27. John Prine

27. John Prine - The Tree Of Forgiveness

John Prine has been around a long time and influenced countless artists. The 71 year old has been producing albums since 1971. This was a welcome addition to his vast catalogue. Several helpers on the album, including Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlisle, help round out his masterful down home sound. Check out the video below for an album teaser.



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28. Roo Panes

28. Roo Panes - Quiet Man

Andrew 'Roo' Panes released his third album this year. I discovered Roo through a super fan after he released his last album and couldn't stop listening. Think Bon Iver or The National with a baritone changing to falsetto over majestic orchestration. On several tracks he brings a female vocalist to counter his darkness.



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29. Neko Case

29. Neko Case - Hell-On

Neko Case can pretty much do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. There is something about her voice and music that immediately draws me in. Every time. I'm sad I couldn't see her live show at Cain's earlier this year. She's not breaking new ground on this record, but the same beautiful, wanting lyrics and ghostly orchestration. k.d. Lang, Laura Viers, Mark Lanegan and Bjorn Yttling all make guest appearances as do many others.



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30. Shopping

30. Shopping - The Official Body

This is the third album from the London based post punk trio, Shopping. The band consists of Rachel Aggs (guitar and vocals), Billy Easter (bass guitar and vocals), and Andrew Milk (drums and vocals). Racing bass riffs with punchy guitars split with Rachel and Billy sharing vocals. My first time with this band and it was a bright spot for the year.



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31. ISLAND

31. ISLAND - Feels Like Air

This is the debut album from UK band ISLAND. The band is comprised of Rollo Doherty on lead vocals, Jack Raeder on guitars, James Wolfe on bass, and Toby Richards on drums. This band reminds me of Future Islands, dark, morose, anthemic rock that makes it easy to put on repeat.



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32. Agar Agar

32. Agar Agar - The Dog And The Future

French electro-pop duo from Paris, this is their debut album. Agar agar is a jelly like substance that synth man, Armand Bultheel fed his pet ants as a child. Clara Cappagli, frontwoman of Agar Agar prefers singing in English over French because she was raised in the US. A refreshing addition to the electro pop genre.



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33. Frankie Cosmos

33. Frankie Cosmos - Vessel

Remember Rilo Kiley in the early days? That's what the stripped down voice of Greta Kline of Frankie Cosmos sounds like. This 24 year old New Yorker has just put out her third album here and there's plenty to unpack. Since I missed the boat until now, I found discovering this artist this year quite enjoyable.





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34. Lucy Dacus

34. Lucy Dacus - Historian

Lucy Dacus hit #30 on the blog back in 2016. She is from Richmond, Virginia and you will see her name come up later in this blog. Lucy Dacus has a voice that is deep and introspective, so, it's no wonder her music is so, but her songwriting is layered and entwined in a tapestry of heartbreak and loss. You can see her live at Opolis on February 11th, tickets are on sale now.



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35. Dead Horses

35. Dead Horses - My Mother The Moon

Sarah Vos is the impetus behind Dead Horses. Raised in a religious family, she had her foundation shaken when her church fired her father who was the pastor because her older brother had schizophrenia and her twin had mental problems as well. They ended up being homeless and it took them three years to get back on their feet. By that time, she was able to go to college but eventually dropped out. Helped by her friend and bassist, Daniel Wolff, they write haunting folk songs with a clarity that someone that young shouldn't have.

Dead Horses - "Swinger in the Trees" - Sixthman Sessions at Sugarlands Mountainfest 2017 from Sixthman TV on Vimeo.

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36. Arctic Monkeys

36. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Hotel Base And Casino

This band has evolved so much since their punk inception. This current release from Alex Turner and group from their studio in Sheffield is my favorite by far. It's a futuristic tale of a moon colony written on Turner's piano at his house. The band utilized older vintage instruments and the sound is both compelling and familiar, while maintaining an experimental vibe.



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37. Hop Along

37. Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog

This is Hop Along's third album, and perhaps their finest. Frances Quinlan is the lead vocalist and she provides a raucous environment on this new outing. While 2015's Painted Shut was truly exceptional, the Philly based band really outdid themselves this time. If you ever get a chance to see this group live, do it, you will not be disappointed.



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38. Typhoon

38. Typhoon - Offerings

I have loved Typhoon's previous albums. They have been the sort of melancholy, love lost indie pop that I really dig, with big brass sections and the like. However, with their fourth album, the band has taken a new turn and put out a darker, more thought-provoking record. Kyle Morton is lead vocals and guitar of Typhoon. The album is described as being in four parts: Floodplains, Flood, Reckoning, and Afterparty. He is quoted as saying, "It's a record from the perspective of a mind losing its memory at precisely the same time the world is willfully forgetting its history." It's existential dread amped up to 11. It's beautiful, haunting and brilliant.



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39. Ezra Furman

39. Ezra Furman - Transangelic Exodus

You may remember Ezra Furman from such bands as Ezra Furman and the Harpoons or Ezra Furman and the Boy-friends or Ezra Furman and the Visions. However, he is solo on his most recent effort. This particular album is very experimental and a fantastic listen. He's a musician based in Chicago, which has become my second home.



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40. Ought

40. Ought - Room Inside The World

Ought is a (new) New Wave band out of Montreal. They consist of Tim Darcy (vocals, guitar), Ben Stidworthy (bass), Matt May (keyboards) and Tim Keen (drums). This is their third album and their first one on the Merge label. Tim Darcy's deep baritone does not disappoint on this record. I continued to see this band listed as post-punk, but have yet to discern that in their sound, which either means the critics are wrong, or I am grossly misinformed.



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41. tUnE-yArDs

41. tUnE-yArDs - I can feel you creep into my private life

In times of political strife, art seems to pour forward. Artists often seek their craft to speak to the current world and rage against it. Merril Garbus, who is an artist through and through, engages in our political dialogue by asking what it means to be white in a world of privilege and injustice. It's a difficult, but necessary listen and stays true to her unique style. You can see them in other Top 50 recounts both here and here.



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