All Songs Considered

Our no. 1 songs: 2015

October 27, 2025

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  • The hosts of *All Songs Considered* are revisiting 2015 for their 25th-anniversary series, focusing on songs that define the show rather than just the biggest hits. 
  • Courtney Barnett's song "Pedestrian at Best" from the album *Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit* was highlighted as a powerful example of returning guitar rock for 2015. 
  • Sufjan Stevens' album *Carrie & Lowell* was discussed as a deeply intimate and beautiful record, despite the artist's own complex feelings about its subject matter regarding his late mother. 

Segments

Introduction and 2015 Context
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(00:00:17)
  • Key Takeaway: The All Songs Considered 2015 review focuses on songs defining the show, not necessarily the biggest chart hits.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson began their review of 2015 music as part of the show’s 25th-anniversary series. They clarified that their selections are not definitive summaries of the year but rather songs that hold significance for the program. The segment established a ’name that tune’ format for revealing their picks.
Courtney Barnett’s Guitar Rock
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(00:01:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Courtney Barnett’s “Pedestrian at Best” is cited as a powerful, lyrically dense track that signaled a return for guitar rock in 2015.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson opened with Courtney Barnett’s “Pedestrian at Best” from the album Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit. The song was praised for its grand, slamming choruses, contrasting with Barnett’s typically more conversational style. This track made the host immediately declare it a favorite song of the year.
Sufjan Stevens’ Intimate Grief
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(00:04:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie & Lowell is considered a breathtakingly intimate album dealing with the death of his estranged mother.
  • Summary: Robin Hilton played “Should Have Known Better” from Sufjan Stevens’ Carrie & Lowell. The host noted that while Stevens expressed some embarrassment over the album in an interview, it was due to the inability to fully articulate complex feelings about his mother’s death. The record is characterized by swirling love and unmet need, making it one of the host’s favorite albums of the year.
Kendrick Lamar’s Impactful Anthem
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(00:09:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Kendrick Lamar’s “All Right” became a more impactful song than “King Kunta” from the same 2015 album.
  • Summary: Kendrick Lamar’s track “All Right” was played, noted for its significance as an extremely eye-opening record demonstrating the expansiveness of his vision. The hosts acknowledged that the song has become more important than “King Kunta,” which was chosen for a previous anniversary episode.
Guitar Rock and Anxiety Medicine
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(00:11:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Taurus’s “Strange Hellos” exemplified 2015’s strong guitar rock, while Joan Shelley’s Over and Even served as the host’s personal ‘anxiety medicine.’
  • Summary: The band Taurus was mentioned as another strong guitar rock presence in 2015 with their song “Strange Hellos.” Separately, Joan Shelley’s album Over and Even was highlighted as a go-to record the host repeatedly returns to for emotional clarity and calm.
Adele’s Mixed Reception and Hamilton’s Arrival
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(00:13:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Adele’s 2015 single “Hello” was undeniably great, but the 25 album received mixed reviews for being monochromatic.
  • Summary: Adele’s massive hit “Hello” was played, though the hosts noted that reviews for the 25 album were mixed, finding it glum and lacking the dynamism of previous singles like “Rolling in the Deep.” The conversation then pivoted to the Hamilton soundtrack, which brought hip-hop to Broadway and drew new audiences to musicals.
2015 Returns and Conclusion
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(00:18:13)
  • Key Takeaway: 2015 featured significant musical returns from artists like Missy Elliott, Sleater-Kinney, and Joanna Newsom.
  • Summary: The year 2015 was noted for several major artist returns, including Missy Elliott’s single “WTF (Where They From)” after a long hiatus, and Sleater-Kinney’s first album in a decade, No Cities to Love. The hosts concluded the 2015 segment by playing a final clip from Hamilton before signing off.