The album is dead, right? No, not right… Certainly not in my opinion anyway. I still reckon the album is the perfect showcase for an artist’s work, and loads of great ones have been released in 2017. So I’m delving in here with a full festive fifty across eclectic genres – indie, rock, hip-hop, electronica, synth-pop, acoustic, experimental and so on. You’ll know a few of them, but some might be completely new to you. Investigate at your leisure whether on vinyl, CD, cassette, download or streaming…

Albums of the year:



1. Oh Sees – Orc (Castle Face)



Then in alphabetical order:



2. All We Are – Sunny Hills (Domino)

3. Annie Booth – An Unforgiving Light (Scottish Fiction/Last Night From Glasgow)

4. Babe – Kiss & Tell (Kartel)

5. BDY PRTS – Fly Invisible Hero (Aggrocat)

6. Catholic Action – In Memory of… (Modern Sky)

7. Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest (Because)

8. Coldcut X On-U-Sound – Outside the Echo Chamber (Ahead of Our Time)

9. Dutch Uncles – Big Balloon (Memphis Industries)

10. Eugene Twist – The Stuntman (Self-Released)

11. Fat Goth – Enorme! (Hefty Dafty)

12. Golden Teacher – No Luscious Life (Golden Teacher) /

13. Ibibio Sound Machine – Uyai (Merge)

14. James Holden & the Animal Spirits – The Animal Spirits (Border Community) http://www.jamesholden.org/

15. Jane Weaver – Modern Kosmology (Fire)

16. JD McPherson – Undivided Heart & Soul (New West)

17. Kobi Oyamne – Gold (Self-Released)

18. LCD Soundsystem – American Dream (Columbia)

19. Low Chimes – Illumine (Bellow)

20. Meursault – I Will Kill Again (Song, By Toad)

21. Mogwai – Every Country’s Sun (Rock Action)

22. Moses Sumney – Aromanticism (Jagjaguwar)

23. Nadine Shah – Holiday Destination (1965)

24. Neon Waltz – Strange Hymns (Ignition)

25. Nick Hakim – Green Twins (ATO)

26. Out Lines – Conflats (Rock Action)

27. Pierre Kwenders – Makanda (at the end of Space, the beginning of Time) (Bonsound)

28. Quantic & Nidia Gongora – Curao (Tru Thoughts)

29. Queens of the Stone Age – Villains (Matador)

30. R. Stevie Moore & Jason Faulkner – Make It Be (Bar None)

31. Sacred Paws – Strike a Match (Rock Action)

32. Pronto Mama – Any Joy (Electric Honey)

33. She Devils - She Devils (Secretly Canadian)

34. Siobhan Wilson – There are no Saints (Song, By Toad)

35. Sir Was – Digging a Tunnel (City Slang)

36. Sleaford Mods – English Tapas (Rough Trade)

37. Snapped Ankles – Come Play The Trees (Leaf)

38. Songhoy Blues – Resistance (Transgressive)

39. Spinning Coin – Permo (Domino)

40. Teme Tan – Teme Tan (PIAS)

41. The Little Kicks – Shake off your troubles (Loosen Up)

42. The Moonlandingz – Interplanetary Class Classics (Transgressive)

43. The Strange Blue Dreams – Self Titled (Holy Smokes)

44. Thundercat – Drunk (Brainfeeder)

45. Ty Segall – Ty Segall (Drag City)

46. Vukovi – Vukovi (Lab Recordings)

47. Wand – Plum (Drag City)

48. Weyes Blood – Front Row Seat to Earth (Mexican Summer)

49. WHITE - One Night Stand Forever (Gentlemen Recordings)

50. Yorkston Thorne Khan – Neuk Wight Delhi All-Stars (Domino)



Eventually whittled down from nearer 100 titles, it was tough making the final call. Obviously music isn’t a competition, and these are just some of my favourites. I’m sure you have your own list. Anyway, I hope it gives you some inspiration…

Track of the Year:

• Low Chimes – Sleepwalking https://soundcloud.com/lowchimes/sleepwalking-1



Compilation album:

• Bonnie Tropical 2 (Paradise Palms) https://paradisepalmsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bonnie-tropical-2



LIVE Act of the Year:

• Avalanche Party

Merry Christmas, Happy Hogmanay – Have an ace 2018 y’all!



Cheeers,



Vic xxx