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<\/a>X: Stranger in the Alps<\/em> by Phoebe Bridgers<\/p>\nThe title may be a Big Lebowski <\/em>reference but unfortunately, this isn\u2019t a stoner rock album about bowling. Ms. Bridgers rights great music for staring out of car windows on a rainy day which is basically my favorite time to listen to music. Check out \u201cMotion Sickness\u201d which throws heavy shade at her ex Ryan Adams (catch him later on this list). <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> Beck original planned to release this around the same time as his 2014 Grammy winning folk snoozefest Morning Phase<\/em> but the hype around the latter album convinced him to hunker down and work harder on the follow up. Over the next three years, Beck dropped numerous singles, blew threw three release dates, and opened for U2 on their Joshua Tree tour before finally delivering an album. Colors <\/em>is his most optimistic and Pop-iest album yet. In 2014, aka the year of \u201cHappy\u201d, this would\u2019ve fit right in but in 2017 the album is jarringly escapist. \u201cWow\u201d was originally supposed to feature Chance the Rapper but it still bumps heavily. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n AKA Blonde part 2. If you liked Frank Ocean\u2019s loosie singles this year like \u201cChanel\u201d than you\u2019ll love Flower Boy <\/em>and not just the song Frank is on. It doubles as a coming out statement from one of rap\u2019s most terrifying and often problematic voices. Besides the previously mentioned Ocean featuring \u201c911\/Lonely Boy\u201d, \u201cBoredom\u201d is a great song to start with.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That title is honestly not far off. If you like garage rock or power pop or whatever suburb kids make in their basements with distortion pedals then you\u2019ll love White Reaper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Is this a great album? No. Is it her worst album? Ehhhh maybe. It\u2019s extremely entertaining and only like three of the songs are complete train-wrecks. The more traditional second half of the album work is the best. \u201cGetaway Car\u201d sounds like a 1989 <\/em>b-side which is a compliment coming from me.<\/p>\n Who knew that Harry Styles would be this year’s\u2019 most convincing 70s style rockstar? Probably anyone paying attention to One Direction\u2019s late career Fleetwood Mac fetish but back then I was too busy listening to Sun Kil Moon to bother. Lo and behold, I barely made it through one of the new Sun Kil Moon albums this year but Harry\u2019s solo debut has been a steady presence in my Spotify recently played. <\/p>\n This album is the sound of Phil Elverum grieving. It was recorded following his wife\u2019s death from cancer, in the room she died in, on her instruments, Crow<\/em> is among the most realistically sad albums you\u2019re likely to hear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His press antics always threaten to overshadow his music but his lyrics are still at least as interesting as his interviews, so I\u2019ll keep listening. The last one\u2019s theme was marriage and sounded like upbeat NPR folk rock. This one covers everything from religion to politics to something far scarier: Josh Tillman\u2019s own thoughts. Sure, it\u2019s a 74 minute slog but the 70s soft rock production makes it a very pretty slog and the lyrics make it an extremely funny slog.<\/p>\n <\/a>IX: Colors <\/em>by Beck<\/p>\n <\/a>VIII: Flower Boy <\/em>by Tyler the Creator<\/p>\n <\/a>VII: The World\u2019s Best American Band <\/em>by White Reaper<\/p>\n <\/a>VI: reputation <\/em>by Taylor Swift<\/p>\n <\/a>V. Harry Styles <\/em>by Harry Styles<\/p>\n <\/a>IV. A Crow Looked At Me<\/em> by Mount Eerie<\/p>\n <\/a>III. Pure Comedy <\/em>by Father John Misty<\/p>\n
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