They say that troubled times breeds great art. So instead let’s just say that the times have gotten weird. 2017 has been the year we’ve all been expecting the inevitable Great Collapse – waiting for either one bad tweet to end civilization, or the slow acceptance that we’ve already arrived intact. Has it made a discernible difference in musical trends? Take a listen to what we feel is the best music of 2017 (so far) and you tell us.
Not You – Soup
We said things would get weird, and right off the we have Not You with all the slippergaze glory of ‘Soup’. This album has been polarizing, but one way or another it’s been making a lot of noise.
Walrus – In Timely Fashion
Halifax’s psychedelic pop wizards, Walrus saturate our eardrums with ‘In Timely Fashion’. It’s a journey through question-inducing paranoia, but we mean that in the best possible way.
The Barrowdowns – Liar, Liar
The Barrowdowns are admittedly a favourite, and the release of their full album Come What May Come reintroduced a lot of their hits this year with a much fuller sounder, but they’ve also delved into some darker, stranger territory. From the new tracks we picked ‘Liar, Liar’, it bridges the gap between the old and new material and quickly became a favourite to see live.
Russell Louder – Game
Russell Louder has been a real surprise this year. It’s like they’ve transported the best of the 80’s to some underground club and turned Weekend At Bernie’s into high fashion.
Carmel Mikol – Hold
This year Carmel Mikol gave us an upbeat protest song, and if there’s anything this year has taught us it’s that we’re not about to run out of things to protest any time soon.
Moira And Claire – Your Voice
Here’s one of the unquestionably poppier choices we’ve made this year. Moira And Claire’s ‘Your Voice’Â is an uncomplicated glockenspiel and ukulele dose of sunshine.
Jon Mckiel – Brothers
For Memorial Ten Count Jon Mckiel give us an album that is essentially all about family. He’s riddled it full of hints and stories of a colourful family history, that somehow makes ‘Brothers’ something familiar and comfortable to wrap your ears in.