Wednesday, January 03, 2018

The Best Records of 2017


 










 Hurray For The Riff Raff  The Navigator

A powerful, radical recording, fueled by the songs of Puerto-Rican born Alynda Segarra. Hers is a past that informs the present instead of the present preserving the past. Pa'lante


In Alphabetical Order:

Aimee Mann  |  Mental Illness
Warmth & hooks for the delicate bruiser set.

Bash & Pop  |  Anything Could Happen
Songs & melodies that are every bit as good as anything Westerberg wrote post-Replacements.

Chicano BatmanFreedom is Free
Strange, intoxicating, groovy, slow-jam soul, peppered with hints of psychedelia.

Chuck Prophet  |  Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins
Never ceasing to amaze at his consistent level of songwriting, long players & Rock n Roll chops.

Dan Baird  |  Solow
Easily his best solo record. (no pun intended) Classic rock n roll, twang, good lyrics, and hooks galore. In a just world, ‘She’s With Me’ would have been all over the radio in Summer time.

El Goodo  |  By Order of The Moose
They’re happy to refer to themselves as a “60’s psychedelia revival band” which is quite refreshing as that’s exactly what they are.

Gold Star | Big Blue
Soulful, country, crooning, all without a hint of manufactured conviction in sight.

JD McPherson  |  Undivided Heart & Soul
JD’s brand of retro Americana sounds more cross-pollinated than ever, still grabbing you by the throat demanding your attention.

Jim White | Waffles, Triangles & Jesus
JW continues his journey (Drift Away) of the weird (Playing Guitars) & wonderful (Sweet Bird of Memory) taking time to hook you in and listen.

Joe HenryThrum
While not quite as good as previous efforts, it plays with a heavy handed vibe of a drop-D acoustic & a thick bass & drum sound that reels you in and keeps you locked with excellent songwriting.

Kacy & ClaytonThe Siren’s Song
Very talented, millennial acoustic folk duo, featuring Kacy's voice, great harmonies, good songs & Clayton’s deft fingerpicking.

Marty Stuart  |  Way Out West
Bakersfield twang, surf rock & Byrdsian jangle; indicative of the mythic west.

Nicole Atkins | Goodnight, Rhonda Lee
Atkins has delivered her finest to date; a blue-eyed pop-country-soul record.

Phoebe Bridgers  |  Stranger in The Alps
‘Smoke Signals’ – just, listen.

Pugwash  |  Silverlake
Thomas Walsh has chosen wisely enlisting Jason Falkner to record/play all the instruments on his new record. Conversely, without TW's lovely songs, you have no record.

Son Volt  |  Notes of Blue
Grounded in the heritage of Appalachia & the mysterious ‘guitar stylings’ of the bluesmen of the Mississippi Delta.

SpoonHot Thoughts
Top tier record from the most consistent band in the game.

The Len Price 3Kentish Longtails
British garage-rock trio hitting on all cylinders. See The Who/Kinks/Jam related artists.

The SadiesNorthern Passages
Canadian foursome featuring the Good Brothers who routinely squeeze new life from classic country, psychedelic folk-rock, Nuggets garage & surf/rockabilly.


Re-issue Heaven

DionThe Lost ’65 Sessions - Kickin’ Child
The Move  |  Magnetic Waves of Sound

5 comments:

Roy Pearl said...

Welcome back - your voice was definitely missed! Awesome list - somehow I managed to miss the Nicole Atkins and Dan Baird reckids. Also will have to track down that Chicano Batman.

People Are Leaving said...

Thank you, Roy. While it's good to be back, I have a sneaking suspicion it will be short-lived. :)

After just perusing your awesome list (thanks !) I have a lot of work to do. I have both your #1 (effin awesome pick by the way) and Daniel Romano's new one but never gave them a fair shake. Need to re-address. I've also seen The Regrettes showing up here and there, so will check that out as well.

I almost forgot -- Happy New Year !

People Are Leaving said...

Roy,
Daniel Romano has (2) new reckids (2018) up on Exy, if you're interested. :)

Roy Pearl said...

Got 'em! Quite liking "Nerveless" right away. Other one's gonna take some time, if at all.

And Happy New Year!

People Are Leaving said...

Nerveless has been getting quite a bit of play along with the new Silver Seas. The other Romano ended up in the 'trash'. ��