The adage that you get better music in times of turmoil has been very true in 2017. In a year that was hell on most fronts, heroes being sexual assaulters, anything Brexit or Trump, music came in for us.
At times this year, I was being overwhelmed by the volume of new music coming at me. It was actually hard work to keep up, and to be honest, I’m not sure I did. But what the hell, I found enough good music that I’m more than happy with. Four of the bands on my end of year list are acts that I hadn’t heard of last year, but there are still old favourites in there. Bands somehow making amazing music 30+ years into their careers.
This was also, rather unbelievably, the year I’ve finally moved to a streaming service, which is, as most of you already know, a fucking great way of hearing new music. Youtube is for wankers and no use for Last FM. (Yes, yes, I know…) I do feel bad though, as I’m buying less music but it’s a pretty nifty thing as a punter. (Yes, I am aware how hot a take this is)
But before I start waxing lyrical about the great music this year, just a little about bands that didn’t make the cut.
If you told me that The National wouldn’t be on my end of year list, I’d have been disappointed, but I’d expect it. TWFM was bad, the new one is just dull, nothing about it grabbed me and it just sank out of rotation.
I would have been shocked and heartbroken that LCD Soundsystem didn’t make it and I still am.
There are some great songs on the album but the Bowie wannabe, atonal guitar that crops up, flat out ruins the album for me. Not that there aren’t amazing songs on it, but there were some odd choices made that put me right off. It could have very easily been brilliant.
Belfast’s Bicep were also on my much-anticipated list, they’ve been putting out great eps for years and this was their debut. There are some great tunes on it but it falls apart towards the back end with just dull, plodding tunes. Still hope to see them live soon though.
Some albums that were damn close to making the list?
Dantalion
A Spanish band that sound like a mix of early Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride. It’s not the most original album in the world but if you’re looking for a great Goth metal album this is a good place to start.
Heretoir.
It may just be a stereotype but I expect a certain kind of metal from a German band but I must say that this is not it. Heretoir are a Blackgaze band, and although like Alcest before them, they are far more worried about being pretty than being brutal metal. That’s not to say the album doesn’t get heavy but for anyone looking to dip their toe into this kind of music, this would be a great place to start. And if you already like Blackgaze, this is up there the best of it.
Vessels
Vessels started out as a pretty good post rock band, but on their last album, they made the jump into dance music. While it wasn’t as bad as that might sound, it was just all right. It was missing a spark, something to push it to greatness.
They found it here, there are some absolute bangers on this album. It features The Flaming Lips and John Grant amongst its guests but I think the best tracks are the ones on their own. I could keep going on, but just play Radiart loudly and you’ll see what I mean.
The ways of exile 