Top Albums/Tracks of 2017

A L B U M S

1. Kendrick Lamar: Damn.
2. Perfume Genius: No Shape
3. St. Vincent: Masseduction
4. Forest Swords: Compassion
5. Sampha: Process
6. Broken Social Scene: Hug of Thunder
7. Yumi Zouma: Willowbank
8. Kelly Lee Owens: Kelly Lee Owens
9. Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory
10. Blanck Mass: World Eater

HM. The Other People Place: Lifestyles Of The Laptop Café [2017 Reissue]

This year in music for me was a barbel-ed affair. I listened to a lot of albums during the first quarter of 2017 and then in the last half of the year. The albums represented here left bold traces in time or catapulted themselves by the force of their sonic presence. They have marked 2017 and left an indelible impression.


T R A C K S *
 

My preferred method of music consumption is listening to albums from start to finish. I believe song selection and album order are under appreciated dimensions in which artists construct unique listening experiences. From inside those spaces, these are the 2017 tracks that stood out the most from the comfort of my headphones.

* Not ranked. Scroll for complete list.

Top Albums/Tracks of 2013

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A L B U M S*

1. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of The City
2. DJ Koze: Amygdala
3. Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap**
4. Autre Ne Veut [Oh-truh Neh Vuh]: Anxiety
5. Disclosure: Settle
6. The National: Trouble Will Find Me 
7. Kanye West: Yeezus
8. Arctic Monkeys: AM
9. Daft Punk: Random Access Memories
10. Drake: Nothing Was The Same

HM. Pusha T: My Name is My Name

T R A C K S***
1. James Blake: "Retrograde"

2. Lorde: "Royals"

3. Drake: "Hold On, We're Going Home"

4. FKA Twigs: "Water Me"

5. Daft Punk: "Lose Yourself To Dance"

6. Chance The Rapper: "Juice"

 7. Disclosure: "White Noise"

8. Autre Ne Veut: "Counting"

9. Pusha T: "Numbers On The Boards"

10. Local Natives: "Heavy Feet"


HM. Vampire Weekend: "Don't Lie"

* HM = Honorable Mention does actually rank at #11 this year
** Technically this is a mixtape, but the quality is the difference
*** Excludes repeated artists (#s 1, 6, 7, HM) for breadth

By Request: Top Albums/Tracks/Collabs of 2012

A L B U M S*

1. Tame Impala: Lonerism
2. Killer Mike: R.A.P. Music
3. Kendrick Lamar: good kid, M.A.A.D. City
4. Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream
5. Frank Ocean: Channel ORANGE
6. Andy Stott: Luxury Problems
7. Passion Pit: Gossamer
8. Grizzly Bear: Shields
9. Japandroids: Celebration Rock
10. Beach House: Bloom
HM. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The Heist


T R A C K S**
1. Frank Ocean: "Pyramids"

2. Grizzly Bear: "Sleeping Ute"

3. Tame Impala: "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"

4. Miguel: "Adorn"

5. Passion Pit: "Take A Walk"

6. Kendrick Lamar: "Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst"

7. Usher: "Climax"

8. Grimes: "Oblivion"

9. Andy Stott: "Sleepless"

10. Crystal Castles: "Affection"



C O L L A B O R A T I O N S***
1. A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, Drake: "F*cking Problem"
2. Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz: "Mercy"
3. Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock: "Money Trees"
4. Frank Ocean, Ryan Hemsworth: "Thinkin Bout You" (Remix)
5. Burial, Four Tet: "Nova"
6. Schoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky: "Hands On The Wheel"
7. Jessie Ware, Disclosure: "Running" (Remix)
8. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: "Same Love"
9. Killer Mike, Bun B, T.I., Trouble, El-P: "Big Beast"
10. The xx, Four Tet: "Angels" (Remix)


* HM = Honorable Mention and does not necessarily rank at #11
** Excludes repeated artists (#s 1-4, 6) and collaborations for breadth
*** Remixes included, also prioritizes breadth over repeats (#s 2, 8)
    NB: It's unfortunate that "rock bands" don't collaborate as often
        or attract more remixes like rap, r&b and electronica