2017 Albums

From time to time I enjoy a good listen to what is called ‘music’.  Here are some of what are called ‘albums’ that I very much enjoyed in the year of our Lord 2017.  If you have an open mind and also hate the radio please ‘check’ these out.

1. Shabazz Palaces: Born on a Gangster Star
   
   My favorite album of the year: Born on a Gangster Star by Shabazz Palaces. It sounds unlike anything I’ve ever heard, more alien than human.  To me its equal parts George Clinton (Mothership Connection)/Miles Davis (Bitches Brew era)/Outkast.   Is it hip-hop?  Kind of.  Is it genius? Most definitely.  Usually I gravitate to something like this just because of its weirdness, but this album completely captured me.  It’s a must listen!
   Songs: Shine a Light, Dèesse Du Sang, That’s How City Life Goes, Moon Whip Quäz

2. Metz: Strange Peace
   Noisy punk rock, if I had to pick a favorite sound, is my favorite. These guys are doing it better than anyone else.  This album was so good, and was only bested by Shabazz Palaces in my book.  They are both incredible, but while Shabazz must be listened to with headphones to get a full effect this can be turned up to 11 and make your neighbors move to a new zip code.
   Songs: Mess of Wires, Cellophane, Escalator Teeth

3. ’68: Two Parts Viper
   Josh Scogin of The Chariot/Norma Jean fame has a band where he and a drummer play the blues. Just imagine if The Black Keys still made good music but decided to experiment and make angry noises.  I was very pleased with this one.
   Songs: Whether Terrified or Unafraid, Without Any Words (Only Crying and Laughter), This Life Is Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

4. Slowdive: Slowdive
   
   I wasn’t excited about the return of Slowdive after 17 years of no new music, probably because I didn’t know who Slowdive was. This album was highly reviewed elsewhere and sounded like something I would enjoy.  It wins the award for best airplane music, it is perfect for dozing off into.  Now to discover the rest of their music….
   Songs: Star Roving, Sugar For The Pill, No Longer Making Time

5. Father John Misty: Pure Comedy
   
   The Holden Caulfield of this generation delivered another fantastic album, albeit he couldn’t top the stellar I Love You Honeybear from 2015 (one of my all-time favorites.) There are some fantastic songs with lush orchestration here, but there were a couple of clunkers here (Leaving LA was particularly grating.)  Also, I love complaining and not offering any solution as much as anyone, but it grows tiring.  
   Songs: Total Entertainment Forever, Things It Would Have Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution, The Memo

6. The Movielife: Cities In Search Of A Heart
   It was a dream come true for me this year when I got to see one of my favorite bands ever play. The Movielife broke up when I was a senior in high school and I imagined I would have been right at home at one of their live shows. It’s been fourteen years since their last album and I didn’t have high expectations for them to put out anything worthwhile.  Cities In Search Of A Heart makes this list not because of my affinity for the pop punk with hardcore edges that I loved as a high schooler, it makes this list because it is great.  Not cool, not trying to be anything it isn’t, but absolutely confident in itself.  The songs are ready to be hollered along to and their sense of melody is top notch.
   Songs: Ski Mask, Pour Two Glasses,  Laugh Ourselves To Death

7. Washed Out: Mister Mellow
   The next Washed Out album is something I had been waiting a long time for. The five songs that are on it are great, but the rest of it is transitions into other songs.  It is supposed to be a ‘visual album’, but I don’t have time to sit down and watch an album.  The live show was a cool visual spectacle, and I’m sure if I get a chance to watch Mister Mellow someday I’ll enjoy it.  This album did make my list because the five songs that are on it showcase an incredible artist growing and crafting underwater dream songs.
   Songs: Burn Out Blues, Hard to Say Goodbye, Get Lost

8. LCD Soundsystem: American Dream
   
   I’ve enjoyed this band for a few years but wasn’t crestfallen when they stopped making music, nor was I over the moon when they returned. LCD is cool but I am not a super fan.  Another pleasant surprise this year was how much I connected to this album.  It’s dance music for people like me who shouldn’t really dance.  The opening tune Oh Baby is incredibly emotive and a must listen.
   Songs: Oh Baby, Tonight, American Dream

   1. Slow Magic: Float                   Slow Magic continues to grow and evolve with his latest album. This is Slow Magic’s first album to contain vocals, and it does not disappoint.  The guests chosen for the album fit in perfectly to the masked wonder’s sonic fantasy world.  It also makes Float his most accessible.  It is still beyond me that Slow Magic isn’t a bigger deal.
      Songs: Mind (feat. Kate Boy), Wildfire, Light (feat. Tropics)

10. Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory
    
    With mainstream hip hop being mostly toilet music (in my opinion) it is refreshing to hear a rapper that isn’t necessarily considered “underground” make something so good. After reading positive reviews I picked up Big Fish Theory and was immediately drawn in to it.  The production is more interesting the Kendrick Lamar’s overrated music, and lyrically smarter too.  (I’m glad that people who love hip-hop probably won’t see this, I could get beat up for that opinion)
    Songs: Big Fish, BagBak, Rain Come Down

There was a lot of other music I really loved, so here’s the rest you should check out!

Holy Mountain Band: Holy Mountain
My good friend Thomas Ewing started a band with another fella and they put out an album.  I have always been supportive of friends that make music but I don’t always like it.  I think that this is the best thing my friend has made, and one of the best things in any modern folk genre.  I find the ‘honesty’ in most modern folk rock to be fraudulent and forced, but find no guile here.  Cheers to Holy Mountain!
Songs: Best Part of Me, What’s the Worst, No Conditions

Queens of The Stone Age: Villains
QOTSA are a great band, and Villains is a good album with some fun songs.  Not their career best by a long shot, but they are a better rock band on their worst day than a majority of what passes for good on modern rock radio.
Songs: The Way You Used To Do, Head Like a Haunted House

Brand New: Science Fiction
I was super excited when this came out and found two really great tracks that made me think it could be an all-time great emo album.  Boy was I bummed to oblivion when the singer had horrible sexual allegations come out against him.  I didn’t realize how much something like that would turn me off, it made it unlistenable.  I even tried to separate the art from the artist but to no avail.  I guess that’s the end of Brand New.
Songs: Waste, No Control

Haim: Something To Tell You
My friend Fletcher recommended this band to me.  Its pleasant sounds belongs inside of Gap and H&M, perfect shopping music.
Songs: Want You Back, Ready For You

Beck: Colors
I love Beck and I have all of his albums.  This album wasn’t groundbreaking but I truly enjoyed it.  Plus, there is finally a version of ‘Dreams’ without the swearing!
Songs: Seventh Heaven, I’m So Free

Run The Jewels: Run The Jewels 3
Released last year on Christmas Day but I didn’t get a copy until June of 2017.  RTJ II was so incredible that it was impossible to top.  This is really good but isn’t anything different than their last effort.  Killer Mike is the most intense MC alive.
Songs: Talk To Me, Call Ticketron

Harry Styles: Harry Styles
I’ve only listened to ‘Sign of the Times’ actively, so I can’t say I really invested listens to it.  ‘Sign of the Times’ was so good that I couldn’t resist the former boy band guy anymore; when I have listened to it I think about Blur (that’s a good thing.)
Songs: check above^

Coca Leaf: Deep Marble Sunrise
I saw that Carson Cox of my favorite band Merchandise played on this album and it was labeled experimental.  I hadn’t heard of anything that I wanted to listen to yet in 2017 (the first half of the year felt like a drought), so when they announced this I snatched it up.  It’s interesting for sure, I’m not sure anyone I know other than me would enjoy it.  I loved that it was a soundtrack for a particular transition in my life, the first piece of new music in 2017 to memorialize a frustrating time.  It only got better from here.
Songs: New Soft Dawn, Riding Ice
Parquet Courts: Captive of the Sun (feat. Bun B) – Single
Slacker art punk rock surprisingly fit well with southern hip-hop on this reimagined track from last year’s Parquet Courts near perfect album Human Performance.  One of the weaker tracks from the album is now among my favorites because of this courageous gamble.