Agit Reader head honcho Stephen Slaybaugh recently asked me if I heard anything in 2015 that really moved me, and my response was, “No, not really.” Yet here I am, able to name 30 different full-length new releases and reissues that genuinely did stir me this year. I suppose I answered hastily. I truly believe there’s always great stuff out there if you want it. Here’s to being wrongly underwhelmed in 2016, too.

Top Albums

15. Sweet Talk, Double Perfect (12XU Records)
14. Miriam, Down Today (Norton Records)
13. Thee Tsunamis, Saturday Night Sweetheart (Magnetic South Recordings)
12. Andy Human and the Reptoids, Andy Human and the Reptoids (S-S Records)
11. Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs, Coulda Shoulda Woulda (Transdreamer Records)
10. Hierophants, Parallax Error (Goner Records)
9. Minneapolis Uranium Club, Performs Human Exploration (Fashionable Idiots Records)
8. Protomartyr, The Agent Intellect (Hardly Art Records)
7. Kelley Stoltz, In Triangle Time (Castle Face Records)
6. Golden Pelicans, Oldest Ride Longest Line (Total Punk)
5. Home Blitz, Foremost and Fair (Richie Records)
4. Black Time, Aerial Gobs of Love ( Forbjunda Lju)
3. Barreracudas, Can Do Easy (Oops Baby Records)
2. Lame Drivers, Chosen Era (Bleeding Gold)
1. Life Stinks, You’ll Never Make It (S-S Records)

Top Reissues

15. Bob Dylan,The Cutting Edge 1965–1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12 (Columbia/Legacy)
14. Annie Philippe, Sensationnel! Ye-Ye Bonbons 1965–1968 (Ace Records)
13. Link Wray, 3-Track Shack (Ace Records)
12. Billy Synth, We Have Got to Make It on Our Own (Mind Cure Records)
11. The Squires, Going All the Way with The Squires (Crypt Records)
10. Laurice, Best of Laurice Vol. 2 (Mighty Mouth Records)
9. Various Artists, Destroy All Art: 17 Under-the-Radar Punk Hits from the ’90s (Rock ’n Roll Parasite)
8. Various Artists, Punk 45: Extermination Nights in the Sixth City (Soul Jazz Records)
7. Staples Singers, Faith and Grace (Stax Records)
6. Tall Dwarfs, Weeville / Chris Knox, Seizure (Captured Tracks)
5. Alice Coltrane, Universal Consciousness (Superior Viaduct Records)
4. Alex Chilton, Ocean Club Live ’77 (Norton Records)
3. Scientists, Blood Red River (Numero Group)
2. Amanaz, Africa (Now-Again)
1. Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments, Straight to Video  (Straight to Video Records)