Q

#17 Carly Rae Jepsen — q's top 20 albums of 2015

She took a big risk, and we say it paid off. Canadian pop phenom Carly Rae Jepsen enters the q top 20 at number 17.
"Carly, it's so 80s." Carly-Rae Jepsen on her label's reaction to her new album, Emotion. (Interscope Records)

All month we'll be counting down the top 20 albums of 2015 — our annual list of must-hear albums.

Today, we start with a question: How do you top one of the biggest songs of the past decade? 

Do you go all in with the same formula, or take a break, then hit it from a totally different angle?

Canadian pop wonder Carly Rae Jepsen did the latter, veering far away from Call Me Maybe with her new record, Emotion. It was a risky move that paid off. The deep synths, the Madonna-esque beats, the infectious hooks ... it's a surprising and bold return for an artist many had written off.

Jepsen, who we recently showcased on q, takes the #17 spot the q Top 20.

WEB EXTRA | From Emotion, here's Carly Rae Jepsen's official video for Your Type