best of HONESTLY, 2017. - Singles/Albums TOP 10! / finished!!! :)

[ColdKeane]

Slowdive es un album brutal, sin duda mi preferido del 2017   

[Topmaster 2]

Slowdive + St. Vincent  y el de Queen Lana  

[Playa Playa]

I agree - Aromanticism is great but also an introduction for something greater.

 

Good set of HMs!

 

 

 

 

Edited December 26, 2017 by Playa Playa

[Wondervisions]

Slowdive, Brockhampton and Guerilla Toss only making your honorable mentions.

 

 

Also my boyfriend told me about the Rosalía album and I'm really intrigued to listen to it 

[Tom Vercetti]

Prurient's album was an experience but it would've helped if it was half shorter. Not much of the first disc was needed for me. 

[Kiss It Better]

Lust For Life deserved better 

I liked BROCKHAMPTON's albums too though I have only listened to it once 

[Mark Rih]

HM is better than nothing for Lana

[World Eater]

Aromanticism, Slowdive and MASSEDUCTION 

Lack was alright but I'd expect something more from ha  Especially this year's great EP

Need to finally check out Everywhere at the End of Time. Until recently I didn't even know Caretaker was living in my country

[K$Ellie]

Lust For Life didn't deserve more than a mention, it has some cute songs

MASSEDUCTION was robbed tho  it's full of bops. Hang On Me is a mess tho

CollXtion II is pretty good and Dua Lipa is excellent, wish they made the list

[Lucas32]

I didn't know you had a Best of, lemme look through

Lana, St. Vincent and Slowdive already  

[Delta]

Dua and Lana 

[TRF.]

On 25/12/2017 at 0:56 AM, Αnt said:

Lust for Life should've made it. Cherry alone slays careers! 

 

She snapped  I wish she would've snapped harder tho  still, love her

 

On 25/12/2017 at 11:07 PM, ColdKeane said:

Slowdive es un album brutal, sin duda mi preferido del 2017   

es muy bueno  deseo haberlo escuchado más

 

On 25/12/2017 at 11:26 PM, Playa Playa said:

I agree - Aromanticism is great but also an introduction for something greater.

 

Good set of HMs!

 

 

 

 

I feel like his next album will be even bigger and harder to classify. Can't wait for it.

 

On 26/12/2017 at 0:58 AM, Wondervisions said:

Slowdive, Brockhampton and Guerilla Toss only making your honorable mentions.

 

 

Also my boyfriend told me about the Rosalía album and I'm really intrigued to listen to it 

I like those but they either have some tracks that I don't care for a lot or I just didn't listen to enough. And yes check Rosalía's album! It's very good (although not my favorite folk album in Spanish from the year )

 

On 26/12/2017 at 2:19 AM, Tom Vercetti said:

Prurient's album was an experience but it would've helped if it was half shorter. Not much of the first disc was needed for me. 

Yeah I see your point. I guess that's why I really preferred 'Frozen Niagara Falls' to it.

 

18 hours ago, Kiss It Better said:

Lust For Life deserved better 

I liked BROCKHAMPTON's albums too though I have only listened to it once 

I listened to BROCKHAMPTON's third album once too so it's fine  (though I still bop to some of the songs tbh)

 

18 hours ago, AlexisNeiers said:

Aromanticism, Slowdive and MASSEDUCTION 

Lack was alright but I'd expect something more from ha  Especially this year's great EP

Need to finally check out Everywhere at the End of Time. Until recently I didn't even know Caretaker was living in my country

I think Pan's album was more structured to be like an opera rather than a proper LP, tied to her live performances. Her stuff's always been closer to a noise/industrial/techno sound. And yeah! I think he was performing on Unsound too.

 

14 hours ago, K$Ellie said:

Lust For Life didn't deserve more than a mention, it has some cute songs

MASSEDUCTION was robbed tho  it's full of bops. Hang On Me is a mess tho

CollXtion II is pretty good and Dua Lipa is excellent, wish they made the list

Hang on Me reminds me a lot NIN that's why I like it so much dddd  and at some point I even thought about... not including it at all so let's say she won!

 

UPDATE SOON.

 

 

[TRF.]

 

 

#100.

Visible Cloaks

"Neume" (feat. Matt Carlson)

from the album 'Reassamblage'

Genre: Ambient, Sequencer & MIDI

 

Absolutely beautiful and innovative vocal manipulation at work in here. One of the highlights of their debut album.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#99.

Noga Erez

"Noisy"

from the album 'Off the Radar'

Genre: Electropop

 

One of the most upbeat moments on her debut, which also has some of the most personal (and one can also say, saddest?) lyrics on it too.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#50.

Offset, 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

'Without Warning'

Genre: Trap Rap

Gangsta Rap, Horrorcore

Country: U.S./Dominica || Release Date: October 31st, 2017 || Label: Epic

 

Personally, I enjoyed Migos' sophomore album 'Culture', although it did grew off me, as it was too long and had lots of unnecessary songs and verses. So I did not know what to expect from 'Without Warning' once it was announced. But this album, which has the group's Offset and 21 Savage rapping (either both or one of them), and Metro Boomin on production, is definitely not a dissapointment.

 

The whole theme of the album seems to Halloween-related. Not only because of the release date (literally October 31st), but also because of the lyrics, which often reference horror movies, and the production, which is even more minimal and dark than it usually is for the genre. For example, there literally is a part on "Run Up the Racks" where it sounds like a straight-up homage to the synth-based score work of John Carpenter.

 

But it also has some of Offset's best verses, in which he shows how amazing can his flow be when he wants to, like on the unreal "Ghostface Killers" or "Ric Flair Drip". Also, 21 Savage, who I am not usually a big fan of, actually delivers his monotone verses in a way that feels fitting with the menacing tone of the production, and sounds extremely intimidating no matter how ridiculous is stuff that he is saying. It is one of the best rap albums of the year as well one of its biggest surprises, and probably one of the highlights of the trap subgenre in general.

 

You'll like it if you like: Migos, Three 6 Mafia, Lil Ugly Mane, Future, Waka Flocka Flame, horror movies.

 

Highlights: "Ghostface Killers" (feat. Travis Scott), "Rap Saved Me" (feat. Quavo), "Ric Flair Drip", "Nightmare", "Run Up the Racks"

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[TRF.]

 

#98.

Sampha

"No One Knows Me (Like the Piano)"

from the album 'Process'

Genre: Neo-Soul

 

While Sampha's album is mostly electronic, this piano-based heartbreaking ballad is one of the things that do it for me the most.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#97.

Demi Lovato

"Sorry Not Sorry"

from the album 'Tell Me You Love Me'

Genre: Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B, Electropop

 

There is no reason for this to be as good as it is. One of her best songs since the Disney days. It's been a while since flipping the haters off sounded this cool.

 

Spoiler

 

also let's rihmember this iconic performance

 

 

#49.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

'async'

Genre: Ambient

Electroacoustic, Modern Classical, Field Recordings

Country: Japan || Release Date: March 31st, 2017 || Label: Milan

 

Japanese musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto shaped the sounds of electronic pop (as part of Yellow Magic Orchestra and on his earlier works) and experimental ambient music up throughout his over 4-decade-long career. Having been diagnosed with cancer in 2014, though, he entered a short hiatus. He announced he was cured from it the following year, although it was expressed with a feeling of uncertainty.

 

His first solo album in nearly a decade - not including his film score works or his collaborations with other artists - 'async' really sounds confusing, unusual, at times even disruptive (like on its title track or the David Sylvian-assisted "fullmoon"), perhaps to match the tone of what Sakamoto himself was feeling at the time. But despite all of this, as an ambient album, it also sounds relaxing. It really does feel healing in an almost immediate way.

 

Sakamoto has always been one of the most important innovators of the genre, and this album, which might be the best since his solo debut in 1978 ('Thousand Knives of Ryuichi Sakamoto'), is one of the most important ambient releases of the year as well. By the way, this album's remixes, provided by Oneohtrix Point Never, Arca, Yves Tumor, Motion Graphics, are also amazing.

 

You'll like it if you like: his score works, Alva Noto, Stars of the Lid, Graham Lambkin, Tim Hecker, Brian Eno

 

Highlights: "andata", "solari", "ZURE", "walker", "stakra", "fullmoon", "async", "ff", "garden"

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

[Wicked]

async is so good David + Sakamoto are a good pair and should do more together. 

 

Without Warning is really good + so is the Sampha track even though I didn't care for the rest of the album. 

[Pink Matter]

HMs Pt. 2: Great choices. LFL, Aromanticism, Slowdive, and Mass  I've had that Mula album saved in my Spotify library for months.  Your description is making me want to listen to it now nn

 

Singles: No One Knows Me (Like The Piano) and SNS are great picks  

Albums: Haven't heard any of these  They all look interesting though!

[Uncatena]

Noga went under so many peoples radars, a very solid debut. NOKMLTP made me cry multiple times already nnn. 

[Dom]

woo at demetria lovato making it, i'm surprised. truly a good sing. she did that.

[TRF.]

 

 

#96.

Kimbra

"Top of the World"

from the album 'Primal Heart'

Genre: Art Pop, Alternative R&B

 

I didn't like this at first, but it grew on me and continues to do so. A Kimbra x Skrillex collab is not what I was expecting to put on my favorite songs of the year list, but... that's just how it is.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#95.

Zola Jesus

"Siphon"

from the album 'Okovi'

Genre: Art Pop, Darkwave

 

One of the most accessible and powerful songs off of her new album. With lyrics that deal with rescuing someone from suicide (based on a real life experience of hers), it is one of the highlights of 'Okovi'.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#48.

MHYSA

'fantasii'

Genre: Ambient Pop, Alternative R&B, Electronic

Ambient, UK Bass, Post-Industrial, Art Pop, Experimental Hip Hop

Country: USA || Release Date: July 31st, 2017 || Label: Halcyon Veil

 

MHYSA is the project of E. Jane, a multimedia artist and one half of sound art group SCRAAATCH, who defines this project "a Queer Black Diva and underground popstar for the cyber resistance". This definition is quite accurate. Having released their debut EP 'Hivemind' last year via NON Worldwide, as well as a series of DJ mixes called 'Thot Fantasy', which bridge the gap between experimental and club music with R&B, pop and hip-hop , they followed that with a full-length on Rabit's Halcyon Veil, and it is also a big surprise.

 

'fantasii' is one of the oddest debut albums released this year. Late 90's and early 00's R&B seems like one of its biggest influences, like for example the Beyoncé and TLC covers found on the album. Having said that, it also seems to be informed by rather diverse, modern sounds, like avant-garde dance music (like on the track "You Not About That Lyfe"), trap ("STROBE") and a lot Grouper-like, vocal-based ambient music.

 

The way in which the album touches on themes regarding gender, black identity, queerness and femininity also feels refreshing. Their takes on that topic come from personal experience, but are expressed with a big amount of confidence and energy. MHYSA is an artist who defies genre-based classifications, literally no track on this album sounds like the other, and regardless of what one thinks of it as a whole, it is hard to deny how 'fantasii' is one of the most original releases of 2017. Personally, I really enjoy that.

 

You'll like it if you like: Klein, Holly Herndon, Abra, Yves Tumor, Grouper, Cardi B, Rabit, HTRK

 

Highlights: "Special Need Intro", "Spectrum", "STROBE", "BB", "You Not About That Lyfe", "For Doris Payne"

 

 

Spoiler

 

[TRF.]

 

#94.

Kero Kero Bonito

"Forever Summer Holiday"

from the album 'Bonito Generation - Deluxe Japan Version'

Genre: Electropop, Bubblegum Bass

 

This is probably the most unapologetically PC Music that Kero Kero Bonito have ever sounded, and that works to their favour. Big summer feelings forever, no matter the season. Also love the key change at the end.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#93.

Protomartyr

"A Private Understanding"

from the album 'Relatives in Descent'

Genre: Post-Punk

 

Probably the most terrifying Protomartyr have ever sounded. Also the best. That crescendo until the first hook is completely worth it. And I still need to listen to 'Relatives in Descent'. :(

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

#47.

Kedr Livanskiy

'Ariadna'

Genre: Outsider House, Hypnagogic Pop

Ambient Pop, Ambient House, Minimal Techno

Country: Russia || Release Date: September 8th, 2017 || Label: 2MR

 

I have been following Russian producer and singer Kedr Livanskiy ever since the American release of her 2016 EP 'January Sun', one of the most underrated releases of that year. That also seems to be the fate of her debut album, 'Ariadna', which was released last September. The main reason is probably the language barrier – as this album is sung entirely in her native language, Russian – and its lo-fi sound.

 

Personally, that works to her favor. The lyrics (which mostly references natural phenomena from a personal point of view) are wonderfully sung and ennunciated in that language. The production, despite being dreamy, atmospheric, hazy and influenced by ambient music, still captures the essential feelings of techno ("Za Oknom Vesna") , synthpop ("Love & Cigarrettes"), house ("Sunrise Stop") and jungle ("ACDC" - which interpolates a William Blake poem). It is heavily textured and dense in a way that is almost psychedelic.

 

Even though its influences are clear (Inga Copeland, 00's Russian pop, Huerco S.), the way in which Kedr fuses electronic music and pop is something that feels completely new, and definitely shows a promising future for the artist.

 

You'll like it if you like: early Grimes, Huerco S., Kelly Lee Owens, Laurel Halo, Inga Copeland, Perfume Advert, Actress

 

Highlights: "Ariadna", "Your Name", "ACDC" (feat. Martin Newell), "Za Oknom Vesna", "Love & Cigarrettes"

 

Spoiler

 

 

[ColdKeane]

Excelente por Sampha y Kimbra  

[MP2K]

That's a good placement for  "No One Knows Me (Like the Piano)" I feel like for whatever season it gets more recognition than all of the other tracks on Process.
Didn't know KKB released this year lol

[Playa Playa]

This page is full of great stuff! Siphon, Without Warning, Piano, etc

 

I couldn't really get into fantasii. Her DJ mixes are still awesome tho. 

[MP2K]

edit

Edited December 27, 2017 by MP2K

[World Eater]

15 hours ago, TRF. said:

I think Pan's album was more structured to be like an opera rather than a proper LP, tied to her live performances. Her stuff's always been closer to a noise/industrial/techno sound. And yeah! I think he was performing on Unsound too.

Oh yeah, definitely! I got to see her live like a month ago and could clearly tell that. She was great though!

Wish I could have made it to Unsound  Pan also played there but the lineup was great overall. At least a friend of mine came through and got me the poster

 

Without Warning was a pleasant surprise for me, nice to see it here  fantasii was also great, although the Naughty Girl/When Doves Cry covers gave me some kiis nn;

A Private Understanding, Siphon and NOKM (LTP) are my favs from the song list