Fix yourself a cup of eggnog, throw another log on the fire
and crack open one last box of chocolates because it’s time for my Top Ten
Albums of 2017. As usual it’s been genuinely difficult to whittle the
contenders down to a mere ten. There’s a lot of albums I’ve heard this year that,
on a different day, could have ended up in the final list.
So besides the one’s I’m about to go on about, I’d also
thoroughly recommend albums by The Bug vs Earth, Laura Marling, Bjork, Alvarius
B, Mogwai, Boris, Run the Jewels (OK, technically this one was Christmas 2016
but close), Flogging Molly, Earthen Sea, James Murray, Six Organs of
Admittance, Grails, Jessica Moss, øjeRum , Melvins, Euros
Childs, Action Beat and Tunabunny.
2017 really has been a great year for new music.
Anyway, here’s my top ten!
2017 really has been a great year for new music.
Anyway, here’s my top ten!
1. Pissed Jeans- Why Love Now
One of my favourite bands of the last ten
years, Pissed Jeans can always be relied on to provide an intelligent, fun and
scuzzy take on punk rock. Why Love Now
is one of their strongest records to date. Matt Korvette’s lyrics still go
places others don’t while the band has never sounded better. Riffs, humour and
21st Century anxiety.
2. Piano Magic- Closure
It’s somewhat frustrating to finally
discover a band only to find out that they’re calling it a day. Closure is one hell of a closing
statement though. Sprawling, melancholic indie with some of the finest
songwriting I’ve heard in recent years. The title track is nothing short of
breath taking.
3. The Fall – New Facts Emerge
It’s very sad to hear that our beloved Mark
E Smith hasn’t been too well recently. He is, however, sounding on fine
curmudgeonly form on this cracker of an album. Hard to say if it would win
round any doubters but New Facts Emerge
is a fresh, muscular and noisy highlight in a discography littered with great
LP’s.
4. Nadah El Shazly- Ahwar
Nadah El Shazly provided one of the year’s
most unique and startling musical statements. Ahwar may require patience and a few listens before it starts to
really make sense but persevere and you’ll be rewarded. It’s an album rich with
invention, experimentation and inspiration. Here’s my review.
5. Sophie Cooper & Julian Bradley- The
Blow Volume 3
Vibracathedral Orchestra’s Julian Bradley
teamed up with fellow sonic adventurer Sophie Cooper to create one of the
year’s finest experimental releases. 40 minutes of avant-garde
soundscapes comprised of ambient drones, ethereal voices and hypnotic sounds. Undeniably strange and unquestionably beautiful.
6.
The
Cribs- 24/7 Rock Star Shit
For a while there I think I lost touch with
The Cribs. 24/7 Rock Star Shit pulled
me right back in though. Ticking all the boxes my inner teenager would demand;
engineered by Steve Albini? Check. A raw, catchy and uncompromising return to
their roots? Check. A really enjoyable album of fuzzy indie-punk? Check. Here's my review.
7.
Colossloth-
Heathen Needles
On one of my trips to The Golden Cabinet
night in Shipley I was lucky enough to catch a set by Leicester’s Colossloth. Heathen Needles replicates all the
intensity while taking us on an intriguing, densely layered sonic journey of
twisted electronica, drone and noise. An album that balances the ambient with
the unforgiving; expect the unexpected.
8. Crystal Fairy- Crystal Fairy
I was lucky enough to see the Melvins again
this year yet despite releasing a rather brilliant album of their own I have to
go for this collaborative effort. Recorded with Omar Alfredo Rodríguez-López
of Mars Volta fame and the irrepressible Teri Gender Bender from Le
Butcherette’s, Crystal Fairy is a
non-stop riff ride. Bender’s performance is magnetic throughout.
9. Sleaford Mods- English Tapas
Everyone’s favourite sweary East Midlanders
Sleaford Mods have continued to plough their own furrow. Williamson’s lyrics
mix social commentary with a healthy dose of surrealism while Fearn’s beats
take us into hypnotic and strange places with the likes of ‘Time Sands’. English Tapas couldn’t have been made by
anyone else. Here’s my review.
10. Gnod- Just Say No to the Psycho Right-Wing
Capitalist Fascist Industrial Death Machine
The album title alone could secure its
place in many a top ten list. Thankfully, Manchester’s Gnod back up the bold
statements and iconic album artwork with something genuinely powerful. With a host
of bludgeoning riffs and an axe to grind, Gnod have never sounded so vital.
OK, so if you’ve made it this far you may be interested to
hear a little about my….drum roll please...
Top Ten Gigs of 2017
I’ve spent most of my year hanging out in my favourite
venue, The Brudenell Social Club but have still found time to venture
elsewhere. Including a couple of arenas. So many
great shows to choose from but this is what I’ve decided on. Click to get the
review. See what you think:
I also managed to see Swans, Hookworms, Goat Girl, Sunn0))),
The Mountain Goats, Julian Cope, Cherry Glazerr, Nadia Reid, Jeffrey Lewis,
Wolves in the Throne Room, JK Flesh, Part Chimp, Demdike Stare, Hawkwind, Girl
Band, Six Organs of Admittance, Biscuithead and the Biscuit Badgers, Blood
Sport, Bong and…well, all the others too. Thanks to Soundblab I really do get
to go to a lot of gigs. Here’s to going to more in 2018!
And if all that still isn’t
enough. Here’s a YouTube playlist
I’ve made for 2017.
Have a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year
