By: Mikey Bamarni
Best Albums of 2017
5. Ti Amo – Phoenix
In June of this year, I reviewed this newly released album by Phoenix; yet here we are in December and the record is still just as amazing. It’s even more incredible due to the fact that the album has vibes reminiscent of summer. The more listens you give it, the more you notice the small little details that make this 10 track tour de force so griping. It’s the ultimate indie rock band release of 2017.
4. Antisocialites – Alvvays
Before this year, I had never heard of Alvvays. When I did stumble upon them on the World Wide Web I instantly disliked them. Alvvays?? V’s?? Do you want to be CHVRCHES?? Their name alone made me blood red mad. Since the album artwork was particularly enticing, I decided to judge an album by its cover, and it ended up being a great call. This record is the background music to your favorite dream and most relaxing happy place. Definitely recommend that you listen now.
3. Visions of a Life – Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice have been on my radar since their debut album released in 2015. Their music sounded like it was straight from the 90’s, but with modern production and less depressing lyrics. The combination was something special. This year they released a phenomenal album. It has many standout songs and fantastically expands the sound they started to show the world two years ago.
2. I See You – The XX
The XX is an excellent band. They have three albums that I highly recommend giving a listen to. Their third record, which they released this year, is probably their most up-tempo release yet. It’s always interesting to see this band explore new sounds, as they always end up succeeding. You must listen to the album all the way through at least once. I See You may be the best introductory album for this group, as it’s their best yet.
1. DAMN – Kendrick Lamar
Everyone was stunned by the jazz and political lyrics of the 2015 Kendrick album, To Pimp a Butterfly. While it was clearly a musical masterpiece, it was a hard listen for the more mainstream rap fans to grasp. Especially for those who loved the beats and production of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, it was hard to get into the more instrumentally driven follow up.
DAMN, however, does the trick of combining the political and personal lyrics of the 2015 album with a production that is even more beat driven than M.A.A.D City. It is a journey of a record, with each track focusing on a single aspect of what Kendrick Lamar wants to discuss in 2017. This is truly a masterpiece.
Best Songs of 2017
5. GOLD – BROCKHAMPTON
When I was on Twitter one day, I noticed a lot of talk about BROCKHAMPTON. At first I thought it was a TV show, or perhaps a cool indie rock band. But, to my surprise, found out that they were a self-described rap boy-band. With this niche classification, I knew I had to be check them out. The stand-out song out of the vast amount of tracks they released in 2017 is this heavy bumping jam. With a catchy chorus and lyrical swag, this song is truly golden.
4. PRIDE – Kendrick Lamar
DAMN was a darn good album (scroll up to see my thoughts). The standout to many critics would be HUMBLE or DNA, but for me, it’s PRIDE. The song is incredible in all aspects. Musically unique and mid-tempo, the lyrics are incredibly poetic and detailed, complementing Lamar’s silky-smooth vocal delivery. It’s a fiery track worthy of your peep.
3. Sign of the Times – Harry Styles
When 1D reached its peak, I was a Zayn Malik kind of guy myself. Mostly due to our similar ethnic backgrounds and shy guy personalities. When Harry, the other arguably most talented member of the bunch, released his debut single, I didn’t have super high hopes. But, I was interested and gave it a listen. This song floored me. The incredible thing is how it’s a straight rocker, yet still reached number 3 on the Billboard 100. Harry went solo with with a huge risk, and he hit it out of the park.
2. Say Something Loving – The XX
They released this song on January 1st, and thus making it a contender for song of the year. The XX did something beautiful with this track. They made a song as infectious and catchy as it is introspective and deep. With fantastic sampling and beautifully mellow vocals, it’s a song you need to listen to before it slips away.
1. The Man – The Killers
The Killers had an epic comeback in 2017. They released their best album in about 10 years, which included the ultimate pop/rock song. With influences from the Bee Gees, David Bowie, and a sample of Kool & The Gang, it was destined for greatness. It exceeded that predicted strength. Although the lyrics may seem cocky and arrogant, a quick watch of the music video explains that the song is mocking the guy who thinks he’s the king when, in reality, he’s just a human (or maybe a dancer).
To see Mikey B’s top picks of 2016, click here.
