NEWS: TODDSTAR'S TOP 50 RELEASES OF 2015

December 23, 2015 • Leave a Comment

Once again, it is that time of the year where I attempt to rank all of the great releases of the year - not just the rock ones - whether they came my way via promotional copy, label submitted downloads, or, forking out my hard earned cash and buying the disc. As usual, any disc that received a high rating from me throughout the year winds up on my wish list and I eventually purchase it to have in my personal collection (love having that piece of plastic in my hands, with liner notes, photos, lyrics, etc.). Here are my choices for the Top 50 Music Releases of 2015. Hopefully you enjoyed many of these discs this year or at least pushed out of your comfort zone and discovered a new favorite or two.

1. Motor Sister - Ride

Jim Wilson of Motor Sister says: "THANKS so much!! And thanks for the support and for making us your #1! Glad you like the album and there's lots more coming. Keep in touch and keep rockin'!"

Read my CD Review HERE

2. Fall To June - Fall To June

Nate "The General" Yant (drummer) of Fall To June says: "Wow 2015 , what a year. We kicked things off in West Hollywood at the Viper Room for a NAMM show followed up with a showcase show for Radio Contraband at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. 2015 saw us release our first single "Delta Breakdown" from our debut album and watched as it stayed in the Charts for 16 weeks peaking at #34. We toured all over the US with many bands however two of our favorites has to be Black Stone Cherry and Shamans Harvest. Memorable shows on that tour, especially our stop in Flint, Michigan at The Machine Shop. We are proud and honored to be included in Toddstar and 100% Rock [best of list], hey we came in at #2... Thank you guys so much, it's folks like you that are truly keeping Rock Alive... Can't wait to see ya again in 2016."

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my interview with Jeremy Marhsall HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

3. Scorpions - Return To Forever

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

4. A Thousand Horses - Southernality

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

5. Buckcherry - Rock 'N' Roll

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

6. Beth Hart - Better Than Home

Read my CD Review HERE

7. Tremonti - Cauterize

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Mark Tremonti HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

8. Five Finger Death Punch - Got Your Six

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

9. Kid Rock - First Kiss

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Live Review HERE

See my Live Photos HERE

10. Soto - Inside The Veritgo

Jeff Scott Soto says: "What an honor to even be in the Top 50 category but to be listed as high as Number 10, WHOA!!! Thanks to all who gave us a listen and giving us nod here, we are very excited about so much happening for 2016 already!"

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Jeff Scott Soto HERE

11. The Compulsions - Dirty Fun

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Rob Carlyle HERE

12. Huntress - Static

Read my CD Review HERE

13. Momoiro Clover Z vs Kiss

Read my CD Review HERE

14. Reba McEntire - Love Somebody

Read my CD Review HERE

15. Entwine - Chaotic Nation

Read my CD Review HERE

16. Devil City Angels - Devil City Angels

Brandon Gibbs of Devil City Angels says: “Thank you so much for thinking of and supporting our group! You guys RAWK! :)”

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Rudy Sarzo HERE

17. Diablo Blvd. - Follwo The Deadlights

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Andries Beckers HERE

18. Karyn Crisis' Gospel Of The Witches - Salem's Wounds

Karyn Crisis says: "Salem's Wounds" is a deeply personal album about the search for Universal truths, so it's the kind of music that finds listeners who are on their own paths of searching, arriving in synchronicity like an answer to an unspoken question. It's an unexpected and wonderful surprise to find it in the much more public forum of Toddstar and 100% Rock's Top 50! Thank you!"

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Karyn Crisis HERE

19. Hinder - When The Smoke Clears

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Cody Hanson HERE

20. Joel Hoekstra's 13 - Dying To Live

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Joel Hoekstra HERE

21. Owl - Things You Cannot See

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Chris Wyse HERE

22. BulletBoys - Elefante'

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Marq Torien HERE

23. Smash Into Pieces - The Apocalypse DJ

Chris Adam of Smash Into Pieces says: "SO COOL! THANKS! IT's always a true honor when people like you supports US!"

Read my CD Review HERE

24. Serious Black - As Daylight Breaks

Read my CD Review HERE

25. Adley Stump - Like This

Adley Stump says: “This is an unexpected & humbling honor. So many amazing artists out there & I’m thankful to be recognized & included on this list!”

Read my CD Review HERE

Read my Interview with Adley Stump HERE

26. Grace Potter - Midnight

Read my CD Review HERE

27. Gin Wigmore - Blood To Bone

Read my CD Review HERE

28. Adakain - Never Coming Home

Ryan Ray of Adakain says: “I feel very honored and thankful to have our album even make the top 50! The guys and I worked so hard and put so much love into the songs, so it's very much appreciated, and I thank you guys from the bottom of my heart!”

Read my CD Review HERE

29. Jimmy Barnes - Hindsight

Read my CD Review HERE

30. Melissa Manchester - You Gotta Love The Life

Read my CD Review HERE

31. W.A.S.P. - Golgotha

Read my CD Review HERE

32. Elle King - Love Stuff

Read my CD Review HERE

33. Sevendust - Kill The Flaw

Read my CD Review HERE

34. Vamps - Bloodsuckers

Read my CD Review HERE

35. A Life Divided - Human

Read my CD Review HERE

36. Eclipse - Armageddonize

Read my CD Review HERE

37. Patrick Sieben - Under The Neon Light

Patrick Sieben says" Under the Neon Light is the culmination of 3 years of writing and recording. We worked so hard to assemble and arrange this mess of ideas I heard in my head. I'm extremely honored to on Toddstar and 100% Rock's 2015 Top 50. This is a definite piece of serenity after many long days spent in the studio."

Read my CD Review HERE