2015 has been the birth year of some of my favorite music of all time. A bearded outlaw stepped out of the shadows to shake up the stale, misdirected condition of country music, a handful of young men have proven themselves worthy of carrying the torch for soul music, and the "Gentlemen of the Road" went electric. While Twitter pulsed to the beat of various spats and disputes between rappers and pop starlets over God knows what, there have been some musicians who kept their focus on the music. Because of that, this year belongs to them. Here is my personal top ten list of the best albums of 2015.

1) Traveller - Chris Stapleton

Released by Mercury Records on May 5, Traveller is the long-awaited solo debut from Nashville songwriter Chris Stapleton. After writing country hits like "Your Man" for Josh Turner and "Comeback Song" for Darius Rucker, Stapleton has finally stepped out from behind the curtain to unleash his earth-quakingly soulful voice on an unsuspecting, yet receptive public. After wreaking the best kind of havoc at the Country Music Awards this year, winning "Best Male Vocalist," "Best New Artist" and "Album of the Year," here's hoping Stapleton's brand of earnest, soulful and traditional country music leads to improvements in the rest of the genre as well. Notable tracks on Traveller: "Fire Away," "Tennessee Whiskey," "Parachute" and "The Devil Named Music."

2) Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

The self-titled debut from Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats came to us via the legendary Stax Records on August 21. As a solo artist, Nathaniel Rateliff began his career as a very mellow folk singer-songwriter. However, once he took up the mantle of bandleader for the Night Sweats, a funky storm of soul quickly ensued. From start to finish, there isn't one track that doesn't make you want to either cut a rug all to hell or sit back and be at complete peace. The band's sound is drenched in a golden-tinged retro feel that would be at home in 1960s Memphis, while steering clear of sounding like a gimmick. Rateliff effortlessly transitions from rowdy hollering to soulful crooning at the snap of his fingers. The quality of his voice bears a raw, human quality that you can't help but feel comforted by, much like Joe Cocker or Van Morrison. I'm extremely excited to see how Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats follow up this stellar debut album. Notable tracks on Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats: "Howling at Nothing," "S.O.B.," "Look It Here" and "Wasting Time."

3) The Story of Sonny Boy Slim - Gary Clark Jr.

The Story of Sonny Boy Slim is the follow-up to Gary Clark Jr.'s 2012 debut Blak and Blu and was released on September 11, 2015 by Warner Bros. Records. This sophomore album sees the Austin, Texas guitar slinger drift a little bit from strictly a blues guitar player and more towards a singer-songwriter, wanting to focus on being a more well-rounded musician. Gary Clark Jr. retains his blistering and swaggering guitar work, channeling the likes of B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf, while simultaneously wielding hip-hop and soul sensibilities. Always the first to describe himself as a musical schizophrenic, Clark Jr. repeats this pattern on Sonny Boy Slim jumping from blues burners like "The Healing" and "Grinder" to the all-acoustic "Church," to the funky party track "Can't Sleep."

4) Wilder Mind - Mumford & Sons

In a very short time, Mumford & Sons rose to be one of the biggest bands in the world with their rollicking and rambunctious brand of acoustic pub folk, cultivating a passionate fan-base to match. However, fans were shocked this year when they released Wilder Mind on May 4 via Island Records. Wilder Mind, the band's third full-length studio album, sees Mumford & Sons go in a completely new direction with their sound. What was once heavy foot-stomping and sizzling banjo solos is now driving, electric indie rock. Although it is different, it is by no means worse. The lyrics are poignant as ever and Mumford & Sons have just proven their great versatility and musicianship as they've allowed their sound to evolve. Notable tracks on Wilder Mind: "Tompkins Square Park," "The Wolf," "Snake Eyes" and "Ditmas."

5) 25 - Adele

25 was released November 20 through XL Records and has been an absolute beast in record sales. Breaking records left and right, Adele's third album is just as heart-breaking as her critically acclaimed second album 21, if not more so. Throughout the album, the young diva's humongous voice soars and echoes, lamenting past loves as well as celebrating new ones. Granted, it could be argued that this is nothing more than yet another dragging concept album for sadness. However, the fact remains that Adele writes music with a wide-open vulnerability that you can't help but admire. Notable tracks on 25 are: "Hello," "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," "Water Under the Bridge" and "Why Do You Love Me."

6) Coming Home - Leon Bridges

Leon Bridges' debut album Coming Home was released on June 23 via Columbia Records. Comparing the young Mr. Bridges with soul icons like Otis Redding and Sam Cooke is extremely hard not to do. His voice is velvet smooth and the compositions of Coming Home sound as if they were swiped right from the greatest hits of Sam or Otis. The obvious similarities aside, I believe Leon Bridges is by no means a rip-off of those that came before him, but rather the next generation. Leon Bridges is perpetuating a rich and beautiful style of music, which happens to be one of my favorites, with an ease and poise far beyond his 26 years. Coming Home is a fantastic indicator that Leon Bridges has what it takes to carry the torch for everyone from Sam Cooke to The Temptations to Aretha Franklin. Notable tracks on Coming Home: "Coming Home," "Better Man," "Smooth Sailin'" and "River."

7) Yours, Dreamily - The Arcs

Yours, Dreamily from The Arcs is probably the most under-the-radar album on this list. A side-project of famous lead-singer/guitarist/producer of The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, The Arcs is groovy, slithering, and retro indie rock. Allowing Auerbach to explore even more sonic avenues than he does with Pat Carney in The Black Keys, The Arcs produces music that is equal parts weird, funky, and swaggering. As far-fetched as it may be, I hope The Arcs can continue to exist alongside The Black Keys for many years to come. Notable tracks on Yours, Dreamily: "Outta My Mind," "Pistol Made of Bones," "Stay In My Corner" and "The Arc."

8) I Love You, Honeybear - Father John Misty

I Love You, Honeybear, the critically-acclaimed follow-up to Father John Misty's Fear Fun, is undoubtedly one of the most well-written and quirky albums of the year. Utilizing mariachi horns, mesmerizing synths, and traditional country western sounds, Josh Tillman a.k.a. Father John Misty is all over the place. However, it's the songwriting that makes this a great album. Father John Misty presents a jaded, sarcastic view of love throughout I Love You, Honeybear while also appearing vulnerable and somewhat desperate for love. Though love and romance, or the lack thereof, is a common theme on the album, the pinnacle of cynicism in general is reached on the masterpiece "Bored in the USA." This song is a masterfully painted portrait of a numb mass of people who rely too heavily on religion and politics to get by. Though the song is the very epitome of disappointment, disenchantment and sadness, Father John Misty still allows his dark sense of humor to shine through as he plays the laughter of a studio audience, as if it's all just a bad sitcom. While I Love You, Honeybear isn't really something to crank in the car with the windows down, it is still a piece of excellent songwriting. Notable tracks on I Love You, Honeybear: "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)," "Nothing Good Ever Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow" and " Bored in the USA."

9) Sound & Color - Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes is one of the hottest bands right now and their sophomore album Sound & Color is a shining testament to that. Straying from the straight-forward old school rock of 2012's Boys & Girls, Sound & Color marks the evolution of the band in a fantastically interesting direction. This album sees more atmospheric, calm jams, showcases for lead singer Brittany Howard's incredibly powerful voice to wail and scream to her heart's content and just downright funky groovers to get your head bobbing. What I like most about this album is that the music is rooted in that Southern soul that Alabama Shakes perfected on their first album but it's found a way to half-way evolve into spacy indie rock. You know what they say, "You can take the band out of the South, but you can't take the South out of the band." Notable tracks on Sound & Color: "Sound & Color," "Don't Wanna Fight No More," "Dunes" and "This Feeling."

10) Delilah - Anderson East

Delilah, the first full-length studio album from singer-songwriter Anderson East, was released on July 10 via Low Country Sound and Elektra. East is a very similar style of musician to that of Leon Bridges in that he's a young man practicing the old ways of traditional soul and R&B. Though his speaking voice may trick you with his twangy Southern accent, his singing voice will make your jaw drop with a raspy soulful drawl that perfectly fits a lazy summer afternoon on the porch. Delilah is fantastic solely because of its vintage, good-time feel, impeccable production and its skillful way in which it makes you want to grab someone you love and dance the night away. East has a charmingly clever way with words too: "Got a PhD in T.L.C." Notable tracks on Delilah: "Satisfy Me," "Devil In Me," "Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Forget 'Em."