Return to Best Songs of 2017 #101 – #76
“Feels” – Anna of the North
Oslo’s Anna Lotterud, aka Anna of the North, sings effervescent electronic ballads that feel like watching the Northern Lights from a sonic tundra. The synth in this song keeps my cockles warm despite the sub-zero temperatures.
“Big Fish” – Vince Staples
One of the few modern buzzy rap artists that actually resonates at 30Hz. He displays a working knowledge of the classical tenants of the genre, yet still breaks it down from the inside out. He’s embracing the rap game and commenting on its toxicity at the same time. It’s a brilliant bit of lyrical tightrope walking.
“Demand It” – Hand Habits
This song makes me feel things. My wife thinks Meg Duffy sings like someone using a cat as a bagpipe.
“Prom” – SZA
I don’t know what to make of SZA, exactly. Do you? She’s my musical equivalent of the girlfriend on Seinfeld that only looks good in certain lights. (Karen Fineman on “The Strike” – Season 9, Episode 10, if you need a point of reference)
“Trouble Adjusting” – Miya Frolick
Miya Frolick’s “Give It To Me” EP is a kick in the teeth. Through a broken and bloodied jaw I begged for more.
“Big For Your Boots” – Stormzy
Back in February, I named Stormzy’s Gang Signs & Prayer as my album of the week and then shared my newfound knowledge on UK Grime. #PublicService
“Persephone” – Yumi Zouma
The only thing more fun than saying “I’m listening to Yumi Zouma” is actually listening to Yumi Zouma. Bonus points for being from New Zealand instead of Australia because as you’ll see as you continue down this countdown, Australia is so played out.
“Never Been Wrong” – Waxahatchee
Katie Crutchfield can do no wrong. And she’s still improving as a songwriter, constantly expanding our expectations for the “Waxahatchee” sound – the resonance of her family home in Birmingham, Alabama filtered through introspection and sporadically tyrannical guitar.
“Undercover” – Susanne Sundfør
More sensuous vocals from this Swedish singer-songwriter that chews my heart up and spits it out — just like the only time I tried fermented herring.
“Need to Feel Your Love” – Sheer Mag
If the Jackson 5 showed up to jam with a garage band and broadcast through a transistor radio. Philadelphia low-fi act turns 1970’s nostalgia into hard-edged modern pop confections.
“Hey Boy” – She-Devils
Deviantly saccharine ode to 50’s surf pop melodies. When somebody said that music could soothe the savage beast, they were talking about Audrey Ann Boucher’s vocals on this track.
“The Way You Used to Do” – Queens of the Stone Age
I spent ten minutes trying to type out the onomatopoeia for this guitar riff before realizing that guitar onomatopoeia might be one of the least “rock ‘n roll” things I’ve ever done. And I do plenty. #TrustMe
“There’s a Honey” – Pale Waves
Mysterious but accessible electro-goth artist with a dramatic sense of musicality. Though all the individual pieces sound familiar, I don’t think we’ve ever really heard them fit together like this.
“Sign 2” – Black Fly
Mysterious but accessible electro-goth artist with a dramatic sense of musicality. Though all the individual pieces sound familiar, I don’t think we’ve ever really heard them fit together like this.
“Night and Quiet” – Bedouine
Listening to Syrian folk musician Azniv Korkejian is the sonic equivalent of draping yourself in velvet.
“The Chant (Iquo Isang)” – The Ibibio Sound Machine
I don’t even know where I first heard this song. It’s not like I frequent musical clubs that play Nigerian-inspired electronic dance music.
“No Exit” – Tennis
Still clinging to my two degrees of separation from Alaina Moore since she’s the cousin of my old dental hygienist. It’s not much, but it’s something. The band released a terrific full-length and an equally competent EP featuring this scaled-down retro bass and snare ditty. #WhatDidYouDoIn2017?
“Run For Cover” – The Killers
I felt dirty even admitting how much I liked this song considering that the album’s total nonsense, but then I read that Brandon Flowers wrote the first verse for “Run For Cover” during the Day and Age recording sessions and suddenly I could divorce the song from 2017’s Wonderful Wonderful and be totally okay with it’s place at #58.
“Way with Silence” – Vogue Dots
The synth during the final movement of this song makes babies. What else would you do in Halifax besides listen to funky synth and make babies? Maybe I’m just misreading this Halifax travel brochure.
“Diane” – Cam
Obligatory country jam slots in at #55 on the countdown. The “other woman” sings her apology to the cuckquean. Did you know that the term for a female cuckold is “cuckquean” before reading this? #TheMoreYouKnow
“Particle” – Hundred Waters
Acoustic songwriting does battle against the armies of electronica on a battlefield of melancholy.
“World Made” – Land of Talk
A straightforward indie-rock track from a straightforward indie-rock trio from Quebec that has returned to us after a seven-year hiatus. They sound like a dozen other female-fronted bands, but do it just a little bit better. “World Made” combines the band’s best elements — driving drum beats, droning guitars, and tender, angsty vocals.
“Love” – Lana Del Rey
Love “Love.” Nonplussed by the record, Lana.
“Dangerous” – The xx
I had “On Hold” in my Top 5 from 2016. I appreciate that The xx had enough foresight to drop that track at the tail end of last year so I could place another cut from their excellent album on the countdown.
“Star Roving” – Slowdive
Did you realize how much you missed Slowdive until Slowdive released a proper Slowdive record and all the other shoegaze bands that sound like Slowdive were like “whoa, my bad”?
