Editor’s Albums of 2017
Another year, another round up.
Sometimes my own personal list is punctuated by new or obscure acts. 2017 felt, to me like the year of the returning heavyweights. Maybe not heavyweights in the overall industry sense (some) but in my world at least. I was stoked for the latest records from The National and The Afghan Whigs. Slowdive returned. Mogwai…. well Mogwai had never really gone away and some real legends were back in the ‘hood. Wire never seem to put a foot wrong. OMD threatened another Dazzle Ships with their ‘La Mitrailleuse’ teaser. Sadly that didn’t come to fruition on the patchy resultant album, The Punishment Of Luxury. The Liverpool synth legends comeback remains valuable only for the odd track here and there.
Actually The National album is worth discussing. For a band we’ve called ‘the new REM’ a seventh album could have been their breakthrough. Not to commercial success (which they already have) but to the stratospheric, ‘biggest band in the world’ levels that Out Of Time took REM. Not so. For a band that doesn’t change that much, Sleep Well Beast was ambitious with its electronics and filthy rock licks. It was also…. a bit of a mess. Its as though the Cincinnati act jumped the ‘massive’ REM period and landed on New Adventures In Hifi. I still included it. A misfiring Matt and Co remains valuable to me.
Here’s a top ten rundown, followed by some bubbling under. I’ll put some music samples at the foot of the article.
Keep in mind that this is my personal, ‘listening pleasure’ list not a [sic] Magazine aggregate. Not the ‘finger on the industry pulse’ which is actually Rob Gannon’s exhaustive article (link below)
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Enjoy the list.
10) Cigarettes After Sex – Cigarettes After Sex (Partisan) Dreampop
The most sultry collection of perfect little dreampop ‘hits’ since Hope Sandoval’s bra. Not sure whether this is lucky to get in or fully deserving. Cigarettes After Sex are undoubtedly, at this point, a one-trick pony but man that’s a good trick. This is Beach House for grown ups and you can tell exactly what these adults have been up to by the musky aroma.
Oh and yes, it’s a guy! Watch the video.
9) Mogwai – Every Countrys Sun (Rock Action) post-rock
I’d always pegged Mogwai as making wonderful compositions but never fully successful long players. Since Rock Action it feels as though the Glaswegians slipped into ‘two genius tracks per album’ mode. That’s actually okay. The two are always worth the admission price themselves but Every Country’s Sun is far more coherent and satisfying as a whole.
I saw Mogwai in Brussels recently and their set felt like a greatest ‘hits’. It actually contained seven cuts from the new album. Says it all.
8) Childhood – Universal High (Marathon Artists) pop, soul
Shedding the indie leanings of their debut for fresh, breezy pop, Ben Romans-Hopcraft’s Childhood re-emerge as ‘funk soul brothers’ of the highest order. Universal High feels like an instant classic. It’s hard to imagine Universal High not existing.
Just a wonderful, throwback record.
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7) Gang Of Youths – Go Farther in Lightness (Sony) Alt Rock
Anyone else partial to some Australiana?
When the fledgling Gang Of Youths announced their first Australian National tour I had to laugh at the unintentional pun. That’s what they were, an Australian National. Except of course, not quite. They have their own style, admittedly. Yes David Le’aupepe‘s rich baritone is comparable to Matt Berninger. But Le’aupepe is bell-clear and sonorous. Where Bernigner is muffled and muted, Le’aupepe soars. Occasionally the drum patterns are a little on the nose but Go Father In Lightness sees the group spreading both ambition and wings.
The deal sealer? It’s just so playable.
6) Hammock – Mysterium – (Hammock Music) Ambient, downtempo post-rock
Hammock topped my 2016 list with Everything And Nothing. Mysterium is more subdued. The Nashville duo have returned to the Oblivion Hymns template. I think Mysterium works better than Oblivion Hymns though. It is equally as minimal and downtempo but avoids some of the bombast which blighted Hymns somewhat. Tinged with great sadness (there is genuine family tragedy at the heart of this release) at times it is so cinematic at times that it is almost like listening to Max Richter or Ólafur Arnalds. Much like Departure Songs most of the tracks here have had an accompanying video.
Hammock have magic in their fingers.
5) The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding (Atlantic) Rock, Americana
This one is almost against my principals. Reeking of Dire Straits, the late Tom Petty, Springsteen and, indeed all the Dylan acolytes I shouldn’t engage with this in a million years. Trouble is, its just so good. So well done, yes but so good. You’d need a heart of stone to deny it. Adam Granduciel’s nasal coos are across every bands pre-gig mix and many peoples year lists.
They’re taking over the world, baby. Sorry Mark Kozelek. We love you too.
4) Wolf Alice – Visions of a Life (RCA) Grunge
Everyone likes Wolf Alice, right? From more understated beginnings the North London act are now amping up their ‘power pop’ angle. Forget ‘Alice’, Ellie Rowsell is the true, feral wild child of the band. I wouldn’t want to be locked in a darkened room with Ellie.
Then again…..
Scratch that.
3) Aldous Harding – Party (4AD) (folk goth)
“Hey”
Anyone who’s been on the Flying Nun label must have something going for them. To progress onto 4AD – alarm bells should be ringing. Not bad bells. Rather, ‘you must hear this’ bells. Party is hypnotic and beguiling. Hardings fluttering vocal is somehow both ‘star of the show’ and ephemeral spectre haunting her own music.
The Art…of Party. Splendid stuff.
2) bvdub – Heartless (n5MD) Ambient IDM
Brock Van Wey has made around 30 albums and I’ve listened to most. He always includes something that just floors me with its brilliance. I found Heartless to be more holistic. There were fewer ‘standout’ tracks but only because the whole release was quality from start to finish.
A rising tide lifts all ships and Van Wey is set fair to out-sail most of his peers.
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1) Black Swan Lane – Under My Fallen Sky (Wanderland) post punk/shoegaze
As a critic and writer you get to spot certain things early. I call it ‘placing a bet’. I knew Black Swan Lane were the real deal from the get-go and their debut album, A Long Way from Home. They have (come a long way), in fact. Under My Fallen Sky is the bands seventh collection and quite possibly best. After some weightier previous output Under My Fallen Sky takes a turn back towards the light. The result? One gorgeous slab of post-punk/dream-gaze with nary a duff track to be found. The new album is therefore vindication both for the band and for champions of the band like myself.
I put all my chips on Black, spun the wheel and Black most certainly came in.
They deserve a bigger following, these lot. This will appeal to fans of Manchester acts such as The Smiths, James, The Chameleons as equally as it will delight listeners of Slowdive, House Of Love and Kitchens Of Distinction. Our full review is linked below.
Sub-Ed’s Albums & EPs Of The Year 2017
Some……music:_
Bubbling under
Some of the ones unlucky to miss out on the ten. In no particular order:_
The Afghan Whigs – In Spades
Alvvays – Antisocialites
Demen – Nektyr
Ella Atlas – The Road to now
JFDR – Brazil
Mark Lanegan Band– Gargoyle
Last Days – Seafaring
The National – Sleep Well Beast
Nutopians – Rewind
Oskars Drum – A Cathedral Of Hands
Out Lines – Conflats
Pale Seas – Stargazing For Beginners
Protomartyr – Relatives in Descent
Max Richter – Three Worlds: Music From Woolf Works
Ride – Weather Diaries
Slowdive – Slowdive
Sonic Jesus – Grace
Wire – Silver/lead
Wolf Parade – Cry cry cry
Did we get yours?