This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Portland chapter.
Ever discover an up and coming band and just fall in love with them? They only have one album out and 12 songs just doesn’t cut it so you wait and wait for their second LP to come out. If this sounds anything like you than 2017 was the cure to your problem. Here are my top 5 sophomore albums of 2017 where my favorite artists grew, developed their sound and did not disappoint:
Sylvan Esso: What Now
- This album is the perfect example of artists changing and developing their sound instead of just putting out an extension to their earlier material. It is such an impressive work that that has great attention to detail and powerful meanings behind each song.
- Tracks that get a gold star: Signal, Slack Jaw, The Glow
Misterwives: Connect the Dots
- Ever get fired up about what’s going on in the world and just want to fix it all? Give this is listen. This is such an empowering album that I encourage every millennial and generation z member to listen to. Misterwives went from angsty teenage alternative to finding a way to keep the same playful and upbeat sound while still addressing the stuff that actually matters like, societal structures, ambition, materialism, and the concept of unity.
- Tracks that get a gold star: Out of Tune Piano, Only Human, Band Camp
Odesza: A Moment Apart
- This is such a beautiful album that is so important to this genre of EDM because it shows the ability to tell a story. Before this Odesza was mostly known for remixes and features. This album really crated a reputation for them as artists that can produce and create cohesive work. I definitely recommend listening to it from start to finish.
- Tracks that get a gold star: Line Of Sight, Across The Room, Show Me
Hippo Campus: Landmark
- This album really put Hippo Campus on the map. They gained so much momentum in 2017. This is such a relatable album with a wide range of emotion in it. It was by far one of my most listened to this year.
- Tracks that get a gold star: Buttercup, Epitaph, Poems
Lorde: Melodrama
- This one was long awaited by Lorde fans. Since her hit album, Pure Heroine, came out in 2013 when she was only 16 her music has shown great improvement in storytelling, artistic style, and maturity.
- Tracks that get a gold star: The Lourve, Hard Feelings/Loveless, Supercut