’t even know where to begin. If my life in 2015 were an album, it’d be Chaos and the Calm by James Bay. I have listened to this album every single day since it was released. He’s my favorite male musician now. There are other better male vocals than his, I know, but his overall package is what I’ll forever adore. The way he writes the lyrics to the songs make me feel like I wrote them too. His poetry is not beyond this generation. His words are too real you can’t escape them. He does not even try but his cozy falsetto makes cold hearts drop with the melody of his songs. He begs his loved one on almost all songs and he’s very consistent in grasping that feeling of rawness and subtlety. If there’s someone I would like to create music with, it’s definitely James Bay. And if you guys are ever wondering where I get the inspiration for those ‘hugot’ posts this year, most of them were based on how I feel about his songs.

I listen to him when I am alone in a dark room. I listen to him when I fall asleep as I travel. I listen to him at early dawn digesting to some of his lyrics that say “You’re all I want… so bring me the dawn…”. At some point, I could say I am happy that I do not personally know anyone who is as obsessed with James Bay as I am. It is a pleasure that I have a sense of ownership when it comes to his music. I like to keep his songs to myself. I’d be frantic to hear someone sing “Let It Go” in a random acoustic bar and people would just let the song pass by as I drown inside. I just hope that moving forward, I won’t feel the pain in this album as deep as I did in 2015. But if it would still go down that road, I will not complain.

Pain, after all, is what makes humans feel more human.

To a better musical year for 2016!

Happy New Year!