Whether they came from legendary artists or fresh newcomers, the best albums of 2017 all offer unique perspectives and awesome tunes.
Each week this year, we’ve happily listened to as much new music as possible to help ease a major burden of the modern listener — selecting the best new music from a seemingly infinite number of choices. In doing so, we have slowly assembled a list of the best albums of 2017. On our annual year-end list, you will find a living, breathing portrait of some of the most exciting sounds currently being made by both newcomers and long-established artists.
From famed bands reuniting to fresh faces breaking down barriers, 2017 has been a musical whirlwind that closely mirrors the fast-changing world. The best albums of 2017 exhibited new and interesting viewpoints that have often been forced to the background. Whether it’s the profoundly personal statements from a widower heard on Mount Eerie’s A Crow Looked At Me, the compelling perspectives on love and loss from rising female-led bands like Alvvays and Jay Som, or the unique and intimate look inside the mind of the world’s most important rapper right no, Kendrick Lamar, these albums will challenge you as much as they entertain. In a world that seems to be increasingly drawing inwards, this new music is more vital than ever.
For your listening pleasure, here are our top 50 albums of 2017. Want to explore in more depth? Check out our full Spotify playlist. Interested in other music? Be sure to check out the best songs to work to, best songs about money, and best songs about friendship.
