Best Debut Albums of 2015

Best Debut Albums of 2015
Mark E. Ortega & Sandra Burciaga
GrimyGoods.com
December 8, 2015

This past year was a great year for debut albums, and especially a mammoth year for women in music. About 65 percent of our debut selections are from some very talented women. While we could have easily added a few more records to this list, we like to keep it selective. When it comes down to what exactly makes a “best debut album of 2015”, there are a lot of factors at play, but for us, all the debut records listed below were constantly on repeat throughout the year. From hip hop, rock, pop, electronica and more — these debut albums were each extraordinary in their own way.

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5 Early-Afternoon Sasquatch! Acts Worth Checking Out

5 Early-Afternoon Sasquatch! Acts Worth Checking Out
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
May 22, 2015

Grimy Goods contributor Mark E. Ortega is embarking on a six-week music festival tour around the United States. After stops in the south at Shaky Knees and Hangout Fest, Mark’s returning to the west coast for Sasquatch! at The Gorge in Washington for Memorial Day weekend. Here’s a look at some early-afternoon acts you shouldn’t miss if you’ll be there.

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SXSW Friday: The ladies rule: Elle King, Natalie Prass, Charlotte OC & more

SXSW Friday: The ladies rule: Elle King, Natalie Prass, Charlotte OC & more
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
March 22, 2015

All week I knew that Friday promised to be the busiest day for me music-wise from beginning to end. From noon to 1:30 AM, I hit five different venues and got to see a dozen different acts, almost all of which I hadn’t gotten a chance to see the previous two days.

My day started at Mohawk for House of Vans. I caught the tail-end of British synth-pop act JUCE. They had great energy and I liked their sound. Lead vocalist Chalin was able to get the crowd really into it, which is a lot to ask at noon after most people have partied the previous three days and were hungover. “Austin, you just got JUCED!” she shouted at the end of her set to great applause.

Despite an LA audience that didn't know how to STFU, Hundred Waters puts El Rey crowd into trance

Despite an LA audience that didn't know how to STFU, Hundred Waters puts El Rey crowd into trance
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
February 16, 2015


If I was to guess what music would sound like in the year 2200, it would resemble something like Hundred Waters.

Combining electronic and folk music seamlessly, the Florida four-piece delivered a hypnotic set at the El Rey Theatre on Friday night. Playing material from their 2014 release The Moon Rang Like a Bell, Hundred Waters showed their music translates quite effortlessly from the studio to the stage.

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