Top Albums and Singles of 2017

Another year, another music blog post reflecting on the most prominent albums of the past 12 months....

Of course, 2017 wasn't exactly like any other year though.  Given the year's volatile political climate, it's easy for us to assume that music may have taken a backseat for record enthusiasts.  Or perhaps, on the contrary, music may have been the binding force that provided hope for many music geeks during a bleak turn of events.

The alcohol industry knows that customers are going to drink during both good times and bad.  Music is no different.  Whether we turn to music for celebratory or cathartic purposes, we are always lending our ears.  Here are my favorite albums and singles of 2017 that have either served as a form of escapism or solace: 

Albums

1.  Semper Femina - Laura Marling

2.  Drunk - Thundercat

3.  Painted Ruins - Grizzly Bear

4.  American Dream - LCD Soundsystem

5.  Soul of a Woman - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Singles

1.   Ballad of a Dying Man - Father John Misty

2.   Everything Now - Arcade Fire

3.   Soothing - Laura Marling

4.   American Dream - LCD Soundsystem

5.   Die 4 You - Perfume Genius

6.   Just Wasn't Made For These Times - Jim James

7.   Los Ageless - St. Vincent

8.   The Strange Effect - The Shacks

9.   Third of May/Odaigahara - Fleet Foxes

10.  Catherine the Great - The Divine Comedy

11.  Dreams Tonight - Alvvays

12.  Losing All Sense - Grizzly Bear

13.  Crawl - Gabriel Garzon Montano

14.  Summer Girl - Jamiroquai

15.  Magnificent (She Says) - Elbow

16.  Dum Surfer - King Krule

17.  Name For You - The Shins

18.  Anymore - Goldfrapp

19.  Apocalypse - Cigarettes After Sex

20.  Deadly Valentine - Charlotte Gainsbourg

21.  Young Adult - Inara George

22.  I Want To Prove To You - The Lemon Twigs

23.  Cherrybomb - Dan Auerbach

24.  J-Boy - Phoenix

25.  Sleeping Powder - Gorillaz

26.  My Old Man - Mac DeMarco

27.  Over Everything - Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile

28.  Truth - Kamasi Washington

29.  Dear Life - Beck

30.  Replica - The XX

31.  I Miss That Feeling - Tennis

32.  Inferno - Thundercat

33.  Goose Snow Cone - Aimee Mann

34.  Tinseltown Swimming in Blood - Destroyer

35.  Never Know - Dhani Harrison

36.  Whiteout Conditions- New Pornographers

37.  When I Saw Your Face - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

38.  Talisa - Daniele Luppi & Parquet Courts ft Karen O

39.  Darling - Real Estate

40.  Freedom is Free - Chicano Batman

See also: Top Albums and Singles of 2016

               Top Albums and Singles for 2015

               Top Albums and Singles of 2014

Top Albums and Singles of 2014

2014 has proven that the traditional music business model is officially doomed.  Taylor Swift is the only artist that has reached platinum this year.  What does the future hold for the other thousands of musicians barely surviving?

I appreciate the fact that we now live in a DIY age where nearly anyone can produce, release and distribute their albums independently.  The only problem is that there is almost too much talent lurking about, and not an easy solution to filter all of the noteworthy acts flying just below the radar. 

That is why I believe that it is crucial for all music enthusiasts to contribute their favorite musical discoveries via the Internet or through word of mouth.  I don’t believe every artist that has “made it” is necessarily talented.  Sometimes fame is coincidental or based purely on luck. This year, I want to give a shout-out to my favorite albums and singles that may or may not have had the exposure it rightly deserves. With that said, here are my favorite albums and singles of 2014:

Top Albums of 2014

1.  Morning Phase - Beck

2.  St. Vincent - St. Vincent

3.  Give the People What They Want - Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

4.  My Favorite Faded Fantasy - Damien Rice

 5.  Phonovisions Symphonic Orchestra -Wax Tailor

 

  Top Singles of 2014

1.  Strange Weather - Anna Calvi and David Byrne

2. Almost Like The Blues - Leonard Cohen

3. It Will End in Tears - Phillip Selway

4. Algiers - Afghan Whigs

5. Duvan - Amason

6. Careful You - TV On The Radio

7. Stay Awhile - She and Him

8. Coconut Sofa - Jaded Incorporated

9. Do You - Spoon

10. Am I Safe - Ryan Adams

11. Late Bloomer - Jenny Lewis

12. Digital Witness - St. Vincent

13. Low Key - Tweedy

14. Lucky Guy - Sondre Lerche

15. The Bend - Real Estate

16. Alone In My Home - Jack White

17. Silver Lining - First Aid Kit

18. Brill Bruisers - New Pornographers

19. Everyday Robots - Damon Albarn

20. No Sir - The Both

21. Someone New - Hozier

22. Pools - Glass Animals

23. Rainy Day Woman - Kat Edmonson

24. It Takes a Lot to Know a Man - Damien Rice

25. Stranger To My Happiness - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

26. Going Out - Hospitality

27. Wave - Beck

28. Me at the Museum, You in the Wintergardens - Tiny Ruins

29. Wolf - Lily & Madeleine

30. 1999 - Hollie Cook

31. Artifact #1 - Conor Oberest

32. Avant Gardener - Courtney Barnett

33. You Will Return - Quantic ft. Alice Russell

34. If I'm Unworthy - Blake Mills

35. Passing Out the Pieces - Mac DeMarco

36. Ojai - Ray LaMontagne

37. How Can You Really? - Foxygen

38. Turnaround - Dru Chen

39. Ben's My Friend - Sun Kil Moon

40. Sometimes - Wax Tailor

What are some of your favorite picks from this year?