Similar to last year’s list, if there was anything good about the wreck of a year 2017 was…it’s the music! Some anticipated releases for me in 2017 exceeded my expectations and had me constantly repeating albums from start to finish. Check out some of my picks from this year and if you’re into it you can listen to my favorite tracks on Spotify and Apple Music playlists I curated!
I See You– The xx
Listening to The xx is an experience. There’s this sense of nostalgia that makes me feel sooo many emotions. With the release of I See You, at the start of the year, I was just amazed at this new sound the band had found. When describing this album to someone once, I said that this is the loudest The xx has ever been. More profound vocals and louder percussion gave me what I didn’t know I needed from the band. Interestingly enough, I haven’t touched the album in a few months (with the exception of listening to the bonus track “Seasons Run” released over the summer). I almost want to leave that album in the time and place I was first hearing it in. I’m bound to listen to it again and when I do, I feel the experience will be quite like the first time.
About U– MUNA
My love for MUNA is endless. Discovering them a couple years ago and hearing their debut album for the first time was a *moment*. Not to be dramatic, but I actually cried listening to it for the first time. Featuring songs off of their Loudspeaker EP and a handful of new material, MUNA showcased their dark pop sound in a sweet way. In a time where wanting to express yourself and be your true self can be hard, MUNA resonates with these statements and makes music that will make you dance and subsequently, forget your worries.
Process– Sampha
Little Lovely Lonely– The Maine
I’ve described The Maine as a band I’ve known about for a very, very long time but didn’t really start listening to their music until Forever Halloween and then more recently with American Candy. American Candy had me floored and so stoked when the band announced Little Lovely Lonely. There’s something about The Maine’s more recent releases that connect with me so much more. Little Lovely Lonely is in a way so delicate and comforting, yet still has its fun moments. Start to finish, the whole album feels so whole with only 12 tracks.
DAMN.– Kendrick Lamar
Coming off the wave and major success of To Pimp A Butterfly, a new Kendrick album just made me excited. How could you not be??? I knew that there was going to be a lot of force in the new album. I think that there’s so much Kendrick still wants to say and with DAMN., it definitely hits on this very thought. When this album dropped, I was in California at Coachella where Kendrick was headlining and tried to get as familiar with the songs as I could. While listening to the album, it wasn’t a surprise that I was in awe. That combination of hearing these new songs for the first time live heightened my love for the album a lot. KUNG FU KENNY DOES NO WRONG.
After Laughter– Paramore
Melodrama– Lorde
Saturation I, II, & III– Brockhampton
CTRL– SZA
Big Fish Theory– Vince Staples
Something To Tell You– Haim
Now this album really had to grow on me. As a Haim fan from the early days and loving Days Are Gone so much, I had high hopes for Something To Tell You. At first I was disappointed and it just didn’t mesh with me. I was listening to the songs but they weren’t hitting. However, over time, a gradual appreciation bloomed and by the end of the summer, this was in constant rotation. I feel/know that a part of why I like this album so much now is for the lyrical content. Touching on themes I know now too well, it struck a cord in me that had me crying but also singing along too.
Flower Boy– Tyler the Creator
Y’ALL THIS ALBUM. I love Tyler. Simple as that. Even outside of his music, I love this creativity in what he’s doing with fashion, Golf Media, Camp Flog Gnaw, etc. Tyler’s last album, Deathcamp, didn’t seem to win over fans as much as previous albums have done. It was a shift. A shift that I was here for. I felt that album was so under appreciated at the time and now with Flower Boy being out, Deathcamp is the perfect predecessor. You really get to feel and hear Tyler’s range in musically. The collaborations on this are amazing and they all just work so well together. There’s not one song that I don’t like. “911/ Mr. Lonely?”??? Easily a favorite song of the year. On top of that “November,” “See You Again,” “Boredom,” THEY’RE ALL SO GOOD.
All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell– PVRIS
And if you needed MORE music, these were good too!
(I know I’m missing a lot more…Kacy Hill, Sabrina Claudio, Brent Faiyaz, Goldlink, etc. so you should really just follow me on Spotify to keep updated on my playlists of songs I listen to each month!)
1 Comment
Nicole
January 4, 2018 at 9:08 AMSo many good choices! Flower Boy was my favorite album of 2017 but it was for sure hard to pick a favorite!