Here’s my favorite albums of the year. Listen along on Spotify
Honorable Mention:
Teen Daze, Themes for a New Earth
Phoebe Bridgers, Stranger in the Alps
Tall Friend, Safely Nobody’s
Sufjan Stevens (3), Planetarium / The Greatest Gift / Tonya Harding
Mansions, Deserter
Happyness, Write In
Wun Two, Seasons
SZA, Crtl
Fazerdaze, Morningside
Yumi Zouma, Willowbank
Grandaddy, Last Place
Moses Sumney, Aromanticism
Juana Molina, Halo
Top 40 of 2017
40. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Vietnam War (Original Score)
39. Tiny Deaths, Elegies
38. Big Thief, Capacity37. No Vacation, Intermission
36. Slowdive, S/T
35. NE-HI, Offers
34. Geotic, Abysma
33. Sylvan Esso, What Now
32. Japandroids, Near to the Wild Heart of Life
31. Soccer Mommy, Collection
30. Protomartyr, Relatives in Descent
29. (Sandy) Alex G, Rocket
28. Beach Fossils, Somersault
27. The Mountain Goats, Marsh Witch Visions EP
26. Mount Kimbie, Love What Survives
25. Ruby Haunt, Nevada
24. Vagabon, Infinite Worlds
23. Four Tet, New Energy
22. Real Estate, In Mind
21. Wolf Parade, Cry Cry Cry
20. Swimming Tapes, Soft Sea Blue EP / Souvenirs EP
19. Bonny Doon, S/T
18. Caroline Says, 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong
17. Elbow, Little Fictions
16. Pastel Ruins, Static Dreams
15. Future Islands, The Far Field
14. Jay Som, Everybody Works
13. Hazel English, Just Give In/ Never Going Home
12. The xx, I See You
11. Otto Totland, The Lost
10. Grizzly Bear, Painted Ruins
9. The National, Sleep Well Beast
8. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile, Lotta Sea Lice
7. Rostam, Half-Light
6. Destroyer, Ken
5. Kelly Lee Owens, S/T
4. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, The French Press
3. Hoops, Routines
2. Kevin Morby, City Music
1. The War on Drugs, A Deeper Understanding
Most Disappointing: Gorillaz, Humanz
Best Debut: Hoops, Routines
Most Underrated: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, The French Press
Most Overrated: King Krule, The OOZ
Best Album Art: Radiohead, OK Computer OKNOTOK
Worst Album Art: The Darkness, Pinewood Smile
I Don’t Care: (tie): Jay Z, 4:44 / Arcade Fire, Everything Now
Brian Danaher 