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Brooklyn, New York

The whole year of 2017 was a cluster fuck. Be it politics, media or our own social standing, 2017 was the year most would like to forget. Throughout the year though, quality music releases popped up to remind us that all of the bullshit is indeed, bullshit. When listening to music this year, I wanted to hear music that transported me out of reality or music that challenged listeners to think deeply about the events around them. Music in 2017 was a catharsis, and these are the albums that represented the very best escapism possible. Picking 50 of my favorite albums of the year was almost impossible, but the albums presented struck a chord with me in one way or another. These are my choices for the 50 best albums of the year. (Part one of two, of course).

50. Bicep – Bicep

Hailing from Northern Ireland, the electronic duo Bicep quietly wormed their way into minds with this stunning self-titled debut. On paper, there isn’t much to this album that we haven’t seen before: low-key house music and subtle shifts to carry the entire album. But what makes Bicep stand out is the way the whole album buries itself deep in the subconscious mind. At first, I felt this album was decent, but unspectacular. But even after one listen, I had various effects from every track stuck in my head for weeks. Bicep is so low-key that you might miss the intricate electronics on display, but the album is seemingly designed to get in your head whether you want it to or not.

49. Majid Jordan – The Space Between

As one of the many to be affiliated with Drake’s OVO Sound label, R&B duo Majid Jordan displayed promise on their debut self-titled album in 2016. A promise left initially unfulfilled, but one capitalized here on their sophomore album The Space Between. Sure, there’s the obvious Drake influence here, but Majid Jordan find a surprising balance between full-blown pop and the moody R&B that has defined the Toronto sound for years. As writers for one of Drake’s biggest hits, “Hold On We’re Going Home,” Majid Jordan finally capitalize on their potential with a set of atmospheric, immaculately crafted R&B.

48. Julien Baker – Turn On the Lights

On Julien Baker’s second album Turn On the Lights, the singer-songwriter grapples with the bleakest of themes. Shaken faith and anxiety fuel the album’s 11 tracks, all of which are stripped down to the bare essentials to allow Baker to to be at the forefront of each track. Turn On the Lights is a moody piece as songs gradually build a surprising amount of tension throughout the runtime. I was genuinely surprised to get lost in Baker’s haunting narrative, as if she was singing directly into my soul. This is an album of questioning, one that feels real because it taps into anyone’s fear of the world around them. Turn On the Lights may not be the easiest listen for some, but for those with patience and the desire to ask the existential questions, this is the perfect reflective album.

47. The War on Drugs – A Deeper Understanding

With their previous album Lost in the Dream, The War on Drugs finally made their way to a bigger audience. Drenched in Springsteen-inspired Americana, the album was full of epic hits that were seemingly pulled straight out of the 1980s. A Deeper Understanding continues what made that album so great in the first place, doubling down on the layered production and epic feels that made Lost in the Dream so great. If this new album isn’t quite the masterpiece the last album was, it’s only because it’s more of a refinement instead of an originator. No matter, A Deeper Understanding is a great follow-up and an indicator that this band is only now getting started.

46. Gorillaz - Humanz

For all the hubbub of a new Gorillaz project from Damon Albarn, Humanz is a surprisingly scattershot record that managed to alienate a number of fans. No matter, Humanz still sees the Gorillaz in the familiar twisted-pop frame as before. The D.R.A.M featuring “Andromeda” could bring the whole club down, but Humanz is at its most provocative with tracks like “Ascension”, featuring a politically charged performance from Vince Staples. With aggressive beats propelling the whole album, there’s a politically charged message here, but one that greatly benefits from the trademark kinetic eccentricity of the Gorillaz.

45. Arca - Arca

I can’t say I’ve been a fan of Venezuela producer Arca’s previous two records. These albums were critically acclaimed across the board, enough so that he’s been getting producer credits from various projects and artists. Personally, I found the music more aimless than it needed to be; abstract electronics with no real emotional core to them. However, Arca’s third and self-titled album is fucking great.

With an increased vocal presence among the eccentric productions, Arca displays an emotional center that greatly improves his abrasive electronics. Arca is an album of personal reflection, one that takes shape with its abstract beauty and never winds down. Easily the best album in Arca’s catalog, this self-titled album finally gives him a platform that even his past critics can’t fault.

44. Rezz – Mass Manipulation

In the world of festival-ready EDM, innovation has taken a backseat to instant bangers, the kind of songs that provide a visceral thrill without any lasting impact. Rezz’s debut album Mass Manipulation provides the requisite bangers, but there’s a creative spark that carries the album beyond a quick adrenaline shot.

Mass Manipulation isn’t a total genre reinvention, but the willingness to experiment with genre conventions gives Rezz a one-up on her contemporaries. Short and sweet, Mass Manipulation descends into odd, sometimes psychedelic territories without sacrificing the bangers. And really, who thought there was any gas left for albums in this genre? A good one is a cause for celebration.

43. Kelela – Take Me Apart

As one of the years’ freshest voices, Kelela’s debut album Take Me Apart might be the sexiest album of 2017. Not in the manner that every song features a frank discussion about the biznizz, but more in a way that washes over you in a soothing manner. Take Me Apart shifts gears and presents itself as a document of a flawed woman, basking in her imperfections and reflecting the ups and downs of love better than most albums in 2017.

Kelela is confident in her tone throughout Take Me Apart, but she never deviates from a subtle singing tone that makes the album a bit of a slow burn, expanding into heavier territory to match cathartic revelations. Take Me Apart might fall into the conventions of electronic R&B, but the results are so seductive and revealing that it begs for repeat listens to dissect every emotional intricacy.

42. Migos – Culture

Migos dominated 2017. The trio of Quavo, Offset and Takeoff managed to climb their way into the public consciousness with Culture, the debut studio album that wasn’t supposed to be this good. It’s hard to consider now, but Migos were looking to fall into obscurity, only reaching a select audience and never making it abundantly clear what the endgame was. However, from the moment the first track begins, Culture reveals Migos as a rap trio meant for the big leagues.

Culture is the culmination of everything trap music has been leading to, solidifying the genre’s ground in the mainstream. Artists like Future or Chief Keef brought this particular rap music to the mainstream, but no other artist created respect from all angles quite like Migos did. With Culture 2 slated for release in 2018 and each member joining various collab projects, the Migos domination doesn’t look to end anytime soon.

41. St. Vincent – Masseduction

Every St. Vincent album has a theme and if her 2014 self-titled masterpiece was the artsy world builder, Masseducation is the more intimate and personal record in her discography. While this new album can’t quite reach the highs of that previous record, it’s still a fantastically weird and entertaining look at one of the most exciting artists in music.

More than any of St. Vincent’s albums, Masseduction feels like the culmination of a varied career as songs branch into every style St. Vincent has dabbled in; songs go from electronic pop to psychedelic rock at a moments notice. St. Vincent juggles so many concepts on Masseduction that the results are most certainly overwhelming, but it’s never less than engrossing throughout.

40. Father John Misty – Pure Comedy

Josh Tillman has become one of the most respected musicians for simply being a satiric asshole. Maybe just an asshole, but as Father John Misty, Tillman explores endless social topics with a wink and a nudge around every corner. Pure Comedy, Tillman’s third album as Father John Misty, continues this tradition over the course of an epic, hour-plus runtime. While lengthy, Pure Comedy wastes no time getting to the best aspects of the Father John Misty legend.

Pure Comedy is unfortunately a more unwieldy beast than Tilllman’s career best, I Love You, Honeybear. But while Pure Comedy is a more challenging record, Tillman remains ever satiric, touching on themes of social interaction, politics and love with the same middle finger we’ve always enjoyed. At this point, it’s hard to knock Father John Misty for anything other than predictability, but the biting lyrics emphasize a man with a lot on his mind and a big middle finger towards all of it.  

39. Sylvan Esso – What Now

Electronic-pop duo Sylvan Esso first broke onto the scene in 2014 with a self-titled debut that was decent enough but far from memorable. They seemed destined to follow the route of an indie-electronic artist following trends that had already faded. There were good ideas, but it didn’t seem like there was room for any more artists of their type. Surprisingly, the duo’s 2017 follow-up What Now improves on everything the band had tried before.

On What Now, Sylvan Esso’s songs sound better and feature a bevy of catchy hooks. It’s a fun record, full of folk-pop littered from beginning to end with odd electronic flourishes. If the duos first album wasn’t your favorite, definitely give What Now a listen. It’s a whole hell of a lot more fun and displays more ambition than this duo initially displayed.  

38. Kesha – Rainbow

Who would have thought the woman behind “Tic Tok” would drop one of the most relevant albums of 2017? In a year where sexual assault allegations dominated the headlines, Kesha’s sexual assault accusations against producer Dr. Luke in 2014 an unfortunate precursor. While the case was dismissed in 2016, Kesha’s cries for justice were later echoed by a plethora of celebrities across a multitude of platforms. Kesha’s shocking allegations had a profound effect on her, something immediately evident on her third album Rainbow.

Deviating from the shallow club music of previous albums, Kesha sounds like a completely revitalized artist, dabbling in country, rock and soul music throughout. There’s more talent on display here than Kesha had ever exhibited before, a response to the horrific legal battle that preluded the album’s release. Kesha stands defiantly on Rainbow, singing from a place of newfound wisdom and perspective as she rallies against those who wronged her not only as a woman, but as a human being.

37. Arcade Fire – Everything Now

Easily one of the most divisive albums of 2017, Arcade Fire’s Everything Now pushed the band further into the alternative dance-rock style that was first introduced on their previous record, Reflektor. But while that album was bogged down by filler and an excruciating run-time, Everything Now delivers a quick burst of indie-pop centered on the dangers of a world dominated by mass media. Even as the most scattered in the band’s discography, Everything Now is a poignant reflection of our modernized culture.

Arcade Fire have always concerned themselves with societal issues in their music and here, it’s a concern that’s brought out through the ABBA-inspired title track, or by the fuzzy electronics of “Creature Comfort.” It’s easy to knock Everything Now as this is no Funeral, The Suburbs, or even Neon Bible. But as the next chapter in the band’s reinvention, Everything Now displays a band unafraid to take risks, exploring concepts that make us look at ourselves in a different light.

36. Mount Eerie – A Crow Looked At Me

Death is the only inevitable thing in life. It’s the crushing weight of knowing this that can lead to the most cathartic moments in music. After the passing of his wife in 2016, Phil Elverum took a needed year off to grieve and returned to his Mount Eerie project with A Crow Looked At Me. His eighth studio album, A Crow Looked At Me is one of the heaviest meditations on death ever put to record.

A Crow Looked At Me is not an easy listen. Stripped down to the bare essentials, Elverum takes center stage on the album with only his guitar in hand and the words of a man coming to terms with death in the harshest of moments. A Crow Looked At Me might not be the album to test your new subwoofer out with, but it’s one of the realest and deeply felt albums of the year.  This is the kind of album the power to bury itself deep into the soul of anyone who has experienced any sort of death life.

35. Open Mike Eagle – Brick Body Kids Still Daydream

As the sixth album from Open Mike Eagle, aka Michael W. Eagle II, Brick Body Kids Still Daydream stands tall as the rappers’ best work to date. It’s also the timeliest. A concept album centered around a housing project in Chicago, Open Mike Eagle tells the stories of the people and the interactions within the neighborhood to give the impression of a lived-in place. Brick Body Kids Still Daydream doesn’t examine racism by focusing on harsh realities or reinforcing the violence around such realities.

Instead of centering on heartbreaking anecdotes, Open Mike Eagle simply raps his observations of everyday life in the projects. It’s a poetic and lyrical achievement, bringing to light stories that aren’t portrayed on the media and giving credit to the beauty still found within less desirable conditions. Brick Body Kids Still Daydream functions as a snapshot of a place tarnished by media perception as the day-to-day lives continue with startling beauty.

34. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – Soul Of A Woman

The death of Sharon Jones at the end of 2016 wasn’t just a blow to rest of the members of The Dap Kings, it was a blow to the entire music industry. Jones achieved success relatively late in life with her breakout performance coming from the 2014 album Give Them What They Want. The album was a Grammy award winning hit that catapulted Jones’ soulful ferocity into a new spotlight. Her final album with The Dap Kings before her death, Soul Of A Woman stands as a testament to the woman Jones’ always was: a ferocious presence in music that demanded attention.

Jones carries every song on Soul Of A Woman with a snappy soul that’s impossible to recreate. It’s her presence on Soul Of A Woman that reminds the listener of everything this woman was capable of. The album sounds nostalgic, but completely fitting with the times. Maybe it has something to do with how delightful the whole thing can be, even with the death of Jones looming over it. It may not be a total game changer of an album, but with Jones and The Dap Kings at their absolute best, Soul Of A Woman serves as a fitting conclusion to a spectacular life.

33. Spoon – Hot Thoughts

Nine albums in, it was safe to assume Spoon would slip up.  After all, the indie-rock band had become synonymous with the genre, gaining a feverish following with albums like Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and Kill the Moonlight considered classics by fans and critics alike. The thing is, their worst album is still damn good and Spoon’s discography has gone without a ding in sight. Hot Thoughts is not the best Spoon album, but it’s a fantastic albu that continues one of the hottest streaks in music.

Rather than playing it safe, Hot Thoughts sees Spoon experimenting with a heavier emphasis on electronics throughout. It’s a move that makes the album their most accessible yet, but it also allows for the group to try out new dynamics while keeping the band’s spirit in tack. Hot Thoughts is another great Spoon album and though that might not be enough for some, most should be pleased with this addition to a stellar discography.

32. SZA - Ctrl

As the sole female member of Top Dawg Entertainment, the same house as Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q, SZA has taken her time to stand out among the group. Her EPs, while solid and well received, didn’t help her garner nearly the level of attention her label mates were receiving. Well, turns out she was quietly waiting to drop the bomb of her debut studio album Ctrl.

Ctrl is a phenomenal record, full of complex characterizations that hadn’t been expected from SZA until now. It’s an album about the intricacies of love, one that fuses soul music with the hip-hop sensibilities straight out of the TDE playbook. With Ctrl, SZA establishes herself as a heavyweight among her peers, but the album also continues the label’s incredible hot streak with finding incredible talent capable of dropping instant hits.

31. Broken Social Scene – Hug of Thunder

For the seemingly endless array of artists involved in Broken Social Scene, the group have consistently entertained with cohesive, epic indie-rock albums that never crumble under the densely packed songs. Seven years removed from their previous album Forgiveness Rock Record, it seemed like the weight of getting so many artists together for a record was next to impossible. Thankfully, Hug of Thunder is up to the challenge of continuing the band’s fantastic track record. 

Hug of Thunder surprises by bringing back a majority of the original band members, but surprises even more by being a fucking great rock record. Full of emotion and soaring crescendos, Hug of Thunder is Broken Social Scene at their most comfortable, and while it is a relatively safe record, it’s also an immensely well-executed one. On almost their second decade, Broken Social Scene continue to prove their vision time and time again. Amazing considering it’s the vision of over 20 musicians.

30. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

While Summertime ’06 was a telling and often violent meditation of his past, Vince Staples’ debut studio album was unsatisfying. The lyrics were great and the production was fine, but Staples displayed a far more interesting version of himself on the preluding EP, Hell Can Wait. By experimenting with hip-hop conventions, Vince Staples sounded more crucial than ever. Summertime ’06 seemed content with following the debut studio album checklist.

Big Fish Theory is by far the most radical change the rapper has dropped on us yet. Instead of the usual rap tropes, Vince Staples dropped an album of ferocious raps delivered over club beats too fucked up for the club. Big Fish Theory takes seemingly danceable club bangers and flips them into visceral vignettes too abstract for the club. But underneath the bizarre production lies Vince Staples with a lyrical ferocity that demands attention. It might not be the album some were expecting, but it’s Vince’s wildest statement yet. 

29. Washed Out – Mister Mellow

The era of chillwave dominance has long since passed, but don’t tell that to Ernest Greene, the man behind Washed Out. Mister Mellow, the third official studio album from the chillwave pioneer, delivers the expectations of the genre’s low-fi pop and then some. Featuring a new obsession in sample based production, Greene orchestrates a breezy, enjoyable listen that’s primed for a stoned Saturday afternoon.

Mister Mellow doubles as a visual album and becomes a compelling psychedelic experience when paired with the accompanied visuals. It’s an album of few faces. This is a chillwave artist after all, so the results are bound to be breezier than they are complex. But it’s the song craft and a loving embrace for all things retro that elevates Mister Mellow above any Washed Out project yet. There’s so much to enjoy on Mister Mellow and nothing that demands anything more than to listen and relax.

28. Charlotte Gainsbourg - Rest

As an actress who has appeared in art-house fare like Nymphomaniac and Antichrist, Charlotte Gainsbourg has somehow carved a unique voice for herself in the music industry. Her fifth album Rest may be sung in more French than most English-speaking audiences would be interested in, but the themes of loss and addiction are driven in with shocking emotional precision.

There’s pain in Gainsbourg’s voice across the 11-tracks of organic and electronic pop. Rest surprises by simply how much fun the album can be, but that doesn’t mean heavy emotions aren’t delivered with a sucker punch to the gut. Something like this shouldn’t be made by someone who acts for a living, but Rest truly makes it clear Charlotte Gainsbourg is a bonafide artist who can use any medium to convey the most intimate of emotions.

27. Perfume Genius – No Shape

Mike Hadreas used to shock me. As Perfume Genius, the talented musician approached uncomfortable topics surrounding his upbringing with heavy reflection. No one would ever call an album like Put Your Back N 2 It or Too Bright easy listens, but as his breakout albums, the pain within each song was too real to brush off so easily. Approaching his own sexuality with frank and heartbreaking revelations, Hadreas has never minced words, but on his latest album No Shape, he looks ahead with a hopeful gaze.  

The pain of the past is still present, but there’s a quirky spirit to this latest Perfume Genius record that could deem it the “happy” record of his catalog. Make no mistake, No Shape still sees Hadreas hurting and hoping for change, but the fact that there is hope for change already elevates this album beyond being another confessional. Anger makes way for love on No Shape, but the album still shows that the anger will always be there. It’s a stunning album, realized by an artist who has yet to compromise his art for the sake of anyone.

26. The National – Sleep Well Beast

Fans are likely to be torn on Sleep Well Beast, the latest album from The National. Some may find the slower approach to their trademark, brooding indie-rock too patience testing. Some may find this to be the most personal and adult album of the band’s career. Both sides are valid, and while Sleep Well Beast lacks the triumph and accessibility of albums like Boxer or Trouble Will Find Me, The National have never sounded as fine-tuned as they do here.

Sleep Well Beast is a slow-burn of a life lived with regret, hoping to find the light in the murkiest of times. By doubling down on the anxiety and fear present on previous albums, The National have crafted their most intimate record yet, one that doesn’t initially reveal its beauty, instead taking its time to set the perfect mood. Sleep Well Beast demands repeated listens, but when the music is this powerful, that’s more of an endorsement than anything.