The Best of 2015 (So Far): Pigeons & Planes Staff Picks

We've brought you our Best Songs, Best Albums, and Best New Artists of the year so far, group efforts that required lots of debate, discussion, and careful checking to make sure we hadn't forgotten anything. We couldn't possibly include every album, song, and new artist that we individually loved, so here are our staff picks—personal favorites and the music we couldn't stop listening to in the past six months.

@PigsAndPlans / @CONFUSIONisDEAD

Favorite Albums:

A$AP Rocky - A.L.L.A

Purity Ring - another eternity

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Tobias Jesso Jr. - Goon

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment — Surf

Young Thug - Barter 6

The P&P SoundCloud and Spotify playlists, to be honest.

Favorite Songs:

Post Malone - "White Iverson"

Purity Ring - "bodyache"

Demo Taped - "I Luv U"

Future - "Just Like Bruddas"

OKAY KAYA - "Damn, Gravity"

The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face"

Jamie xx ft. Young Thug & Popcaan - "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)"

OKAY KAYA - "Damn, Gravity"

Shura - "2 Shy"

Boogie - "Oh My"

Move Orchestra - "Apex"

Jeremih ft. J. Cole- "Planes"

Reece - "Ghost"

Favorite New Artists:
Brockhampton

Post Malone

Demo Taped

Fetty Wap

Leks Rivers

Leon Bridges

Tove Styrke

OKAY KAYA

@TheConstant_G

Favorite Albums:

Jamie xx - In Colour
Future - 56 Nights
JME - Integrity>
Boogie - The Reach
Brodinski - BRAVA

Favorite Songs:

Skepta - "Shutdown"

The Weeknd - "The Hills"

Future - "Just Like Bruddas"

Jamie xx ft. Young Thug & Popcaan -  "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)"

OKAY KAYA - "Damn, Gravity"

Murlo ft. Gemma Dunleavy - "Deep Breath"

Novelist - "1 Sec"

Future Brown ft. Riko Dan - "Speng"

Rae Sremmurd - "Lit Like Bic"

A$AP Rocky - "LPFJ2"

Favorite New Artists:
Jammz

Post Malone

Sam Gellaitry

HNRK

Leon Bridges

@Katertot527

Favorite Albums:

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

Emile Haynie - We Fall

Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Earl Sweatshirt - I Don't Like Shit I Don't Go Outside

A$AP Rocky - A.L.L.A

Favorite Songs:

Post Malone - "White Iverson"

DonMonique - "Pilates"

Alessia Cara - "Here"

Heems ft. Dev Hynes - "Home"

Drake ft. Lil Wayne - "Used To"

Kwamie Liv - "Higher"

Lola Marsh - "You're Mine"

Kendrick Lamar - "Alright"

Alex Wiley ft. Pouya - "Claire"

Jamie xx ft. Romy - “Loud Places”

Favorite New Artists:

DonMonique

Demo Taped

Post Malone

Alessia Cara

OKAY KAYA

Favorite Albums:

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

Jamie xx - In Colour

Jeremiah Jae & L'Orange - The Night Took Us In Like Family

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Surf

Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear

Favorite Songs:

Towkio ft. Chance the Rapper & Lido - "Heaven Only Knows"

Young Thug ft. Birdman - "Constantly Hating"

Sam Gellaitry - "To Earth & Back"

Ta-ku ft. JMSN & Sango - "Love Again"

SBTRKT - "nO less"

Post Malone - "White Iverson"

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - "Windows"

Jamie xx ft. Romy - "Loud Places"

Young Fathers - "Sirens"

Kendrick Lamar - "How Much A Dollar Cost"

Favorite New Artists:

Demo Taped

OKAY KAYA

Dylan Brady

Goodbye Tomorrow

Leon Bridges

@_joyceng

Favorite Albums:

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

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Surf

Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful

Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

Favorite Songs:

Drake - "Energy"

Tame Impala - "'Cause I'm a Man"

Kendrick Lamar - "Alright"

Carly Rae Jepsen - "All That"

Boogie - "Oh My"

Hudson Mohawke - "Scud Books"

Action Bronson ft. Party Supplies & Black Atlass - "A Light in the Attic"

Kwamie Liv - "Higher"

Tyler, the Creator ft. Kanye West & Lil Wayne - "Smuckers"

Post Malone - "White Iverson"

Favorite New Artists:

Leon Bridges

Post Malone

Fetty Wap

Demo Taped

LEISURE

@JonTanners

Favorite Albums:
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love

Kendrick Lamar — To Pimp a Butterfly

Brodinski - Brava

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

Future - 56 Nights

Favorite Songs:
Kendrick Lamar - "Alright"

Gucci Mane - "Money Do"

Post Malone - "Too Young

Boogie - "Oh My"

The Weeknd - “I Can't Feel My Face”

Jamie xx ft. Romy - “Loud Places”

Cousin Stizz - “No Bells”

Sam Dew - "Victor"

Florence + The Machine - "Mother"

Mura Masa ft. Nao - "Firefly"

Favorite New Artists:
Tut

Brockhampton

BK Bambino

Mic Kellogg

Kevin Garrett

@khal

Favorite Albums:

DJ Rashad - 6613

Earl Sweatshirt - I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside

Jme - Integrity>

Stray - Paradise

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Favorite Songs:

Boogie - "Oh My"

Action Bronson - "Actin Crazy"

Earl Sweatshirt ft. Wiki - "AM // Radio"

Drake - "Legend"

Mr. Carmack x Kehlani - "All In"

Maxo Kream ft. Father - "Cell Boomin'"

DJ Rashad ft. Gant-Man - "Cause I Know U Feel"

Alabama Shakes - "Gimme All Your Love"

Tyler, the Creator ft. Kanye West & Lil Wayne - "Smuckers"

Codename John - "Saviour Selector"

Favorite New Artists:

Fetty Wap

Demo Taped

San Holo

Bensley

Leks Rivers

@YoAdriBaby

Favorite Albums:

Phony Ppl - Yesterday's Tomorrow

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

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Protoje - Ancient Future

Tyler, the Creator - Cherry Bomb

Favorite Songs:

Fetty Wap - "My Way"

Skepta - "Shutdown"

Kali Uchis - "Rush"

The Internet ft. Kaytranada - "Girl"

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - "Can't Keep Checking My Phone"

Inner Circle ft. Chronixx & Jacob Miller - "Tenement Yard (News Carryin' Dread)"

OverDoz. - "Last Kiss"

Slum Village ft. BJ The Chicago Kid & Illa J - "Expressive"

Remy Banks ft. D.R.A.M. & World's Fair - "The Function"

Tuxedo - "Number One"

Favorite New Artists:

Fetty Wap

Leon Bridges

Nao

Elhae

Preston Harris

@Alex_Siber

Favorite Albums:
London O’Connor - OA

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Surf

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

Jamie xx - In Colour

Favorite Songs:
Matt Champion - “El Dorado”

The Weeknd - “The Hills”

London O’Connor - “Guts”

Jamie xx - “Hold Tight”

Kanye West ft. Vic Mensa & Sia - “Wolves”

Towkio ft. Chance The Rapper, Lido, Eryn Allen Kane - “Heaven Only Knows”

Skrillex & Diplo - “Where Are Ü Now” (with Justin Bieber)

Drake - “Jungle”

Kevin Abstract - “NOT ON DOASM 3”

Cousin Stizz - “Jordan Fade”

Favorite New Artists:
London O’Connor

Brockhampton

Post Malone

Cousin Stizz

IshDarr

@sydegee

Favorite Albums:

London O'Connor - OA

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

Purity Ring - another eternity

Shlohmo - Dark Red

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

Favorite Songs:

Ciara - "I Bet"

A.G. Cook feat. Hannah Diamond - "Drop FM"

Vicktor Taiwò - "Feathers & Wax"

Wet - "Deadwater"

The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face"

Drake - "Jungle"

Alex G - "Mary"

Sufjan Stevens - "Should Have Known Better"

Purity Ring - "bodyache"

Skepta - "Shutdown"

Favorite New Artists:

London O'Connor

Vicktor Taiwò

OKAY KAYA

HANA

Hinds

@BackwoodsAltar

Favorite Albums:

NOWIFIII - Memorial Day

Death Grips - The Powers That B

Mount Eerie - Sauna

Dylan Brady - All I Ever Wanted

Hot Sugar - God's Hand

Favorite Songs:

Dylan Brady X HNRK - "It's Been a While"

Mount Eerie - "Sauna"

Blank Body - "Elephant"

Turls - "My Plug"

Ten Diamonds - "Got it Bae"

Matt Champion - "El Dorado"

HEALTH - "STONEFIST"

Death Grips - "On GP"

Mount Eerie - "This"

Yung Lean, MonyHorse, PETZ, Bladee, and Junkman - "Tokyo Drift"

Favorite New Artists:

HNRK

Dylan Brady

Drip-133

Brockhampton

@thekidLEGEND

Favorite Albums:

Toro Y Moi - What For?

Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

Mark Ronson - Uptown Special

Tuxedo - Tuxedo

Dom Kennedy - by Dom Kennedy

Leon Bridges - Coming Home

Favorite Songs:

Leon Bridges - "Smooth Sailing"

Erik Hassle - "No Words"

Drake - "10 Bands"

Jamie xx ft. Popcaan & Young Thug - "I Know It's Gonna Be (Good Times)"

Rae Sremmurd - "Unlock The Swag"

Eddie Murphy - "Oh Jah Jah"

Boogie - "Oh My"

Shy Luv - "Caught Up On You"

The Weeknd - "Can't Feel My Face"

Action Bronson - "A Light In The Addict"

Favorite New Artists

Leon Bridges

Jimi Charles Moody

Jimmy Napes

Bankroll Fresh

Zak Abel