best songs of 2017

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

“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”?

101 – 76 / 75 – 51 / 50 – 26 / 25 – 1

Every year since 2005, my friend Mike at bsidesnarrative.com and I have been compiling our “Best of” lists. It’s a competition without a winner or a loser. It’s a way for us to communicate about music and share our thoughts without being able to chat as much as we’d like anymore. The above link will take you to his list.

The 100 Best Songs of 2017

The year 2017 was a bunch of whatever. Broken. The Upside-Down became our reality. While all that nonsense raged on and fueled our fears and whipped our disillusionment into a lather, the year found time to beget a veritable trough of earhole-worthy jams. It was a year of transition, a coming-to-terms with the dumpster-fire status quo. We may not like the world in which we live, but the torrent of inspired and reactionary art may be the silver lining to the coming apocalypse. #SmallVictories

I tweaked the “Best of” rules this year. For 2017, I’m only allowing myself one song from each artist. This benefits you in two ways. 1) You won’t be forced to read a list of nothing but Valerie June, The War on Drugs, and Alvvays, and 2) I get to pick more artists and more songs. If you’re reading any of these 2017 lists, you’re likely looking to find new records and artists to make these days more meaningful/beautiful/soulful/tolerable. Or you’re hate reading and shaking your fist angrily at your computer screen. Either way, thanks for the click.

And I reserve the right to completely change my mind about all of these songs next week.

Disclaimer in perpetuity: I’m still just one guy and while I listen to a lot of music, there are people who listen to a lot more. Like the folks at Aquarium Drunkard, My Old Kentucky Blog and Said the Gramophone — my three go-to music blogs. In many ways their input came together to form these year-end lists like Voltron.

best songs of 2017

Past years of the Best of: 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012

Bonus picks: “What’s That Perfume That You Wear” – Jens Lekman; “No Coffee” – Amber Coffman; “Runaway” – Julietta; “Do You Still Love Me?” – Ryan Adams; “No One Like You” – Blue Hawaii; “Still Waking Up” – Tim Darcy; “I Know A Place” – MUNA; “I Promise” – Radiohead; “Keep Walking” – Kelly Lee Owens; “Soothing” – Laura Marling; “Wild Indifference” – Joan Shelley; “Westermarck” – Charly Bliss; “Stellular” – Rose Elinor Dougall; “Sweet Saturn Mine” – The Moonlandingz; “call the police” – LCD Soundsystem; “The Fear” – The Shins; “Old Time” – Willie Nelson; “Ran” – Future Islands; “You Never Come Closer” – Doris; “1234” – Kevin Morby; “There’s a Honey” – Pale Waves; “Baby Luv” – Nilufer Yanya; “Thinning” – Snail Mail

Covers:

“Sorrow” – Paul Shaffer And The World’s Most Dangerous Band (with Jenny Lewis) / “Valerie” – Ra Ra Riot / “Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Beck / “Fragments” – Blondie

For whatever reason, covers dominated my earholes in 2017 and while I have a hard time ranking cover songs in the main countdown, I reserve this slot for trends/miracles that deserve a little bit of time and attention. Back on January 6th, “Sorrow” was actually the very first track added to my “2017 Hits” list, which is the year-long collection of tracks from which I draw this countdown. To wrap up the covers portion of this countdown, Blondie checks in with a defiant, goddammit I’m still relevant wave goodbye on her cover of Adam Johnston’s piano ballad.

“Valley Boy” – Wolf Parade

So I cheated and added #101. I couldn’t neglect my boy Spencer Krug, who more than any other indie vocalist sings at the frequency of 30Hz.

“French Press” – Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Melbourne 80’s indie-rock nostalgists sound like Real Estate and the Strokes at the same time. My birthday wish from 2009 just came true.

“Heartstruck – Wild Hunger” – Hamilton Leithauser, Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen shares Leithauser’s delicious appreciation for expressive 60’s-leaning vocal styles. The two bounce verses off each other like cunning Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em linguists.

“T.V. M.A.C.” – Mega Bog

Neo-jam-glam on *ahem* wry toast.

tie: “If We Were Vampires” – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit / “Alleyway” – Anna Tivel

This is me. Weeping. Like a baby.

“Let ‘Em Talk” – Kesha (feat. Eagles of Death Metal)

Kesha’s Freedom Party 2017. A killer kiss off track backed by grumbly guitar rockers Eagles of Death Metal. The pop diva never sounded as comfortable in her own shoes as she does here, doubling as a riot grrrl.

“Running Second” – Ainslie Wills

The terms “fierce” and “symphonic” come to mind when considering Melbourne’s Ainslie Wills. This teaser track from a pending 2018 LP promises more great things from this underrated songstress from down under.

“The Blackout” – U2

Most will balk when I suggest the best track on U2’s latest album sounds like a lost gem from the Pop era. “The Blackout” forces Adam Clayton to the foreground and the result is the freshest U2 track since “Discoteque.” #ILikePopGoddammit

“Ouija” – Graveyard Club

Dueling vocals and baroque synth. Stop teasing me with greatness and release the new record already you morose Minneapolis bastards.

“Deadly Valentine” – Charlotte Gainstbourg

Dramatic, grief-laden 6-minute vocal opus backed by strings and loss. Inspired in part by the apparent suicide of her half-sister, the Parisian actress and singer produced her greatest record to date. This song is one that will linger and grow and transform the more you listen.

“Ugly Human Heart Pt. 1 & 2” – Daniel Romano

An eccentric two-part romper stomper from the Canadian singer-songwriter.

“Call on God” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

I challenge you to give yourself to this song. Listen to the hope and the majesty in Sharon Jones’ vocals. Knowing the battles she fought and the live she lived. You will be moved. The late, great soul singer released the best record of her career after she was already gone. Her spirit endures.

“Rules” – Hoops

Two minutes and thirteen seconds of Hoops jangle-pop perfection. Why bother with more when you jangle that hard?

“Follow My Voice” – Julie Byrne

Julie Byrne’s voice reacts and recoils, occasionally suffocated. It’s a fragile human spirit — that voice. Gazing upon its mortality with wonder and fear and the depth of human emotion.

“Grandma Hips” – Your Old Droog, Danny Brown

I don’t know Coney Island’s Your Old Droog from a ceramic mixing bowl, but he had the wisdom to share the microphone with Danny Brown.

“Heavy Hearts” – Hater

Swedish quarter dropped their first full-length featuring this standout showcase of melodrama rock. Soaring vocals with a side of clouldberry jangle and jam-pop.

“Elegy” – Leif Vollebekk

Liquid melancholy backed by simple piano chords, metronomic drumbeats. Think Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” recorded on a bedroom eight-track.

“39 by Design” – Drab Majesty

Andrew Clinco channels Clan of Xymox. Some have called it “neo-goth,” but let’s all agree never to speak that term again. Pitch-perfect deep, dark thoughts with guitar, reverb and deep, mumbly vocals.

“Pink Up” – Spoon

While “Hot Thoughts” got all the airplay, the understated “Pink Up” rose up from the B-side depths to rule Spoon’s excellent 2017 LP — their best since 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

*also eligible for the countdown: “Hot Thoughts”

“When the Heart Attacks” – Gabrielle Papillon

Paste Magazine liked Gabrielle Papillon to Ben Folds, Joanna Newsom and Tori Amos as one of our most important singer-songwriters. I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m new here. I “discovered” this tremendous talent on her fifth LP.

“Show You the Way” – Thundercat (feat. Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins)

Soul/funk/jazz impresario Thundercat (Stephen Bruner) impressed and beguiled in equal measure on 2017’s Drunk. Any artist that recreates a lounge-style atmosphere and introduces the likes of Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins as special guests in the middle of a song (without *much* irony) has my eternal affection.

“Cold Apartment” – Vagabon

When Lætitia Tamko’s vocals interrupt the opening silence on “Cold Apartment” you stand up and take notice. Without tremendous range, she cuts with unique precision and gives Vagabon a singular identity.

“Dog Years” – Maggie Rogers

Fun fact: I stayed a couple nights in Easton, Maryland — Maggie Rogers’ hometown. I had some amazing oysters in a crab shack in February. I loaded them up with paralyzing amounts of horseradish and hot sauce. But anyway. This NYC-educated singer-songwriter’s the real deal and if you’re not listening to Maggie Rogers right now you’re going to miss out on the time period during which you can say you listened to Maggie Rogers way back when.

“Judy French” – White Reaper

It seems that someone, perhaps Louisville’s White Reaper, is having some fun on their Wikipedia page: “White Reaper is the worst band in the history of bands. Known for making the crowd want to punch a baby, their garbage sound should not be tolerated.” While I’m loathe to cite a Pitchfork review, I love that they summed up the White Reaper sound as cheeky, classic rock for the Camaro-set.

“Talisa” – Daniele Luppi / Parquet Courts

Italian producer Daniele Luppi unites superheroes of indie rock — Karen O and Parquet Courts — on this balls-forward guitar and bass driven driven ode to former model Talisa Soto.

“J-Boy” – Phoenix

Total snoozefest. Recommending a Phoenix track. What is this 2003? What’s old is new again. Phoenix and frontman Thomas Mars keep evolving. 17 years young, yet they’ve never sounded stale.