The Top 50 Albums of 2017: A Year in Disarray, Music in Harmony
As we gaze back upon the year that was, we can’t help but think of all the reasons to be grateful for music. For in a world that can sometimes feel as though it’s spinning out of control, the albums of 2017 stood as beacons of hope, comfort, and solace. In a year marked by division, uncertainty, and chaos, music became our constant, our respite, and our guiding light.
The Top 50 Albums of 2017: A Reflection of the Year in Music
From the experimental sounds of Oneohtrix Point Never to the jazzy forays of Jay Som, each of the 50 albums on this list is a testament to the power of music to bring us together, to uplift us, and to inspire us. So, without further ado, let us embark on a journey through the year that was, via the Top 50 Albums of 2017.
49. Oneohtrix Point Never – Good Time
Origin: Wayland, Massachusetts
The Gist: Two years after the interstellar, metallic Garden of Delete, esoteric electronic experimentalist Daniel Lopatin (AKA Oneohtrix Point Never) returned to score a crime drama starring Robert Pattinson. Retaining his own burning palette and pushing it through a Vangelis/Carpenter mesh, Lopatin continues to find new ways to inject anxiety and awe under the skin.
Why It Rules: A somber, piano-heavy collaboration with Iggy Pop in which the Stooge dreams about petting crocodiles is a good place to start, but Lopatin delivers the high-voltage thrills all on his own.
48. Jay Som – Everybody Works
Origin: Oakland, California
The Gist: Multiple-instrumentalist Melina Duterte (aka Jay Som) rode her production and recording acumen on debut LP, Turn Into, to a deal with indie major Polyvinyl for Everybody Works.
Why It Rules: In what can only be described as bedroom maximalism, Duterte dug her lyrics into the granular, banalities of existence and aimed her production at expansive soundscapes. On "The Bus Song", Duterte sings, "I can be whoever I want to be," and that’s exactly who she is on Everybody Works.
47. The Juju – Exchange
Origin: Chicago, Illinois
The Gist: After rising to session-player fame by collaborating with Chance the Rapper, Kanye West, and Vic Mensa, 24-year-old trumpeter Segal (FKA Donnie Trumpet) wrangled three fellow Chicago musicians together to expand his interest in experimental jazz, ultimately showcasing how the backbeat of hip-hop’s new sound is worthy of its own spotlight.
Why It Rules: On their debut LP, The Juju Exchange follow in the footsteps of producers like Flying Lotus and Knxwledge — not in sound, but in audience awareness, drawing listeners out of their usual jazz associations and into a world of smooth, free-form, low-key musings that inspire with their use of ample space.
And So On…
And so, dear friends, we come to the end of our journey through the Top 50 Albums of 2017. As we look to the future, we do so with the knowledge that music will continue to be our beacon, our solace, and our guiding light. For in a world that can sometimes feel as though it’s spinning out of control, music will remain our constant, our respite, and our harmony.
—Matt Melis, Editorial Director
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