Albums
of the year
2017
Another interesting year in music, and a really exciting one for me personally, with long-time favorites returning and reuniting, and still managing to make my tops of the year. Last year I mentioned that 2017 was shaping up to be a great year, and it turned out to be true (musically at least), so let's explore why that turned out to be true! PLUS - check out the playlist here, for a highlight from each of this year's albums. And as usual, these are in no particular order.
11
The War on Drugs
A Deeper Understanding
I don't even know what to say about this one that hasn't been said before, including by yours truly. The obvious comparisons are there: Bruce Springsteen, the late, great Tom Petty, and I'm sure others that I'm ignorant of right now. But take that, extend the running times allowing enough time for grooves, beats and emotions to settle in and take hold, and this is basically The War on Drugs. Uniting it all though is something that can only be called WARM. The lilt of vocalist/songwriter Adam Granduciel's voice, the crisp sounds of reverb enveloping the gorgeous guitar noodling and strumming of acoustic guitars. The clean production. The songwriting. Every element is incredibly warm, inviting, life-affirming and they continue to kill it with this new LP. It's one giant hug of an album, just what all of us need right now.
Label
Atlantic Recordings
Released
15 August 2017
Running time
66:00
Tracklist
Up All Night
Pain
Holding On
Strangest Thing
Knocked Down
Nothing To Find
Thinking Of A Place
In Chains
Clean Living
You Don't Have To Go