I've been following new releases by the FiXT label like a fiend. Main man Klayton has produced a crap ton of thrilling new music this year, and I soaked in as much as I could. Celldweller's latest album turned out to be a pleasant surprise--not a rip-roaring space adventure like the last couple of albums, but a gentle, somewhat ambient and relaxing arrangement of older, familiar songs. I found the direction very satisfying. Of course, Klayon also put out a new Transmissions album (now rebranded as FreqGen--I guess that makes sense), a drum album, and more Scandroid singles leading up to a new album (including covers of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and John Williams' "Binary Sunset" theme from Star Wars--they sound okay). Blue Stahli put out some retrowave of their own (now rebranded as Sunset Neon, I noticed). Combine all this with the new Depeche Mode album and the movie soundtrack for Atomic Blonde, and I swear I was living in the 80s right now. It is a pretty cool groove though.
I wish I could say I was down with more metal, but this year I realize I haven't collected much at all. NIN put out an EP, but I haven't even found time to listen to it (which is inexcusable on my part). I did hear the new Alestorm album. Yep, more of the same: pirate shanties in metal form. Have the latest Xandria album, barely listened to it though. New Collide album sounded fair. Ayreon's new album sounded like more of the same. Biggest standout for me has been KMFDM's Hell Yeah, which does have some good, kick-ass songs on it. One of the biggest shocks to the metal scene this year was the passing of Chester Bennington. Linkin Park delivered one last album--one seemingly devoid of all aggression (and guitars for that matter). It's a jarring shift, but in light of Bennington's passing, it does carry sobering weight.
What really captivated me this year was rock, plain and simple. Not hard rock necessarily. Most of the songs I wound up clinging to have been slower and gentler. Songs with mood and feeling. And a lot of them have resonated with me personally this year, since I had to rebound from feeling down and make a cross-country move. Anathema's The Optimist might as well be the soundtrack to my year--the songs seemed to suggest themes of moving on in life, and that's exactly what I've done. Although, UNKLE's The Road is seems to bear similar messages, especially in the notion of choosing your own destiny and following your own path (hence, the road). Between these two albums, I've felt thoroughly empowered and inspired.
Other rock albums have pleased me. Beck's Colors boasts superb beat and vibes. Villains by Queens of the Stone Age is loaded with interesting hooks. Halestorm's latest EP (more covers) is quite hard-hitting, and their rendition of "Fell on Black Days" is just as powerful and compelling as the original. Greta Van Fleet, despite having such a short EP, manages to overshadow all these bands with fresh and energetic talent. I've seen folks compare them to Led Zeppelin, and I think the comparison is apt.
Picked up a few good electronica albums--new music by Bonobo and Tosca are nice. Thievery Corporation never disappointed me, and their latest (Temple if I & I) is consistently superb. I listened to Barclay Crenshaw's self-titled album on an airplane--I wound up becoming so engrossed by it, I purchased a copy and listened to it a few more times. So strange and different.
As always, I indulged in a lot of film scores and soundtracks too. The trend of repackaging older music continues with Baby Driver, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, and Atomic Blonde. All of these do have groovy tunes, old and new, that will make you feel like you're in a different time and place. As far as orchestrated music goes, it doesn't get harder or heavier than the John Wick Chapter 2 score, which is just as awesome and punchy as the first movie's score. Thor: Ragnarok has some interesting twists (the "Grandmaster's Jam Session" is just so goofy). The score for Split is surprisingly elegant, and the score for War for the Planet of the Apes is surprisingly classy.
The only pop song I've heard all year is Taylor Swift's "Look At What You Made Me Do." I like the beat. But I can see how folks would be disgusted by the song, and I'm pretty sure we'll all forget about it by this time next year. I got a feeling I'm not missing much else.
Al's Favorite 2017 Albums
Generally in order from most-favorite onwards. Only listing the ones I've heard in full and really loved.01: UNKLE - The Road Part 1
I started following this group because of their beat, and the beat doesn't disappoint in The Road. The tunes aren't particularly heavy, but they are fairly catchy, the guitar work is great, and the vocals/lyrics are elegant. The album covers a spectrum of styles and moods, and it all seems to tell a story with inspiring messages about living life. Even if you listen to the instrumental-only tracks (available in the deluxe edition), the music is still captivating. I consider it a very consistent, pleasing, inspiring listen. It's been seven years since UNKLE last put out new material--the wait was worth it.
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02: Celldweller - Offworld
The tunes are familiar (some stretching to Celldweller's debut album and Klayton's Scandroid songs, plus one or two covers), but the mood is very different. The rip-roaring industrial beats and metalstep guiars are gone--this is sorta acoustic, with gentler beats and occasional crescendos of guitar, but to my ears it sounds 100% ambient. The mood is mournful, and I couldn't help but to feel some sorrow as the music seemed to reflect my own feelings at the time. I think this arrangement is very elegant, and it's something I feel anybody and everybody can (and maybe should) listen to. Even if the music doesn't resonate, it might just make you feel like you're going offworld.
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03: Anathema - The Optimist
I got into this band by pure chance, blind-buying Weather Systems, but I was hooked by their elegant blend of harsh metal, beautiful vocals, and elegant instruments. The Optimist offers more of the same, but with fresh new hooks, fantastic guitars, and a lot of uplifting feeling. Even the lyrics, which suggests a continuing story from their debut album, carries an uplifting message. As I said above, this became the soundtrack for my life for a while, as I felt like I moved on and became the optimist, just as the music seemed to go. Combined with the top two albums above, and you've got a very potent trio of albums full of emotion and inspiration.
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04: Thievery Corporation - Temple of I & I
Surprisingly gentler than I expected, but the styles and grooves are consistent with the band's previous work. I can listen to all of their albums beginning-to-end without skipping, and this is no exception--every track is good, plain and simple. Great beat, style, lyrics, and everything.
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05: Greta Van Fleet - Black Smoke Rising
It feels like the second coming of Led Zeppelin. Maybe it's the vocals, which sounds so similar to Robert Plant. Maybe it's the guitars, loaded with catchy and skillful hooks. Maybe it's the overall rock n' roll groove, which sounds so classy and firm. Whatever it is, this is good rock, plain and simple.
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06: Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard - John Wick Chapter 2 Film Score
The movie rocked, and so does its music. The actual score is full of hard-hitting rock cues, just like from the first movie, and they're always a blast to hear. In between there's a few odd rock songs, including "Fool" (that song played in the middle of the movie that just sounds like a vampire melting or something, I dunno, it's just so creepy and dark).
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07: Queens of the Stone Age - Villains
When I first got this album, I listened to it again and again and again nonstop, simply because I loved the melodies and hooks that much. There's as much grit as there is elegance to this album--the guitars are decent, but it's the structure, lyrics, and overall tone that makes this one of the band's best.
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08: Blue Stahli - Antisleep Volume 4
Some of this was released before, but then more tracks came out this year. I dunno, it's just more cool instrumentals. Some of it hits the same retrowave groove as the Scandroid/Sunset Neon stuff, other tracks are industrial. It's all pretty cool and each track delivers a unique theme. A must for anybody who really needs more metal, more spy music, more futuristic electronica, or anything else your imagination demands.
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09: Various Artists - Baby Driver Film Soundtrack
You wanna beat your tinnitus and rock out the same way the guy in the movie did? Baby (or rather, Edgar Wright) sure knew how to pick them. His playlist boasts a pretty decent array of hard and soft rock, with occasional pieces of genuine soul, jazz, and funk in between. Among the highlights, the soundtrack features two versions of "Easy" (the original by the Commodores, and Sky Ferreira's version sung for the film), "Bellbottoms" (heard in the film's thrilling opening scene), a pretty mellow version of "Tequila," and plenty of motown. You can even hear the "Is He Slow?" jam. It's all pretty fun, hip, and energetic. Above all, it's brimming with soul.
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10: Beck - Colors
Beck's music has rarely failed to deliver solid beat, even if everything else becomes kooky. Colors is a decent listen--it's consistent and even, never becoming too aggressive or noisy, but still full of energy, style, and unique structures. Set to a firm beat, the songs become quite uplifting and groovy. At times, inspiring.
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11: Jason Nesmith - Smash the System
This is an act most people would have probably never heard of, unless you follow FiXT and drill deeper into the non-Klayton and non-Blue Stahli material. Nesmith's work sounds like the perfect video game score--a cool blend of rock, electronica, and score music. The guitars add grit, but aren't overbearing at all. If you crave cool score music with beat and modern instrumentation like I do, this album is a must.
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12: KMFDM - Hell Yeah
This might be the most exciting KMFDM album I've heard since WTF? As usual, the band delivers hard-hitting beat, guitar, and vocal power with strong political and counter-cultural messages. The hooks are great though, marrying perfectly with the beat and the electronica. All I can say is, hell yeah.
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13: Collide - Color of Nothing
Collide's music has always capitalized the most off of Karin's ethereal voice, and it's just as elegant here as ever. Hooks gentle, but have a surprising ability to get under your skin and stick. The beat and tone are decent. Makes for a pretty decent, laid-back listen.
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14: Scandroid - Monochrome
If you've heard their self-titled debut from last year, then you should know what to expect. It's 80's style synthwave, made all the better with firm beats and Klayton's voice (although, I gotta say he overdoes it a bit with "A Thousand Years"). The latest album includes interesting cover versions of the "Force Theme" from Star Wars, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." But the single that really wowed me the most was "Rendesvous"--it's just so catchy and nice. Everything else is pretty consistent and just plain good.
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15: Tosca - Going Going Going
Relaxing, as expected, although not quite in the same vibes their previous albums exuded. This one has more of a nightclub feel--the beats are constant, but not aggressive, much like Groove Armada's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub). Most of the songs are harmonious, atmospheric, and just plain good.
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16: Bonobo - Migration
This might be the most chill album of the year. So slow, mellow, but pleasant thanks to its eloquent use of instruments and soft beats. Even when it picks up some, it feels so airy. If you follow the band, then you should know what to expect--the album is a must.
----------------------------------------
17: Various Artists - Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Volume 2
Second mix for the second movie. This round of 70s jams includes a few must-have classics: ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky," Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," and all the other groovy hits you hear in the movie. Can't say they all appealed to me, nor was this as consistently soulful as Volume 1. I do get a kick out of "Fox on the Run" and the end credits "Guardians Inferno" song (featuring the Hoff himself...Starlord would be proud).
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18: Ayreon - The Source
Very familiar style and sounds. This album carries over all the strengths as Ayreon's previous work: decent guitar, powerhouse vocals, high tempo and high power. The album tells a story (a prequel to 01011001) concerning an apocalyptic calamity and interstellar migration. There's lots of good talent and ambition to soak in--can't say I enjoyed this as much as their other albums, but it's solid.
07: Queens of the Stone Age - Villains
When I first got this album, I listened to it again and again and again nonstop, simply because I loved the melodies and hooks that much. There's as much grit as there is elegance to this album--the guitars are decent, but it's the structure, lyrics, and overall tone that makes this one of the band's best.
----------------------------------------
08: Blue Stahli - Antisleep Volume 4
Some of this was released before, but then more tracks came out this year. I dunno, it's just more cool instrumentals. Some of it hits the same retrowave groove as the Scandroid/Sunset Neon stuff, other tracks are industrial. It's all pretty cool and each track delivers a unique theme. A must for anybody who really needs more metal, more spy music, more futuristic electronica, or anything else your imagination demands.
----------------------------------------
09: Various Artists - Baby Driver Film Soundtrack
You wanna beat your tinnitus and rock out the same way the guy in the movie did? Baby (or rather, Edgar Wright) sure knew how to pick them. His playlist boasts a pretty decent array of hard and soft rock, with occasional pieces of genuine soul, jazz, and funk in between. Among the highlights, the soundtrack features two versions of "Easy" (the original by the Commodores, and Sky Ferreira's version sung for the film), "Bellbottoms" (heard in the film's thrilling opening scene), a pretty mellow version of "Tequila," and plenty of motown. You can even hear the "Is He Slow?" jam. It's all pretty fun, hip, and energetic. Above all, it's brimming with soul.
----------------------------------------
10: Beck - Colors
Beck's music has rarely failed to deliver solid beat, even if everything else becomes kooky. Colors is a decent listen--it's consistent and even, never becoming too aggressive or noisy, but still full of energy, style, and unique structures. Set to a firm beat, the songs become quite uplifting and groovy. At times, inspiring.
----------------------------------------
11: Jason Nesmith - Smash the System
This is an act most people would have probably never heard of, unless you follow FiXT and drill deeper into the non-Klayton and non-Blue Stahli material. Nesmith's work sounds like the perfect video game score--a cool blend of rock, electronica, and score music. The guitars add grit, but aren't overbearing at all. If you crave cool score music with beat and modern instrumentation like I do, this album is a must.
----------------------------------------
12: KMFDM - Hell Yeah
This might be the most exciting KMFDM album I've heard since WTF? As usual, the band delivers hard-hitting beat, guitar, and vocal power with strong political and counter-cultural messages. The hooks are great though, marrying perfectly with the beat and the electronica. All I can say is, hell yeah.
----------------------------------------
13: Collide - Color of Nothing
Collide's music has always capitalized the most off of Karin's ethereal voice, and it's just as elegant here as ever. Hooks gentle, but have a surprising ability to get under your skin and stick. The beat and tone are decent. Makes for a pretty decent, laid-back listen.
----------------------------------------
14: Scandroid - Monochrome
If you've heard their self-titled debut from last year, then you should know what to expect. It's 80's style synthwave, made all the better with firm beats and Klayton's voice (although, I gotta say he overdoes it a bit with "A Thousand Years"). The latest album includes interesting cover versions of the "Force Theme" from Star Wars, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller." But the single that really wowed me the most was "Rendesvous"--it's just so catchy and nice. Everything else is pretty consistent and just plain good.
----------------------------------------
15: Tosca - Going Going Going
Relaxing, as expected, although not quite in the same vibes their previous albums exuded. This one has more of a nightclub feel--the beats are constant, but not aggressive, much like Groove Armada's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub). Most of the songs are harmonious, atmospheric, and just plain good.
----------------------------------------
16: Bonobo - Migration
This might be the most chill album of the year. So slow, mellow, but pleasant thanks to its eloquent use of instruments and soft beats. Even when it picks up some, it feels so airy. If you follow the band, then you should know what to expect--the album is a must.
----------------------------------------
17: Various Artists - Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Volume 2
Second mix for the second movie. This round of 70s jams includes a few must-have classics: ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky," Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," and all the other groovy hits you hear in the movie. Can't say they all appealed to me, nor was this as consistently soulful as Volume 1. I do get a kick out of "Fox on the Run" and the end credits "Guardians Inferno" song (featuring the Hoff himself...Starlord would be proud).
----------------------------------------
18: Ayreon - The Source
Very familiar style and sounds. This album carries over all the strengths as Ayreon's previous work: decent guitar, powerhouse vocals, high tempo and high power. The album tells a story (a prequel to 01011001) concerning an apocalyptic calamity and interstellar migration. There's lots of good talent and ambition to soak in--can't say I enjoyed this as much as their other albums, but it's solid.
Al's Favorite 2017 Songs
