2017 has been a wonderful year for music, with the return of favourites Fleet Foxes and Fionn Regan, incredible emerging artists such as Wilsen making their first mark, and album topics ranging from femininity, to skipping to the shops, to good ol’ lonely drinking in a dive bar. One clear theme however has been politics. In these dark times, we’ve seen a number of artists putting their two cents in; on the state of post-election America, the refugee crisis and police violence. Styles and sounds have also broken the mould – we’ve had Grizzly Bear going pop, The Staves teaming up with an orchestra and Valerie June delving into the archives of American music. So take a look and a listen, to our favourite albums of 2017…
The National – Sleep Well Beast
With Sleep Well Beast, The National continue to prove to music lovers that all songs don’t have to be happy or bright. Even if it’s a sad, dark vibe, The National will lure you with their sharp musicianship and masterful raw style
Hiss Golden Messenger – Hallelujah
This album is topical, hopeful, beautiful, and truly soulful. Hiss Golden Messenger have followed a standout album of 2016 with an equally sensational record, and leads to expect even more from MC Taylor band co. in the near future
It must be said that as well as being one of the most switched on minds of our time, Mulvey is an exceptional musician. Wake Up Now is equally as full of catchy tunes, amazing guitar ability and delicious vocals as First Mind was. It is sumptuous listening and a lot of fun, a lot of the time. Wake Up Now is an album made by the people, for the people. It was made to be sang at festivals with friends, for people to enjoy and escape
Grizzly Bear – Painted Ruins
The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding
Adam Granduciel is quickly becoming the master of pondering, recording and expressing his innermost anxieties and desires, through carefully-crafted and lusciously vivid imagery that has been painted by a depth of flawlessly-layered rock music. His weathered vocals, roaming and explosive guitar solos, the looped synths and pulsating bass and drums wash over the listener, taking them to new heights at the most epic of moments, before bringing them back down with perfect-proficiency, allowing Granduciel’s searching lyrics to rise above the beautifully-crafted arrangements on this stunning record
This Is The Kit – Moonshine Freeze
Moonshine Freeze presents another batch of catchy and memorable This Is The Kit songs. Most of the songs are some of my favorites in the entire This Is The Kit catalog and some of them are still growing on me, but this record is sure to be a contender for Thank Folk For That’s top albums of 2017
In a sea of folk artists, Fleet Foxes brilliantly stand out as pioneers in folk music today. Crack-Up is a blissful bundle of songs, and the record will certainly overwhelm you with moments of euphoria. With many multi-part pieces, Crack-Up is a compilation of classic Fleet Foxes with a remarkably intelligent modern twist. This stunning album with plenty of texture and majestic melodies is sure to remain memorable for years to come
Father John Misty – Pure Comedy
Chris Stapleton – From A Room: Volume 1
Though the songs vary in style and theme, the one consistency in the album is the amazing vocals of Mr. Stapleton. He truly solidifies his status as a country-blues star
Fionn Regan – The Meeting Of The Waters
Fionn Regan may have been away for a good while, but this record has been worth the wait. Sometimes, it’s a long break that can do the world of good for a songwriter (perhaps some others should follow in Regan’s footsteps), and The Meetings Of The Waters highlights how an adoption or change of style can unearth new talents, sounds and recording processes that result in a brand new route
Dispatch – America, Location 12
At a time when social and political tensions permeate our everyday existence, groundbreaking indie favorite Dispatch have released a sort of antidote to modern existential despair in the form of their latest album America, Location 12
Valerie June – The Order Of Time
Melancholic at times, sometimes even desperate, yet ever hopeful, enriching and heartwarming. In a time of global uncertainty, this is a record that allows one to take a moment, reflect, and draw on the positivity of those closest to us
Courtney Marie Andrews – Honest Life
From the confident affirmations in How Quickly Your Heart Mends, to the sombre solitude depicted in Table For One, Andrews’ effortlessly smooth vocals are layered over an unwavering composition of strings which push Andrew’s voice to the forefront of each beautiful track
Margo Price – All American Made
On Margo Price’s second full length album All American Made – we are treated to fourteen new alternative country tracks and a truly exceptional rising-star in Country music. Often compared to Loretta Lynn, Price really shines with her lyrics and controversial topics – from women’s rights to our President
The Staves & yMusic – The Way Is Read
The Staves, alongside the colossal talent of yMusic, have proved on this record that they are willing to experiment with their predominantly acoustic, indie folk style by injecting their intimate magical vibes with traditional, orchestral and classical sounds. It’s bold, and it is truly beautiful
Lucy Rose – Something’s Changing
The vocals are mature, the lyrics wise – this is not so much a coming of age album as a mandate for Lucy Rose to stand up and be counted as one of the great female singer songwriters of our time
Wilsen – I Go Missing In My Sleep
Along with Drew Arndt and Johnny Simon, Tamsin Wilson has brought together songs from EPs as early as 2013, with stunning fresh material, to bring us Wilsen’s delicate compositions on every single track. From the awakenings of Centipede to the climatic and heart-beating final track I Told You, I Go Missing In My Sleep is a masterpiece of a debut album
This album is exceptional. Songbook allows Frank to share the past twelve incredible years with his fans. It allows him to show new fans that this is what he has spent twelve years doing. He made folk new. He has a power over music, a joy that makes people care
Finally, to celebrate the music from each of these incredible 20 records, we’ve put together an ‘Albums Of The Year 2017’ playlist, for you to spin all the way through to the New Year…
