Our 35 Essential Albums of 2015

1. Janet Jackson, Unbreakable

Unbreakable's jubilant dance tracks, ruminative slow jams, and deeply personal lyrics made it worth the seven-year wait.

2. Madonna, Rebel Heart

The Queen showed she still has an uncanny ability to nail light-hearted dance pop, but songs like "HeartBreakCity" and "Ghosttown" reminded us of her depth.

3. Adele, 25

Adele broke sales records with the long-awaited, staggeringly gorgeous 25, so filled with stripped down, soul-crushing ballads.

4. Sleater-Kinney, No Cities To Love

After years of silence, the feminist post-punk trio, featuring out Portlandia star Carrie Brownstein on guitar/vocals, dropped a surprise album full of angular, smart pop.

5. Troye Sivan, Blue Neighbourhood

The album's brooding synth-pop and boy-centric love songs showed why the out 20-year-old Aussie electro-pop wunderkind is an internet sensation.

6. Years & Years, Communion

The British band's clever dance pop made for an infectious debut, and out frontman Olly Alexander's same-sex lyrics made us swoon.

7. John Grant, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure

The out singer-songwriter delivered yet another critically acclaimed album full of hilariously sardonic indie pop.

8. Courtney Barnett, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit

Out Australian indie rocker Barnett released a winning debut collection of scruffy rock songs fueled by witty lyrics.

9. Shamir, Ratchet

The post-gender pop star's debut album delighted fans and critics with its sassy blend of hip-hop and dance pop.

10. Adam Lambert, The Original High

Lambert stretched himself by meshing EMD, funk, house and balladry to create his best album yet.

11. Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color

Who doesn't love Brittany Howard's soulful yelp and bluesy guitar chops? Retro R&B met woozy Southern rock on this impressive sophomore album.

12. Giorgio Moroder, Deja Vu

The founding father of disco returned to the scene with a triumphant dance pop gem. Special guest singers included some of our favorites: Sia, Kylie, Britney, Charli XCX and more.

13. Kelly Clarkson, Piece By Piece 

More of the same from Clarkson, which meant more of her sumptuous voice delivering big, hooky pop hits -- plus a few adventurous sprinkles of EDM thrown into the mix.

14. Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz

A trippy collection from our most free-spirited, out and proud pal. Heartwrecking ballads like "Lighter" and "Karen, Don't Be So Sad" were found amid the stoner spaciness.

15. Marina and the Diamonds, Froot

Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis released a more serious collection than 2012's concept album Electric Heart, but the synth-pop hooks are in full force, as is her swoon-worthy voice.

16. Bjork, Vulnicura

Vulnurica finds avant garde pop star Bjork at her most furious -- and sad. A break-up album so visceral, the pain practically pulsated.

17. Lana Del Rey, Honeymoon

Now that the deafening buzz (both pro and con) about her has quieted to a simmer, Del Rey is free to continue creating her signature noir-pop, as found on this year's spooky Honeymoon.

18. Jimmy Somerville, Homage

The out former Bronski Beat and Communards singer released an original album that meticulously recreated the 1970s disco sound right down to the funk guitar and horn blasts.

19. Marc Almond, The Velvet Trail

The former Soft Cell leader casually released a career highlight in 2015. The Velvet Trail is filled with the out musicians's dramatic electro-pop, including a perfect duet with Gossip's Beth Ditto.

20. Carly Rae Jepsen, E-MO-TION

A delicious collection of pop confection that reminded us why we all flipped for Jepsen's 2011 hit "Call Me Maybe."

21. Brandi Carlile, The Firewatcher's Daughter

The out alt-country musician perfected her signature Americana sound on her fifth studio album.

22. Kacey Musgraves, Pageant Material

Country star Musgraves won our hearts with the 2014 gay rights anthem "Follow Your Arrow." On her 2015 album, she delivered again with the pro-pot "High Time" and the sex positive "Cup of Tea."

23. Mika, No Place In Heaven

The out musician teased his fourth album with the single "Good Guys," a bittersweet ode to the gay men of yesteryear. The rest of the record also dazzled. 

24. Florence + The Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Florence Welch's big, bold voice powered another brooding record about love and loss. 

25. Lower Dens, Escape From Evil 

Queer frontwoman Jana Hunter's throaty alto is just one reason to love this Baltimore indie rock band's  third album, its poppiest to date.

26. Peaches, Rub

Our filthiest (and most fun) queer cohort released an electro-pop album of stunning vision and audacity. 

27. Grimes, Art Angels

Electro-pop musician Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, has been a hit with hipsters for years. The 27-year-old's shimmering, surreal fourth album showed the rest of us why.

28. Demi Lovato, Confident

Thanks to Lovato, we got to shake our tushes to the bi-curious hit "Cool For The Summer." The rest of the all-grown-up Confident is just as sure-footed and fun.

29. Beach House, Depression Cherry

The Baltimore boy-girl duo's fifth album brimmed with an etheral, otherworldly sound akin to the dream pop made by the band's '80s idols, the Cocteau Twins.

30. Against Me!, 23 Live Sex Acts

To experience Against Me! live is to experience the band, fronted by transgender punk icon Laura Jane Grace, at its most fierce. The live album, 23 Live Sex Acts is the next best thing.

31. Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell

The sexually ambiguous indie pop star released an album about his late mother Carrie, who suffered with mental illness and addiction. It's haunting, tender, angry and beautiful.

32. Halsey, Badlands

The 20-year-old bisexual pop star wrote an album's worth of haunting vignettes and then doused them in noirish synth-pop. A stunning debut.

33. Deerhunter, Fading Frontier

Out singer-songwriter Bradford Cox led the critically acclaimed indie pop band to create their dreamiest album yet.

34. Le1f, Riot Boi

The out rapper has been on the cutting edge of hip-hop from the start, and the deeply personal Riot Boi highlights his skillful wordplay and socially conscious themes.

35. Steve Grand, All American Boy

The out country singer gives the twangy treatment to boy-on-boy romance on his Kickstarter-funded debut album.