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 Batman |  Freedom 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 Henry |  Thrum

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 & Clayton |  The 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.

Spoon |  Hot Thoughts

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

The Len Price 3 |  Kentish Longtails

British garage-rock trio hitting on all cylinders. See The Who/Kinks/Jam related artists.

The Sadies |  Northern 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

Dion |  The Lost ’65 Sessions - Kickin’ Child

The Move  |  Magnetic Waves of Sound