In many ways, 2017 felt like a long year. With tensions rising socially both here in the U.S. and globally, it seemed as though each headline was more devastating than the next. Luckily, music provided an escape from the outside world and had the power to lift us up when we needed it. Here are the albums Vision believes left the biggest impact on 2017:
“I See You” by The xx
Setting the bar high for albums last year, The xx released “I See You” in early January. The electronic indie pop trio’s third album continues to show their growth from their start in 2005. The standout tracks include “On Hold” and “I Dare You,” which perfectly combine Romy Croft and Oliver Sim’s vocals with Jamie xx’s catchy, romantic beats.
“After Laughter” by Paramore
Paramore’s shift toward pop music started with their 2013 self-titled album, and their ventures into new territory brought us “After Laughter.” The rock-turned-pop band returned with an ’80s-inspired, new wave pop album. The refined sound can be heard in singles “Hard Times” and “Told You So.”
“Gone Now” by Bleachers
Jack Antonoff invited fans into his life in New Jersey by literally bringing his childhood bedroom with him on tour prior to the release of his album. From the mesmerizing opener “Dream of Mickey Mantle” to the closer “Foreign Girls,” each song captures the emotions of growing up while capturing a certain Springsteen-inspired Jersey sound.
“American Dream” by LCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem made their official return in 2016 by reuniting and playing major festivals throughout the year prior to the 2017 release of “American Dream,” an album many fans thought would never happen. When it came time for new singles “call the police” and “american dream” to be released, James Murphy and co. were welcomed back with open arms. While this may seem like an album full of sleeper hits, each song proves that the LCD Soundsystem that fans loved was indeed back.
“Melodrama” by Lorde
After a four-year absence, Lorde came back in a huge way with the single “Green Light,” an optimistic, energetic pop hit. With the album released in June, she proved that she was just as human as any other 20-something exploring love, heartbreak and society at large in a beautiful way that only Lorde could deliver.
“MASSEDUCTION” by St. Vincent
Annie Clark returned as St. Vincent with “MASSEDUCTION,” an album that might be her boldest yet, both visually and sonically. Clark tackles various issues in our media-obsessed culture in songs “Pills,” “Los Ageless” and the grimly named “Fear the Future.” “New York” is a bittersweet love song about someone she had lost while also reminiscing about the city that she calls home.
“Reputation” by Taylor Swift
Taylor is no stranger to the spotlight — in fact, it’s where she is most in her element. With the release of her first single “Look What You Made Me Do” in August, the internet scrutinized and decoded her music video. With an appropriate New York Times headline style album cover, “Reputation” fully supports the idea that the old Taylor is dead. With surprising features from rapper Future and Ed Sheeran, Swift demonstrates just how versatile an artist she has become and offers a taste of what the ‘new Taylor’ can do.
