Is 'To Pimp A Butterfly' The Best Album Of The Last 15 Years?

Legacy music publication Consequence Of Sound have celebrated 15 years of editorial by ranking the 75 best album's of the last 15 years. It's no surprise what has come out on top, with Kendrick Lamar's revolutionary project To Pimp A Butterfly landing at number 1. 

The list opens with Lorde's Melodrama before reflecting on some of the best contemporary artists and their amazing work. Beyoncé's Lemonade lands in second place, ahead of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Fiona Apple, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Radiohead, Frank Ocean, Janelle Monae and Adele.

The list acts as an amazing documentation of the era of music we are living in, one full of diverse genre, amazing songwriters and revolutionary, political bodies of work. To our disappointment however, no Australian artists made the list despite a strong 15 years in our tight knit music scene. We were surprised to see that psych-rock wizard(s) Tame Impala's Currents not land on the list despite the notoriety it received and the way in which it acted as a landmark musical moment for an artist who is now an undisputed headliner no matter where he goes. Genesis Owusu's Smiling With No Teeth also deserved a spot on the list in our opinion, due to its mind and genre bending production which melt perfectly Owusu's varied vocal performances to create an album unlike no other. 

So, the question begs, is To Pimp A Butterfly the best album of the last 15 years? We definitely agree. Following on from Lamar's Compton focussed debut record good Kid, m.A.A.d city, Lamar surprised and wowed fans with what is generally considered one of the greatest rap projects of all time. After travelling to South Africa to find inspiration for the project, Lamar put together a project sonically distinct, taking from the worlds of jazz, funk and soul to make his most introspective work to date. With the project he discusses racial inequality, police brutality and generational trauma, both through his own eyes but also through the lens' of others.

You can check out the full list HERE.