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.
1
Algiers
The Underside of Power
Algiers seems to be prophetic in some sense, with their 2015 self-titled debut acting as the modern art that best represented the bubbling tension that was seemingly rising to society's surface on a world scale. Now with the rise of morons in government (The Orange Horror), nationalism in some sections of the US and Europe, and racism, misogyny and overall bigotry in areas across the globe, this new album feels like a reaction and a warning. A reaction to things getting worse, not better, and a warning that at some point, it might be too late before history begins to repeat itself. Wrap this up in their dark mix of Motown and gospel having gone through a bit of a TV on the Radio filter, and you have their new album. It's brilliant, thought-provoking and beautiful.
Label
Matador Records
Released
23 June 2017
Running time
44:00
Tracklist
Walk Like A Panther
Cry Of The Martyrs
The Underside Of Power
Death March
A Murmur. A Sign.
Mme Rieux
Cleveland
Animals
Plague Years
Hymn For An Average Man
Bury Me Standing
The Cycle / The Spiral : Time To Go Down Slowly