2017 is almost at an end, which means I’ve had to delve through the archives of music that has inspired me or made me feel something this year, and there was a lot of it. With a shortlist that was close to 40, it was really hard to pick my Top 10 Albums of 2017.
Local artists Stella Donnelly and Sampa The Great really left an imprint on me this year with their music, it’s so emotive and filled with context, but for the number 1 spot I just couldn’t go past “I See You” by The XX.
Despite it being quite different to their previous work and having a much more upbeat feel, it still really was entangled in a web of feelings and strong emotional power. It was really good to hear Jamie XX taking a stronger lead with his production, I think it really opened the group up to new possibilities they didn’t consider before. My personal favourite is the closing track, ‘Lips’. It’s got all the elements of the group that you want in one track, strong production, brooding vocals, intense context and building emotion.
1. The XX – I See You
2. Bonobo – Migration
3. Stella Donnelly – Thrush Metal EP
4. Sampha – Process
5. Little Dragon – Season High
6. Alt-J – relaxer
7. Sampa The Great – Birds and the BEE9
8. Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life
9. Hercules & Love Affair – Omnion
10. Bicep – Bicep
connect with The XX:
