The Top 12 Albums of 2017
For the first time in the years of doing this list, I am posting AFTER the turn of the New Year, as opposed to right before. Some might think I waited until the very end to make sure I heard everything released up until 12/31. (they would be wrong) Others would opine that I was deep into the re-listen, and the order was changing daily. (closer….) A third group, would take thought two and add “and probably just hasn’t gotten around to writing it up”. (ding ding ding! WINNER!!)
That said, it’s been a pretty good year for new music, but nothing too extraordinary. (This past year pales in comparison to the awesome palate of 2016) It DID see a major return of three long forgotten (maybe?) bands, and more and more female voices being heard at a variety of different decibel levels. Before I count it down, a review of the Plourd – Rules for this list:
No Live Albums
No Best Of
No Compilations
I listened to / purchased over 50 full length albums this year, here are a few that JUST missed the top 12:
Aimee Mann – Mental Illness She is at the top of her game after a 30+ year career…yes, Voices Carry came out in 1985.
Gary Numan – Savage A concept album that falls a little bit flat on the back half. Still, an amazing run of music over the past few years.
Liam Gallagher – As You Were The first “proper” solo record for the former Oasis front man, it was the better of the Gallagher brother releases this year by a decent margin.
Foo Fighters – Concrete and Gold Despite some inspired collaborations (Boys 2 Men!!) and some radio friendly “hits” scattered throughout, it felt a little bloated at times. Not BAD by any stretch, just not a classic Foo effort.
Beck – Colors The record that FINALLY made me a fan of Beck, but not enough to slot it higher than “the best #13”.
Two others that were not even close to the top….but need mention as I was incredibly disappointed by them.
Morrissey - Low In High School By a WIDE margin, my least favorite record of the year…and maybe of the past 3 years. (no, wait, that Andrew Bird record last year is STILL much worse…) Contrived (read: awful) lyrics, pointless meandering and uneventful instrumentation. Yeah, it is THAT bad.
U2 – Songs of Experience If I had NO clue who U2 was, and someone gave me a copy of this record, I would probably walk away thinking “That’s a pretty cool band, and a really good album”. So, with that as the backdrop, I would say this is more about not meeting expectations than anything. That is the curse of being one of the best bands of the last 35 years….I am hoping for near-perfect every time.
....and here we go.....
12 – Spoon - Hot Thoughts
Admittedly, I am a little late to the Spoon bandwagon. I have dabbled here and there over the years, but never really went all in. So, in very much the opposite way of the aforementioned U2 record, I went in with very low expectations. In fact, the day I bought it, I also picked up the new Shins record (decent)….and once they were each played front to back, Spoon didn’t leave the turntable for a few days. It’s an accessible sound, with jangly telecasters and dance inspired drumming. At 10 tracks, the album flows nicely, bringing the listener through peaks and valleys throughout.
Top Song – Hot Thoughts
11-Ted Leo – The Hanged Man
After years of releases with his high-energy backing band, The Pharmacists, and a tremendous record with Aimee Mann, (under the name The Both) Leo took some time on his own to write and record this solo effort. Self-funded without major label distribution, Leo had the freedom to take his time and craft what HE wanted to, and the results are quite stunning. Like Matthew Sweet’s 2017 release, (the should-have-been-10-songs album Tomorrow Forever) Leo explores many different musical styles, from the power pop punk of his earlier days, to a solo guitar rip that epitomizes his latest tour style. A strong effort from top to bottom.
Top Song – Can’t Go Back
10-Tigers Jaw - Spin
Continuing his stunning 2016, producer Will Yip launched a new label, Black Cement, housed under the legendary Atlantic record label roof. Will’s choice for first band to be released by the new venture? Scranton Pennsylvania’s Tigers Jaw. After being a traditional 4-5 piece band for it’s early years, Tigers Jaw has essentially been the duo of Ben Walsh and Brianna Collins for the past 4 years…and the results have been beyond fruitful. On Spin, they take their sound to a new height, riding the wave of sound created by soaring guitars, a solid rhythm section, and the sound ear of Yip. They continue to tour to support the record, and seem to be gathering a larger audience. Expect bigger things over the next few years.
Top Song – June
9 – Living Colour - Shade
Growing up in the 80s, my peer group and I could come up with multiple stories of cassette tapes either becoming twisted/tangled in a player (#2 pencil to the rescue!!) and in some cases, the tape actually disintegrating/stretched/broken from over playing. That happened to my copy of Living Colour’s debutVivid….twice! And then, not to be outdone, my first CD version of it ALSO stopped playing from over use. Needless to say, I was REALLY looking forward to their first new music in 8 years. (in 2010, they released the somewhat disappointing The Chair In The DoorwayLike their first 2 albums, Shade exhibits multiple musical styles, whether it be a Robert Johnson blues melody, or a tremendous cover of Biggie Smalls “Who Shot Ya”. The band is in fine form as well, highlighted by the ever imaginative guitar stylings of founding member Vernon Reid.
Top Song – Come On
8 – Slowdive - Slowdive
Another “comeback of the year” nominee has to be Slowdive, one of the bigger of the first wave of “shoegaze” bands of the early 90s. In 1993, they had their moment in the spotlight, when they released Souvlaki, a seminal record to be sure, and then, proceeded to sort of fade away. Their return in 2017 was fast and furious, with the reverb fueled guitars leading the way. And while those guitars are front and center, it’s the layered dual vocals with the stunning bass lines, that get me with every listen.
Top Song – Star Roving
7 – Turnover – Good Nature
This is the record that I struggled with the most in ranking. On one hand, there isn’t a song on the record that I don’t like. On the other, I am not sure there is a single one that I LOVE. So in short, it’s a very steady album, that plays better as a whole, than in parts. That said? I have to give you at least one “top song”. I continue to be impressed by how much growth Turnover has shown over the past 5 years.
Top Song – Super Natural
6 – Ryan Adams – Prisoner
And thus begins the top half, or as I like to call it: “every one of these sat at #1 for at least 1 day….”. Starting with Prisoner, an album that I really loved all year. I am quite confident in also saying, that I probably would have loved it even higher on the rankings, if not for hearing the single “To Be Without You” roughly 76000 times on the Spectrum. What Adams has done with this album, is two-fold:
1) He was able to process many an emotion, following a very rough and public divorce.
2) Produce 12 tracks that are SO different, yet so cohesive.
Amazingly, this is his 16th(!!) full length release, and he doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon.
Top Song – Do You Still Love Me?
5 – Waxahatchee – Out In The Storm
From the fuzz laced guitars of the first chords of track 1, Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee herself) announces that the listener is about to go on a ride of musical noise, with her sweet voice to guide the way. Crutchfield is not breaking any new ground here, rather, using elements of past decades to get her point across. Its heady, genuine and complex lyrical content make the journey even more interesting. From front to back, there is not a clunker in the bunch, as Katie takes the title of “Best Crutchfield-Twin-Sister album of the year”. (sister Alison released her 3rd LP earlier in 2017 as well)
Top Song – Never Been Wrong
4 – Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface
Following the 2014 release, Cope (and it’s partner LP Hope, an acoustic interpretation of the original) I was very excited to see where Andy Hull and company would go with the next release. Thankfully, every expectation I had was met (and more) with a grandiose record, filled with scintillating harmonies, tremendous orchestration, and lovely songwriting. With a line up that has changed a few times over the years, the constant, Hull, continues to push forward with new sounds and directions, and the results are quite spectacular.
Top Song - The Maze
3- Elbow – Little Fictions
When the announcement was made that founding member, drummer Richard Jupp, was leaving the band late last year, I was very anxious to see what would come next for Elbow. Jupp’s drumming was one of the staples of sound for them over the course of their 20 year career, and while replacing him, I am sure, would be “fine”, I was worried they would lose a lot more than just an imaginative back beat. Thankfully, it seems the other four members decided to go a little “extra” in Jupp’s absence, and produced their finest work since their masterpiece release, The Seldom Seen Kid. Guy Garvey, as always, is not just in fine voice, but writing lyrics of love, and hope, while maintaining his wry wit. Their use of strings is second to none in modern rock, and the arrangements of pianist/producer Mark Potter are just extraordinary. The record made me miss Jupp a little less.
Top Song – Magnificent (She Says)
2 – Julien Baker - Turn Out The Lights
In previous years, this list has broken down (typically) in the same fashion. A CLEAR #1, followed by 4-6 records that could be anywhere 2-6ish, and then a distinct third tier to round it out. This album was #1 on the list on multiple drafts, and even writing now, I am STILL not sure. Suffice to say, this is an unbelievable breakout, for a 22 year old artist whom I hope the industry (and a greater audience) adopts and becomes a big star. Armed with a guitar (and some piano / keyboards as well) and an angelic-to-powerful-in-a-second voice, Baker has written an anxious, soothing, healing like-letter to herself. It is filled with tales of sorrow, yet hope, and anger, yet calm. When I saw her in April of this year, I sat in wonder of her one-woman “orchestra” she creates with her telecaster and pedal board, and while she was able to multi track for the record, the arrangements are poetic in nature. This FEELS like a record that should be bigger than it is, and I am hopeful that in time, it will grow in stature.
Top Song – Turn Out The Lights
1 – Ride - Weather Diaries
As mentioned….it was close, but in the end, the story of one of the most amazing comebacks, for me, has to end with Ride taking the #1 spot. Is Weather Diaries perfect? No, there are a couple of songs that, while good, are not “classic” by any stretch. But, like Nowhere and Going Blank Again before it (almost 25 years ago!) the album has hits for days. With “shoegaze” being a “thing” again, it only feels right that one of the pioneering bands (along with My Bloody Valentine, Catherine Wheel and the aforementioned Slowdive) ascends to the top yet again. The beauty of Ride was always in a couple of key areas. First, the harmonizing dual lead vocals of Mark Gardener and Andy Bell have the ability to take a song great to supreme. Their voices fit perfectly together, even more so now than during their first run. Secondly, Loz Colbert may be the most underrated drummer of my lifetime. And while he has always been captured well on tape, THIS record finally captures the true essence of Loz in a live environment….and to boot, he makes his vocal debut on the simmering “Rocket Silver Symphony”. From the opening strains of “Lannoy Point”, landing in the beauty of “White Sands”, Ride has made a comeback record for the ages.
Top Song – All I Want
