Year-End Lists

Northern Transmissions: Top 10 Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018]

1. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
2. Pure Comedy
   Father John Misty
3. Sleep Well Beast
   The National
4. Antisocialites
   Alvvays
5. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
6. Relatives in Descent
   Protomartyr
7. A Deeper Understanding
   The War on Drugs
8. Slowdive
   Slowdive
9. Flower Boy
   Tyler, The Creator
10. This Old Dog
    Mac DeMarco

Honorable mentions

• MASSEDUCTION
  St. Vincent
• Crack-Up
  Fleet Foxes

Gorilla vs. Bear: 62 Favorite Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Yaeji
   yaeji
1. EP2
   yaeji
2. Kelly Lee Owens
   Kelly Lee Owens
3. Sugar at the Gate
   TOPS
4. Party
   Aldous Harding
5. Dust
   Laurel Halo
6. Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines
   Shabazz Palaces
6. Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star
   Shabazz Palaces
7. Playboi Carti
   Playboi Carti
8. Faye Webster
   Faye Webster
9. The OOZ
   King Krule
10. Happy Together
    Mega Bog
11. Boo Boo
    Toro y Moi
12. Big Fish Theory
    Vince Staples
13. Real High
    Nite Jewel
14. Willowbank
    Yumi Zouma
15. AVANTI
    Alessandro Cortini
16. Antisocialites
    Alvvays
17. Plunge
    Fever Ray
18. Nektyr
    Demen
19. Tailwhip
    Men I Trust
20. You Tried
    Hater
21. Routines
    Hoops
22. Ariadna
    Kedr Livanskiy
23. Chthonic
    Julia Lucille
24. Good Time (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Oneohtrix Point Never
25. Not Even Happiness
    Julie Byrne
26. Lovers
    Anna of the North
27. She-Devils
    She-Devils
28. Ctrl
    SZA
29. Mister Mellow
    Washed Out
30. Colón Man
    Equiknoxx
31. Love What Survives
    Mount Kimbie
32. Tenderness
    Blue Hawaii
33. Wildly Idle (Humble Before the Void)
    Hand Habits
34. Capacity
    Big Thief
35. DAMN.
    Kendrick Lamar
36. Do you mind
    SASSY 009
37. Grafts
    Kara-Lis Coverdale
38. Images
    You’ll Never Get to Heaven
39. Modern Species
    DJ Sports
40. Black Origami
    Jlin
41. Painted Ruins
    Grizzly Bear
42. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
43. The Kid
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
44. Won’t Be There
    Luke Reed
45. Phases
    Angel Olsen
46. Purple Moonlight
    Chopstars
47. Please Be Mine
    Molly Burch
48. Windswept
    Johnny Jewel
49. Aytche
    Joseph Shabason
50. Lust for Life
    Lana Del Rey
51. The Demonstration
    Drab Majesty
52. 3:33am
    Amber Mark
53. Dry Your Eyes
    Exit Someone
54. Number 1 Angel
    Charli XCX
55. The Garden
    Carla dal Forno
56. Imaginations
    Molly Nilsson
57. Screen Memories
    John Maus
58. Pharma
    Nmesh
59. Music For People In Trouble
    Susanne Sundfør
60. Phobiza “Noite” Vol. 2
    RAMZi

Jim DeRogatis: The Best Albums of 2017, as aired on Sound Opinions

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Feel Your Feelings Fool!
   The Regrettes
2. Cost of Living
   Downtown Boys
3. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
4. Nothing Feels Natural
   Priests
5. Rips
   Rips
6. Mental Illness
   Aimee Mann
7. The Autobiography
   Vic Mensa
8. In Between
   The Feelies
9. Silver / Lead
   Wire
10. Lotta Sea Lice
    Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile

The Skinny: Top 50 Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015]

1. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Ctrl
   SZA
3. Melodrama
   Lorde
4. No Shape
   Perfume Genius
5. Process
   Sampha
6. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
7. Run the Jewels 3
   Run the Jewels
8. Big Fish Theory
   Vince Staples
9. Drunk
   Thundercat
10. Relatives in Descent
    Protomartyr
11. Love What Survives
    Mount Kimbie
12. Capacity
    Big Thief
13. MassEducation
    St. Vincent
14. After Laughter
    Paramore
15. Mura Masa
    Mura Masa
16. Plunge
    Fever Ray
17. Stranger in the Alps
    Phoebe Bridgers
18. Party
    Aldous Harding
19. Migration
    Bonobo
20. Bicep
    Bicep
21. A Crow Looked at Me
    Mount Eerie
22. Multi-Task
    Omni
23. Kelly Lee Owens
    Kelly Lee Owens
24. Soft Sounds from Another Planet
    Japanese Breakfast
25. The OOZ
    King Krule
26. What Now
    Sylvan Esso
27. Pleasure
    Feist
28. Everything Is Forgotten
    Methyl Ethel
29. The Navigator
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
30. Life Will See You Now
    Jens Lekman
31. Compassion
    Forest Swords
32. Modern Kosmology
    Jane Weaver
33. Black Origami
    Jlin
34. RELAXER
    alt-J
35. Gang Signs & Prayer
    Stormzy
36. I See You
    The xx
37. Life Without Sound
    Cloud Nothings
38. Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
    Open Mike Eagle
39. Lotta Sea Lice
    Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
40. SATURATION II
    BROCKHAMPTON
41. World Eater
    Blanck Mass
42. Nothing Feels Natural
    Priests
43. The Underside of Power
    Algiers
44. Antisocialites
    Alvvays
45. Crack-Up
    Fleet Foxes
46. Season High
    Little Dragon
47. Preservation
    Nadia Reid
48. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
49. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
50. Pure Comedy
    Father John Misty

Rolling Stone: 51 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Melodrama
   Lorde
3. Songs of Experience
   U2
4. Rainbow
   Ke$ha
5. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
6. American Teen
   Khalid
7. reputation
   Taylor Swift
8. Villains
   Queens of the Stone Age
9. Culture
   Migos
10. The Thrill of It All
    Sam Smith
11. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
12. 4:44
    JAY-Z
13. Dark Matter
    Randy Newman
14. Out in the Storm
    Waxahatchee
15. Lotta Sea Lice
    Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
16. All American Made
    Margo Price
17. Harry Styles
    Harry Styles
18. MASSEDUCTION
    St. Vincent
19. Pure Comedy
    Father John Misty
20. Ctrl
    SZA
21. The Nashville Sound
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
22. Need to Feel Your Love
    Sheer Mag
23. Black Origami
    Jlin
24. The Order of Time
    Valerie June
25. After Laughter
    Paramore
26. Lust for Life
    Lana Del Rey
27. More Life
    Drake
28. Big Fish Theory
    Vince Staples
29. Everybody Works
    Jay Som
30. From A Room: Volume 1
    Chris Stapleton
31. Résistance
    Songhoy Blues
32. Carry Fire
    Robert Plant
33. Far from Over
    Vijay Iyer Sextet
34. Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
    Open Mike Eagle
35. Triplicate
    Bob Dylan
36. Lindsey Buckingham Christine McVie
    Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie
37. Who Built the Moon?
    Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
37. As You Were
    Liam Gallagher
38. Residente
    Residente
39. Soft Sounds from Another Planet
    Japanese Breakfast
40. Painted Ruins
    Grizzly Bear
41. Southern Blood
    Gregg Allman
42. Colors
    Beck
43. Celebrate Ornette
    Ornette Coleman
44. Whiteout Conditions
    The New Pornographers
45. Modern Burdens
    Tracy Bonham
46. Soul of a Woman
    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
47. Dirty Pictures, Pt. 1
    Low Cut Connie
48. Chronology
    Chronixx
49. Concrete and Gold
    Foo Fighters
50. Forever
    Code Orange

Paste Magazine: 50 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Everybody Works
   Jay Som
2. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
3. Pure Comedy
   Father John Misty
4. Run the Jewels 3
   Run the Jewels
5. Lotta Sea Lice
   Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
6. Need to Feel Your Love
   Sheer Mag
7. Antisocialites
   Alvvays
8. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
9. A Crow Looked at Me
   Mount Eerie
10. Process
    Sampha
11. Whiteout Conditions
    The New Pornographers
12. The Nashville Sound
    Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
13. The OOZ
    King Krule
14. The World’s Best American Band
    White Reaper
15. Sketches of Brunswick East (feat. Mild High Club)
    King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
16. Slowdive
    Slowdive
17. Mental Illness
    Aimee Mann
18. Out in the Storm
    Waxahatchee
19. What Now
    Sylvan Esso
20. City Music
    Kevin Morby
21. Nothing Feels Natural
    Priests
22. Orc
    Oh Sees
23. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
24. Witness
    Benjamin Booker
25. Ctrl
    SZA
26. Moonshine Freeze
    This Is the Kit
27. Not Even Happiness
    Julie Byrne
28. I See You
    The xx
29. Needle Paw
    Nai Palm
30. The Kid
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
31. Semper Femina
    Laura Marling
32. Ty Segall
    Ty Segall
33. The Imperfect Sea
    Penguin Cafe
34. MASSEDUCTION
    St. Vincent
35. Swear I’m Good At This
    Diet Cig
36. Nothing Valley
    Melkbelly
37. Soft Sounds from Another Planet
    Japanese Breakfast
38. Hot Thoughts
    Spoon
39. Bedouine
    Bedouine
40. Crack-Up
    Fleet Foxes
41. Multi-Task
    Omni
42. Please Be Mine
    Molly Burch
43. Care
    David Bazan
44. Soul Sick
    Sallie Ford
45. Plum
    Wand
46. Wide Open
    Weaves
47. Turn Out the Lights
    Julien Baker
48. Soul of a Woman
    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
49. Not Dark Yet
    Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
50. UNDIVIDED HEART & SOUL
    J.D. McPherson

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. Melodrama
   Lorde
2. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
3. Prisoner
   Ryan Adams
4. Big Fish Theory
   Vince Staples
5. Slowdive
   Slowdive
6. MASSEDUCTION
   St. Vincent
7. Ctrl
   SZA
8. A Crow Looked at Me
   Mount Eerie
9. Hot Thoughts
   Spoon
10. blkswn
    Smino
11. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
12. Aromanticism
    Moses Sumney
13. Turn Out the Lights
    Julien Baker
14. Life Without Sound
    Cloud Nothings
15. HNDRXX
    Future
16. Arca
    Arca
17. No Shape
    Perfume Genius
18. Heartless
    Pallbearer
19. Mental Illness
    Aimee Mann
20. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
21. Harmony of Difference
    Kamasi Washington
22. Stranger in the Alps
    Phoebe Bridgers
23. Black Origami
    Jlin
24. Dunkirk (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Hans Zimmer
25. 4:44
    JAY-Z
26. Rocket
    (Sandy) Alex G
27. Semper Femina
    Laura Marling
28. Weddings & Funerals
    The Kickback
29. grey
    Kweku Collins
30. Crack-Up
    Fleet Foxes
31. The OOZ
    King Krule
32. Native Invader
    Tori Amos
33. Drunk
    Thundercat
34. SATURATION II
    BROCKHAMPTON
35. Process
    Sampha
36. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
37. Not Even Happiness
    Julie Byrne
38. The Autobiography
    Vic Mensa
39. Nightmare Logic
    Power Trip
40. american dream
    LCD Soundsystem
41. Stranger Things 2 (Original Series Soundtrack)
    Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein
42. Culture
    Migos
43. Ti Amo
    Phoenix
44. American Teen
    Khalid
45. After Laughter
    Paramore
46. Blade Runner 2049 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch
47. Exchange
    The JuJu
48. Everybody Works
    Jay Som
49. Good Time (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Oneohtrix Point Never
50. Windswept
    Johnny Jewel

Drowned in Sound: 100 Favourite Albums of 2017. See also this year’s staff poll.

[see also 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Visions of a Life
   Wolf Alice
2. Kelly Lee Owens
   Kelly Lee Owens
3. Exile In the Outer Ring
   EMA
4. MASSEDUCTION
   St. Vincent
5. A Pink Sunset for No One
   Noveller
6. Future Politics
   Austra
7. Pleasure
   Feist
8. Modern Kosmology
   Jane Weaver
9. Semper Femina
   Laura Marling
10. Halo
    Juana Molina
11. FROM DEEWEE
    Soulwax
12. Drunk
    Thundercat
13. After Laughter
    Paramore
14. Cascades
    Jean-Michel Blais & CFCF
15. Utopia
    Björk
16. Every Country’s Sun
    Mogwai
17. Okovi
    Zola Jesus
18. DAMN.
    Kendrick Lamar
19. Relatives in Descent
    Protomartyr
20. Painted Ruins
    Grizzly Bear
21. Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia
    Hannah Peel
22. Slowdive
    Slowdive
23. Yesterday’s Gone
    Loyle Carner
24. Atelo
    Eyre Llew
25. No Shape
    Perfume Genius
26. Holiday Destination
    Nadine Shah
27. american dream
    LCD Soundsystem
28. Melodrama
    Lorde
29. The Navigator
    Hurray for the Riff Raff
30. Love In the 4th Dimension
    The Big Moon
31. 1992
    Princess Nokia
32. All This I Do For Glory
    Colin Stetson
33. V
    The Horrors
34. Villains
    Queens of the Stone Age
35. Weather Diaries
    Ride
36. What Now
    Sylvan Esso
37. Brutalism
    Idles
38. Before the Flood
    Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Gustavo Santaolalla, Mogwai
39. Cigarettes After Sex
    Cigarettes After Sex
40. Earl Grey
    Girl Ray
41. BE HERE NOW
    The Mynabirds
42. Ctrl
    SZA
43. Fatal Gift
    Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton
44. Windswept
    Johnny Jewel
45. Memories Are Now
    Jesca Hoop
46. Witness
    Katy Perry
47. Death Peak
    Clark
48. Last Place
    Grandaddy
49. Dumb Days
    Tired Lion
50. A Shadow in Time
    William Basinski
51. New Energy
    Four Tet
52. Try Not to Freak Out
    Sløtface
53. Colors
    Beck
54. Bicep
    Bicep
55. Antisocialites
    Alvvays
56. America
    Juanita Stein
57. Stranger in the Alps
    Phoebe Bridgers
58. Hug of Thunder
    Broken Social Scene
59. Hiss Spun
    Chelsea Wolfe
60. TFCF
    Liars
61. Harmony of Difference
    Kamasi Washington
62. Soft Sounds from Another Planet
    Japanese Breakfast
63. Dark Days + Canapés
    Ghostpoet
64. Rest
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
65. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
66. Jen Cloher
    Jen Cloher
67. Stubborn Persistent Illusions
    Do Make Say Think
68. Love What Survives
    Mount Kimbie
69. Lust for Life
    Lana Del Rey
70. Godfather
    Wiley
71. Pure Comedy
    Father John Misty
72. Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works
    Max Richter
73. Please Be Mine
    Molly Burch
74. Stellular
    Rose Elinor Dougall
75. Capacity
    Big Thief
76. Imitation of a Woman To Love
    Casey Dienel
77. Heartworms
    The Shins
78. ken
    Destroyer
79. Gang Signs & Prayer
    Stormzy
80. Apocalipstick
    Cherry Glazerr
81. Mura Masa
    Mura Masa
82. Plunge
    Fever Ray
83. Prisoner
    Ryan Adams
84. Spirit
    Depeche Mode
85. Dust
    Laurel Halo
86. Lotta Sea Lice
    Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
87. The OOZ
    King Krule
88. Take Me Apart
    Kelela
89. Moonshine Freeze
    This Is the Kit
90. Process
    Sampha
91. Ruinism
    Lapalux
92. In Spades
    The Afghan Whigs
93. Life Without Sound
    Cloud Nothings
94. Reaching For Indigo
    Circuit Des Yeux
95. Laila’s Wisdom
    Rapsody
96. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
97. Every Valley
    Public Service Broadcasting
98. The Far Field
    Future Islands
99. World Eater
    Blanck Mass
100. Everything Now
     Arcade Fire

Q Magazine: Top 50 Albums of 2017

[see also 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
2. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
3. Visions of a Life
   Wolf Alice
4. Melodrama
   Lorde
5. Humanz
   Gorillaz
6. MASSEDUCTION
   St. Vincent
7. Pure Comedy
   Father John Misty
8. Prince of Tears
   Baxter Dury
9. Villains
   Queens of the Stone Age
10. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
11. Gang Signs & Prayer
    Stormzy
12. English Tapas
    Sleaford Mods
13. V
    The Horrors
14. Process
    Sampha
15. As You Were
    Liam Gallagher
16. Earl Grey
    Girl Ray
17. I See You
    The xx
18. New Energy
    Four Tet
19. Raskit
    Dizzee Rascal
20. Compassion
    Forest Swords
21. Cigarettes After Sex
    Cigarettes After Sex
22. Modern Kosmology
    Jane Weaver
23. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
24. A Kind Revolution
    Paul Weller
25. Drunk
    Thundercat
26. Hippopotamus
    Sparks
27. Ctrl
    SZA
28. About U
    Muna
29. A Fever Dream
    Everything Everything
30. Colors
    Beck
31. Reflection
    Brian Eno
32. Preservation
    Nadia Reid
33. Joan Shelley
    Joan Shelley
34. Music For People In Trouble
    Susanne Sundfør
35. For Crying Out Loud
    Kasabian
36. Little Fictions
    Elbow
37. Common Sense
    J Hus
38. Ti Amo
    Phoenix
39. Lust for Life
    Lana Del Rey
40. Flower Boy
    Tyler, The Creator
41. Crack-Up
    Fleet Foxes
42. Semper Femina
    Laura Marling
43. The Knowledge
    Squeeze
44. Adiós Señor Pussycat
    Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band
45. RELAXER
    alt-J
46. 4:44
    JAY-Z
47. Dark Days + Canapés
    Ghostpoet
48. City Music
    Kevin Morby
49. Spirit
    Depeche Mode
50. The Witch
    Pumarosa

NME: 50 Best Albums of 2017

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011]

1. Melodrama
   Lorde
2. Visions of a Life
   Wolf Alice
3. DAMN.
   Kendrick Lamar
4. Pure Comedy
   Father John Misty
5. american dream
   LCD Soundsystem
6. Common Sense
   J Hus
7. Ctrl
   SZA
8. Lust for Life
   Lana Del Rey
9. Godfather
   Wiley
10. As You Were
    Liam Gallagher
11. MASSEDUCTION
    St. Vincent
12. Yesterday’s Gone
    Loyle Carner
13. Sleep Well Beast
    The National
14. Gang Signs & Prayer
    Stormzy
15. Big Fish Theory
    Vince Staples
16. The OOZ
    King Krule
17. Antisocialites
    Alvvays
18. Humanz
    Gorillaz
19. Flower Boy
    Tyler, The Creator
20. After Laughter
    Paramore
21. Need to Feel Your Love
    Sheer Mag
22. City Music
    Kevin Morby
23. Process
    Sampha
24. No Shape
    Perfume Genius
25. Kelly Lee Owens
    Kelly Lee Owens
26. Gone Now
    Bleachers
27. Concrete and Gold
    Foo Fighters
28. Everything Is Forgotten
    Methyl Ethel
29. Everything Now
    Arcade Fire
30. Colors
    Beck
31. reputation
    Taylor Swift
32. 1992
    Princess Nokia
33. For Crying Out Loud
    Kasabian
34. Mura Masa
    Mura Masa
35. Villains
    Queens of the Stone Age
36. Eternity, In Your Arms
    Creeper
37. 4:44
    JAY-Z
38. RELAXER
    alt-J
39. A Deeper Understanding
    The War on Drugs
40. Rocket
    (Sandy) Alex G
41. Plunge
    Fever Ray
42. Relatives in Descent
    Protomartyr
43. Ti Amo
    Phoenix
44. Love In the 4th Dimension
    The Big Moon
45. Interplanetary Class Classics
    The Moonlandingz
46. I See You
    The xx
47. Derevaun Seraun
    Kiran Leonard
48. The Kid
    Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith
49. Semper Femina
    Laura Marling
50. Drunk
    Thundercat