My Top 10 Albums of 2017

It's that time of year again!! This was a pretty exciting for music with lots of new music from artists I love. Although I heard a lot of amazing songs this year, the top albums for me must be a complete great listen from cover to cover.  Here were my top 4 albums that kept finding myself going back to: 

1. Sylvan Esso - What Now

It's not very often that I find a follow up album that I love even more than the debut but Sylvan Esso has done it with "What Now". They took all my favourite elements from the first album and made an even better record with so many catchy electro pop hooks and weirdness that just works and had me listening on repeat so much this year whenever I needed a little pick me up. "Die Young" was probably my favourite song of the year.


2. The National - Sleep Well Beast

Damn I love this band so much. Each record I think - is it possible to love this band even more? They have somehow done it AGAIN. This album is basically a roller coaster of emotions - there is so much there to feel. It has a bit more guitar riffs than usual but is just another solid National album with a lot of great songs. My initial favourite was "Carin at the Liquor Store", but "I'll Still Destroy You" has reeeaally grown on me the more times I listen to this one. 


3. Alvvays - Antisocialite

I fell in love with this Canadian band from the east coast after their fantastic debut a few years ago and their follow up did not let me down! They have mastered their unique mix of dreamy pop and distorted guitar rock. The songs are interesting and catchy at the same time and this album is a really great cohesive listen from start to finish that I have enjoyed.


4. Big Thief - Capacity 

Big Thief is an artist I just discovered this year and is one of my new favourites. This album is really just beautiful from start to finish and full of stories and emotions and always just makes me feel better after listening to it. "Shark Smile" and "Mary" were two of my favourite songs this year.

Faith Healer - Live at Tubby Dog

I first heard Faith Healer while listening to CKUA radio a few months ago. I was feeling in a bit of a 'musical rut' and wasn't feelin any of the new music i had downloaded,  so I switched on the radio and her song "Try" came on and I remember thinking "oh my god this song is amazing - who is this?!" and I was surprised to hear they were from Edmonton! I quickly found the album on Spotify and listened to it on repeat for the rest of the day. It is a wicked record with lots of great songs. 

Last night my friend Emily and I went to see them play at Tubby Dog. This was my first time going to show at Tubby Dog and it was so fun! Such a cozy little venue - hot dogs, arcade games, colourful lights, and cartoons projected on the wall behind the bands. The place was intimate and packed. Their whole band was really great.  The only downside was that Faith Healer was the 2nd band of three so they only played like 6 songs. My favourite songs were "Light of Loving" which absolutely rocked, "Such a Gemini" which is light and comical and of course "Try" which is such an interesting chill groovy song with some bluesy guitar riffs near the end. I will definitely keep my eye out for the next time she plays in Calgary.