The Freshman 15: 2015's Best Debut Albums

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 9, 2015

Our full list of 2015's best overall albums is still a week away, but our year-end coverage continues now with a look at the year's top newcomers.

Below is our list of the 15 best-reviewed debut albums of 2015, ranked by Metascore. Note that albums must have at least 7 reviews—and be a full LP, rather than an EP—to be eligible for inclusion. Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding.

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86 Surf by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment

Though the Social Experiment counts Chance the Rapper among its members, it is trumpeter Nico Segal who heads the group. Their debut blends a variety of genres, including jazz, soul, and hip-hop.

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