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bowiebwe-blog · 6 years

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Bowie's Favorite Albums of 2017 Big List! (#4-1)

// Quick Note! These next four all hold a special place in my heart from this year's selection. All of the other 56 albums shuffled around quite a bit on the list until I found an order I was fairly confident in, but these four were pretty much immediately in the top of the rankings. Oh man, I love these albums. //

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4. Chris Stapleton - From A Room (Volumes 1&2)

If I've got any problems with Chris Stapleton, it's how unfair it is to compare seemingly any other country artist out there today to him. I mean, c'mon, he released one of the absolute best albums of the year, AND THEN HE DID IT AGAIN! Two! Two top albums in the same year. I had a laugh when I heard his plans to release two albums this year, saying the country music awards would probably be down to Chris Stapleton vs. Chris Stapleton for most awards, and I wasn't far from reality. He's ridiculous. He's got that pure country sound undaunted by today's industry, begging the radio to bend to him. And then of course he's got that mammoth fire of a voice ("Either Way" might be my favorite vocal performances of the year). His music just blows me away every time, to the point where it's almost comical. Phenomenal.

*Either Way, Broken Halos, Scarecrow In The Garden, Midnight Train To Memphis

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3. Harry Styles - Harry Styles

Easily the most surprising album of year. Now, if I had a list of all the people I would've guessed to make an album like this, Harry Styles would probably have been near the bottom of that list. But he did it. And he did it very, very well. And the biggest surprise might be how genuine it feels. A member of One Direction making a quality genuine semi-experimental rock album... Huh. I mean, I can't imagine if there were some label executive buddies directing his music for him they'd have recommended to put what sounds to be a *rubber chicken* in any songs ("Woman"). But he did it. And it works. And it works really well. No, this album doesn't sound like a hit factory, it sounds like someone going away and taking a breath of fresh air after being stuck in a box. He wasn't afraid to take chances and ended up making one of my favorite albums of the year. There might be something to this guy.

*Carolina, Sweet Creature, Kiwi

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2. U2 - Songs Of Experience

It was actually kinda hard listening to this album the first time. For the first time, it just seemed to me like U2 sounded... older. Tired, maybe. It's a very strange thing having your heroes growing tired. But here's one of the amazing things about U2, is that even when they don't have to, and most of the other artists their age don't for one reason or another, they still push themselves to consistently make the best albums and best live shows on the planet. Even if they don't exactly hit that standard, they get *dang* close. No other band in history has run the marathon like them. This album isn't their best ever, but it is still a fantastic album that pushes their songwriting into unexplored areas and they make it work really, really well. They don't try to make any uncharacteristical chart toppers here, they seem to have a very good sense of who they are and where they're at, but they do have those songs that sound big enough to fill stadiums and breathe life into whoever listens. And the theming and connections here between this album and their previous "Songs Of Innocence" album are brilliant. It's another one of those things I could write an essay on. But I'll just leave it at saying that U2 has once again solidified their place in my heart and as my favorite band with this album.

*The Little Things That Give You Away, The Blackout, The Lights Of Home

1. Sam Smith - The Thrill Of It All

This is my number one album of the year, and I knew it would be from the first time I listened to it. Rarely has an album made me so emotional just because of it's sheer beauty rather than me having some sort of current emotional relatability to it. This album is so pure. It's not chasing trends or hits, it's chasing heart, and it's an album that I'm sure will stand the test of time for me because of that. Sam Smith has such a tender honesty with his craft, and it bleeds such a pure white. He's one of the best singers of our generation and he's on track for being known for making some of the best albums of our generation. Rarely can an album feel so open and yet so rich. Piano, strings, vocals, maybe some guitar. Not much else to it. And yet it feels so full and rich. I don't care if it tops the charts. I don't care if it gets any huge hits on the radio. It's enough to be there in my collection. This is also one of those rare times where my favorite album of the year is also what I consider to be the best album of the year. Maybe it's too soon to say, and it's something I don't say lightly, but given time I *might* just start describing this album with one primary word... masterpiece.

*No Peace, One Day At A Time, Midnight Train

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bowiebwe-blog · 6 years

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Bowie’s Favorite Albums Of 2017 Big List! (#20-5)

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20. Paramore - After Laughter

Nah guys, this is still definitely Paramore. And that’s a very good thing. I *loved* their 2013 self-titled album, and though this album doesn’t hit me at quite that level, it’s in the same ballpark(ish). They got groovier and yeah, a but pop-ier, but their heart is still definitely there. And it’s one of the most thematically cohesive albums of the year. You wanna know who I think one of their low-key influences is this time around though? Their good buddies/label mates Twenty One Pilots. I’m not so sure they would have dared take the route they did with the lyrical themes of this album without Twenty One Pilots paving the way into the mainstream first, even if Haley needed to say it. But now that it’s been said, I hope their next album goes into what comes after; hope, and all that good stuff.

*Hard Times, Forgiveness

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19. Liam Gallagher - As You Were

Straight up, I wasn’t expecting Liam to show up and make an album this good. I dunno how much help he had in making it happen, but here it is, it happened. This album rivals late Oasis and even his brother’s excellent post-Oasis projects. The grit here is real, and Liam backs up his incredibly large ego with some great songs. Easily one of the best rock albums of the year. Now let’s please have an Oasis reunion sometime soon as you were LG x

*Wall Of Glass, I’ve All I Need, Chinatown

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18. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - Who Built The Moon?

Noel Gallagher is one of the very best British songwriters of all-time. I don’t ever flinch or stutter when I say that. He knows how to make a song full of heart be catchy while still pushing the boundaries of what songwriting can be, and all without overcomplication. It’s a fascinating thing to behold. Oasis was built on his back, and they were rightfully massive. And now he’s back with his wee Flyin’ Birds and making another great album. He once again shows he’s not afraid to reach out and find new avenues of songwriting, and somehow he seems to always find the sweet spot. It’s definitely once again a change of sound, and it almost makes me believe he changes it either to challenge himself or because he’s bored. Whatever the case, this is a great album with more great songwriting from an incredible artist.

*Dead In The Water, It’s A Beautiful World

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17. Eminem - Revival

I recently found out that Eminem used 69,000 pieces of paper during the writing of this album, so it’s no wonder to me how he came to be what I easily consider to be the greatest rapper of all-time. His golden days as off-the-wall Slim Shady might be in the past, but his undeniable passion and flow are still strong here. Eminem knows how to deliver, and pretty much everyone who knows rap knows it. He’s the greatest. And as a side note, “Arose” might easily be one of the most powerful Eminem songs ever. It’s like being the dying man fighting for his life and his mourning family at the same time, and it’s amazing to see Eminem be able to still deliver on that. Anyway, Eminem once again brought out greatness in this album. Fantastic.

*Arose, River, In Your Head

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16. PVRIS - All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell

I listened to both of PVRIS’ albums for the first time on the same walk, and let me tell ya, I was instantly converted into being a fan. Their songs and albums are high-quality modern rock albums with a very open feel to them. And the vocals! My goodness. They go from ice water to like having a hot Twilight vampire sink their teeth into your neck like butter. Not much changed tonally between this album and their debut, but like Royal Blood, if it ain’t broke, you don’t always need to fix it. Especially with rock. So many rock bands get so caught up in trying to become relevant electronically that they lose where they came from in the first place. PVRIS is a force to be reckoned with, even if they don’t ever get incredible commercial success (it’s just the world we live in). Great album.

*Heaven, What’s Wrong, NOLA 1

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15. Logic - Everybody

Peace, love, and positivity! We should have all listened to Logic sooner. I decided once he released this album to listen to all of his previous albums before listening to even a single song off his new release, and folks, he’s the real deal. His flow is amazing, his beats are creative, and he’s genuine. This album definitely backs all that up. He’s one creative mother goose, and his art is full of those good vibes we love in music. He also gets more honest and personal than ever here with mental health issues (not just in “1-800…”), so it’s somewhat of an important album even just on that note.

*Hallelujah, 1-800-273-8255

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14. Ed Sheeran - ÷

This album was one of my most-anticipated of the year, and it largely lived up to the high expectations, but not completely. There are some songs I loved, some songs I really liked, and some songs I honestly could’ve done without on here. But here’s the thing… Ed Sheeran’s an amazing songwriter. These songs are all good. Like, even though “Shape Of You” might be one of my least favorite on the album because of that trendy finger harp bounce rythm thing I can’t stand, if you listen in the background you’ll hear very ‘Ed Sheeran-y" guitar-percussion sounds that make the song fascinating to listen to. So sometimes it seems like these songs are too polished for the radio, but it still has a lot of heart and fantastic songwriting. I don’t like it quite as much as I loved 'X’, but I still really liked this album. Mr. Sheeran is constant quality and I’m sure he’ll be a superpower for years to come.

*Happier, How Would You Feel (Paean), What Do I Know?, Perfect

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13. Imagine Dragons - Evolve

Do you hear that? …that’s the sound of Dan Reynolds waking up. If their sophmore album was a necessarily dark album dealing with the regrets and sorrows of stardom, Imagine Dragons came around with their third album to make a bright, flying album that revolves around what comes after the dark times. It definitely feels alive and fresh, using a new coat of digital paint to make the color pop. It’s pretty close to exactly what the doctor ordered for them. And their songwriting keeps getting better (I love the flow of the last verse of “Whatever It Takes”). Imagine Dragons shows they’re not afraid to be around for the long run with this release, and it’s a joy to listen to.

*I Don’t Know Why, Walking The Wire, The Mouth Of The River

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12. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound

I love, love, love, love Jason Isbell. His songwriting to me is one form of the amazing eiptome of the human experience. Does that make sense? (…Eh, who cares.) So real. Bare. Honest. I love it. He’s back with his band this time around after a couple of solo albums that I still adore, and although this one might not be *quite* up to the level of those two for me, this is still a really, really good album. As far as folk/alt-country artists go, this guy’s a monster. Definitely worth a listen.

*Last Of My Kind, Hope The High Road, If We Were Vampires

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11. London Grammer - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing

I remember listening to this one for the first time vividly. I was walking down a dark neighborhood street at probably 12:30 AM when “Big Picture” came on. It was like as the song progressed and the music picked up the stars started to pop out, the mountains’ dark outlines became clear, and by the time the song hit its peak I felt alive and deep in the night. The album held onto that feeling. If that makes sense. It was a great walk that night. London Grammer took seemingly forever to realease this album, to the point where I honestly stopped caring for it to come out after loving their debut album, but it blew me away when it came out. It took everything great about their first album and improved it. Subtle. Calming. Aching. Enveloping. It’s easy to dive into when the time is right. Beautiful, beautiful album.

*Big Picture, Truth Is A Beautiful Thing

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10. Taylor Swift - Reputation

Were you ready for it? Once T-Swift drops a new album, there’s no getting away from hearing it. And the reason for that? She makes *dang* good pop albums, even since the days when she was still “country.” She knows her craft very well (image-wise as well as musically) and has definitely deserved her wild success. I still consider “1989” to be one of the best pop albums ever (or at least in the past two decades or so), so this one had high expectations coming into it. Well, I’d say it was a success. I mean, I could do another essay on this album. No, it’s not at the level of her last album, but she once again made a solid case for her being the current queen of pop. She dives further into production trends here, but does them better than really anyone else. Her lyrics are honest and sharper than ever, but she still has those fun moments of just being Taylor Swift in there too. So beyond all the mania building up to and during the release of this album, it’s a great album by one of today’s biggest superstars.

*Delicate, End Game, Dancing With Our Hands Tied

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9. Aaron Watson - Vaquero

This album *feels* like Texas, and I love it. I hadn’t even heard of Aaron Watson until a few weeks ago, but I was already blown away and honestly kind of emotional by the very first chorus of the very first track (“Texas Lullaby”). It’s like I was *there*. Back down South. Big calm fields, even bigger blue skies. I don’t think there are any big radio hits on this album, but the songs are so. dang. good. Ugh! This guy is genuine and obviously has a soul full of that sweet country music. Every country music fan out there should know this album.

*Texas Lullaby, Take You Home Tonight, Run Wild Horses, Amen Amigo

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8. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

I need to watch out here, because I could easily write an essay on this album. In my opinion, Kendrick is crazy-far ahead of everyone else in the rap world concerning beats and overall production. Kendrick always pushes the limit of what a rap song can be, finding new ways of making something innovative the new hit. I’d even say he’s already the best rap artist ever in terms of making brilliant albums, and not just making them a great collection of songs. He’s always brilliant and innovative, but never at the expense of losing mass popularity and creating disconnect between he and the average listener. Along with the brilliant songs by themseleves that make up this album, the concept and vision of the album itself as a whole is brilliant (if you don’t know, look into playing the track order in reverse). I dunno, he just constantly amazes me. Every time. Kendrick’s working his way up to legend status.

*FEEL., LOVE., GOD.

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7. Ryan Adams - Prisoner

Chances are you probably don’t know who Ryan Adams is. That’s okay. You’re not alone. It’s an epidemic. I first heard him a few years ago when he released his beautiful cover album of Taylor Swift’s 1989, and I pretty close to instantly fell in love with his music. He has a lot of heart, and he can write a heck of a song. Seems like he’s sure fighting a lot of heartache and heartbreak in this album and is learning how to move on from loss, and he tells it beautifully. I’d definitely recommend you give this one a chance.

*Doomsday, Shiver And Shake

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6. John Mayer - The Search For Everything

John Mayer is one of my absolute favorite songwritiers/artists. It just seems like he gets *it*. His songs seep passion and integrity, along with emotion and an abundance of amazing musicianship. He knows amazing skills and all that, but he understands heart, and that’s the core of his music. This album also seems like it has an extra dose of direct honesty in it as compared to his previous works. There are colors of hope, understanding, doubt, love, loneliness, and all else that paint what it means to be human in this album, and they’re bright and genuine here. It’s also cool to see him mix his almost-americana-ish influences of the past few years with the smooth coolness of his Continuum days. Another great one by one of the greatest songwriters/musicians of our generation.

*Emoji Of A Wave, You’re Gonna Live Forever In Me, Never On The Day You Leave

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5. Bleachers - Gone Now

I love this album. Straight up. One of the biggest surprises of the year, and I couldn’t be happier about it. You might not think you know Jack Antanoff (a.k.a. Bleachers), but if you’ve ever listened to any recent Taylor Swift or Lorde tracks, you do. His work as a producer is well-known (like I said, big ol’ T-Swift and Lorde tracks among others), but this is his own project from his own mouth, and it is one of my favorite albums of the year. He gets modern and experimental without sacrificing any heart from the songs, and also makes classic callbacks comparable to bands such as The Beatles (“Goodmorning”), while still managing to give them have a beautiful shiny modern polish. There’s a hidden reason T-Swift and Lorde have done so well lately. This album will tell you all about it.

*Goodmorning, I Miss Those Days, Let’s Get Married

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bowiebwe-blog · 6 years

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Bowie’s Favorite Albums of 2017 Big List! (#40-21)

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40. Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love

Huh. This album seems to get better the more I listen to it. Right off the bat though, it’s easy to tell how well-made it is. Definitely deserving of its Grammy nominations. The thing is just it doesn’t click with me super well yet. I dunno, guess it just falls into that “not exactly my cup of tea” slot. But don’t get me wrong, I still really like this one! It’s cool, cold, slick, and full of groove. There’s a lot to like here. And as a side note, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see Donald Glover as Lando in the upcoming Han Solo movie the same after knowing/seeing this whole side of him. That guy’s got talent.

*Redbone, Terrified, Me And Your Mama

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39. Joey Bada$$ - All-Amerikkkan Bada$$

If you haven’t already gathered it, this is a very opinionated album haha. This guy’s not afraid to speak his mind on current social affairs and, political opinions aside, actually makes a really good rap album while at it. Tonally, think something like Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”’s little cousin. So pretty good. To be honest I only recently remembered this album though, and I’m not quite sure yet if that’s more a diss on me or the album.

*For My People, Good Morning Amerikkka

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38. Alt-J - Relaxer

Alt-J’s weird. Obviously. Buuut they’re one of the few who do weird exceptionally well. This is one of those albums where I have to be in the mood for it to really be able to get into it, but there’s no denying it’s one great, strange, uber-alternative album. Maybe don’t start with it if you’re just starting out with Alt-J, but it’s at the very least a great vibe album worth checking out.

*In Cold Blood

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37. Macklemore - Gemini

Mack’s back! I loved he and Ryan Lewis’ last two albums, but I was skeptical when I heard Ryan wouldn’t be a part of this album. Well, it’s not quite as good as those two, but Macklemore came up on his own and now shows he can still keep up on his own too. Given, the production and beats aren’t as unordinary and extraordinary without Ryan working it, but they’re good enough to succeed and Macklemore still works his ways with words to make them impressive. So it’s more on the typical side of the rap spectrum this time around, but still a solid album. Well done, Mack.

*Good Old Days, Excavate

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36. Brett Eldredge - Brett Eldredge

Alright ladies, let’s get this over with. Take one quick swoon and then we’ll talk music.

…y'all ready now?

Brett Eldredge is definitely one of my favorite newer country artists. He’s got a certain enthusiasm and swagger in his songs that catches on real quick (and have you seen those videos of him nailing Sinatra songs??). Not all of his songs convince me of genuity (as opposed to being another cog in the pop-country music machine), but all of them are a good time. And I like the new sounds he worked around this time, using some added reverb and simple synths, especially so on “Castaway,” which might be my favorite country song of the year. There’s a lot to like here.

*Castaway, Cycles, The Long Way

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35. Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold

I’m gonna say something bold here, and some of y'all might not like it. The Foo Fighters’ albums are largely insignificant. I listened to their discography (their entire collection) this year, and here’s the thing; their albums never really change. There never seemed to be any significant evolution between them or sounds thay distinguished them between each other (besides the first basically sounding like Nirvana). You could shuffle all their songs and basically treat it like one big album. But here’s the thing, it’d be a dang good album. They do what they do incredibly well, and it definitely works. There’s a reason they’re possibly the biggest rock band in the world. So it’s not what I’m usually looking for in my favorite albums, but it’s a great collection of songs.

*The Sky Is A Neighborhood, Dirty Water

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34. The Killers - Wonderful, Wonderful

Ya know, I’ve never quite been able to get into The Killers as much as I want to. They have their moments of greatness, but some songs just slide by for me. This album’s pretty much that for me. They still have that same punchy, charismatic sound, but, as with seemingly all artists that start to grow up, it feels like some of the edge is starting to be taken off a bit. But even so, the Killers deliver another solid album here and keep their title as one of the very best alternative bands of our generation.

-Wonderful, Wonderful, Tyson Vs Douglas, Rut

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33. Jay Z - 4:44

Interesting album here. Jay-Z’s growing up. For better or worse, he’s definitely not the same guy that was busting out “99 Problems.” His rapping ability and all that is still there and tight as ever, but the subject matter of these songs has definitely caught up with his age, which I personally actually dig seeing. He’s not grasping at the past trying to force where he’s at, he’s writing about life as it is, and it makes for a great, down-to-Earth honest album. And the production of these songs is fantastic (“The Story Of O.J.”). Great album by one of rap’s greatest-ever.

*The Story Of O.J., Bam, Legacy

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32. Drake - More Life

Drake just feels like classy rap. Or is that just me? Like, “Get It Together” is super classy, right? Anyway, I dig this album. Subdued synths under popping beats, auto-tuned chill vocals, night vibes, I dig it. It’s kinda on the long side as far as albums go, but it’s definitely enjoyable and creates some great vibes. What else can I say, Drake’s just Drake. Just watch how you speak his name.

*Get it Together, Passionfruit, Lose You

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31. Walk The Moon - What If Nothing

If you’re not raising you’re eyebrows with the “hey!”’s on “One Foot,” you ain’t doing it right. But this Walk The Moon again, and they’ve come right back to form with another fun, good/great album. I’d probably rank it ahead of their debut album but not *quite* as good as “Talking Is Hard.” These guys have such good vibes in their music, and that’s always more than welcome. Probably one of the most “fun” albums on this list. And on a side note, I’d recommend checking out their live show sometime. These guys always impress me.

*Surrender, One Foot, Tiger Teeth

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30. Brad Paisley - Heaven South

Oh, Brad Paisley. Easily one of my favorite country artists. He’s got wisdom, humor, has some of the best guitar work in country and always makes enjoyable albums. I was a bit skeptical of this one after 2014’s Moonshine In The Trunk, but nah, he’s back and killing it again. He’s one of the best at painting portraits of the South and what life is like among those folk (or at least at heart), and this album does it again. It feels like the Brad Paisley we’ve come to love over the past couple decades, and that’s always a good thing.

*Today, Heaven South, One Beer Can

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29. Queens Of The Stone Age - Villains

This was actually my first-ever QOTSA album I’ve listened to all the way through, which is kinda crazy when I think about it, due to the huge amount of songs I’ve heard of theirs in the past (thanks, Guitar Hero/Rock Band). It didn’t disappoint! They’ve always been a solid rock band, and they obviously still do their thing exceptionally well. I also dig the sense of groove in this one with the added electronic influences. Easily one of the best rock albums of the year.

*Villains Of Circumstance, Domesticated Animals

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28. Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark?

Why are Royal Blood not bigger than they are? I mean, they’re much bigger in the UK than America, but these guys make bleedin’ awesome rock albums. This one doesn’t make any big changes to the formula of their first album, but if it ain’t broke… you know haha. I still consider them to be one of the best rock bands out there today. This album is dark, gritty, powerful, but never overbearing or overstaying its welcome. These guys do rock music very, very well, and they’re worth knowing.

*How Did We Get So Dark, Hook, Line & Sinker

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27. Niall Horan - Flicker

While not as surprising as another certain One Direction member’s solo debut, this album was a pleasant surprise. It feels like a dark night chilling by the warm fire. Niall seems to have had a very clear direction in his mind of where he wanted to head after breaking free of 1D, and he made a great album with it. The most stripped-back songs are the standouts to me here (“Flicker,” “This Town”), and it definitely seems like him pulling his music back down to Earth after the bigger-than-life years with 1D was a great choice. It feels like he’s very comfortable with this new direction, and it makes it a pleasure for the listener. My only notable complaint here is that “On My Own” should’ve been kept as a B-side instead, but pish-posh! I enjoyed this album thoroughly.

*This Town, Flicker, Since We’re Alone

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26. Khalid - American Teen

Good Vibes! Good vibes! Some artists preach it, but not all truly radiate it. Khalid just feels good to listen to. That’s not to say all songs on this are upbeat, fun songs, but Khalid seems to give the vibes of feeling good and keeping it even during the down moments. It’s a cool thing. And tonally, it’s a very cool album as well. Mixing 80’s with modern, throw some chill reverb on there and Khalid’s mellow, feel-good vocals and you’ve got yourself a great album. Keep an eye on this guy, because he’s just going to keep getting bigger. My favorite new artist of 2017.

*American Teen, Angels, 8Teen

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25. Halsey - Hopeless Fountain Kingdom

Halsey’s first album kinda blew me away a few years ago. It was definitely unique and a bit inventive, but it came at at the cost of not really having a place on the radio. Well, she fixes that here, but at a cost. These songs sound bigger, pop-ier, catchier, all that. She uses more typical trendy beats and production this time around. But it’s still the Halsey that made her debut album. Her she reaches out of the pop box often but keeps enough in to make the everyday music listener be able to know her by more than just her growing image. Love or hate it, she did it pretty smart and walked the tightrope presumably exactly how she wanted to (and is now able to headline arenas because of it). Not as solid as her first album, but I still really like it.

*100 Letters, Sorry

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24. Kelsea Ballerini - Unapollogetically

Props to Kelsea for taking a big step up from her last album with this release. I wasn’t all that impressed with more than a few songs on her debut album, but she came back around on this one to make a pretty dang good country album that I thoroughly enjoyed. She’s probably sick of the comparison, but it seems like Kelsea Ballerini’s finally starting to fit pretty snug in that void that’s been open ever since Taylor Swift decided to hop the fence and go full-on pop. The songs are definitely on the pop side of country, but they’re actually pretty dang good. I dunno, I just really liked this one. If she keeps moving up from here, big things might be in the future for this girl.

*Get Over Yourself, I Hate Love Songs, Miss Me More

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23. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

This one’s gonna have to marinate with me some more haha. It very could be the most “intriguing” album to me on this list, partly because I have no idea what I’ll think about it in a year. I could love it, I could think it’s okay. Don’t think I’ll hate it. But right now there’s a lot to like. Sure, each song is probably a little long, but they’re good songs with a lot of spunk and life in them. And there aren’t any great melodies to speak of, but there are enough catchy licks to make these songs come together. I dunno. It’s interesting. Very different, but very good. I’m interested to see how it holds up.

*Oh Baby, Other Voices

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22. G-Eazy - The Beautiful & Damned

Young Gerald doesn’t let up. He’s a master of his “late-night drive” raps. Cool vibes all around. His flow is better than ever, his beats are better than ever, and I’m thinking this album takes the cake for my favorite album of his (probably his best too). Maybe it could have been shaved down a few songs, but it’s a solid, solid album. I’d be surprised if none of these songs take off more than “Me, Myself & I” (“Sober”). Some of the beats and production here were actually a pleasant suprise too, like him using heavy themes from Halsey’s “Hold Me Down” on “Eazy.” G-Eazy once again continues to impress and earn my professional respect as an artist.

*Him & I, Summer In December, Fly Away, Eazy

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21. Lorde - Melodrama

The thing about breakups is that they can make great albums. This was one of my most-anticipated releases this year, and it largely didn’t disappoint. Lorde continues to push her sound further and deeper here, and opens up about the pains about an ended relationship. She seems to get really honest here, and it makes for some great, emotion-filled tracks. And though not every song clicks with me 100%, the production on these tracks is fantastic. Rightfully in the running for best album of the year.

*Supercut, Liability, Hard Feelings

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bowiebwe-blog · 6 years

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Bowie’s Favorite Albums of 2017 Big List! (Intro, #60-41)

Alright! One of my favorite times of the year is actually this list haha. It’s when I finally get to unleash on the world some of my collected thoughts on what came out in the music world this year, and there are a lot of them! I used to just post this list on Facebook in previous years, but this year’s list is a whole new monster. A monster waaaayyy too big for Facebook.

Out of all the years in my life, 2017 was probably my favorite year in music so far (2013 taking 2nd place). Maybe that’s just because I’ve become more invested in it since years past, but either way, it blew me away. I knew last year about some of the big names preparing for releases this year (Eminem, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, Taylor Swift, etc.), so of course expectations were high, but those got beat! And I’m lovin’ it! SUCH A GOOD YEAR IN MUSIC!! And my band released our first EP earlier this year too, but out of fairness and all that jazz that won’t be included on here. But hey, I’m a fan ;)

So here I’ve got my top-60 favorite albums of 2017. I listened to around 65 or so new albums this year, but some honestly weren’t good enough to be included and sixty’s a nice, pleasant number haha. Please understand that these are my OPINIONS, so even if it sounds like I’m saying something that could be taken as a fact, like, “this album is amazing,” it’s really not a fact at all. I believe that there really aren’t definitive answers for music. It’s all about how it hits us individually. To say a song is or isn’t great as a fact is kinda dumb. The closest guide I use is what I once heard John Mayer say, which is “the public is never wrong.” And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

So here I’m going to give you the album artist and title, my thoughts on the release, and a few (or one, or whatever I feel like, dang it) of my favorite songs from the album. Just because I like them doesn’t necessarily mean I’d recommend them though. We’re all different, and I try to make my recommendations very personalized. So take a quick look, read every word, skip to number one, or whatever you’d like. It’s all here for you. Enjoy!

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Honorable Mention:

Coldplay - Kaleidoscope EP

The only reason this isn’t on the main list is because it’s not actually a full-scale “album.” That’s. It. Coldplay still consistently makes some of the best music out there today (the public is never wrong), and this EP is full of solid songs. Well, besides the live version of “Something Just Like This,” I just don’t feel like that was necessary here and takes away from the cohesiveness of the EP. But the rest of the songs push Coldplay’s songwriting to new limits, seeing how far they can stretch it without losing who they are at heart. “Aliens” might just be their most experimental song to date, “All I Can Think About Is You” feels like the beautiful love child of “Atlas” and their old “Blue Room EP,” and “Hypnotized” I’ll be babbling about later. Great EP.

*All I Can Think About Is You, Hypnotized

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60. Julien Baker - Turn Out The Lights

I was intrigued to listen to this one after hearing her debut album a while back, but it’s not an album to lose any sleep over. Most every song uses similar guitar tones, effects, and patterns on top of repetitive singing tones and patterns. It’s one of those albums I wouldn’t mind just having in the background of a chill session (is that a thing?) for a little bit, but that’s about it for me.

*Claws In Your Back

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59. Kesha - Rainbow

Good album, not great. Somehow it creaked into Rolling Stone’s top-10, but hey, to each their own haha. Kesha went out and made a very self-empowering album here, and she very clearly states she’s done takin’ y'all’s crap. It has it’s very cool moments (“Praying”), and very possibly the most charming song of the year (“Godzilla”), but it’s just a “good” album to me.

*Praying, Godzilla, Old Flames

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58. Migos - Culture

Maybe this album will grow on me, buuuut I’m not there yet haha. It’s not a bad album, I just don’t get all the hype that’s been around it. But like I said, maybe I will someday. There are interesting ideas and concepts in here, and definitely some interesting uses of onomatopoeia (never predicted I’d use that word on this list) though, and it makes it an album to at least check out. I don’t see this album changing rap forever like some have claimed, but it is interesting.

*Big On Big, Slippery

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57. AJR - The Click

Ya know, this album gets a lot better when I forget about the hat. AJR are an interesting band. They’re part of that new generation/movement that has access to an incredible amount of digital sounds and decides to use a very high, diverse selection of them. I mean, Native Instruments might as well sponsor these guys at this point with how often they show off their Maschine and all the sounds the got from it during their live shows. So it’s an interesting album. But it’s also pretty good. Not all great, but mostly “good.” Think Twenty One Pilots’ little eccentric cousin. I dunno. It’s good haha. Definitely a bit fascinating to listen to for the production choices if not much else. And they use an overture, which I actually really dig. Definitely one of the harder albums here to wrap your mind around, for better or worse.

*Overture, The Good Part

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56. Phoenix - Ti Amo

I just found out Phoenix is from France. Huh. Anyway, Phoenix has built a reputation as being a consistently solod alternative band. They go for a bit of a change of sound this time around, and it makes me kinda think of an 80’s high school dance -type thing. But they do it really well, and even though that was probably a terrible comparison, it does sound modern and groovey. Definitely a much more colorful, bright album than their previous albums. Phoenix just makes good albums.

*Fior Di Latte, Ti Amo, Tuttifrutti

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55. Margo Price - All American Made

I checked this album out because Rolling Stone named it their #1 country album of the year, and though I don’t quiiiite agree with that placement, I’m glad I did. Simple, genuine, charming. Definitely an honest album from the artist, and it gives a good insight on her views on some of the social issues out there today. And in a world that’s losing that “old country” feel, albums like this keep it alive, and it’s a beautiful thing.

*Learning to Lose

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54. Maroon 5 - Red Pill Blues

2017. This album in one word. There’s been a lot of distaste by listeners for Maroon 5 over the past few years because of their draw towards pop trendiness instead of the way they used to be in the early 00’s, and I can’t say I blame ‘em, but Maroon 5 is still Maroon 5, and you can’t get as big as they are without making at least “pretty good” music. (What a big run-on sentence.) I mean, you can still occasionally hear the old Maroon 5 somewhere deep in here but it’s too often buried beneath the biggest sounds and trends of 2017, and that really does detract from the heart of everything. But still, the album has it’s good moments and is generally enjoyable. Definitely not their best, but it’s still a decent pop album.

*Denim Jacket, Lips On You

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53. Andy Grammer - The Good Parts

Alright, we’ve all heard Andy Grammer on the radio before, and that’s pretty much what you get. No big changes or evolutions, no big surprises, but you get an enjoyable, radio-factory, cookie-cutter pop album. Basically like any AG album haha. He follows the national trend with this one and has gone more electronic and all that, and that’s as new as you’ll get, but he still does those feel-good vibes probably better than anyone else on pop radio these days (and I actually believe him). I wish he’d sometimes take a step back from overreaching for a catch at the expense of an emotional center (I’m looking at you, “The Good Parts”), but I still enjoyed listening to this one.

*Fresh Eyes, Workin On It

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52. The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

Nah, I get it. I really do. Some people adore this album and it’s near the top of their “Best of 2017” lists. But I don’t quite feel it as much. Probably the main issue I’ve got with it is that it’s just. too. long. The average song on here is six minutes long. For me, I don’t mind long songs at any given time if there’s some sort of change in them, something that expands its reach and says something else within that spectrum (Green Day’s “Jesus Of Suburbia” comes to mind). These songs sometimes just kinda feel like they take forever to say what they need to say. So it’s hard to sit down with this album and thoroughly enjoy it without checking my watch, but the songs themselves are good songs I wouldn’t mind having shuffled in my playlists on occasion. Despite its length and lack of strong melodies, it is a well-made album and worthy of the praise it’s gotten, but it just doesn’t click with me super well.

*Pain

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51. Zac Brown Band - Welcome Home

If you know Zac Brown Band, you know what you’re getting here. If not, this is another upbeat, fun, warm album from one of the best country groups out there today. Not really anything suprising here or any big changes of formula from the usual ZBB, but it’s still a very enjoyable album to just throw on and have a good day to.

*Long Haul, All The Best

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50. Prophets Of Rage - Prophets Of Rage

You think these guys voted democrat?

I’m a huge Rage Against The Machine fan, so I was pretty excited when I heard about these guys coming together to form this project. It’s a hard-hitting, no punches pulled, fists in the air, solid rap/rock album. Just be prepared to deal with strong opinions, because pretty much every track on this album is exactly that. It’s pure disruption. These guys do what they do very well though, and no matter your social stances, it’s a fun time getting into. (Please note though, the songs I chose for this album are purely based off musical preferences.)

*Living On The 110, Hail To The Chief

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49. William Patrick Corgan - Ogilala

“William *Patrick* Corgan.” This is not the same Willy/Billy I’ve ever heard haha. No more of The Smashing Pumpkins’ grungey guitars or hard-hitting drums here. No more drums here. He took a huge step back here and made a true solo album that is primarily just piano and guitar, and it actually makes his songwriting glow a bit. It’s probably the simplest album on this list, and it’s kind of refreshing to listen to at times. Solid effort, Willy/Billy. Solid effort.

*Aeronaut

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48. Mansionz - Mansionz

If you haven’t listened to this just because of the cover art, I can’t say I blame you haha. These guys (Mike Posner and Blackbear, actually really good artists) are throwing all popular opinions and expectations out the window and making sure you know it. Seems like they literally just got together, said “**** it, let’s make a crazy album,” and did it. But here’s the shocking thing, is it’s actually pretty good. Not all of it was all that great, but it’s mostly an enjoyable experience. Mike Posner is also one of the artists out there I’m most fascinated by these days (“I’m Thinking About Horses”), and it’s interesting to see what these two guys made together.

*I’m Thinking About Horses, Rich White Girls, White Linen

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47. Linkin Park - One More Light

It’d be really easy to write a glowing opinion on this one because of what happened with Linkin Park this year, but I’m going to try to drop all sentimentality for a sec. Linkin Park went pop here. Though not to the levels of Chainsmokers or whatever, that’s what they did. These artists who are filled up with so much fire and rage in their youth grow up, and if they’re being honest their music grows up with them, which usually means it mellows out at least a bit (look at Eminem). So pop seems like it was just the place where what they were feeling and wanted to express happened to fit at the moment. WHICH IS TOTALLY FINE. And it breaks my heart now like it broke my heart when this album came out that a lot of their fans don’t seem to understand that. Or probably moreso. Linkin Park made a really good album here, but rather than supporting the band at heart and looking at this album for what it really is, a lot of their fans supported their own idea of what they wanted to the band to be instead and ripped on this one, which makes me really sad. It’s a good album. Sure, I definitely wouldn’t grade it anywhere near as high as “Hybrid Theory,” but Linkin Park are still Linkin Park here, and Linkin Park makes dang good music. If this is going to be Linkin Park’s last album, they ended on a different, but strong note.

*Good Goodbye, One More Light, Sorry For Now

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46. Rise Against - Wolves

Well, they’re not exactly trying to make an “Abbey Road” here or anything like that, but I do love me some Rise Against! Rise Against is one of those bands that has a formula for themseleves that works and that they do very well, and they stick to it rather than try to re-create themselves all the time. But hey, that’s perfectly fine by me. There will always be a nice spot on my lifting playlists for their songs. And, “if it ain’t broke…”

*Wolves, Miracle

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45. Beck - Colors

Considering the tone of Beck’s previous album, the excellent “Morning Phase,” this one was a bit of a surprise. He got a lot groovier, and I dig it. It’s a very bright, fun album. Definitely more reliant on synthetic sounds this time around, but that’s not a bad thing. Beck’s still out there making great albums.

*Seventh Heaven, Up All Night

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44. Russ - There’s Really A Wolf

Russ is an intriguing guy. This isn’t some amazing, instant-standout rap album. But! It is a good rap album. And Russ strikes me as a guy who has worked his butt off to get where he is and who will continue to work his butt off to get where he wants to be. It feels like the beginning of something. Will he get hits later and make it to arenas? I dunno. He writes, produces, mixes and engineers all of his songs himself though, and that is enough to impress me with the level these songs are at. It’s a promising start to his mainstream career.

*There’s Really A Wolf, Pull The Trigger

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43. The National - Sleep Well Beast

This album feels kinda like taking a warm bath. It’s nice and relaxing, but not quite “hot,” you know? But don’t get me wrong, it is definitely a good album. There aren’t really many standout songs, or any that stand out significantly to me, but the album as a whole is the kind of solid piece of art we’ve come to know and love from The National. I’d recommend playing it in the background of a chill night.

*Carin At The Liquor Store, Dark Side Of The Gym

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42. The Chainsmokers - Memories… Do Not Open

Love 'em or hate 'em, there’s no denying The Chainsmokers are good at what they do, which is making hits. If you want 2017 pop radio summed up in an album, this would probably be a decent one to pick. They’ve got catchy choruses, big drops, the works. It’s not exactly a Da Vinci of an album, but hey, I enjoy dipping my feet in it on rare occasion.

*Something Just Like This, Paris

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41. St. Vincent - Masseduction

Yeah, no, this is a pretty dang good alternative album. Definitely not the usual album out that’s out there. Has it’s own vibe going. Kinda strange (not in a bad way), and kinda empowering. It’s not *all* my cup of tea, but there are some really good songs on here (“Los Ageless”) for sure. This is the first St. Vincent album I’ve listened to and it’s good enough for me to want to keeo checking out more of them. So even though it’s not quite all the way up my alley, I can see why it’s held in such high regard.

-Slow Disco, Los Ageless

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