The Best Albums of 2017

After all of the countless hours of listening, we've finally arrived at our annual Best Albums of the Year list. We've been at it for several years now, but this is our biggest feature yet - with 13 contributors from across the globe. Each person selected & ranked their 10 favorite albums, and then we've compiled a track from each in a HUGE Spotify playlist (it's all the way at the bottom of this post). As always, we look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions. Let us know whose list you relate to the most and please share your own Top Ten with us. We have some good discussions going on at the Life On This Planet Facebook Page so head on over there too! Okay here we go - The Best Albums of 2017 - Bret & sarahQ

Bret Helm

Life on this Planet | Audra

10. The Church - Man Woman Life Death Infinity

09. Margo Price - All American Made

08. Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle

07. Ryan Adams - Prisoner

06. Slowdive - s/t

05. Gary Numan - Savage (Songs from a Broken World)

04. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - The Punishment of Luxury

03. U2 - Songs of Experience

02. Zola Jesus - Okovi

01. Waxahatchee - Out in the Storm

Sarah Quarrie
Life on this Planet

10. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - The Punishment of Luxury
09. Perfume Genius - No Shape
08. Wolf Parade - Cry Cry Cry
07. Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun
06. The Horrors - V
05. Gary Numan - Savage (Songs from a Broken World)
04. Zola Jesus - Okovi
03. Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle
02. Waxahatchee - Out in the Storm
01. Alvvays - Antisocialites

Mike Keddy

Western Massachusetts

10. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

09. The National - Sleep Well Beast

08. Blameful Isles - This Heart of Our Heart

07. Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society - Simultonality

06. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Flying Microtonal Banana

05. Colin Stetson - All This I Do for Glory

04. Mako Sica - Mako Sica Plays 'Invocation'

03. Zola Jesus - Okovi

02. Slowdive - s/t

01. Drab Majesty - The Demonstration

Rob Clark

Rockford, Illinois

10. Columbia Mills - A Safe Distance to Watch

09. Ride - Weather Diaries

08. Pronto Mama - Any Joy

07. Desperate Journalist - Grow Up

06. St. Vincent - Masseduction

05. The National - Sleep Well Beast

04. The Clientele - Music for the Age of Miracles

03. Fever Ray - Plunge

02. Gary Numan - Savage (Songs from a Broken World)

01. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound

Jason Jones
Okinawa, Japan

10. Ariel Pink - Dedicated to Bobby Jameson

09. Molly Burch - Please Be Mine

08. Hoops - Routines

07. Drab Majesty - The Demonstration

06. Depeche Mode - Spirit

05. Lana Del Rey - Lust for Life

04. Lorde - Melodrama

03. Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds from Another Planet

02. Alvvays - Antisocialites

01. Slowdive - s/t

Sierra Anna Jones
Okinawa, Japan

10. Lana Del Rey - Lust for Life

09. TOPS - Sugar at the Gate

08. Beach Fossils - Somersault

07. Jay Som - Everybody Works

06. Ariel Pink - Dedicated to Bobby Jameson

05. Drab Majesty - The Demonstration

04. Hoops - Routines

03. Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds from Another Planet

02. Alvvays - Antisocialites

01. Slowdive - s/t

Ron Marrs
New Orleans, Louisiana

10. EMA - Exile in the Outer Ring

09. Arcade Fire - Everything Now

08. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

07. Sleep Party People - Lingering

06. Boy Harsher - Country Girl EP

05. L.A. Witch - s/t

04. Tori Amos - Native Invader

03. Zola Jesus - Okovi

02. Shannon Wright - Division

01. The Discussion - The European Tour EP

Jason DeWolfe Barton

Audra

10. Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble - Find Me Finding You

09. Fen - Winter

08. Morbid Angel - Kingdoms Disdained

07. Willie Nelson - God's Problem Child

06. Godflesh - Post Self

05. Grave Pleasures - Motherblood

04. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Luciferian Towers

03. Ryuichi Sakamoto - Async

02. Richard H. Kirk - Dasein

01. Enslaved - E

Jesse Deitermann

Saturday Night Music Club

10. Jay Som - Everybody Works

09. Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds from Another Planet

08. Mew - Visuals

07. Froth - Outside (Briefly)

06. Ride - Weather Diaries

05. U2 - Songs of Experience

04. Alvvays - Antisocialites

03. Slowdive - s/t

02. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Echo of Pleasure

01. The Charlatans - Different Days

Thalia Williams

Saturday Night Music Club

05. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Echo of Pleasure

04. The Charlatans - Different Days

03. Alvvays - Antisocialites

02. Ride - Weather Diaries

01. Mew - Visuals

John Magness

Uttoxeter, England

10. Steve Hackett - The Night Siren

09. St. Vincent - Masseduction

08. Morrissey - Low in High School

07. Lindsey Buckingham / Christine McVie - s/t

06. The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

05. U2 - Songs of Experience

04. The xx - I See You

03. Future Islands - The Far Field

02. Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle

01. Weezer - Pacific Daydream

Todd "Opie" Kelley

Englewood, Colorado

10. Khalid - American Teen

09. Steven Wilson - To the Bone

08. Daniel Romano - Modern Pressure

07. Broken Social Scene - Hug of Thunder

06. Harry Styles - s/t

05. Manchester Orchestra - A Black Mile to the Surface

04. Ryan Adams - Prisoner

03. The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

02. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

01. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound

Jaymz Todd

Saturday Night Music Club

10. UNKLE - The Road Part 1

09. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

08. Tei Shi - Crawl Space

07. Sextile - Albeit Living

06. Miguel - War & Leisure

05. Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins

04. Sinkane - Life & Livin' It

03. Mura Masa - s/t

02. The Afghan Whigs - In Spades

01. The Prids - Do I Look Like I'm in Love

STATS

86 different albums appeared in this feature

Which ones made it onto the most lists?

Alvvays (5) Slowdive (5), Zola Jesus (4)

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Saturday Night Music Club #41: Best Albums of 2017... so far

We are back with a new edition of Saturday Night Music Club! The SNMC started up as an idea I had years ago - to recapture the feeling of being a kid and getting together with your friends in the basement to listen and discuss music. Over the last few years we've re-capped our monthly get-togethers with a video feature. For the time being, we are replacing the video aspect of the SNMC with a blog feature, where each member of the club will briefly discuss their record. A track from each album (when available) is collected in an ongoing SNMC Spotify playlist at the bottom of this post. So please listen in and enjoy the tunes along with us.

This month's theme: Each member of the SNMC was tasked with sharing a record released this year that they've been thoroughly enjoying. Let's take a look at what everyone brought...

Modern English - Take Me to the Trees

Self-Released | 2017

Favorite Song:

Come Out of Your Hole

Why did you add this record to your collection:

I've always really enjoyed Modern English, especially in their original 4AD run. Was so impressed with this album - their first with the OG lineup in 30 years - that I had to have it in the collection. The striking artwork was done by acclaimed 4AD designer Vaughan Oliver

Describe this album in one sentence:

Stripped-down, raw-ly produced post-punk - showcasing solid songwriting from a band that millions have heard but perhaps didn't know their name

Alexandra Savior - Belladonna of Sadness

Columbia | 2017

Favorite Song:

'Til You're Mine

Why did you add this record to your collection:

I'm a sucker for the sultry singer-songwriter style. I also swoon over everything Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys / The Last Shadow Puppets) - who co-wrote / co-produced & played on this album - so it was a must-have!

Describe this album in one sentence:

Smoky, cinematic lady-crooning in an old Hollywood lounge warming the crowd up for Lana Del Rey

Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet

Secretly Canadian | 2017

Favorite Song:

Machinist

Why did you add this record to your collection:

I already owned the first 3 albums on cassette and really enjoyed her progression as a musician. This album sees even more maturity and skill

Describe this album in one sentence:

Dreamy pop for any day - you need it!

Ride - Weather Diaries

Wichita | 2017

Favorite Song:

Cali

Why did you add this record to your collection:

I will add anything by Ride to my collection. This is an excellent release from my favorite shoegaze band

Describe this album in one sentence:

More killer melodies and beautiful harmonies from the seasoned musicians who helped pioneer the shoegaze sound

The Babe Rainbow - s/t

Flightless | 2017

Favorite Song:

Peace Blossom Boogy

Why did you add this record to your collection:

Nice grooves

Describe this album in one sentence:

Boogy Psych!

Kevin Morby - City Music

Dead Oceans | 2017

Favorite Song:

Come To Me Now

Why did you add this record to your collection:

The production sounds so good on vinyl

Describe this album in one sentence:

"Hi, I'm Psychedelic Sunset aka Sir Grails"

Tei Shi - Crawl Space

Downtown / Interscope | 2017

Favorite Song:

Creep

Why did you add this record to your collection:

Didn't. Jaymz bought it - he buys everything

Describe this album in one sentence:

Chill songs that you can sway to

Helado Negro - Private Energy (Expanded)

Rvng Intl | 2017

Favorite Song:

Runaround

Why did you add this record to your collection:

Heard it being used in end of a TV show, but I can't recall what show, then searched for it all around - and just loved it

Describe this album in one sentence:

Last time you saw your love and had to say goodbye until next time - those feels

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The Best Albums of 2017 (so far)

So, here we are at mid-year, and it's time to recognize some of the excellent releases that have come out in the first half of 2017. As always, I've enlisted the help of some of my friends and family to provide some additional coverage. I've also collected tracks from each release - chosen by all of our contributors - in a huge Spotify playlist. You'll encounter that all the way at the bottom of this post. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions, so feel free to leave some feedback (and even your own lists) in the comments section below - or interact at the Life On This Planet Facebook Page. Okay, let's get to it. - Bret

Bret Helm

Life on this Planet | Audra

(albums are in alphabetical order)

Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 1

Desperate Journalist - Grow Up

Future Islands - The Far Field

Jade Jackson - Gilded

Modern English - Take Me to the Trees

Pumarosa - The Witch

Ride - Weather Diaries

Robyn Hitchcock - s/t

Ryan Adams - Prisoner

Slowdive - s/t

Sarah Quarrie
Life on this Planet

Alexandra Savior - Belladonna of Sadness

Cigarettes After Sex - s/t

Desperate Journalist - Grow Up

Elbow - Little Fictions

Future Islands - The Far Field

Mark Lanegan Band - Gargoyle

Perfume Genius - No Shape

Pumarosa - The Witch

Resistance Radio: The Man in the High Castle Soundtrack

Slowdive - s/t

Ron Marrs
New Orleans, Louisiana

The Afghan Whigs - In Spades

Austra - Future Politics

Black Lips - Satan's Graffiti or God's Art?

Bleib Modern - Antagonism

Cafe Tacvba - Jei Beibi

Emma Ruth Rundle & Jaye Jayle - The Time Between Us (split EP)

The Jesus and Mary Chain - Damage and Joy

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - Front Porch Sessions

Shannon Wright - Division

Slowdive - s/t

Rob Clark
Rockford, Illinois

Clan of Xymox - Days of Black

Desperate Journalist - Grow Up

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

Ibibio Sound Machine - Uyai

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound

PVT - New Spirit

Robyn Hitchcock - s/t

Throwing Snow - Embers

Todd Rundgren - White Knight

Ulver - The Assassination of Julius Caesar

Tim Brown
London, England

The Big Moon - Love in the 4th Dimension

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy

Future Islands - The Far Field

Glen Campbell - Adios

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

Laura Marling - Semper Femina

Loyle Carner - Yesterday's Gone
Milky Chance - Blossom

The Shins - Heartworms

Stormzy - Gang Signs and Prayer

Jesse Deitermann

Saturday Night Music Club

The Charlatans - Different Days

Froth - Outside (briefly)

Jay Som - Everybody Works

Novella - Change of State

Phoenix - Ti Amo

The Proper Ornaments - Foxhole

Ride - Weather Diaries

Slowdive - s/t

Temples - Volcano

Terry vs. Tori - Leap Day

Todd "Opie" Kelley

Englewood, Colorado

Chris Stapleton - From A Room: Volume 1

Cold War Kids - L.A. Divine

Elliot Moss - Boomerang

Elbow - Little Fictions

Harry Styles - s/t

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

Ryan Adams - Prisoner

Sampha - Process

SOHN - Rennen

The xx - I See You

Sierra Anna Jones

Okinawa, Japan

Beach Fossils - Somersault

Cigarettes After Sex - s/t

Drab Majesty - The Demonstration

Hoops - Routines

King Woman - Created in the Image of Suffering

Molly Burch - Please Be Mine

Perfume Genius - No Shape

Pharmakon - Contact

Slowdive - s/t

TOPS - Sugar at the Gate

Jason Jones

Okinawa, Japan

Depeche Mode - Spirit

Drab Majesty - The Demonstration

Feist - Pleasure
Hoops - Routines

King Woman - Created in the Image of Suffering

Lorde - Melodrama

Molly Burch - Please Be Mine

Pharmakon - Contact

Slowdive - s/t

TOPS - Sugar at the Gate

Jaymz Todd
Saturday Night Music Club

The Afghan Whigs - In Spades
All Them Witches - Sleeping Through the War
Goldfrapp - Silver Eye
Helado Negro - Private Energy (Expanded)
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Little Dragon - Season High
The Prids - Do I Look Like I'm in Love?
Shy Girls - Salt
Sinkane - Life & Livin' It
Tei Shi - Crawl Space

John Magness

Uttoxeter, England

Astralasia - Oceania

Depeche Mode - Spirit

Future Islands - The Far Field
Lindsey Buckingham / Christine McVie - s/t

Maximo Park - Risk to Exist

Paul Weller - A Kind Revolution

Roger Waters - Is This the Life We Really Want?

Steve Hackett - Night Siren

Sun Kil Moon - Common as Light and Love are Red Valleys of Blood
The xx - I See You

STATS

80 different albums appeared in this feature

Which ones made it onto the most lists?

Slowdive (6), Future Islands (4), Desperate Journalist (3) and Kendrick Lamar (3)

If you're a vinyl enthusiast, check out our feature on the Spin Clean Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine (click image below)

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