Top 50 Albums of 2017
2017 was all over the board when it came to music, filled with breakout artists, long-awaited let-downs, and impressive additions to the catalogs of heavy hitter artists. From the orchestral nihilism of Pure Comedy to the inventive pop flavor of Melodrama, here’s my top 50 projects of the year.
[Honorable Mentions]: Bell Witch-Mirror Reaper, Big Thief-Capacity, Converge-The Dusk In Us, Julien Baker-Turn Out The Lights, LCD Soundsystem-American Dream, Miguel-War & Leisure, MIKE-MAY GOD BLESS YOUR HUSTLE, Milo-Who Told You To Think?!?!??!!, Royal Blood-How Did We Get So Dark?, Steve Lacy-Steve Lacy’s Demo,Thundercat-Drunk,The xx-I See You
#50: Vince Staples-Big Fish Theory
On Big Fish Theory, Long Beach’s own Vince Staples has created the sleek and industrial companion to Summertime 06, discussing familiar themes of racial tension, pop culture, and the rap industry in a refreshing and forward-thinking fashion. There’s a few tracks that fail to hit their mark (Crabs in the Bucket, SAMO), but the high points of the album (Yeah Right, Big Fish) are well worth the succint run-time.
#49: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard-Murder of the Universe
Murder of the Universe is, in my opinion, the best of the five King Gizz albums released this year, using repetition and racous guitar work to jump from a variety of thematic ideas (the Balrog, Soylent Green, and ritualistic sacrifice to name a few).
#48: Migos-Culture
While Culture may stick to the dark trap-formula that brought Migos to the lime light with 2016’s Bad and Boujee, it’s still one of the over-saturated genre’s strongest offerings of the year.
#47: Remo Drive-Greatest Hits
The debut from emo-punk miscreants Remo Drive is hilarious and overly-relatable throughout, with cuts like Art School and Yer Killin’ Me expertly playing the thin line between irony and a sad, sad reality.
#46: Code Orange-Forever
Forever was my introduction to the vicious metalcore world of Code Orange, the band utilizing bulletproof instrumentals and carnivorous lyricism throughout the rollercoaster ride of an album.
#45: Joey Bada$$-All-Amerikkkan Bada$$
While not as hungry as on his 2015 debut, Joey does his best on AABA to tackle a slew of concious political issues harboring in the U.S.A, doing so with some incredible features (Q on Rockabye Baby, the excellent Beast Coast posse-cut on RING THE ALARM) and instrumentals.
#44: Feist-Pleasure
Canadian pop veteran Leslie Feist’s Pleasure is one of her most personal and powerful efforts to date, the album constantly sifting between introspection and sonic vigor.
#43: Makaya McCraven-Highly Rare
Experimental Chicago jazz artist McCraven creates a smooth and self-propelling album, switching between looping and sudden jazzy interjections to give the project an intoxicating feel.
#42: J.I.D.-The Never Story
The Dreamville-backed debut album from rap-game newcomer J.I.D tackles a variety of ideas on hip-hop and urban culture in extraordinarily creative fashion, hefted by excellent wordplay, flow, and sampling.
#41: Richard Dawson-Peasant
Enigmatic British folk artist Dawson gives us the closest thing to listening to a 12th century bard in a crossroads inn, utilizing lush yet brittle instrumentation and guttural vocals to tell individual stories of feudal life..
#40: Mountain Goats-Goths
While not as immediately loveable as 2015’s Beat the Champ, the sixteenth Mountain Goats album is an overly-relatable and expertly droning commentary on our disconnected society.
#39: Pile-A Hairshirt of Purpose
Boston alt-rockers Pile bring forth a record of pure anxiety-inducing erraticness, blending swelling instrumentation and haunting vocals throughout the album.
#38: Elder-Reflections of a Floating World
Floating World is a beast of a progressive metal album, creating an unrelenting and cruel sonic landscape on six melancholic and downward-spiraling tracks.
#37: Moses Sumney-Aromanticism
The debut from talented young singer Sumney is full of densley layered instrumentals, tense and heartfelt lyrics on love’s place in the modern world, and fleeting yet memorable moments of innovation.
#36: BROCKHAMPTON-SATURATION
Filled to the brim with bangers and pitched-up, savory ballads, the first entry in the SATURATION trilogy from Kevin Abstract and crew presents a unique and dynamic hip-hop album. Although there’s a ton of great tracks on SATURATION I, it’s still coated in the group’s messy, bedroom-studio charm. But who could have predicted what they’d be following up with in the coming months?
#35: Big K.R.I.T.-4eva Is a Mighty Long Time
Southern rap legend Big K.R.I.T. brings his ever present ambition to the next level on his new double album, filling the tracklist with a mix of bangers, smooth R&B accompaniments, and inspirational social messages. The project is easy on the ears and filled with catchy moments, only held back by excessive outros and the weaker second half.
#34: (Sandy) Alex G-Rocket
Bandcamp afficionado (Sandy) Alex G sheds his lo-fi aesthetic from Trick and Beach Music for raucous and much-needed experimentation, especially on the album’s descent into woodland madness on the second half.
#33: Alex Cameron-Forced Witness
Cameron’s latest album is a sleek and stylish collection of hilariously self-aware soft rock tracks, commentating on shattered machismo in the internet age, with the incredibly catchy guitar leads and great crop of features (Angel Olsen, Kirin J Callinan) thrusting it above the competition.
#32: Run The Jewels-Run The Jewels 3
El-P and Killer Mike deliver a followup to the the previous RTJ albums that feels more mature and further realized: a sonically impressive grasping of the duo’s rise to the forefront of social conscious rap and the victory that follows.
#31: Brand New-Science Fiction
Setting aside the controversy surrounding the band’s lead singer Jesse Lacey, Science Fiction is a destructive alt-rock cavern, providing the listener with nothing but an entirely unique and hypnotic sense of paranoia.
#30: Rina Sawayama-RINA
With the only EP on my list, Japanese vocalist Rina Sawayama proves herself as an incredible songwriter and singer, enlisting the spontaneous production of Clarence Clarity to create an intoxicating, 90’s-esque cyber thrill ride.
#29: Mac DeMarco-This Old Dog
On possibly his most low-key project to date, This Old Dog feels like the mature and realized companion to the sleepy-stoner attitude of Salad Days, with Mac pondering over the withering of relationships and the nagging factor at the back of most of our minds, growing older.
#28: Sun Kil Moon-Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood
Mark Kozelek and crew’s post-Benji record is a behemoth of stripped down instrumentals and rambling conversations on the irony of life, social issues, and retrospect.
#27: Arca-Arca
Venezuelan producer Alejandro Ghersi builds on his past efforts in a highly textured, sexualized, and intentionally claustorphobic sonic tunnel.
#26: Colin Stetson-All This I Do For Glory
Experimental saxophonist Stetson utilizes a seething sonic landscape on his sixth LP, pushing his craft seemingly beyond the limits of the instrument.
#25: Jay Som-Everybody Works
Melina Duterte’s Everybody Works is an oxymoron of simple complexity, balancing light and introspective lyricism on the daily grind with erratic instrumental power.
#24: The War On Drugs-A Deeper Understanding
A Deeper Understanding improves on the wallpaper, Dylan-esque qualities of TWOD’s previous albums, presenting a new slew of slick instrumentals that jump from cavernous to energetic in a moment’s notice.
#23: Ulver-The Assassination of Julius Caesar
TAoJC is an entirely unique Ulver project, showcasing the group’s multi-decade experimental dynamism, jumping from infectious synths to howling, brooding vocals at a moment’s notice.
#22: Charlotte Gainsbourg-Rest
Despite the album being sung nearly entirely in French, aside from the carefree hooks, Parisian singer Charlotte Gainsbourg perfectly accompanies the landscape-esque electronic production on Rest with compelling delivery and passion that pushes the language-barrier to the side.
#21: Perfume Genius-No Shape
Experimental pop artist Mike Hadreas’ latest project feels less prideful than 2014’s excellent Too Bright, basking in the undertow of relationships and intimacy alongside skittering, synthed-out instrumentals.
#20: Billy Woods-Known Unknowns
Known Unknowns is one of the best underground hip-hop projects of the year, with Woods bringing dynamic worldplay and storytelling only matched by the recent likes of Aesop Rock and Milo. The instrumentals also serve as a massive step-up from his 2015 project, channeling a kaleidoscope of samples and interesting complements to Wood’s ever-changing flows.
#19: BROCKHAMPTON-SATURATION II
The second album of the year from the incredibly talented collective of Texas/LA artists improves on the downtime and grit of the first SATURATION. With unique production, memorable bars, and a beyond entertaining aesthetic, SAT II is a concise album full of refreshing ideas, character, and replayability.
#18: Jlin-Black Origami
After her 2015 breakout debut, Dark Energy, Indiana producer Jerrilynn Patton creates an otherworldly landscape, bringing off-the-walls IDM production and input from genre pioneers like William Basinski and Holly Herndon.
#17: Rosalía-Los Ángeles
A raw and powerful debut album from Spanish singer Rosalía, utilizing intimate vocals, skeletal guitarwork, and mournful lyrics.
#16: Fleet Foxes-Crack Up
Both ornate and rustic in classic Fleet Foxes fashion, Crack Up is further complimented by excellent songwriting and mystical sonic embellishments, making it a worthy entry in the band’s cherished catalog.
#15: Somi-Petite Afrique
New York singer/songwriter Somi has created a catalog of pure poetry on Petite Afrique, utilizing soft, lounge-jazz backing to capitalize on her dreamy yet politicized lyrics (touching on gentrification in Harlem and public opinions on black beauty for example). The project is one of the year’s hidden gems, but Somi has enormous potential-giving the impression of a young Ella Fitzgerald.
#14: Tyler, The Creator-Flower Boy
Flower Boy feels like the seven year culmination of Tyler’s talents, with sprawling and meticulous production, thoughtful bars, and complimenting features that fit snugly into the album’s summer vibe.
#13: Björk-Utopia
After the ever-expansive string of albums, live recordings, visual media, and cult of personality over the past few decades, Bjork has finally reached her self-proclaimed “Utopia”. Finding naturalist, Biophilia-esque joy in the world after the cavern that was Vulnicurna, Guðmundsdóttir’s vocals accompany and beautifully contrast with the gorgeous string and flute centric production provided by frequent collaborator Arca.
#12: Mount Eerie-A Crow Looked At Me
Phil Elverum has created 2017’s Carrie and Lowell: a window into the immediacy after the loss of a loved one, encompassing both the bitter timeline of both wallowing and contemplating moving on. As the cryptic cherry on top, it’s message feels all too familiar and should resonate with any listener.
#11: Rapsody-Laila’s Wisdom
Laila’s Wisdom is easily the best female rap album of the year and Rapsody’s strongest presentation yet, with the North Carolina rapper effortlessly jumping between moments of introspection and aggression, accompanied further by driving production and features from Paak, Black Thought, and Kendrick.
#10: Iglooghost- Neō Wax Bloom
Bandcamp master Iglooghost’s debut album is a nonstop thrill ride of electronic bustle, with every corner of the album packed to the brim with embellishments and woven intricacies that will take the listener at least three or four playthroughs to even process.
#9: SZA-Ctrl
SZA’s long-stirring debut record is a realized and sensual demonstration of her artistry, in addition to being one of the most exciting R&B projects in recent memory. By expertly playing the line between hip-hop and R&B, enlisting engaging features, and just making enjoyable and memorable music, Solana has created a promising and well-crafted crowd pleaser.
#8: Benjamin Clementine-I Tell A Fly
Clementine follows up the Mercury Prize winning At Least For Now with an even stranger and more avant-garde concept album. Dotted among his howls, Bowie-esque moans, and falsetto chirps, ITAF is filled with crisp, creative piano and harpsichord instrumentals that emanate a court stay in Versailles. For every catchy, toetapping bridge, there’s moments of sheer, spastic uniqueness. This is far from an album for everyone, but in the best way possible.
#7: Sampha-Process
A beautiful, experimental, and introspective solo debut from Drake & Kanye collaborator Sampha. Process is an experimental R&B standout, dealing with self-reflection, family, and the internalization of loss.
#6: Jay Z-4:44
On top of being extremely pleasant to listen through, Jay’s new project is him at his most vulnerable. Represented by both dynamic, lyrical tour-de-forces and paradoxical social commentary, late career albums as intriguing or creative as 4:44 are few and far between.
#5: Lorde-Melodrama
Melodrama is a powerful and realized departure from Lorde’s earlier breakout material, even more impressive considering her young career. The album feels dynamic, jumping around ideas of relationships, artistry, and emotion. The instrumentals are an array of exciting and refreshing pop ideas that both allow Lorde proper sonic experimentation and leave the listener craving more.
#4: King Krule-The OOZ
The OOZ is Archy Marshall’s finest album to date, improving upon many of the issues from his young debut projects. From the balance of visceral moments with the ultra personal and sensitive, Krule creates an ambitious atmosphere suiting a varied collection of ideas surrounding the life of a young adult. Additionally the instrumentals feel cleaner and better orchestrated than the bedroom-studio quality of the tracks on 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, especially impressive considering The OOZ is Archy’s longest and most wide-reaching project yet.
#3: Kendrick Lamar-DAMN.
Kendrick’s fourth album incorporates the lush political themes of To Pimp A Butterfly with the gritty realism of Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City for an entirely unique project. There’s a healthy mix of aggressive and claustrophobic bangers and lucid, dreamy ballads that culminate in an explosive intersection on the final introspective moments of the project. Despite some overly radio-friendly cuts, DAMN. is still an incredible project to emerge in the wake of Lamar’s 2015 magnum opus.
#2: BROCKHAMPTON-SATURATION III
The culmination to possibly the greatest single-year rap trilogy in history.
Full Review: https://medium.com/@brettpeters/brockhampton-saturation-iii-review-7e469c970db
#1: Father John Misty-Pure Comedy
Pure Comedy is a gargantuan effort from Josh Tillman’s egotistical persona, who performs like Atlas balancing the sonic weight of humanity’s issues on his shoulders. It’s far from the lovey folk waft of I Love You, Honeybear or Fear Fun, but instead a bleak, intelligent, and raucous compilation of the modern world’s pitfalls and shortsightedness.
I think it’s an album everyone should listen to. Despite it’s harrowing and frankly depressing description of our narcissistic, hyper-capitalist society, recent events have shown we can never be too aware of our collective issues-not to mention the project is immaculately orchestrated and expertly written. Tillman is exactly the self-deprecating, omniscient realist that the music industry, and our consciousnesses, need.
