Honorable Mentions:
Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark: Moody and loud riffs turn this average song into an absolute barnstormer.
Arcade Fire - Everything Now: I hate Arcade Fire, but this is a catchy little number that even I couldn't frown at.
Foo Fighters - Run: Not the Foo Fighters at their best, but this is yet another solid number in their extensive discography.
Big Shaq - Man's Not Hot: Absolute. Fucking. Banger.
Dua Lipa - Hotter Than Hell: A charming little song that gains the spot reserved for the pop song that surprised me with its quality. A deserved hit for Dua Lipa, who really has such great potential to be the new pop megastar.
#10: Creeper - Black Rain (8/10)
British rock has always been the poster-boy for alternative music. Even today there's still some great bands hanging around the fringes, eager for the success of the big leagues. This year it was the turn of Creeper to make me proud to be a part of the alternative music scene here. The intro to this song's music video didn't exactly fill me with confidence, as it's certainly not something you want played in some grimy basement where this type of song should belong. Not only is the music video based in Southampton, the epitome of mediocrity, but it's also filled with a load of philosophical nonsense that fails miserably in its attempt to make a seemingly deep point. I also have no idea why the opening monologue is spoken by a woman who looks like she has bird shit in her hair, but mercifully she quickly shuts up. Seriously the opening to this is so cheesy it resembles the intro to 'Never Ever' by All Saints, and of the many words you could used to describe All Saints with, 'profound' certainly isn't one of them.
Thankfully the actual song is really damn good. The guitar work in particular is a standout feature for me. It's not in your face, but just pleasantly fills over the cracks with a powerful yet subdued riff. There is a tendency for young British bands to veer off into the chaos of new age punk, but thankfully Creeper kept it simple and melodic, certainly providing a memorable tune for their efforts. The chorus in particular is damn catchy, creating a melancholic feel that is disturbingly brought to life with the gothic music video. It's a hauntingly beautiful tale of troubled lovers, and you can physically relate to the angst displayed by the lead singer. Black Rain was the standout track from Creeper's debut album, and the future looks bright for these enthusiastic British rockers. If they ever move up in the world and make a trip along the coast to Brighton I would happily give them a listen live.
#9: Turnover - Butterfly Dream (8/10)
What a shame nobody has heard of this song, it's a great and easy going listen. Butterfly Dream is lost in the shuffle of Turnover's 2017 album 'Good Nature', which is a shame as it's really the most profound track on the album. 'Good Nature' itself is very hit or miss, but Butterfly Dream is one of the few moments when Turnover's revolutionised sound actually made perfect sense. Give this song a brief chance to get stuck in your head and it will happily oblige.
I just love the dreamy ambience the song creates. It's not a particularly cheerful number, yet at no point does it feel depressing or gloomy. The vocals flow over the top of the synth inspired track effortlessly, accompanied by a calm, reassuring voice so mellow you'd be forgiven for thinking these guys had never stepped foot in the punk genre. In actual fact Turnover very much made their name with a punk orientated sound, and there's still echoes of this history, giving a unique feel that I'm surprised has left some to consider this effort as 'generic'. I personally wouldn't label this a half assed effort, and this song is at its best when it keeps everything simplistic. I do however feel as though the song never fully gets going, and you feel like you want more after a listen through. There just never gets a stage where you feel completely satisfied, whether that be from the lack of excitement, or the lack of passion. Butterfly Dream may be falling apart at the edges, but it never crumbles, and the rest of the album would have benefited massively with similarly styled songs to this one.
#8: Greta Van Fleet - Highway Tune (8/10)
When I first heard this song I couldn't fucking believe it. What I was hearing was the iconic sound of Robert Plant trapped inside some fetus who appears to muck around with his substandard garage band. I'm not for one second going to suggest that Highway Tune is on par with the works of Led Zeppelin, but it's certainly a badge of honor to be merely compared with that legendary foursome. I could still imagine Led Zep releasing this sort of song on a B-side of their later albums, yet apparently in the year 2017 all you need is four mates to replicate that iconic sound.
Highway Tune is a classic rock feel with a modern twist, and that combination works really well. It has that core, meaty riff, followed up with some unadulterated vocals screamed over the top. It's just an exciting song performed by some charismatic individuals. That's a rarity in the rock business these days, and although they may not have that same presence as the classic rock behemoths of old, they do have a lot of charm, and they do have some raw talent to back that charm up. The whole point of this song is that it's a charm offensive. It might not be technical perfection, but it's a lively number to get your head banging. Highway Tune is like an excitable puppy that just wants to be loved despite it's various flaws, and if Greta Van Fleet keep up this sort of standard then they could go far in the rock business.
#7: Temples - (I Want To Be Your) Mirror (8/10)
From a Led Zeppelin cover band to a Tame Impala cover band, which is by no means a complaint. On the surface it's hard to find any aspect that separates Temples from the numerous other neo-psychedelic rock groups out there, but the lack of originality never ruins the solid track we've got going on here. I can't decide if proclaiming your desire to be somebody's mirror is one of the best or one of the creepiest compliments I've ever heard. I'm not sure what the song has to do with lovers and mirrors either, but I think it would be missing the point of the song if we start criticising the lyrics for being vague. Mirror is not a deep introspective number, but rather a chill number that could calm any energy drinking teenager into a state of docile tranquility.
I love that pan flute and synth intro. I love that big fuzz guitar distorting the verses. I haven't heard classic psychedelic elements come together this good for decades. Sure, it may not be the pure psychedelic rock sound that filled the late 1960's, but you can't deny it doesn't accurately carry those undertones. Here there's a greater emphasis on what's going on behind the lyrics, which is achieved by a stellar production value, and probably also a recording studio filled with a copious amount of illegal drugs. My only big criticism would be that there's nothing to distinguish this fine effort from fellow modern psychedelic rockers. What you're getting here is all good, but there's nothing here that will push the envelope or evolve any genres. Maybe that's why Mirror was listened to by a total number of four people, which is such a shame because this really is an excellent song.
#6: Alvvays - In Undertow (8/10)
I'd never heard of Alvvays before this song, and that may have something to do with the fact they've been away for nearly three years, and the fact they hail from Canada, who don't have a particularly good track record when it comes to famous singers. Normally I can't be assed to keep up with whatever is plaguing the hit parade over in the colonies, especially when the band in question has a hideous name, but in the classic case of not judging a book by its cover I found myself pleasantly surprised by this powerful song. Alvvays can happily join maple syrup and fur monopolies in Canadian triumphs, and this pleasant little number is easily my sleeper hit of the year.
In Undertow is a fantastically assembled record. That distorted intro leading into those momentous vocals is just an orgasmic transition. There's such a beautiful contrast created between the dreamy sounds and the sharp but depressing voice of the lead singer. There's no special effects needed on that voice, it tells you all you need to know about this song, without relying on any artificial trickery. The hook in particular is just so infectious. It's painfully simple, yet somehow all you could ever want and need from a song like this. It doesn't need to go to that next level like the song itself manages, which by and large remains rather conventional, but there's no denying this ordinary sound is fucking brilliant, and far better than any psychedelic crap that critics love to drool over. I imagine this is a song that would be great to hear live. It creates such a deep atmosphere even when I'm sitting at my desk, so god knows how awesome that experience would be in a room full of similar minded people.
#5: Dan Auerbach - Waiting On A Song (8/10)
Okay, I admit it, I'm a huge sucker for a classic country rock number. I haven't heard a good one in a while, so when I first heard this little banger I fell in love instantly. Nostalgia is a very powerful emotion, and this is a tune that will take you straight back to the good old days, even though its core audience almost certainly never lived through that time. Don't approach this song expecting the revitalised sound of a bygone era, as this is more of a tribute band to the 1970's, ironically sounding far more refreshing than anything else released in this gloomy year for music. Dan Auerbach is perhaps most fondly remembered for his time with The Black Keys, who I was always a fan of. However The Black Keys were quintessentially a moody band, where as this solo venture from Auerbach is the complete opposite. The Black Keys only split in 2014, so it's amazing how different this new album sounds when compared to Auerbach's discography.
Waiting on a Song is such a charming tune. The hook in particular will instantly become ingrained into your head, which isn't a bad thing at all considering it's certainly not an annoying hook by any means. I challenge you to feel depressed after a listen to this, as the song just has that ability to put a smile on your face however you're feeling. It's as care free as the adolescents featured in the music video, and reflective of any relatable pleasant memory scattered throughout your life. At it's heart the song may be a glorified pop hit, but if you give the lyrics a listen, and get sucked into that beautiful voice, you can sense it's far more than that. To surmise it's short and sweet. An absolute pleasure to listen to, even if joining in does make me feel about fifty years old.
#4: The Used - Over and Over Again (8/10)
The Used have been away from the music business for absolutely ages, but with this new single it doesn't appear anyone has told them this. Maybe the band haven't realised they're irrelevant yet thanks to taking shit loads of drugs, but believe it or not this is a band that's been through all the ups and downs of the rock and roll lifestyle in their relatively short careers. Over and Over Again is a hard hitting and passionate cry from a band where personal issues always seem to encompass their work. The vocals in particular are some of the most emotional I've heard this year. They're bang in your face at all times, and add such a powerful punch to the already great guitar work.
Their new album 'The Canyon' in my opinion was an absolute slog to get through, but Over and Over Again is the one big highlight before you fall into the endless canyon of mediocrity. For the first time on the album you just got the sense that you were once again listening to a band in their prime. I love the riff, and I love those backing vocals. It's such an infectious tune, and it will happily lodge itself in your mind if you give it half a chance, which is more than I could say for the rest of the album. I'm still belting it out in the shower months down the line, and it's yet to become tiresome. The music video is quite mental, so the less said about that the better, but thankfully the actual song is quite restrained, and never ruins itself by becoming that bizarre. As a simple rock song this was bloody marvelous.
#3: Chris Cornell - The Promise (9/10)
Undoubtedly one of the most tragic losses for the music industry in recent years was the immensely talented Chris Cornell. In 2017 Chris gave us one more departing moment of magic with this epic tune that's so heartbreaking to listen to. The song became the soundtrack for a film about the Armenian Genocide, so you know it's not going to be in any way upbeat, but what you may not be prepared for is just how momentous the finished product is. When Chris Cornell is exposed to powerful themes there is often a ton of emotion involved, but in my opinion this was his most passionate endeavor. If you fancy ruining your day you can view the music video, which is even more depressing than the song itself, but I really feel the video compliments the themes of the song so vividly. Not that I want to force you into depression, but it really is worth a watch.
The real power of this song comes from those isolated vocals. Coupled with the gentle guitar and that orchestral score the song is taken to the next level. Cornell has always known how to project his voice, and here we see those results in all their stunning beauty. He puts everything he has left into this song, which is something you would expect from such a passionate man, giving us one last hurrah before disappearing forever. It's certainly not a number you would find in the Soundgarden catalogue, as this is a piece that shows an astounding maturity, perfectly exemplifying Cornell's evolution as an artist. I hope The Promise never gets lost in the pages of time, as this is one of the most powerful sendoffs a rockstar could ever hope to make. One must wonder what other masterpieces this creative genius could have potentially concocted if he was still with us. The Promise is simply a beautiful swansong from one of the all time greats.
#2: Beck - Dear Life (9/10)
I've never really liked Beck. I always thought he was some overhyped pretentious weasel, so imagine my shock when a song off his new album turned out to be one of my tunes of the year. Fans of Beck didn't really warm to the album in general, but pissing off Beck fans is a lovely image, and only makes me enjoy this song even more. There's this idea floating around that Dear Life is a departure from the proper sounds of classic Beck, and should therefore be shunned. I personally find that if you actually give it a listen you'll see for yourself that Beck is still very gracious towards his indie roots. Usually Beck would release this sort of song with a pretentious overtone that would fuel his pretentious following, but you genuinely get the sense that this enigma now understands positive emotions; and my god does he understand them excellently.
The often surly and monotonous artist is no more, and here there is energy personified. When you hear a title like 'Dear Life' you would expect more of this depressing shit, but this is a cheerful take on a deep subject. Imagine this as an indie take on The Beatles classic 'Lady Madonna'. They both have that knack of including the piano to great effect, whilst also producing a damn catchy tune. The piano hear is upbeat and really adds to that cheerful vibe, as does that guitar solo, that for me took this song into a land far away from all the depressing shit currently happening in our world. Maybe Beck is having a midlife crisis, which explains this big departure from his signature sound, but I for one couldn't be happier about this dramatic change.
#1: War on Drugs: Thinking of a Place (9/10)
My God, what an absolutely epic composition this is. Not really music, more fine art. In a year of rather underwhelming releases, this sophisticated classic was a mile away from its rivals. I fucking love psychedelic rock when it's done right, and this is done very fucking right. It's not pretentious, it doesn't overstay it's welcome, and it has that ability to make whole minutes feel like mere seconds. The production value here is just astounding, and arguably an ever bigger triumph than the work found in their superb debut album. This is a ballsy song that really shows off the creative genius inside The War on Drugs.
You may remember Red Eyes was my song of the year a few years back, which is also a fine number by The War on Drugs. Red Eyes to me feels like a congested version of this song. That was meant for the radio, whereas this is meant to sit back and admire. This song creates such a dreamy atmosphere. You really want to know where this place is that's described meticulously throughout the song in stunning detail, because it sounds like pure nirvana. The artistry on display here is just beautiful. That's the only word you need to describe this. Those looking for a quick burst of adrenaline should listen at their peril, as this is a song that slowly builds momentum throughout its duration, occasionally letting some of it out to grace us with another masterful guitar solo. This was easily the best of the year, and one of the most sophisticated songs I've heard in a while. Yet another triumph for The War on Drugs.
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