This year was absolutely amazing in terms of album releases. Though a lot of my favorite artists and bands took this year off to write, I was not disappointed by the amount of great releases 2017 brought to my ears. I can’t put them in a particular order because they’re all so good, but here are my top 10 favorite releases of 2017. If you haven’t heard any of them, check them out ASAP, you won’t regret it.
This album stole my heart the second I heard it and has been my most played album for the past couple of months. Movements are so talented and their songs are all so well made. Feel Something was the perfect debut for this band and I cannot wait to see this album live. My favorite track is “Daylily.”
I’ve been a huge fan of LANY for awhile now and I had been waiting for this album since I discovered their music. When it finally released, it became my summer soundtrack. I love this album so much, each song has a special place in my heart. If you love dreamy pop music, I highly recommend this album and LANY as a whole. My favorite track on this album is “Hurts.”
Neck Deep- The Peace & The Panic
Neck Deep is known for creating amazing albums with meaningful lyrics and killer instrumentals. This album is nothing shy of these things and I love it. Though it’s a lot different from their older work, the best part about this album is it’s centered around issues I can personally relate to. This album is exactly what I need on a rough day and never fails to make me feel better. My favorite track on this album is a tie between “19 Seventy Sumthin’” and “In Bloom.”
If you want an uplifting album with fun beats to match, this is the album for you. I was a little surprised by the sound of Paradise because their previous album Old Bones was a lot heavier, but it’s a pleasant change. Broadside still have those pop-punk undertones on this album, but there’s more emphasis on the pop. I love this album because it talks about difficult times in life and provides motivational and uplifting perspectives on them. Broadside is such a talented band overall, so this album made me happy. My favorite track is “Hidden Colors.”
COIN- How Will You Know if You Never Try?
COIN is one of my favorite bands right now and it’s because of this album. How Will You Know If You Never Try is a dream pop fantasy and each track is just perfect. I love this album because I can dance and sing to it, cry to it, laugh to it and I’ve already soundtracked so many memories to it. If you want the perfect pop album that makes you feel something, pick this one. COIN are amazing and I wish more people knew. My favorite track is “Miranda Beach.”
I’m not even shocked that this album was amazing because anything by Ed never disappoints. My favorite thing about this album is the varying cultural inspirations he tied into each song, considering it was written when he was travelling the world. It makes the album unique and fun, while still keeping Ed’s romantic lyrics involved. I love this album, it’s absolutely genius and a great comeback from his hiatus. My favorite track is “Hearts Don’t Break Around Here.”
I was a little late to discover this album, but when I saw these songs live this summer I was immediately hooked. Hippo Campus are a deep and meaningful group of musicians but know how to make an upbeat fun album at the same time. This album was on repeat for the entirety of summer’s end and none of the songs feel overplayed. My favorite track on this album is “Vines.”
John Mayer- The Search for Everything
John Mayer is one of the most talented men on Earth, so it comes as no surprise that this album was phenomenal. This album was released in several “waves” so we got small chunks of the album at a time until the whole album was out. I thought this was such a fun and different way to release an album and the anticipation grew with each wave. I love how Mayer never gets it wrong, no matter where he takes his sound. Listen to this album if you know what’s good for you. My favorite track is “In The Blood.”
This album was a curveball for me to be honest, as I love their debut Copacetic so much. I expected it to be similar, but they threw me for a loop on a couple of these tracks on Shapeshifter because they’ve really changed their overall sound. I do love this album though, as I see the growth and progression in the band’s writing and creative process. It took a couple listens to get used to, but I truly love this album. My favorite track is “Everyone Lies to Me.”
The Maine- Lovely Little Lonely
This album is probably my number one pick of 2017 because it’s literal perfection from start to finish. I love when albums flow from one track to the next, which is exactly what LLL does with interludes and all. The Maine are extremely good at what they do and this album captures that. The lyrics of each song touch my heart for different reasons and the sound is different in the best way. I love The Maine, they are one of my favorite bands and this album is a perfect representation of who they are. My favorite track on this album is “Black Butterflies and Deja Vu.”