Justin's Favorite Albums and Songs of 2015

As with any year in music, honesty is what makes an album stick. Sometimes that honesty is brutal. Torres' Sprinter, my favorite record of the year, tears her religious upbringing to shreds as she builds her new identify. Here her raw screams live hammered home the point. Björk chronicled her breakup with long-time partner Matthew Barney in ways that made me cringe and cry.

Other times honesty is joyful. Daddy Issues took not giving a fuck to another level and spoke their own truth without a care of who was listening. John Darnielle reveled in his love of professional wrestling with an entire album about it. It's not a passion I share, but his enthusiasm had me wanting to jump off the top rope.

Album Review: Daddy Issues - Double Loser EP

If you had just 10 minutes to impress somebody, could you do it? Greensboro quartet Daddy Issues does on their new Double Loser EP.

In four songs, Lo Davy (vocals, guitar), Lindsey Sprague (lead guitar), Maddie Putney (bass), and Amethyst White (percussion) assert themselves as a one of the best new North Carolina bands and hint at some range as well.

Few bands pull off surf rock as well as Daddy Issues. The style’s signature bounce is prevalent, but not over emphasized or cartoonish. The bright tones add color and draw the listener in. Davy lulls them for a bit with slacker-esque vocals before smacking listeners up side the head with joyful and mischievous shouts.