The Fashionably Late Top 50 of 2015: GEMS

I am forever running late. While it may not be a part of my charm, I would refer you to the old saying about better late than never. In any case, after probably way too much thought, I finally settled upon my favorite 50 records from the year that was 2015. I'm also mixing it up a little this year, y'all. Instead of ranking every record, I'm giving you my picks in alphabetical order, saving my number one, very favorite record of the year for last. So sit back, relax, and refresh your memory of last year's best with a group of records that I hope will tickle your fancy.

Who: GEMS

What: Kill the One You Love

When: October 2015

Where: Carpark Records

Why: My my my, what a debut record. Cliff and Lindsay, the duo behind GEMS, have really done themselves proud here. Serpentine beats and Lindsay's siren song vocals (equal parts angelic and smoky chanteuse) prove a very winning combination. At times the songs reach the ethereal, while others they take a darker tone. Basically, this record is smooth, it's sexy, and it's everything you might have expected after hearing their impressive Medusa EP.

My very favorite jam: "w/o u" and perhaps also "Living as a Ghost" and maybe also "Heartbreaker"




[posted 4.26.16]