2017 lists

[Silent Alarm]

Let's make this is a little more interesting than ripping off a mix of Pitchfork and other trendy and untrendy websites with top albums lists. Maybe even the list is redundant. What did you like this year? What let you down? Who reinvented themselves well and who dropped it? What's an album you just don't get it? A video you like, maybe a nice bit of packaging came holding a good vinyl. Hmu lmk.

And don't drop this false notion that lists are coming out earlier and earlier... it's the end of November. When all the big pop releases are done, the year is for music.

 

[Richard Cranium]

What let me down? Pretty much everything that received a fair bit of press - Run the Jewels, QOTSA, Kendrick, LCD... even the less hyped stuff like Four Tet, Phoenix, Shabazz Palaces, Gorillaz, most of the King Gizzard albums, all mehhhhhhh. So too most of the albums from smaller acts that I've liked in the past. In fact, I would say there's probably been less than ten albums this year that I'd even call 'good'.

Still got stuff to listen to, but honestly don't really care. Shit year for music.

 

[vanders]

I love a bit of everything including pop and this year has been a massive disappointment as far as pop albums go. The only one I've really liked is from Kelly Clarkson, everyone elses albums have had a good song or two and the rest has been meh.

As for my list, I'm still waiting on Miguel to release his album this week but I've loved what I've heard from it so far so I'm including that. If the album is as good as I expect I'll be back to rearrange my list.

Anyway these are my top albums of 2017. I try to listen to a broad range of new albums each week so a lot of these artists I hadn't heard of before this year. I've put them in order of favourite to least favourite, not best to worst.

1. JAY-Z - 4:44
2. Polish Club - Alright Already
3. Kelly Clarkson - Meaning of Life
4. Kelela - Take Me Apart
5. The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding
6. Miguel - War & Leisure
7. Nick Grant - Return of the Cool
8. Vic Mensa - The Autobiography
9. Kevin Garrett - False Hope
10. Earl St Clair - My Name Is Earl
11. Slowdive - Slowdive
12. Khalid - American Teen
13. Capital Cities - Swimming Pool Summer
14. Rapsody - Lailas Wisdom
15. Lorde - Melodrama
16. QOTSA - Villains
17. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
18. The Preatures - Girlhood
19. Elbow - Little Fictions
20. Katy Perry - Witness
21. Jack Johnson - All The Light Above It Too
22. Holy Holy - Paint
23. Spoon - Hot Thoughts
24. Rick Ross - Rather You Than Me
25. Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark?

Some of these I haven't listened to in a while but I liked them enough at the time I played them the first time to add them to my best albums of the year playlist.

I'll do my favourite songs another day.

 

[Gibbsy]

I like Jay but I still haven't listened to his album since it's a TIDAL exclusive. Am I missing much?

 

[vanders]

I like Jay but I still haven't listened to his album since it's a TIDAL exclusive. Am I missing much?

It's up there with Reasonable Doubt for me. It's like an album full of songs like You Must Love Me and Song Cry so whether you feel like you're missing out depends on the songs of his you like I guess. It's all pretty introspective with the exception of 1 or 2 songs.

 

[SELFCONFESDAFLNERD]

I posted a list of my 20 favourite metal albums in another thread so ill repost it here and add 10 other (non-metal) albums I enjoyed. In no particular order:

1. Ne Obliviscaris - Urn
2. Enslaved - E
3. Paradise Lost - Medusa
4. Power Trip - Nightmare Logic
5. Annihilator - For the Demented
6. Taake - Kong Vinter
7. Kreator - Gods of Violence
8. Trivium - The Sin and the Sentence
9. Nokturnal Mortum - Істина
10. Valhalore - Voyage Into Eternity
11. King Parrot - Ugly Produce
12. Soen - Lykaia
13. Suffocation - ...Of the dark light
14. Immolation - Atonement
15. November's Doom - Hamartia
16. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
17. With Our Arms to the Sun - Orenda
18. Electric Wizard - Wizard Bloody Wizard
19. Voyager - Ghost Mile
20. Leprous - Malina

The next 10 are in order:

1. Sleepmakeswaves - Made of Breath Only
2. Steven Wilson - To the Bone
3. Anathema - The Optimist
4. London Grammar - Truth is a Beautiful Thing
5. Gang of Youths - Go Farther in Lightness
6. Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun
7. Haim - Something to Tell You
8. King Gizzard and the Lizzard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana
9. Mew - Visuals
10. Slowdive - Slowdive

 

[Golumless]

Bit of a down year from last year, to be expected really seeing how much I loved 2016 in terms of music releases (and I'm optimistic about 2018).

1. Billy Woods - Known Unknowns
2. Iglooghost - Neo Wax Bloom
3. Guerrilla Toss - GT Ultra
4. Oxbow - Thin Black Duke
5. L'Orange - The Ordinary Man
6. milo - who told you to think????!>!>?
7. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
8. B L A C K I E - Remains
9. Uncommon Nasa - Written at Night
10. Wiley - Godfather

So far, it's been a standout no.1 and 2-10 could have been put in any order and wouldn't have mattered.

 

[JackOutback]

I was nervous for Gang of Youths' new album; double albums are notoriously difficult to pull off. Halfway through track one, I knew I had nothing to worry about. A perfect album. Lorde delivered a better album than her first, which I'm still giving a spin fairly regularly. Recently discovered Gordi, which is a beautiful album. Arcade Fire's album was excellent, even if just short of their high standards. Holy Holy, Preatures and Methyl Ethel all good.

Can't really think of many that disappointed. Foo Fighters was simply ok but they have been on a downward swing for a while. Haim and London Grammar both decent albums but I haven't gone back to them much.

Jake Bugg has disappointed twice in two years after such a promising start.

 

[JackNah_8]

I didn't think we had that many great songs or albums this year, I hope 2018 is better. I didn't really have a clear favourite, here are a few albums and songs I liked:

The xx - I see You
London Grammar - Truth is a Beautiful Thing
HAIM - Something to Tell You
The Nationals - Sleep Well Beast
Portugal the Man - Woodstock
Mickey Kojak - Ghost (the single) .I havent listened to the whole album yet
Cut Copy - COunting down
Slowdive - Sugar for the Pill
Castle - Slum Sociable (reminds me of the Arctic Monkeys)


Edit:

Special mention to Michael Kiwanuka - Cold Little Heart. Thanks to Big Little Lies for introducing this singer.

 

[james Dean]

Really an average year, nothing amazing. The National was meh, Arcade Fire was putrid, Kendrick was just ok.

Not sure what the big fuss is with Gang of Youths either, just a solid album if anything, nothing groundbreaking. A.B Original can **** right off, absolute tripe.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Really an average year, nothing amazing. The National was meh, Arcade Fire was putrid, Kendrick was just ok.

Not sure what the big fuss is with Gang of Youths either, just a solid album if anything, nothing groundbreaking. A.B Original can **** right off, absolute tripe.

Racist jk I agree

 

[JackOutback]

I'm still working out what I think of Alt-J's Relaxer; certainly not what I expected, certainly not bad either. I enjoy it, but I do wonder if it's one of those transitional albums that will become more popular when viewed through the context of their whole career.

 

[james Dean]

Really an average year, nothing amazing. The National was meh, Arcade Fire was putrid, Kendrick was just ok.

Not sure what the big fuss is with Gang of Youths either, just a so

Racist jk I agree

I know Arcade Fire fans look and dress a little odd, but that doesn't make them a race.

 

[NotAMagpieBogan]

I'm still working out what I think of Alt-J's Relaxer; certainly not what I expected, certainly not bad either. I enjoy it, but I do wonder if it's one of those transitional albums that will become more popular when viewed through the context of their whole career.

What a forgotten about album. Didn’t reach anywhere near the amount of hype that their others did.

 

[SSwans2011]

My music listening has been all over the place this year, so I'm still ages off being able to come up with any kind of list. Any thoughts on the new Julien Baker record, though? I think it's better than her first.



The last song on the record -- wowee.

 

[kangaspurs]

Favourite album: The Menzingers - After the Party.

I liked, even loved, many albums this year but nothing close to After the Party when it came to my AOTY. There's this then an abundance of daylight before I get to the rest. It's profound, it's affecting, it's wistful, it's nostalgic but thoroughly grounded in the passing of time and what's next after your youth has passed you by.

The rest (in no order): Polaris - The Mortal Coil, Deaf Havana - All These Countless Nights, Kendrick Lamar - DAMN., Ocean Grove - The Rhapsody Tapes, The Smith Street Band - More Scared of You Than You Are of Me, Deadlights - Mesma, Vacant Home - Reflect, Respond, Brand New - Science Fiction, Ceres - Stretch Ur Skin, Dear Seattle - Self Titled, Lorde - Melodrama

I expect that Material Control by Glassjaw and Turn Out the Lights by Julien Baker will be here when I've had more time with them as well.

Favourite Song: The title track, The Menzingers - After the Party

Others: Dear Seattle - The Meadows, Kendrick Lamar - LOVE., Polaris - The Remedy, Glassjaw - shira, Make Them Suffer - Fireworks, Ceres - Stretch Ur Skin, Lorde - Supercut, Turnover - Super Natural, Brand New - In The Water, Vacant Home - Bliss, Tigers Jaw - June, Dayseeker - Sleep in the Sea (pt II), Deadlights - Invisible Hands, While She Sleeps - Hurricane, The Smith Street Band - 25, Ocean Grove - Mr Centipede, Deaf Havana - St. Paul's.

Surprise Love: Lorde - Melodrama and, so far, Julien Baker - Turn Out the Lights. Neither of them are what I usually listen to so I'm pleasantly surprised to find myself really enjoying their work this year.

Biggest Disappointment: Captain, We're Sinking - The King of No Man & Turnover - Good Nature. Neither are particularly bad albums, but both bands previous records are among some of my favourite ever and these were disappointing by comparison. More a victim of high standards and expectation rather than anything else.

 

[SSwans2011]

Good to see The Fader take the moral high-ground by neglecting to mention Brand New then proceeding to list someone involved in multiple murders as #1 on their list.

http://www.thefader.com/2017/12/03/best-songs-2017-apple-music-spotify-playlist

Fair enough not listing Brand New, but at least be consistent if you are going to take the moral high-ground. Having different criteria for hip hop is lame and pissweak. Would not expecting anything more from The Fader though.

 

[Gibbsy]

Good to see The Fader take the moral high-ground by neglecting to mention Brand New then proceeding to list someone involved in multiple murders as #1 on their list.

http://www.thefader.com/2017/12/03/best-songs-2017-apple-music-spotify-playlist

Fair enough not listing Brand New, but at least be consistent if you are going to take the moral high-ground. Having different criteria for hip hop is lame and pissweak. Would not expecting anything more from The Fader though.

These yank lists ****in suck

 

[thewitness]

My Top 10 albums in no order:
Alex Lahey - I Love You Like A Brother
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana
Queens of the Stone Age - Villians
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Murder Of The Universe
Weezer - Pacific Daydream
Lorde - Melodrama
Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark?
Dan Sultan - Killer
Tired Lion - Dumb Days
Ecca Vandal - Ecca Vandal

 

[Lums23]

My Top 10 albums in no order:
Alex Lahey - I Love You Like A Brother
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana
Queens of the Stone Age - Villians
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Murder Of The Universe
Weezer - Pacific Daydream
Lorde - Melodrama
Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark?
Dan Sultan - Killer
Tired Lion - Dumb Days
Ecca Vandal - Ecca Vandal

Needs more Polygondwanaland

 

[thewitness]

Needs more Polygondwanaland

I've only given it one listen through so far and it's not really grabbing my attention yet. A bit like Sketches didn't.

 

[Lums23]

I've only given it one listen through so far and it's not really grabbing my attention yet. A bit like Sketches didn't.

I found it took a few listens to get my head around

Sketches is my least favourite of the four for the year, i do still really like it. Good music for work/study

 

[JimDocker]

My music listening has been all over the place this year, so I'm still ages off being able to come up with any kind of list. Any thoughts on the new Julien Baker record, though? I think it's better than her first.



The last song on the record -- wowee.

Yeah. Love this album. I listened to Sprained Ankle a lot though, so still deciding if this has overtaken it.

 

[JimDocker]

Yeah. Love this album. I listened to Sprained Ankle a lot though, so still deciding if this has overtaken it.

I listened to it a couple of times yesterday and agree with you that it is even better than her last one. Magnificent album.

 

[SSwans2011]

I listened to it a couple of times yesterday and agree with you that it is even better than her last one. Magnificent album.

I had them about equal until the last minute of the closing track. Incredible climax. Powerful, powerful stuff.