Best Music of 2017
(in my superior, over inflated, musical opinion)(Yes, my list is better than your) You can listen to the entire list here
https://open.spotify.com/user/122455551/playlist/52XUwrxl83ySiH9e8qUOtk?si=-i3Lz1AvToqiFZ3yeKi56g
Here are the top 10 in not particular order.
Real Life – Aaron Sprinkle – This was an unexpected album for 2017. Then I first listen to this 90’s rock master and realize he put out a pop record. How dare he! Then I continued to listen, and listen, and listen. I did not stop listening to the album all year. Invincible and Real Life are great songs. Why aren’t these songs all over the radio? Why is he not a guest performer on every daytime and nighttime talk show? Well what ever the reason you really really should be listening to this record, a lot. https://open.spotify.com/album/035w5ex0PdMihhra3mL6EM Only the Lonely – Colony House - An album that was supposed to release in the fall of 2016 but ended up getting pushed. This was the first good release of 2017 for me and it has stuck with me for the entire year. Solid lyrics, great hooks and over all catchy toons makes for a great album. I look forward to this band making music for years to come and I hope they find commercial success as well. https://open.spotify.com/album/5vBnIcG7nD3XEt8ErHpytO
Play Dead – MuteMath – The final album with their drummer Daren King does not disappoint. It is a solid blend of their previous two albums Odd Soul and Vitals. With great 70’s guitar riffs and sounds with the synth pop of the 80’s all done with modern production and sensibility. You can’t go wrong with this album. https://open.spotify.com/album/2UE2en0YSItvqj5hkyIapP?si=45A3aDPDQiW-B6MS679xMA
Folk Hope n Roll – Judah and the Lion – Never heard of these guys you probably will soon. This special edition album released this year with so many great improvements over their previous release of the album it is almost a whole new album. The music is a strange folk beat rock that works on all levels for this band, providing an original sound all around. https://open.spotify.com/album/7vLmY8rLjLvOTQ0wk7Hqeh?si=-RTfmGTHSg2XWVKREdQVuA
Pulses – The Fast Feeling – Who you ask? Never heard of these guys. Yeah, most people haven’t but you should check them out. A great pop synth rock sound led by Jeff the Girl from Five Iron Frenzy. I don’t know if they will ever release another record, but they should. This album is great fun. https://open.spotify.com/album/6Zk8EisXGz2IGnhYTqRbBg?si=jLfJE_EwS5-S2w50iHCmGQ
Hello Maker – Bright City – Why this album isn’t as big as United’s latest release I will never know, it is just as good and in my opinion better. While in the same vain sonically as United they are not a clone or copycat. These are wonderful synth pop worship songs with some great and original lyrics that try to break from the current clichés. Bright City is also a bit more upbeat that United and not so contemplative. They even show a little joy in their worship songs. https://open.spotify.com/album/22pKUdahZtdO78K72hNK1j?si=Bmu4mpZVS7K4UlgpC1ZVHw
Jonah – KJ-52 – You mean he is still making music. Yep and it is fun. This is probably the most fun I have had listening to a Hip Hop album in years. They beats are great and the lyrics are fun and funny. This is KJ-52 at his best. He makes light of people mistaking him for Toby Mac and points out other crazy things in culture as well. This is a party album if there ever was one. https://open.spotify.com/album/4QV2mi2cNxeRH2O15zIkTz?si=t5Hkzn5yQOW2U_Yh9meWTw
I See You – The XX - These guys make great minimalist albums, while this one is not a minimal as their previous albums, it is great to listen to while kicking back in the evening. I dig their voices and how they work together. https://open.spotify.com/album/7jrxBbSIpwZnOd7kuAYFHG?si=hB2n6C5PRKK1oHOtwAgvAg
Signs – Jonny Lang – I love this guys music and this is his most accessible album in years. The riffs are great, the lyrics solid, and there is a general return to the blues sonically, which just speaks to me. Lang keeps showcasing his talent on his albums and this one really brings it all together with a bit more pop rock since add to his gospel blues sound. https://open.spotify.com/album/4SPbtzCATQqeHmN2Evs26H?si=2r7iwvE-SIe3NFD2MFWx0w
Mercury & Lightning – John Mark McMillan – I have been following McMillan for a while and this is his strongest release to date. This is great lyrics and songwriting he as added a little bit of pop stylings to make things a little more accessible. The mix is fantastic and I do believe this is his best album sonically and the lyrics have not suffered either. https://open.spotify.com/album/6zKk1qsXNvOqAjy9cfzE2Q?si=NAjoRAQfSLiwdbVcLkCqgw
The Next 10
Move – Jerry Fee – Check out this music. He just keeps getting better and better and has release an albums worth of singles since releasing this album. https://open.spotify.com/album/1PNxShUgyi4Ef4nApth6YG?si=GKQ2ql0yQCKRHwI69PysgQ
Evolve – Imagine Dragons – Yes you have herd this album, you know it is good. https://open.spotify.com/album/51s30K7a36ORx6AAaPBRRY?si=F5ulFYamQo2GBzZBJaiVEA
Something to Tell You – HAIM – I really like most of this album but there a couple of meh songs on here that kept it out of the top 10. https://open.spotify.com/album/5m9rXTBF7mHFGQlFsiEHrY?si=AkFJLBIVRZSOmk7CGy8vVA
Magic & Bird – Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed – The best and most fun album about basketball ever made. https://open.spotify.com/album/0hBOcvWIqqIyFIVLaAvylC?si=CrbKvsJNShidhskqcBzaqA
Blue Eyed Devil – Krum – Hip Hop meets garage rock, nuff said. https://open.spotify.com/album/7uJqs1C6WsOUZDbCNTWmqn?si=fjy8FeLRSwubybOLBFPVGg Crooked – Propaganda – Spiritual and social hip hop at it’s best. https://open.spotify.com/album/3HmkL2AENDW4XO9Da0NGy9?si=b6TiBHlCSPqsdaM6qhbXDg
All Things Work Together – Lecrae – Musically I think one of his better releases. The lyrics are also very thought provoking. No candy coating here. https://open.spotify.com/album/5DPZqC3ySZkJClCvZlIq6K?si=d5s1DF7fT8K7jFNq3PDddQ
Lifer – MercyMe – This is a group of fun loving and funny guys that live life. This album finally reflects that. https://open.spotify.com/artist/6APm8EjxOHSYM5B4i3vT3q?si=Ui2ueTj_SGGmMV_WSgqVxw
Got Soul – Robert Randolph & The Family Band – The master of the peddle steel is back with a kicking album. https://open.spotify.com/album/2WWqqmFSB4jFEnnRwngeSB?si=00HeuRrLS-Ccp3NjIxE1LQ
Sheep Among Wolves – Project 86 – Hardcore rock at its best. Love these guys still. https://open.spotify.com/album/4rfoY0fTN99JZYvecHVVVC?si=AfSzjH34SkW6xZPzcquQ9w
The Final 20. You really should still listen to these albums
Colliding by Design – Acceptance - https://open.spotify.com/album/2SQRCnp429NkB8McGvIV6H?si=PlFtA0fnQga1uiHTddcIiw
Hopeless Romantic – Michelle Branch - https://open.spotify.com/album/0KQoc67ApuKSx5qBPtrXJt?si=vuQX9qDeSxSrhPVBJr7wZA
Peaks – Rival - https://open.spotify.com/album/5kShm6rsbfFG48Td3Je3O7?si=ifDNwQIIS_ydk-HCfnqK6w
Waiting on a Song – Dan Auerbach - https://open.spotify.com/album/0OSYZ7EMRs14RPvwowd13F?si=lhItpsWYQrCn_tsrb-I4Tw
EP - Blank Books - https://open.spotify.com/album/6lA4et2BiYdQsphzwrNcgV?si=4eEYfhy_TLGf7OI2c4uHrw
Army of Bones – Army of Bones - https://open.spotify.com/album/2r5nVGJTAByyxMLmxc3keL?si=8-ppQJJJQFmKMGEjvkgpFw
Worthy – Beautiful Eulogy - https://open.spotify.com/album/4uCh3rhWiPaBouezM4PD3I?si=w3DTt0N9SmqF5bpCUCcZqw
A Deep Understanding – The War on Drugs - https://open.spotify.com/album/4TkmrrpjlPoCPpGyDN3rkF?si=UPUUdqW7Swe-izMUB9FMRQ
Farewell to Midnight – As We Ascend - https://open.spotify.com/album/2Lq6F3PJgcTuQHs5nRULfH?si=7mseO5ovS9evE9jjx_xT5w
Can’t Curse the Free – Jetty Rae - https://open.spotify.com/album/3VizwLt8pVjDbo7OkPP5ML?si=qM6v80BYSsyrh4c4Dci-Tg
Colors – Beck - https://open.spotify.com/album/6BOQkxcHspMoRWEwEexf4l?si=ns9FQDD4Rj6QioCPMch1QQ
The Search for Everything – John Mayer - https://open.spotify.com/album/0jZFu2tihRJ65iYAo0oOtP?si=AeIXX3HqTyCbsBuoz5PugQ
Pain – The letter Black - https://open.spotify.com/album/5SQnp6ujMnSkSCOQg2g0PV?si=3DQfG4rRR3Cd6lhCjVrNog
The Transition of Mali – Mali Music - https://open.spotify.com/album/00kU4HzJ0Uvr3PGBxrqt14?si=eDO38sVXSvy1e-8-QYQ7zg
Resistance – Songhoy Blues –https://open.spotify.com/album/4Ihzwun58CM5vmphpBngFG?si=RzVOvG8GTHSh4o05mkHT-g
Songs of Experience – U2 - https://open.spotify.com/album/6S9YaGXnmRe8tWJ0e457HP?si=QepAm49DR_GaqVUKNqqaUA
Sky Beats Gold – Young Fox - https://open.spotify.com/album/5LBBJo1rs0RYjahaAO7jAl?si=4ewrQ4lsQOWWwgJ2yIKGYQ
Suddenly (Or the Nuclear Sunburst of the Truth Revealed) – Young Oceans - https://open.spotify.com/album/1NnzAkcue0YdEzLWKb8bfp?si=pHk2INViSVGpvtXb6aOOQw
Wonder – Hillsong United - https://open.spotify.com/album/5ZWmzqJe0RH6HdT4ntNaX2?si=n-bcWIySRwm_ahl1vws6Rw
Two Parts Viper - ’68 - https://open.spotify.com/album/5fLNoR3OoIbiNhYlkqxcDD?si=j9p3RU-KSlyFfh7otcsCcg
The Beauty Between - Kings Kaleidoscope - https://open.spotify.com/album/22dJNerbGPZtrsoAjyTy9y?si=Rl9PF6pFTxSJ6aUYpYtoCA






