Jun 25, 2017
2017 Halftime: Albums
A list of 21 of my favorite records of the year so far
Nostalgia loosely ties these 21 disparate records from many different scenes. A majority of artists here look to the past for inspiration, whether by borrowing popular sounds of a previous decade, exploring a particular turning point in their life, or often times both. A few, like Playboi Carti’s or Wednesday Campanella’s, might not fit this rule, though they’re still records that hesitate to move forward in favor of the now, itself partly a remembrance to how the past got them there. Bad as it sounds, I suppose I preferred to find comfort in the familiar when it came to music this year so far.
Here’s a list of 21 of my favorite records of the year so far, all in alphabetical order. There are still a lot of albums I’ve not gone through. Recommendations are always welcome.
City of No Reply by Amber Coffman | folk pop
Tourist in This Town by Allison Crutchfield | indie rock/synth pop
► “I Don’t Wanna Ever Leave California”
BBC Radio 1: Essential Mix by Helena Hauff | industrial techno
Palette by IU | pop & ballads
SweetSexySavage by Kehlani | R&B
Eden by Jonny Nash | ambient
A Pink Sunset for No One by Noveller | post-rock
Where Are We Going? by Octo Octa | deep house
► “Move On (Let Go) (De-Stress Mix)”
kitixxxgaia by Seiko Oomori | rock
Playboi Carti by Playboi Carti | rap, Atlanta
Nightmare Logic by Power Trip | thrash metal
► “Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)”
Remember by S.E.S. | pop, ‘90s
Satellite Young by Satellite Young | pop, ‘80s
Slowdive by Slowdive | shoegaze
You’re Not as ____ as You Think by Sorority Noise | indie rock
Yes? No? by Suzy | R&B
Pink by Asako Toki | city pop
ukg by t q d | 2-step/UK garage (naturally)
Mono no Aware by various artists | ambient, PAN records
Superman by Wednesday Campanella | dance pop/future house
Yaneura Ju by Kayoko Yoshizawa | folk pop
Some more favorites:
- Aye Nako: Silver Haze | indie rock
- BFlecha: Kwalia | electronic/R&B
- Mary J. Blige: Strength of a Woman | R&B
- Charli XCX: Number 1 Angel | pop
- Feist: Pleasures | soft rock
- Geotic: Abysma | soft IDM
- Herva: Hyper Flux | IDM
- Hey Violet: From the Outside | brat pop
- Ibibio Sound Machine: Uyai | electro-pop
- Jay Som: Everybody Works | indie rock
- Jens Lekman: Life Will See You Now | pop, Sweden
- Jlin: Black Origami | footwork
- Kodak Black: Painting Pictures | rap, Florida
- Natalia Lafourcade: Musas | folk pop, Mexico
- Lovelyz: Now, We | idol pop
- The Menzingers: After the Party | indie rock
- Nite Jewel: Real High | dance pop
- Paramore: After Laughter | synth pop
- RaeLynn: Wildhorse | pop country
- Sam Outlaw: Tenderheart | country
- Thundercat: Drunk | jazz/funk
- Wiley: Godfather | grime
- Zora Jones: FACT Mix 592 | bass/hip hop
