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User
Reviews 1
Approval 100%
Album Ratings 23
Objectivity 73%
Last Active 12-29-17 9:03 pm
Joined 08-04-17
Review Comments 1
| Top 10 Albums of the Year (2017)
My favourite albums of 2017, ranked and with a short review. | | 10 |  | Brand New
Science Fiction
First, I want to start by saying that this album would be much higher on the list, if the allegations about Jesse Lacey had not come about. This album is fantastic, and I couldn’t leave it off my list, but I couldn’t bring myself to rank it any higher. That’s the only thing I really want to say about this album and this band, it’s a shame, but I’m going to move on to the next one. | | 9 |  | Mallory Knox
Wired
In my opinion, one of the best bands in the UK released their best album right at the start of this year. Some of the songs on here are massive, particularly the singles. While it may not be as focused as Asymmetry, this certainly feels like the most fun they’ve had making a record. Also, the confidence shown by tackling more mature and political themes, reflects a band in the prime of their career. While this may not be the most ambitious work on this list, there is absolutely a place for straight forward, radio friendly songs. Especially when they are executed this well. This band are going to take some serious stopping. | | 8 |  | The Menzingers
After the Party
How on earth had I never heard of this band until now? After the Party took me completely by surprise, by being one of the most straight up fun albums I’ve heard all year. Perfectly capturing the nostalgia and crisis of a man coming towards then end of his prime, this album isn’t trying to start any revolutions, instead it warms your heart with relatable and real lyrics. Put simply, this is the best pop-punk album of the year without a shadow of doubt. | | 7 |  | Sundara Karma
Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect
I’ve had a real soft spot for Sundara Karma ever since this record released. Its not just the catchiness and exuberance of the songs that hooked me. There’s a humbleness and sincerity to what they say with each song that makes the album incredibly likeable. On top of that, it perfectly captures the realities and troubles of youth, a subject very close to my heart as a 21-year-old. It is possible that my love of this album may be a ‘right time and place’ scenario, but I strongly believe in the quality and the message Sundara Karma evoke on this record. | | 6 |  | Zeal and Ardor
Devil is Fine
Where do I even start with Zeal and Ardor? One of the most provoking things about music, is when artists come around and create something we’ve never heard before. That’s exactly what Devil is Fine is. Combining the themes and musicianship of black metal with the vocals of southern rock, shouldn’t work, but it does. Beautifully. This record is a constant surprise, it feels like every track has an element that I’ve never even considered possible. To do this so consistently AND make it work is a feat itself. But its important to explain, this is not a gimmick, this is not a one off. That’s what makes this so exciting, on top on what they’ve done, what will they do next? | | 5 |  | Enter Shikari
The Spark
If I’m going to be completely truthful, when this album first released I wasn’t a huge fan. I felt like a lot of the aggression and chaos that made me identify with Enter Shikari was gone. But The Spark is a grower. One of the things that the band have always been praised for is evolution with each record. This is by far their most streamlined and concise effort to date. The result is an album flows beautifully, where every song is in the right place. That doesn’t mean the album is tame, Rou Reynolds still has as much to say about the political landscape of the UK as ever, his genius is continually finding new ways to say it. | | 4 |  | Stone Sour
Hydrograd
Corey Taylor is one of the greatest gifts in heavy music. Constantly evolving and changing whilst maintaining the same aggression and cynicism that makes him so captivating. Taylor and Stone Sour keep this up on Hydrograd, but perhaps in the most drastically different way they’ve done it. Merging classic rock n roll themes and lyrics with the more traditional heavy sound of the band could have easily backfired. Instead it only propels this record even higher. You can sum up this album perfectly with one line from Somebody Stole My Eyes, “Putting on my blue suede shoes and dancing on your f*****g grave”. The way it plays with, and almost mocks old school rock n roll makes this a truly unique album, and the most fun we’ve heard Corey Taylor have on a record. | | 3 |  | Jamie Lenman
Devolver
Jamie Lenman has always been a brilliantly interesting character, both in real life and in his music. I was very surprised when I heard that he was dialling back some of the heaviness of his album and I wondered if that would be a smart choice. But as usual, Lenman proved everybody wrong. Despite the new alternative rock sound, none of the anger has been lost, instead it gets delivered in a more cohesive and clever way. Using songs like Hell in a Fast Car to express his distaste for the music industry, but working it into a catchy radio rock tune rather than a brutal assault. Also, the title track Devolver, is probably the most vulnerable we’ve heard Lenman on any track before, and is also one of the best songs I’ve heard all year. | | 2 |  | Arcane Roots
Melancholia Hymns
I’m starting to run out of superlatives to describe how I feel about Melancholia Hymns. I’ve been championing this album all year both on social media and in my review on here. Nothing makes you happier than when an album you’ve been waiting for, for around four years, not only lives up to expectation, but blows it away. Arcane Roots have created something so thoughtful and intricately designed, that I’m still finding new layers three months on. The way it blends synths with guitars is masterful and opens a world of possibilities for future releases. Melancholia hymns is a journey from start to finish, with moments of immense beauty and crushing heaviness. There will be much to come from Arcane Roots in the future, and I strongly believe they have everything it takes to be the next big band. | | 1 | | Creeper (UK)
Eternity, In Your Arms
So, my album of the year is one which in all honesty, has been sat firmly at the top of my list ever since it came out. The hype around Creeper’s debut album was substantial, with many fearing it may not be able to live up to what everyone thought it could be. But it was so much more than we ever dreamed. Track for track, this is easily one of the best debut albums of all time, and maybe one of my favourite albums of all time. Will, the frontman, has a Gerard Way – like theatricality to him, which fits the supernatural aesthetic beautiful. This element of theatre is what gives songs like Black Rain, which sounds massive and world ending in of itself, or I Choose to Live which wouldn’t sound of place on a Queen greatest hits album. The greatest compliment I can give Eternity in Your Arms, is that there is more incredible material on this one debut album, than a lot bands will produce in their whole career. | |
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