by P.J. Wascher

Like usual, I’ve pushed it to the absolute end of the year to file my music write up! I’m a big fan of lists. It’s a chance to organize all your thoughts about an area of interest and share it with everyone. I love reading everyone’s music lists at the end of the year. There’s always something I’ve missed. 2017 was a year for the established bands. Several bands I’ve become a fan of, over the years, released an album in 2017. Some are featured on this list! Some didn’t live up to their potential. Admittedly, due to this theme, there’s a bit of a gap when it comes to new artists. Only 2 artists in my Top 10 could be considered “new.” That’s pretty unusual for my lists, but I wouldn’t consider that a long-term trend. This just points to how unique this year was for music.

To review how I judge. Throughout the year I’m listening to every album I can get my ears on. Still a fan of pens and post-its, I manually create a list throughout the year. My list looks for albums with great song depth and great staying power. Something you’ll find yourself listening to beyond 2017. Ranking music gives me something to go back to and reflect on what I really loved. Let’s get to the fun part! Here’s my official Top 10 Albums of 2017:

 The Top 5

1. Love In The 4^th Dimension by The Big Moon

Leading off with a bit of a surprise! Remember that whole thing about new artists? Yeah forget that for the moment, this new artist takes my top spot in 2017. Officially, this band formed in 2014, but they released their first full-length album in 2017. This all female four-piece punk pop rock band nailed it with this album. Singles released early in the year made this my most anticipated album by the time it came out in the spring. The album features songs that just build and build till they reach a full anthem. Of course they also feature a fair amount of shredding. This album has a nostalgic quality that hits a sweet spot for me. Rock music has lost some of its luster over the years. A group like this feels like the perfect jump-start to bring this genre back to its former luster. 2017 in a lot of ways was defined by music that was darker, discussing the uncertain status created by our current events. This album doesn’t really go that direction. No need to over think an album like this. Just put it on and enjoy. The songs are great and just too much fun. This album is great from beginning to end and these ladies really kickass. That was enough to take my top spot.

Top Tracks:

• Sucker
• Bonfire
• Cupid

2. A Deeper Understanding by The War on Drugs

My number 2 also features anthem rock music. The anthems featured here take it up a whole other epic level. This band became one of my favorites after their 2014 album, Lost In A Dream. A Deeper Understanding builds off that album, using their familiar sound, but instead of the washed out vibes they’ve built their songs into something close to stadium anthems. The sax and keyboards are all still there, but the guitar is featured more than their earlier work. This album starts a trend you’ll notice throughout this list. This is an artist I’ve loved. They didn’t necessarily change or push music in a new direction, but the music is great! I love what they do and I think this was a great album for them. There’s been a bit of a divide this year critically with how some lists were formed. In the end I wanted to choose the music I enjoyed the most and I played this album all year long.

Top Tracks:

• Pain
• Strangest Thing
• Thinking Of A Place

3. Painted Ruins by Grizzly Bear

I’m a little surprised how few lists feature this band. It’s another familiar band, much like my number two pick, but The War On Drugs received much better critic coverage. I’ve been a fan of Grizzly Bear for several years, but I think this album is their best work. I may be in the minority in this opinion, but till now I’ve liked songs more than albums by this band. Painted Ruins changes all of that. Despite the dark themes, the albums epic textures and melodies sucked me in like never before. I go back and forth on some of the ways the tracks are organized on this album. I often find myself jumping right to the middle of the album. Neighbors would have been such a great lead off track.

Top Tracks:

• Neighbors
• Four Cypresses
• Mourning Sound

4. Melodrama by Lorde

To most critics and listeners this was the year hip-hop overtook pop music. I’ve bucked that trend a little ranking a pop album as high as I ever have. Overall, I’ve found it to be a decent year for pop music. Much of the manufactured top 40 music, that usually turns me cynical, transitioned to other music spaces. Lorde became the critical pop darling following her album debut, but many including myself wondered if she’d be able to follow that unique sound up. Well doubt no more. Her sophomore release showed that she capable of greater heights. This album is emotional, melodic and of course quirky.

Top Tracks:

• Green Light
• The Lourve
• Sober

5. Play Dead by MuteMath

Another one of my favorites! I was surprised to see MuteMath release a new album after only two years. This band has typically taken four years between releases. In the end, this release was a bitter/sweet gift. As they were about to start touring for the new album the band announced that several of the key members were taking a break. While parts of the band will go on, this appears to be the final album from MuteMath as we know it. If this is it, it’s a nice way to go out. Their last album moved a bit away from the guitar and played much more heavily with synth and keyboard sounds. This album brought the guitar back into the picture. This album features some longer cuts, which are usually some of my favorites. According to the band, each member was given a set of songs to develop. You can tell with this album. It’s not a cohesive set of songs. I don’t mind. I just want more. Here’s to hoping this is a just a break and not goodbye.

Top Tracks

• Pixie Oaks
• War
• Achilles Heel

 

The Next 5

6. Hug of Thunder by The Broken Social Scene

The second half of this list continues to build on that established band theme. In a little twist, this half features a few bands I missed in their prime. The first example is the Broken Social Scene. Original fans have said this is a step below some of their past work, but I love it. Now I’m coming into this with fresh ears, but I found this album really enjoyable. It was one of the first albums I loved in 2017. Songs continue to feature group vocals that slowly twist and warp to the point that they almost breakdown. A trademark of theirs that may have featured more heavily in past albums, but I still think it exists here. This is one of those albums I’m going to agree to disagree with anyone that feels this band is missing a step. I’d save those critiques for other bands and enjoy. This album features the best string of songs in a row on my list. The three listed below back to back to back is really something special.

Top Tracks:

• Halfway Home
• Protest Song
• Skyline

7. Damn by Kendrick Lamar

I’ll admit by many criteria this is the “best” album of 2017. If I’m trying to argue best album, I won’t fight with anyone that picks this album. It’s an amazing piece of work. This album is only punished on my list because hip hop works with a two strike count against rock music. My grading scale favors music I find most enjoyable. But even on that scale I can only put this album so low. This year was defined by hip-hop, but even in a year with so many artists hitting the mainstream Kendrick was able to define himself as the king. This album is a level higher than anything released this year. I’ll always have a special spot in my musical heart for Kanye, but Kendrick has taken the crown. My critical skills will never do Hip Hop reviews justice, but you can trust that if it’s being featured on my list it was doing something special.

Top Tracks:

• DNA
• Love
• Humble

8. Pure Comedy by Father John Misty

Another one of my favorites that released an album in 2017. I’ll admit I still love “I Love You, Honeybear” the most, but this album is an album that forces fans to dig a little deeper. Channeling his inner Elton John, J. Tillman trades some of his rock songs to double down on the piano ballads. Overall, the album features his typical quirks with dense satirically dark lyrics. While sometimes even reaching cynical heights I find overwhelming, the melodies keep me coming back for more. My equation for this album = Elton John + Ben Folds + Fleet Foxes.

Top Tracks

• Things It Would Have Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution
• Total Entertainment Forever
• Ballad of the Dying Man

9. What Now by Sylvan Esso

This album should be higher my list. I may regret this in a couple months. It’s the second of two new artists featured in my top 10 list for 2017. This album features sparse instrumentation with an electronic beat and bright vocals. Those vocals are what make this special. Amelia Meath’s vocals are just intoxicating. Accompanied with folksy electronica, I love it. I had a chance to catch this group live in Boston and they did not disappoint. I’m not a dancer, but I was jumping around and making a complete fool of myself to their performance. In the end I think length was the biggest reason I punished this album. I needed more! And ended up overplaying these songs. If you haven’t made the same mistake, I’d suggest you get to work!

Top Tracks:

• The Glow
• Die Young
• Radio

10.  American Dream by LCD Soundsystem

Closing out the top 10 with a continuation of my overarching theme: Another well-known artist that I was late in the game to. LCD Soundsystem returned after breaking up six years ago to release American Dream. I was familiar with their earlier work, but this felt like the first album since I started following them to be released and I loved it! For some of the original fans/critics I’m not sure the break was long enough. It will be interesting to see in a year or two how my list ages. Maybe these artists were past their primes. Or maybe some fans/critics were just carrying too much baggage. For now, I’m taking the side of these albums. They took over my headphones in 2017.

Top Tracks:

• Call The Police
• Oh Baby
• Other Voices

If Only I could List 15 Albums

Colors by Beck– The theme continues! Beck is back with his next album after 3 years, He’s transitioned to something more pop, but I enjoyed it. Much like the rest of the albums on my list, it’s been a mixed reaction amongst fans.

Top Tracks

• Colors
• Dear Life
• Dreams

Landmark by Hippo Campus– My top album recommendation of the year. This album checks all the boxes for me. It’s moody, rocky, and has a lot of depth. Why isn’t higher? Listen, there was a lot of good music this year.

Top Tracks

• Monsoon
• The Way It Goes
• Simple Season

Visions of Life by Wolf Alice – One of my favorite new bands in 2015 came through with a solid sophomore effort. The album surprised with the full rock out single Yuk Foo, but settled in with their comfortable grunge pop rock grooves. The band needed to discover a couple more layers to crack my top 10, but I’m happy enough staying in this space.

Top Tracks

• Yuk Foo
• Formidable Cool
• Don’t Delete The Kisses

As You Were by Liam Gallagher – Oasis is back! Kind of…between Liam and Noel we got two albums for the price of one. Both were solid albums, with a small tip of the cap towards Liam for having a little more depth album wise.

Top Tracks

• Wall of Glass
• Greedy Soul
• Doesn’t Have To Be That Way

Waiting On A Song by Dan Auerbach – A bit of a pallet cleanser for me this year. A 1960s rockabilly album infused with a few Black Key musical influences to keep things interesting.

Top Tracks

• Waiting On A Song
• Shine On Me
• King of a One Horse Town

Rare Feeling by Twain – If you’re looking for the hidden treasure on this list, this is it! A new artist that I’m not sure many lists will have. In a normal year this would have been in my Top 10. It’s quiet guitar/vocal mix is emotional and unique. As people dig deeper into everything that was released in 2017 I hope more people take notice.

Top Tracks

• Solar Pilgrim
• Little Dog Mind
• Deer Mexico (Thank You For Joyce)

Honorable Mentions

Plenty of music to get you through the upcoming year. Did the trick for me! Feel free to go through and listen to all the links below, or click here and go to an online playlist hosted by Spotify:

Blossum by Milky Chance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EIcCkYg7yY

Nu Religion: Hyena by They. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK47eUkBBps

Ashes/Axes by Cuddle Magic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOjonOExXvY

Hard Love by Strand of Oaks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSEdhB9faEs

÷ by Ed Sheeran https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFlZXlfda6Y

Heartworms by The Shins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnQKb2lHGes

In Mind by Real Estate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUFr4SK1-l4

Hot Thoughts by Spoon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6KFBFg5q1Y

Plural by Electric Feel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnev1IxJCEU

Only The Lonely by Colony House https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcoIbdT6n9I

Different Creatures by Circa Waves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk6ALqQLits

Belong by San Fermin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uagz0Xi-sMA

LA Devine by Cold War Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7PlkjpabQY

The Search For Everything by John Mayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob-jS7bqYgI

Season High by Little Dragon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNYpjyHGZaQ

You Tried by Hater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixsJcbfv060

How Will You Know If You Never Try by COIN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXs5dWajRd4

Prelude to War by The Family Crest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zUpZKHy6N8

Pleasure by Feist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yw1pih-vNw

Humanz by Gorrilaz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAlXfs3Ta_A

The Days We Had by Day Wave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9SlFF1J-8

Head Perfume by Peppermint B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5kTIcX98Pc

Suspicious by Lou Cannon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45TGNqfBIuc

Fingers Crossed by Part-Time Friends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO3hN4FODIc

Elegies by Tiny Deaths https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyvmUjkrPcI

Destroyer EP by Valley Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeWKMrwmBnE

No Shape by Perfume Genius https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7x79AtDKEw

Connect The Dots by MisterWives https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhC2c6N-cFM

Crawl Space by Tei Shi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVl7M14RcdY

Wired by Mallory Knox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpIlGnzxMSw

Zone On Nine by Bonzie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGs5He1T4hU

Kids In The Street by Justin Townes Earle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6HlYKW5zRU

Guppy by Charly Bliss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_2UqssvaSc

Relaxer by Alt J https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP0uuI80wuY

True Care by James Vincent McMorrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI5koBoG-HU

Ti Amo by Phoenix https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbYljhmcmII

Awake and Pretty Much Sober by Violents https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXXYmdJCt7s

Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXT2DLP6fP8

City Music by Kevin Morby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cKM3tfAsEo

Toss by Shugo Tokumaru https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYx-a79MhX8

Capacity by Big Thief https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1QlOfYxykI

Röykkä by Alex Siegel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBTrI6HLJw

Soft Sounds From Another Planet by Japanese Breakfast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrnAd7UxDrE

Klyne By Klyne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkqlTk-YjHo

Sacred Hearts Club by Foster The People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAW37LSCkQg

Lust For Life by Lana Del Rey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-NTv0CdFCk

Everything Now by Arcade Fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC30BYR3CUk

The Science of Letting Go by Smallpools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHfye8cUtZ8

Still Life On Fire by Mise En Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SHL6og08d4

Plastic Soul by Mondo Cozmo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCawN5JxlX0

Party by Aldous Harding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE-A0cNSLmc

The Siren’s Song by Kacy & Clayton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5zUL4oy7tY

Big Mess by Grouplove https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng8cDzyktEY

A Fever Dream by Everything Everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR3nXuBwGcI

Villans by Queens of the Stone Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lw6MZBmY-U

A Future by Rare Monk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEPXydMDw08

Beast Epic by Iron & Wine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXC80ZXQhvQ

Psychopomp by Japanese Breakfast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3bMacoqgCg

Your Are Coming To My Birthday by Psymon Spine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4LlrH8SsE

Hearts That Strain by Jake Bugg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFnvAbX96gM

Antisocialites by Alvvays https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v64KjYsUH58

Sleep Well Beast by The National https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O6duDDkhis

A Moment Apart by Odesza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBWpER3OwRA

Hallelujah Anyhow by Hiss Golden Messanger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Hg-lXkVPI

Wonderful Wonderful by The Killers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO7JGfqPB0s

The Amulet by Circa Survive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f1hkyqKHNs

White Noise by Noah Gundersen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkDapomEScA

Turmoil & Tinfoil by Billy Strings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLah0JzaX8c

Undivided Heart & Soul by JD McPherson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj5ZzXfTlpM

Harry Styles by Harry Styles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4ooNx77u0

Queens Of The Breakers by The Barr Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2ekKCUKTKU

Carry Fire by Robert Plant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OPKSZyRPFQ

All American Made by Margo Price https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W4-6R54xdg

Pacific Daydream by Weezer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsG37JcEQNw

Morning Haze by New Rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP0LREz1Q4c

Middle Kids EP by Middle Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEUM1BEy16Q

What Do You Think About The Car by Declan McKenna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzMaDCAaVyw

A Northern Star, A Perfect Stone by Mappe Of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpRQKEsWvSU

I Tell A Fly by Benjamin Clementine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5PuSmOZYo

Afterglow by Ásgeir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24WxLOuqt2A

After Laughter by Paramore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8vsuOXZBXc

On The Rocks by Midland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7f6HiQ2LuU

Reputation by Taylor Swift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-drlH9mAphk

Modern Adiction by Tender https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN9IZ86evb4

Loney Dear by Loney Dear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhNXsy050Xs

Face Your Fear by Curtis Harding https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krtNYv0-oCs

I Love You Like A Brother by Alex Lahey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBj_magluuc

4eva Is A Mighty Long Time by BIG K.R.I.T. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLoDQR4Vawk