2017 is dead, and 2018 arises from the ashes of a year. If we’re being honest, a lot of crazy things happened in 2017. With that said, maybe you missed out on some amazing music. If you did, look no further! Here is my list of my favorite albums of 2017, in no particular order!
Mutemath - Play Dead
Music Genre: Rock / Alternative
Best Track: “War”
Why The Album is Important: Play Dead deals with loss, accepting we will all one day die, making life count, and trying to stay peaceful with all.
Enjoy Whilst: going for a run, a late night drive, or getting hyped for life.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.*
Music Genre: Indie Rock / Spoken Word
Best Track: “LOVE. FEAT. ZACHARI.”
Why The Album is Important: DAMN. is a concept album. Kendrick openly talked about the concept of the album and this idea in an email exchange with the site DJ booth. Below is an excerpt:
“...Our God is a loving God. Yes. He's a merciful God…But he's even more so a God of DISCIPLE. OBEDIENCE…And for every conscious choice of sin, will be corrected through His discipline…Hence the concept ‘The wages of sin is Death.’ It shall be corrected…” The full email can be found, HERE.
While this album does have explicit language, this album shows the stark contrast between following the ways of the world, and the ways of The Lord—and the outcome of choosing the world. Disclaimer—DAMN. isn’t meant to be listened to as singles to receive the message this album is offering.
Enjoy Whilst: driving, lifting at the gym, or having an introspective night.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Colony House - Only the Lonely
Music Genre: Tenesse Rock n’ Roll
Best Track: “You & I”
Why The Album is Important: Colony House’s lyrics remind us the importance of friendship, overcoming loneliness, fighting polarization, and assessing how you live your life.
Enjoy Whilst: going on a road-trip, enjoying a warm sunny day, or riding your bicycle.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
John Mayer - The Search for Everything
Music Genre: Pop Rock
Best Track: “In the Blood”
Why The Album is Important: In The Search for Everything, John Mayer gets real on this album, dealing with his own faults and missteps, and for this album Johnny Mayz goes back to his pop rock roots (and DANG it’s good).
Enjoy Whilst: hanging with your shawty, maxing and relaxing, or talking a walkabout through your city/town.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Propaganda - Crooked
Music Genre: Hip-Hop / Spoken Word
Best Track: “Crooked”
Why The Album is Important: Crooked gets real with sin. It shows that repentance and salvation is not just a “one-and-done” thing for the Christian faith, but a continual process. Propaganda talks about lust, marriage, not being overtaken with cynicism in a hardened world, racism, and not giving up.
Enjoy Whilst: going for a walk, enjoying good weather, or getting hyped for doing hard things.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Cold War Kids - LA Divine
Music Genre: Indie Rock
Best Track: “No Reason to Run”
Why The Album is Important: LA Divine talks about love triumphing over evil, confusion over all the suffering happening in the world, and makes you want to dance.
Enjoy Whilst: going on a run, having friends over, or going for a cruise.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Kings Kaleidoscope - The Beauty Between
Music Genre: Rock / Hip-Hop
Best Track: “Playing with Fire”
Why The Album is Important: The Beauty Between deals with social injustice, the problem with marrying a political party, and waiting for Jesus to return while striving to make the world a better place while we’re here.
Enjoy Whilst: reading your Bible, going for a walk, or bumping on your morning commute.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
The War on Drugs - A Deeper Understanding
Music Genre: Indie Rock
Best Track: “Pain”
Why The Album is Important: A Deeper Understanding truly searches for it’s title. The album deals with pain, loneliness, and trying to find a place to escape this world.
Enjoy Whilst: having a late night drive home, or having an introspective night in.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed - Magic and Bird
Music Genre: Hip-Hop / Rap
Best Track: “Judo”
Why The Album is Important: Magic and Bird is just FUN. It plays on the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and makes you want to dance. While the album has some lyrical substance (especially in the track “Judo”, “o you holier than thou, why don’t you tell Jesus on me?”), there are a lot of fun tracks to dance to, and hilarious skits tossed throughout the album.
Enjoy Whilst: giving the kids a ride to soccer practice, playing at youth group, or dancing with friends in the kitchen.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
The Lulls in Traffic - Rabbit in the Snare*
Music Genre: Indie Rock / Spoken Word
Best Track: “I Can Hear Your Laughter On the Wind”
Why The Album is Important: Rabbit in the Snare speaks on loneliness, comparing yourself to others, feeling lonely, and desperately needing other people.
Enjoy Whilst: having a late night drive home, having an introspective night in, or a candlelit dinner.
Links: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon
Honorable Mentions:
Vulfpeck - Mr. Finish Line
Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love!*
LANY - LANY
Sufjan Stevens - The Greatest Gift
Chris Stapleton - In A Room Volume 1
*there is explicit language or content on this album