Day 2: Top 5 Albums of 2017
An impossible task: choosing our favorite albums of the year. Dylan and I each wrote separate posts for 1851 Entertainment where we wrapped up our individual lists, and you can read each of those here. I'm going to choose five albums from those posts that we agreed on, because we had a lot of overlap this year. We had so many great releases to choose from, too, so putting this list together was a challenge. I really had to evaluate the recent additions to my record collection and decide whether or not they defined my year.
So, here are the few that did:
1. John Mayer - The Search for Everything
I've been a John Mayer fan off and on, and aside from the hits that everybody loves, I think this newest album really solidified my appreciation for Mayer. I was lucky enough to see The Search for Everything tour this summer, and watching him perform live is like a transcendental experience. As an amateur guitar player as well, it’s really fascinating to watch how effortless his playing style is. I got to see Mayer again with Dead & Co in November - that was a whole other experience in itself. He’s a true talent, and I’m glad The Search for Everything does him justice.
2. Bucolic - Ropes Wing
Bucolic is a hidden Bandcamp gem that we are so happy we stumbled upon at Kung Fu Necktie one night. He’s a solo guitarist from New Jersey who plays around with looping and really sweet enigmatic backing tracks. His lyrics are beautiful and I was blown away by the fact that he’s entirely independent. I don’t have the right words to do him justice, but he’s a new favorite for sure.
3. Del Water Gap - 1 (646) 943 2672 (Extended Play)
Del Water Gap is one of my favorite discoveries of 2017. They’re a super cool Brooklyn-based band, with a sweet indie sound, and singer Holden Jaffe has this great croony, sort of higher-register voice that is totally mesmerizing. I’ve seen them a handful of times since meeting them, and they always give such great performances. Their lyrics are also super sweet and full of this really intimate level of specificity that I love.
4. Bleachers - Gone Now
If you haven’t heard of frontman Jack Antonoff before 2017, there’s no way you avoided his name this year. This new album is packed full of catchy, relatable lyrics and rhythms that will make you want move. I appreciate an album that reprises early tracks later on in the discography, and this album at its heart is a feel-good musical ballad with heavy New-Jersey/Springsteen influences. Our favorite tracks on the album include the single “Don’t Take the Money,” “Good Morning,” and the epic sing-along “Miss Those Days."
5. Barns Courney - The Attractions of Youth
If you’re into new age rock and roll, Barns Courtney is going to be your new favorite guy. The Attractions Of Youth is packed with catchy guitar riffs and lyrics that are both fun and significant to life. His energetic and engaged stage presence reminds me of Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. This album will take you on a journey starting with some heavy jams and then slowly transitioning into deeper tracks at the end. Our favorites on this album include “Hands,” “Golden Dandelions,” “Little Boy,” and “Kicks.”
Tomorrow, we're going to recap our top ten songs of 2017! That should be much easier... Stay tuned!