The Chorus.fm Staff’s Top Albums of 2017 • Page 7

People asking "where's Brand New?"

End of year lists involve individuals looking back on the albums they listened to and deciding which they liked best when it was all said and done. There is a strong chance that as of the end of 2017 these contributors did not enjoy listening (or plain did not want to listen) to Science Fiction, for obvious reasons. Why include an album you don't even want to listen to? How is it one of your favourite records of the year when you no longer enjoy playing it?

Alternatively they may have just decided, given the main benefit of such lists is to expose readers to the music being included, they did not want to promote someone who has been accused of sexual misconduct.

 

Exactly. Prior to the allegations science fiction was far and away my album of the year. I have not been able to listen to all of it since the allegations came out and out of the couple times I've tried I've had little desire to. Why should I make an album I don't even want to listen to my album of the year

 

I know not everyone processes things the same way or at the same pace, but as more and more came out about the situation, any complicated feelings I had about the band (which at one time meant the world to me, as they did to many) quickly turned into anger. I think I listened to one last song before deciding I wouldn't have any problems leaving that part of my musical history behind.

 

This list is solid. Great to see Glassjaw and converge on there. Silverstein was a nice surprise too.

 

Weird to think that this is the first year since I started visiting back in the AP.net days that my AOTY ('68 - Two Parts Viper in this case) isn't anywhere on any of the staff lists lol. Is it just me or does it feel like there's a hell of a lot more diversity in music taste on this site recently? I'm liking it.

Also similar boat with the brand new situation. They were my no. 2, far and away, but since the allegations I just can't listen to them anymore. I listened to Can't Get It out in the car as part of a playlist I forgot to remove it from and I straight up just felt ill afterwards. No way in hell I'm giving the number 2 to an album that makes me feel physically sick

 

Nope

 

Let's not forget that trash Dua Lipa wore a "homo" shirt. She is straight.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Very disappointing. I'm hoping she hears the criticism (since I assume she received some? I didn't know about this before you mentioned it myself) and uses it to do better.

 

I didn't know about this, I did know about the n-word in the cover from 2014. I think a lot of these things boil down to her being a 22 year old thrust into the public eye. I hope she learns to be better in the end.

It's a fair point though that we shouldn't let anyone get away with potentially harmful behavior anymore, regardless of their situation. Should be help accountable and hopefully show remorse or contrition

 

I haven't seen it reported anywhere but I googled it and it seems to be a point of contention on Tumblr.

 

I guess she wore it at a Pride event, thinking she was being helpful I guess? But clearly using or displaying that word as a straight woman isn't helping anything (assuming she is straight. I don't really know anything about her sexual identity besides her songs which many were not written by her)

 

Yeah, I did and said a lot of shitty things at 22. Thankfully, I wasn't an influence on thousands of kids, which is why celebrities need to be held just as accountable as everyone else, if not more so.

 

it was #10 on my list but i think blue sky noise is probably their best album

 

Holy shit.

 

Really good list, guys. My personal list, which I'm trying to put together now, will likely have a lot of that but with Beck and The Used somewhere in the 20-ish area.

Quite surprised to see Reputation up there but it made me happy. I finally gave it a complete front-to-back listen the other day and, aside form "This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things," I think it's a great pop album.

Also, respect for not putting Brand New on at all. I'm still struggling with that one. On one hand, I loved the album and it was one of my favorites this year. On the other, I now have a hard time listening to the band at all. Ugh.

 

Same here, I didnąt really care too much for "Heirs", this one on the other hand, is really high class!

Guess I should check out Lite? Vasudeva came out with my favorite post rockish output for sure, and I was also a bit disappointed by that SMW album - though I'm planning to listen to it again, seeing them live was still great!

"Tell Me How" is one of my favorites ;( what do you dislike about it? I thought that's a nice change on the album's tracklist. Also loved No Friend as more of an interlude with Aaron, which was just a nice addition. Different strokes : )

It's in my TOP 3 for sure ;D and I totally agree, it's a bit short, but very consistent.

 

Confused to see no love for "Go Farther in Lightness" by Gang of Youths. Did that fly completely under the Chorus.fm radar or something?

 

Two Parts Viper was my #2 with Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. barely beating it.

 

I already liked ur post m8 way ahead of ya

legit tho dear all y'all if u smash that motherfuckin album in ur lists and I will smash that MOTHERFUCKIN like button faster than you can say golly gee whizz

or at least as fast as I check my notifications

weighted decision based on your enjoyment of albums from the past year vs INTERNET LIKES. take ur pick and then show me the goods

 

Cubic apparently came out last year not this year but LITE is another great mathy band. I saw them with mouse on the keys this year and I was one of the best shows all year

 

Nice list @Craig Manning. Nothing caught me too off guard although I was kind of surprised by some of your numbering choices, like Noah above Ramirez and both Bridgers and Julien outside your top 20. I absolutely loved seeing Natalie Hemby on the overall staff list and assume that was partially due to your influence? Also 2 of my favorites didn't make your list, was curious if you've listened to Gang of Youths "Go Farther in Lightness" or Caroline Spence "Spades and Roses"?

 

I didn't say I disliked it, I said it wrecked me emotionally. I love that song.

 

Anyone like the new Los Campesinos?

 

Loved it. It was 29 on my list, but I feel like I underrated it

 

At the end of the day, Noah's record had more songs I love. David's is a more cohesive listen, but it only has one song I'd put up there with my 5-7 favorites from White Noise.

Julien was never going to make my top 20. I talked about why a little bit in the podcast, but I find her albums a little bit exhausting. They're just so profoundly, consistently crushing that I can't listen to them that often. She's extremely talented, but I just didn't listen to that album enough. Phoebe was close, but I wasn't going to drop Colter Wall out of the top 20.

I got an advance of the Caroline Spence record in January or something, and it was good, but I never went back to it. Not sure why. The Gang of Youths record is very good, but it's another one I didn't listen to a tone just because I think it's way, way overlong. A 50-minute version of that record would have made my list.

I was thrilled to see Natalie Hemby on the list too, and I will definitely take credit for that one. I think I rec'd that album to a ton of people back when it came out.