Let me preface this by saying that nothing beats the ease of music discovery services like Spotify. I spend a lot of time cooking in a commercial kitchen and drive time is like free time, so my trusty iPhone and music streaming are pretty much life to me.
I’m also a nut for music collection. I still have hundreds of CDs and my vinyl collection keeps growing.
What I’m gonna do here is outline my top 10 music discovery finds of 2017, mostly which I’ve found on Spotify, but also highly recommend owning in some physical fashion.
These are really great records.
Genre-wise, I’m all over the place, I’ve always been that way. I am a man of many moods, and my hunger for new, undiscovered territory in music is unsatable.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at my favorite finds this past year.
10. Telestela – Blood / Metric
An important feature of a great album recording is it’s ability to be cohesive.
One should set the tone for a collection of tracks and stick to it in order to create a story that the listener can follow.
Variations on a similar theme is an effective vehicle to building that story.
Telestela rock their theme solidly from the first track til the very end of this record. Plenty of lush textures, guitar or otherwise, fill the sound spectrum. Vocalist Richard Wilcox has a whispery, melancholy tone that draws you in to his world, coaxing you to share in his experiences.
A timeless album that begs you to dim the lights and put on some Headphones.
9. TWRP – Ladyworld
I stumbled upon this album in the summer while searching for something with a retro take on modern electronica. TWRP Hit the nail on the head with this release. Hailing from Toronto, this four piece outfit are 2017’s answer to the synthy, vocoder driven electro-funk of the past. Think Kraftwerk, but from even farther into the future.
8. Gentleman’s Pistols – At Their Majesty’s Pleasure
Once in a while one needs to listen to a good old rock n’ roll album. You could head over to your wall of vinyl and pluck out a Zeppelin offering, or Rush could satisfy your prog-rock fetish. Black Sabbath is a gimme any day of the week.
But sometimes you need to find something new. A refreshing take on a classic genre. Join me in reveling in the buttery, rock goodness that is Gentleman’s Pistols. Riff after riff of well thought out rock songwriting combine with a heavy dose of tasteful lead guitar work. The lead singer has a smooth, melodic sound that conjures images of a young, ambitous Ozzy.
This album is hard rock goodness that doesn’t smash your skull as much as it just makes you wanna bang your head to the beat.
7. Tauk – Sir Nebula
I love artists and bands that do their own thing. I’m all about folks blazing their own trail, making a unique journey.
I also love instrumental music. Let the instruments do the talking, if you will.
Tauk takes you on an adventure. You will ride a wave of synthy melody lines over a soundscape of rock and jazz fusion that almost feels jam band-ish. Grab some headphones, a favorite beverage, and sit back with your eyes closed. You will forget about the problems of the present.
6. Harris Cole – Pause
I love everything about this album. The lo-fi character of the drums. The minimalism of the textures. The darkness of the tone built around an almost found-sound atmosphere. There are jazzy tones mixed with a glitchy, golden era hip-hop sampled sound.
When it comes to crafting a feeling, Harris Cole has expertly expressed his feelings across the emotional spectrum with this album. Sometimes a track will feel thrown together recklessly, while at the same time feel so urgent and in the moment; it can be nothing but intentional.
5. Maple & Beech – Rundawdaw
I can’t tell if this album is an Indie exploration, a quasi-electronica experiment, or a funky, horn-based jam.
Or all of the above, I suppose.
Really, does it matter though? Maple & Beech give us a fun romp through well planned drum layers, lush reverb-y horns and singer Tyler Tholl’s musings. It’s easy to get caught up in the wave of pop sensibility and catchy hooks here.
4. Engelwood – Hotel Wood
This one just popped up recently in my feed on Spotify. I tend to enjoy sparse grooves that feel familiar and unique at the same time. Sounds oxymoronic, I understand, but if you break down any hit song, that’s basically what you’re experiencing. If you add a summery, coastal vibe to that mix you have Engelwood‘s Hotel Wood.
There isn’t much information on this artist, but I learned on Bandcamp that he’s from Madison, Wisconsin. Not really the Mecca of warm weather and boat rides, but all the better to create the feeling of a far away place with a batch of songs with an endless summer type feeling.
If you’re into (mostly) instrumental hip-hop beats that make you long for a beach party with your friends, check this album out. It could end up being your 2018 boat party anthem.
3. Charles Bradley – Changes
I just heard about Charles Bradley in the last couple of months. Unfortunately he passed away this September.
His discography is small but powerful. He was truly the “screaming eagle of soul”.
Bradley more or less sounds like James Brown playing with Al Green‘s band.
And that scream. *Shivers*
Changes was his last full length album. Loaded with soulful, funky drums and horns, Charles Bradley comes in crooning hard, taking full advantage of the fabulous arrangements on this record.
It’s hard to be more soulful than this right here. Just listen to the title track, which is cover of a Black Sabbath song.
Could you make a soul masterpiece out of a heavy metal song? Give “Changes” a listen.
2. Kamasi Washington – The Epic
This album is a couple of years old now.
But.
It’s called “The Epic” for a reason.
I’ve been listening to this one a lot. I’m trying really hard to wrap my head around it. There is so much virtuosity here, it could make a person angry.
And soothed at the same time.
I love this new jazz renaissance. Folks are getting hip to the deft, classic sound of jazz now than ever before. Kamasi Washington gives you plenty of reasons here to join in the jazz celebration.
Forget the saxophone stereotypes.
There’s no “The Heat Is On” here.
No “one time at band camp” at all.
The sax wasn’t put on this earth for “Careless Whisper“.
Or Kenny G.
Or even Baker Street.
The saxophone was crafted specifically to pave the way for “The Epic“.
1. Theo Croker – Escape Velocity
A great album is one that you simply must listen to over and over.
In the old days, you would wear out your tape. Nowadays I suppose you just run your phone battery out.
Well, here it is, a truly great album. A modern day Miles Davis who’s trumpet you’ll wanna hear so much it’ll kill your iPhone battery.
Theo Croker rightly assumes you came for a healthy dose of experimental jazz, mixing expressive instrumental solos, millennial hip-hop sensibilities, and alternative time signatures into a cohesive masterpiece.
If you’re into jazz, this record is a must have addition to your collection.
So there you have it. My favorites are a wide variety of styles that span across many possible moods that one could be in at any given time. Give these albums an open minded ear.
Go forth and be merry…
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