best of Unoriginal's Best of 2017

[Tom Vercetti]

#4 and #1  

 

Huge songs. 

[Unoriginal]

UNORIGINAL'S BEST OF 2017

2017's Best EPs

 

MØ

When I Was Young

 

Most of MØ's singles post No Mythologies to Follow weren't it for me. I liked Kamikaze a lot but I think after Lean On smashed and Final Song did well MØ kinda stuck to that sound (or her label did. idk). I wasn't overly excited for When I Was Young when it was announced because of this but I listened to it and was shocked: the opening of Roots sounded like it could have come straight from No Mythologies to follow. It was loud and attention catching and completely unexpected; the song continues and reveals itself to be a relatively sparse song that brings in some strings in the chorus that definitely work to MØ's advantage. It's a commendably strong start that's one of the EP's highlights. The lead single and title track is easily the closest thing to the new MØ sound on WIWY but it's one of the stronger attempts at this sound from new MØ. Turn My Heart to Stone is a brilliant, hurt electro-sax song that leads into the wistful, fun, dreamy Linking with You and the new MØ-esque BB. The true highlight of the EP is the closer Run Away. It's sparse, emotional and all around brilliant. The production on When I Was Young is top notch, the drops are effective and actually good and the lyrics are surprisingly good for the most part too.

Highlights - Roots, Linking with You, Run Away

listen here

Emeli Sandé

Kingdom Coming

 

Emeli released one of last year's best albums with Long Live the Angels and it was a laudable improvement over (the also good) Our Version of Events. Long Live the Angels also completely flopped. I wasn't expecting to hear much from Emeli and thought the next thing we did hear would be considerably more mainstream and hit-seeking to please the label. I wasn't completely wrong: we got Starlight in September and it was really, really, really bad; I was concerned for the Kingdom Coming EP which was announced because I feared it'd be testing the waters for awful Emeli. When I listened to the EP, however, I was shocked. It's at least on par with LLtA. The lyrics are clever and the production is mostly great but what I love most about the EP is that it feels like an exploration of Emeli and the self. It deals with personal issues (Kingdom Coming), long-distance love mixed with conscious social critiques (Soon) and chill anti-war peace and love odes (Love Not War). Every song on here is surprisingly great, even the acoustic version of Starlight, and I was pleasantly surprised with this especially considering I wasn't expecting much. The sound seems very UK-centric though which might be a turnoff for some people.

Highlights - Soon, Higher, Kingdom Coming

listen here 

 

Rina Sawayama

RINA

 

I saw ATRL raving about Rina in her album thread so I decided to give this a go. It was a bit of a grower for me; at first I was content listening to it but it didn't blow me away or floor me. It was fun 2000s throwback production with pleasant vocals and decent lyrics. The more I listened to it and the more I paid attention to its nuances and the actual meanings of the songs, however, the more I came to appreciate it. Take Me As I Am is straight out of the early 2000s in the best way possible and sounds crazily like a throwback without sounding dated or cheap; in fact, it sounds fantastic. Clarence Clarity's production on every song is spot on and nails the mood faultlessly. There's not a single bad thing about this EP, even the interludes feel like their places are earned and justified. The lyrics detail people's relationships with social media and general online life and they do it immensely well. Cyber Stockholm Syndrome is pretty self-explanatory in its title alone and Ordinary Superstar seems to cleverly detail the relationship people develop with online stars from platforms like YouTube. It's fantastic through and through and I could't recommend this enough.

Highlights - Take Me As I Am, Tunnel Vision, Cyber Stockholm Syndrome

listen here

[Unoriginal]

Spoiler

21 hours ago, Eeveelution said:

Nice top 5.  

what's your favourite?

 

21 hours ago, Remmy said:

Green Light in your top 3  Well deserved mmm we love a queen

 

I skipped "Singles" while reading this and thought you were already completely done  But yay, more lists! 

yes we do  

i've got a schedule up til the 31st for stuff (with a lil Christmas break) but I might still do stuff after that

 

21 hours ago, Vxspertine said:

Undercover 

stan

 

21 hours ago, Mr. Loco said:

Lorde is the only one I know from the top 5 

fix it

 

16 hours ago, Zay said:

Love these 

omg someone else who knows Miya

 

16 hours ago, Zay said:

Third of May / Ōdaigahara - Fleet Foxes

Undercover - Susanne Sundfør

Green Light - Lorde

Thinking of a Place - The War on Drugs

 

Poor Third of May

 

16 hours ago, theblackestday said:

Thinking of a Place was my favorite on ADU so good choice I guess  

 

excited for the next lists  

Probably my second favourite after Up All Night

 

11 hours ago, Legend E said:

Green Light  

teen legend Lorde  

 

5 hours ago, Mark Rih said:

checking the #1 out rn

not my cup of tea but it's good

 

can't tell if this is shade or praise

 

2 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said:

Do It makes your top 5 I discovered it only at the end of the year, but whew , this song and girl is just SOMETHING, I'm so excited about album and video

Green Light in top3 

it's so catchy  can't wait for SOT and the video is fun too

Green Light really won huh

 

1 hour ago, bluth said:

green light, thinking of a place, lose ageless, frontline, bad liar in the top 20 - so many great choices! great countdown overall <3

whew thank you

 

36 minutes ago, bestfiction said:

A mess that I only know Green Light from your top-5  I'll check out the rest!

you should do that  you might like Do It and maybe Undercover but I don't think you'll like the other two

 

36 minutes ago, Tom Vercetti said:

#4 and #1  

 

Huge songs. 

I better see some FF repping on your list. everyone pretty much forgot they existed this year

 

[Dom]

emeli sande, really? she wasn't good this year.

Mo on the other hand did v good.

[ultraviolence.xx]

could never get into Rina  

[Zay]

RINA slaying another list 

 

 

[Topmaster 2]

22 hours ago, Unoriginal said:

#1

Fleet Foxes - Third of May / Ōdaigahara

 

listen here

AMAZING #1

 

[Unoriginal]

19 minutes ago, Dom said:

emeli sande, really? she wasn't good this year.

Mo on the other hand did v good.

Kingdom Coming was a snatch and a half wyd

MO was brilliant tho glad we can agree

 

19 minutes ago, ultraviolence.xx said:

could never get into Rina  

your loss

 

17 minutes ago, Zay said:

RINA slaying another list 

she really did that tho

 

12 minutes ago, Topmaster 2 said:

AMAZING #1

 

i'm pissed the world forgot they existed like the week after Crack-Up came out tho

[Dom]

4 minutes ago, Unoriginal said:

Kingdom Coming was a snatch and a half wyd

 

Starlight was trash.. 

[Unoriginal]

Just now, Dom said:

Starlight was trash.. 

i agree it's borderline disgusting

36 minutes ago, Unoriginal said:

we got Starlight in September and it was really, really, really bad

Kingdom Coming on the other hand...  

[Topmaster 2]

14 minutes ago, Unoriginal said:

i'm pissed the world forgot they existed like the week after Crack-Up came out tho

The world is pressed with talent, that's nothing new. 

[Pink Matter]

After that 3HKO of Undercover-Green Light-Thinking of a Place, I get hit with... Fleet Foxes  o well great list anyways  

EPs: Haven't heard too many EPs this year but it's always good to see Rina on YELs  

[Legend E]

I didn't play many EPs this year  

[Unoriginal]

5 minutes ago, Pink Matter said:

After that 3HKO of Undercover-Green Light-Thinking of a Place, I get hit with... Fleet Foxes 

this slander wyd

[theblackestday]

Great gowns... beautiful gowns

[Pink Matter]

1 minute ago, Unoriginal said:

this slander wyd

Folk music doesn't do it for me  

[Unoriginal]

UNORIGINAL'S BEST OF 2017

2017's Best EPs

 

Miya Folick

Give it to Me

 

Miya was in my Discover Weekly a while back and [insert story from the Give it to Me mess of a writeup]. I love this EP. The guitar work is heavenly, Miya's vocals are fantastic, the lyrics are incredible and the loud, abrasive (in a good way) use of Miya's vocals on songs like Aging and Give it to Me work so well against all the odds it's amazing. There's also a stellar cover of Woodstock, one of Joni Mitchell's most iconic songs, that's almost like a bit of a foil to the rest of the EP in that it's quiet, sinister and incredibly lowkey. Definitely worth a listen

Highlights -  Trouble Adjusting, Give it to Me, Woodstock

listen here

yaeji

EP2

 

I'd seen a lot of love for yaeji but didn't check her out until pretty late. I listened to both EPs successively but EP2 was the clear standout from beginning to end. The deep house production is stellar and the more developed production of yaeji's vocals on the EP is a brilliant inclusion; I'd even go as far as to say my two favourite songs are probably the ones with the most prominent vocals. The EP is subtle yet effective and I feel like yaeji could continue very successfully down this lowkey route but I'd also like to hear what a more highkey in-your-face song would sound like with the more developed sound. yaeji's cover of Passionfruit is also incredibly good. It's no FKA EP2 but it's a more than solid inclusion on this list and I'm glad I eventually gave in and listened to this.

Highlights - raingurl, passionfruit

listen here

 

Fleet Foxes

The Electric Lady Session

 

Yes, I'm really putting a four-track live EP on this list. I unashamedly loved Fleet Foes to bits in 2017 so when I saw this Black Friday indie record store exclusive I had to buy it. I love it.

Highlights - Cassius, Cassadies, Mearcstapa, On Another Ocean (January / June)

forcefully encourage Rough Trade and Nonesuch to press more copies of the EP here

 

[Unoriginal]

Spoiler

27 minutes ago, Topmaster 2 said:

The world is pressed with talent, that's nothing new. 

true. highkey shocked P4k left ToM off their singles list entirely tho ngl

 

23 minutes ago, Legend E said:

I didn't play many EPs this year  

you should try MO's

 

19 minutes ago, theblackestday said:

Great gowns... beautiful gowns

yaeji's on this list so there's something to like at least

 

19 minutes ago, Pink Matter said:

Folk music doesn't do it for me  

 poor the rest of Music for People in Trouble

 

[theblackestday]

The Passionfruit stanning  I've decided it's superior to Drake's

 

Quote

It's no FKA EP2 

We been knew!

[Pink Matter]

12 minutes ago, Unoriginal said:

  Reveal hidden contents

true. highkey shocked P4k left ToM off their singles list entirely tho ngl

 

you should try MO's

 

yaeji's on this list so there's something to like at least

 

 poor the rest of Music for People in Trouble

 

Lol I actually liked the majority of MFPIT

[Unoriginal]

16 minutes ago, theblackestday said:

The Passionfruit stanning  I've decided it's superior to Drake's

 

We been knew!

 wouldn't go that far but it's great yes

I only found out recently but still needed to be stated  if this is yaeji's EP2 I can't wait for her Y43J1

 

5 minutes ago, Pink Matter said:

Lol I actually liked the majority of MFPIT

wow folk's revenge

[theblackestday]

Just now, Unoriginal said:

if this is yaeji's EP2 I can't wait for her Y43J1

[World Eater]

RINA and EP2  Need to check out Fleet Foxes' EP, just watched their KEXP session today and loved it

mess @ Emeli tho

[Unoriginal]

posting as one big part for the new page  

 

UNORIGINAL'S BEST OF 2017

2017's Best EPs

 

MØ

When I Was Young

 

Most of MØ's singles post No Mythologies to Follow weren't it for me. I liked Kamikaze a lot but I think after Lean On smashed and Final Song did well MØ kinda stuck to that sound (or her label did. idk). I wasn't overly excited for When I Was Young when it was announced because of this but I listened to it and was shocked: the opening of Roots sounded like it could have come straight from No Mythologies to follow. It was loud and attention catching and completely unexpected; the song continues and reveals itself to be a relatively sparse song that brings in some strings in the chorus that definitely work to MØ's advantage. It's a commendably strong start that's one of the EP's highlights. The lead single and title track is easily the closest thing to the new MØ sound on WIWY but it's one of the stronger attempts at this sound from new MØ. Turn My Heart to Stone is a brilliant, hurt electro-sax song that leads into the wistful, fun, dreamy Linking with You and the new MØ-esque BB. The true highlight of the EP is the closer Run Away. It's sparse, emotional and all around brilliant. The production on When I Was Young is top notch, the drops are effective and actually good and the lyrics are surprisingly good for the most part too.

Highlights - Roots, Linking with You, Run Away

listen here

Emeli Sandé

Kingdom Coming

 

Emeli released one of last year's best albums with Long Live the Angels and it was a laudable improvement over (the also good) Our Version of Events. Long Live the Angels also completely flopped. I wasn't expecting to hear much from Emeli and thought the next thing we did hear would be considerably more mainstream and hit-seeking to please the label. I wasn't completely wrong: we got Starlight in September and it was really, really, really bad; I was concerned for the Kingdom Coming EP which was announced because I feared it'd be testing the waters for awful Emeli. When I listened to the EP, however, I was shocked. It's at least on par with LLtA. The lyrics are clever and the production is mostly great but what I love most about the EP is that it feels like an exploration of Emeli and the self. It deals with personal issues (Kingdom Coming), long-distance love mixed with conscious social critiques (Soon) and chill anti-war peace and love odes (Love Not War). Every song on here is surprisingly great, even the acoustic version of Starlight, and I was pleasantly surprised with this especially considering I wasn't expecting much. The sound seems very UK-centric though which might be a turnoff for some people.

Highlights - Soon, Higher, Kingdom Coming

listen here 

 

Rina Sawayama

RINA

 

I saw ATRL raving about Rina in her album thread so I decided to give this a go. It was a bit of a grower for me; at first I was content listening to it but it didn't blow me away or floor me. It was fun 2000s throwback production with pleasant vocals and decent lyrics. The more I listened to it and the more I paid attention to its nuances and the actual meanings of the songs, however, the more I came to appreciate it. Take Me As I Am is straight out of the early 2000s in the best way possible and sounds crazily like a throwback without sounding dated or cheap; in fact, it sounds fantastic. Clarence Clarity's production on every song is spot on and nails the mood faultlessly. There's not a single bad thing about this EP, even the interludes feel like their places are earned and justified. The lyrics detail people's relationships with social media and general online life and they do it immensely well. Cyber Stockholm Syndrome is pretty self-explanatory in its title alone and Ordinary Superstar seems to cleverly detail the relationship people develop with online stars from platforms like YouTube. It's fantastic through and through and I could't recommend this enough.

Highlights - Take Me As I Am, Tunnel Vision, Cyber Stockholm Syndrome

listen here

 

Miya Folick

Give it to Me

 

Miya was in my Discover Weekly a while back and [insert story from the Give it to Me mess of a writeup]. I love this EP. The guitar work is heavenly, Miya's vocals are fantastic, the lyrics are incredible and the loud, abrasive (in a good way) use of Miya's vocals on songs like Aging and Give it to Me work so well against all the odds it's amazing. There's also a stellar cover of Woodstock, one of Joni Mitchell's most iconic songs, that's almost like a bit of a foil to the rest of the EP in that it's quiet, sinister and incredibly lowkey. Definitely worth a listen

Highlights -  Trouble Adjusting, Give it to Me, Woodstock

listen here

yaeji

EP2

 

I'd seen a lot of love for yaeji but didn't check her out until pretty late. I listened to both EPs successively but EP2 was the clear standout from beginning to end. The deep house production is stellar and the more developed production of yaeji's vocals on the EP is a brilliant inclusion; I'd even go as far as to say my two favourite songs are probably the ones with the most prominent vocals. The EP is subtle yet effective and I feel like yaeji could continue very successfully down this lowkey route but I'd also like to hear what a more highkey in-your-face song would sound like with the more developed sound. yaeji's cover of Passionfruit is also incredibly good. It's no FKA EP2 but it's a more than solid inclusion on this list and I'm glad I eventually gave in and listened to this.

Highlights - raingurl, passionfruit

listen here

 

Fleet Foxes

The Electric Lady Session

 

Yes, I'm really putting a four-track live EP on this list. I unashamedly loved Fleet Foes to bits in 2017 so when I saw this Black Friday indie record store exclusive I had to buy it. I love it.

Highlights - Cassius, Cassadies, Mearcstapa, On Another Ocean (January / June)

forcefully encourage Rough Trade and Nonesuch to press more copies of the EP here

 

Edited December 22, 2017 by Unoriginal

[Lazuli]

Mess @ Fleet Foxes having some random ass EP and you including it  

Wasn't into When I Was Young tbh

Rina