Top Albums of 2017

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.

Melodrama– Lorde

Saturation I, II, & III– Brockhampton

If there was one group that completely blew me year this year, it was Brockhampton. It’s been a while since a hip hop collective impressed me so much upon first listen. The start of this trilogy the group created, Saturation, gives such a great presentation of exactly who they are. The various ten members, all have their moments on certain songs. With ranging personalities and styles, each song still comes together in the end. A mix of light and serious subjects, Brockhampton leave you wanting more music. Luckily, we received Saturation II and Saturation III all in the same year. I decided to group all three albums together because I want to further expand on my thoughts about each album in it’s own separate post. So in the meantime, listen to the albums (you won’t regret it.)

CTRL– SZA

Big Fish Theory– Vince Staples

Something To Tell You– Haim