Albums of 2017

It felt hard to focus in 2017. No matter where you turned, infinite news seemed to consume our vision and at times it felt rather crippling. In dire times, music once again came through as a refuge and a platform for those needing a place to turn. The norm continued to be hurtled as old favorites returned to face ascending talents and delivered some of the best music in years. 2016 saw career defining work from some of the biggest names in the game, but 2017 belonged to new voices across the board who further pushed the boundaries and made their voices heard loud and clear. Early-aught luminaries returned, many now signed to major labels, to find a new playing ground and felt the struggle to regain their firm grip with fans, but still striking deep with longtime fans. I, personally, spent a good amount of the year falling for reissued Radiohead and Neil Young records, mourning legends, and wishing I had spent more time listening to records from Tyler, the Creator, Pallbearer, Perfume Genius, Converge and countless others. Music continues to be delivered at a rapid clip, but I still view albums as defining statements of work and these were my favorites in 2017.

Songs of 2017

2017 felt overwhelming in more ways than one and keeping up with the latest jams proved almost as difficult as believing we're actually living up a Donald Trump administration. It was an expressive year across the board that saw the return of early-aughts all-stars as well as rising new sensations. I tried my best to be as diverse as possible with this list covering acts from Pallbearer to Kamasi Washington, Mount Eerie to Carly Rae Jepsen, and Linda Perhacs to Power Trip. Narrowing down this list also felt like a real challenge this year, but I feel confident that it widely represents what I spent the year listening to and hopefully there is something that grabs your attention.

Shows of 2017

In a year of what felt like total chaos, live music felt like a mental escape from the madness of real life. These were the shows that helped me break away from polarizing political moments and be overtaken by the positivity of the masses joined together by songs.

LCD Soundsystem played Brooklyn Steel

As they close in on their third and final residency of the year at Brooklyn Steel, LCD Soundsystem continue to prove that they're still a driving force to be reckoned with and their love for their hometown remains unwavering.

Alessandro Cortini - AVANTI

Alessandro Cortini's AVANTI was released back in October, but is a pivotal record to acknowledge as the year ends and winter begins to set-in.

Kelly Lee Owens - "More Than A Woman"

This past March, Kelly Lee Owens dropped her self-titled debut record. To close out the year, she shared a cover of Aaliyah's timeless classic, "More Than A Woman."

JAY Z played Barclays Center

After dropping his best work in a decade, JAY Z finally brought his 4:44 Tour to his hometown of Brooklyn for a hits filled celebration.

Burial - "Pre Dawn" / "Indoors"

Much like he's done in the past, elusive producer Burial has returned with another year-end EP just in time to disrupt best-of lists. "Pre Dawn" / "Indoors" is his most accessible work of the year and a haunting ode to rave music.

Björk - "Blissing Me"

After dropping lead single "The Gate" back in September, Björk has shared another new song off her upcoming album, Utopia. Listen to "Blissing Me" below.

Kamaiyah - "Leave Em"

Kamaiyah has surprise released a brand new mixtape ahead of her supposedly imminent debut album. It's called Before I Wake and received executive production from Link Up.

Grizzly Bear played Brooklyn Steel

After releasing their first new album in five years, this summer's Painted Ruins, Grizzly Bear came back to their native New York for three sold-out nights at Brooklyn Steel.

tUnE-yArDs - "Look at Your Hands"

tUnE-yArDs, the whimsical psych-pop project of Merrill Garbus, has returned with a new album called I can feel you creep into my private life. It's out this coming January, but check out "Look at Your Hands" while you wait.

The Courtneys played Park Church Co-op

Cruising along behind their great sophomore record, the aptly-titled II, Vancouver's The Courtneys came to Greenpoint's Park Church Co-op for a fantastic set on a crisp autumn night.

Guns N' Roses played Madison Square Garden

The reunited Guns N' Roses brought their Not In This Lifetime Tour to Madison Square Garden for an epic night of rock and roll wonder.

The National played Forest Hills Stadium

The National released their seventh full-length, Sleep Well Beast, this past September and brought their latest tour through Queens in support of the record.

Broken Social Scene played Brooklyn Steel

Broken Social Scene released their first new record in seven years this Spring and dropped by Brooklyn Steel to help celebrate.

Dinosaur Jr played Brooklyn Bowl

Dinosaur Jr played their first of two nights at Brooklyn Bowl with support from Easy Action. Despite the lack of a new album to promote, the always thrilling trio still ran through the classics for a night of high pumping rock and roll.

Thundercat played Brooklyn Steel

Thundercat is having a banner year due, in part, to the success of his latest record, Drunk. After playing the main stage at this year's Afropunk festival, he returned for two shows at Brooklyn Steel.

Kamasi Washington - "Desire"

Kamasi Washington is set to release a new EP, Harmony of Difference, on September 29. It's his first collection of new material since his 2015 breakout, The Epic.

Interpol, Deerhunter, and Battles played Forest Hills Stadium

To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of their debut album Turn on the Bright Lights, Interpol played the classic, in full, with all-star support from Deerhunter and Battles.

Screaming Females - "Black Moon"

Screaming Females are back with their first new material since 2015. New single "Black Moon" finds the band in classic form, ripping major solos with killer triumph.

Arcade Fire played Madison Square Garden

For the first time in their career, Arcade Fire delivered an album that was met with harsh reviews from both fans and critics alike. Luckily, their current tour proves that they're still one of the best live bands in the world.

Baroness and Sannhet played Brooklyn Bazaar

To celebrate the relaunch of music magazine Revolver, the mighty Baroness and the best band in Brooklyn, Sannhet, crashed into Brooklyn Bazaar for a night of powerful music. In addition to promoting Revolver, the night also doubled as a benefit for mental health and awareness for National Suicide Prevention Day.

Shabazz Palaces played Warsaw

This summer, rap futurists Shabazz Palaces dropped not one, but two full-length records. On a soggy Wednesday evening, the duo touched down in Greenpoint's Warsaw to mystify the people of New York with their eclectic rhythms and verses.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre played Brooklyn Steel

The Brian Jonestown Massacre rolled into Brooklyn Steel on their latest jaunt across North America. They stretched out their classic spaced-out sound for nearly two hours of seething bliss.

Washed Out played Brooklyn Steel

Ernest Greene's latest record, Mister Mellow, is his first for Stones Throw, and finds the artists moving from chilled-out tropical vibes to lush, textured grooves. On a chilling August night, he brought his new record to life at Brooklyn Steel.

Afropunk Brooklyn 2017

Afropunk returned to Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn for another year of unity and celebrated togetherness in a particularly rough year. It was equal parts music, art, fashion, and political revolution.

Brand New - "Can't Get It Out"

Brand New's latest album, Science Fiction, is a testament to their dynamic sound and the patience of meticulous production and self-determination to break through their old standards and emerge on top of their game.

Yumi Zouma - "Depths (Pt. 1)"

New Zealand dream-pop act Yumi Zouma have announced their sophomore record, Willowbank. Along with the announcement, the band has also shared the opening track "Depths (Pt. 1)."

Linda Perhacs - "Winds of the Sky"

On September 22, Linda Perhacs will release her third record, I'm a Harmony. Following last year's single "The Dancer," Perhacs has shared a second song from the record, "Winds of the Sky" featuring Nels Cline of Wilco.

Fleet Foxes played Prospect Park

On a perfect summer evening, Fleet Foxes came back to Brooklyn to serenade Prospect Park in promotion of their third full-length, Crack-Up.

Panorama 2017

The second annual Panorama festival took over Randall's Island for the last weekend of July as the second of three large-scale festivals that now call New York City home. 

Kendrick Lamar played Barclays Center

King Kendrick was an astounding presence for his second sold-out night in Brooklyn. Riding high off his latest release, the most critically acclaimed record of the year (so-far), the DAMN. tour was a non-stop high of epic proportions.

Ride played Brooklyn Steel

After releasing their first album in two decades, shoegaze legends Ride returned to Brooklyn for a marathon set featuring loads of new material.

The War on Drugs - "Strangest Thing"

"Strangest Thing" is the third stunning single from The War on Drugs upcoming record, A Better Understanding, which drops on August 25 via Atlantic.

METZ - "Cellophane"

METZ are back and ready to release their third record, Strange Peace, on September 22 via Sub Pop. In anticipation of the new album, the band has shared the lead single, "Cellophane", which is a ripping track that shows strong promise for the band's continued assault on ear drums.

Albums of 2017.5

In 2017, the world seems to be on a mission to self-destruct. Luckily, we have music to help distract us or aid us through these dire times. We're only half-way through this bizarre and chaotic year, but musically, we still have much to anticipate.

Sannhet - "Way Out"

Following last year's compilation record, Young Death, Brooklyn's Sannhet have announced their third studio album. So Numb, the follow-up to 2015's Revisionist is out August 25 via Profound Lore.

Lightning Bolt played Pioneer Works

For nearly two decades, Lightning Bolt have come to define the American underground noise scene. As part of Pioneer Works' exhibit Grand Ole Opera, the duo brought their live experience to Brooklyn for a night of intense pleasures.

Battles played House of Vans

Since releasing La Di Da Di, their third full-length album back in 2015, the men of Battles have been relatively quiet with no sign of movement. Suddenly, after announcing a massive gig opening for hometown heroes Interpol this fall, Battles announced a last minute and much more intimate show at House of Vans.

LCD Soundsystem played Brooklyn Steel

Just like they did in April, LCD Soundsystem's current residency at Brooklyn Steel focuses mostly on the hits, shares some new jams, and overall sees James Murphy and company firing away on all cylinders for a hypnotic night full of infectious grooves.

Arcade Fire - "Creature Comfort"

Arcade Fire are back and are set to release their new record, Everything Now, July 28 via Columbia. After dropping the title-track lead single, they've now shared a new song and video for the follow-up, "Creature Comfort".

Sheer Mag - "Need to Feel Your Love"

Sheer Mag, the righteously rockin' band from Philadelphia, are set to release their debut full-length record, Need to Feel Your Love, on July 14.

Radiohead - "I Promise"

This summer, Radiohead will release OK Computer: OKNOTOK 1997-2017, a reissue of their 1997 landmark album. Along with various b-sides, the reissue will also include three previously unreleased tracks and the first, "I Promise", is a stunning reminder of the band's radical shift from one-hit-wonders and Brit-Pop luminaries to mega-stars of the underground.

The War on Drugs - "Holding On"

The War on Drugs released a new, sprawling single for this year's Record Store Day. Hot on the heels of that great new track, the band has announced the follow-up to 2014's epic Lost in the Dream. It's called A Deeper Understanding and it's out August 25 via Atlantic.

Washed Out - "Get Lost"

Ernest Greene, better known as Washed Out, has returned with a new track just in time for summer. It's called "Get Lost" and it is out now via Stones Throw.

Real Estate played Brooklyn Steel

In support of their fourth album, In Mind, Real Estate wrapped up their tour with Frankie Cosmos at Brooklyn Steel for a Sunday evening full of pristine pleasure and grace.

Broken Social Scene - "Hug of Thunder"

Following 2010's great Forgiveness Rock Record, Broken Social Scene are finally set to release their first record in seven years. The album is called Hug of Thunder and it's out July 7.

Slowdive played Brooklyn Steel

Slowdive are back with their first new record in 22 years. To celebrate, the band's current tour brought them to New York for two nights at Brooklyn Steel.

LCD Soundsystem - "Call the Police"

After announcing their reunion and headlining festivals around the world last year, LCD Soundsystem have finally shared brand new music.