We're 3/5ths of the way through our countdown (click here to see the rest), with each record receiving more and more highly-ranked votes. A few of these records were even #1 for some of the voters.

This category is for albums that are unmistakably surf, but would not be mistaken for vintage. This was a tough category this year and it was tough choosing a winner. A lot of these were also really pushing the envelope, and it was hard to decide what belongs here and what belongs in the Way-Out Instro category.

For 25 years Spain's Los Coronas have been pumping out first-rate surf records. It's been 4 years since their last LP Adios Sancho and Señales de Humo (Smoke Signals for us english speakers) builds on that sound, but even after one listen I think it exceeds their last effort.

2015 is done, and it was pretty damn good. But there's already some things looming on the horizon for 2016 to get really excited about.

The Coffin Daggers

Why not start with the one we'll likely see soonest? Coming in February, The Coffin Daggers have their next LP Aggravatin' Rhythms (above) ready for preorder with by far their silliest album art to date. Loved everything they've done so far, so I'm in line.