ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2017

I'm probably a little more oblivious than most tbf

Arca's vocals struck me as even more narcissistic than 2010s Björk. Kind of ruined my enjoyment of the rest.

it was nice to hear her so happy after the spartan vulnicura

I loved Vulnicura and was bored by this one, but it would be really nice for her to be on the dancefloor again.

― Matt DC, Monday, January 29, 2018 12:30 PM (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I liked them both, Vulnicura was probably the more impressive achievement, but I found Utopia was a lot easier to return to.

maybe this is all preemptive for when you all compare R Dawson to idk Sun Lol Moon or something

lmao <3

https://i.imgur.com/FJtxnd7.jpg

66 WAXAHATCHEE "Out in the Storm" (216 points, 8 votes)
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here was my capsule length review of the bjork:

People often lament that the influence of the smartphone has driven people to isolate themselves from the physical world. Not Björk. On Utopia, which she describes as her “Tinder album,” technology has the power of bringing people closer together—“I literally think I am five minutes away from love,” she warbles on “Features Creatures.” Moving beyond the harsh, metallic soundscapes of Vulnicura, which was written and recorded at the end of a decades-long relationship, Utopia is a blissful and pastoral record, populated by flutes and bird sounds and overflowing with joy.

does this count as ameriplod too? it's good but i liked her last one a lot more

enjoyable but unspectacular indie, silver is really nice

*joins tinder*

it's good but i liked her last one a lot more

― ciderpress, Monday, 29 January 2018 17:40 (three minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I like the recent Bjork stuff I've heard but never explore it fully, not sure if that's just because I'm lazy and don't listen as widely as I used to or if there's something in it that doesn't completely gel with me.

I dutifully give every Waxahatchee album a listen but her arrangement and production choices are so fucking boring and drag even the good songs down.

I put Utopia high on my ballot. Adam Bruneau's and Ross's posts on the dedicated thread (Bjork - 2017 album) explain its appeal to me very well. And I still maintain "saint" near the end is a hidden pop gem.

Cool rollout so far: usually the boring stuff shows up around day three.

I dutifully give every Waxahatchee album a listen but her arrangement and production choices are so fucking boring and drag even the good songs down.

― Matt DC, Monday, January 29, 2018 11:03 AM (five minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

otm. feel like it's telling that my fav waxahatchee album (the debut) has basically no arrangement or production choices

I heard this one was supposed to be much fuller sounding, though.

It is fuller sounding but also stodgier.

What I've heard so far:

Elder - good stuff. Thought I had voted for it but I guess not.

The National - I like their albums up to High Violet included. I found what they release after that one to be super boring and this one is no exception.

The Weather Station - Gave up after a few tracks that left no impression whatsoever.

Will try to sample everything else later tonight.

I had Utopia in my top ten, it's a gorgeous record and a nice next step after Vulnicura. To be honest though I think Volta is the only time I've felt let down by a Björk album.

https://i.imgur.com/piRwG8e.jpg

65 TORNADO WALLACE "Lonely Planet" (219 points, 7 votes)
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There it is

wish I liked this as much as I'm supposed to

Woo the first of mine to chart! This one is fucking lush m8

Here's one I've actually heard, my number 2 and in a roughly similar position to the artist's placer in the tracks poll

It's really different, but I like it for the same reasons I like old Ulrich Schnauss. It's large scale and cozy at the same time.

didn't listen to this until the results came in and its a very cool record, i like it

feel kinda bummed no one said "hey man this record is very gr8080, you should listen" to me at all last year

I tried my best but I couldn’t really get into old wally tornado

dude should change his name to like Cool Breeze Wallace or something

he could, but this guy would probably sue.

I thought I voted for this, but I actually didn't lol

Zephyr Wallace

yeah, I also didn't listen to this until it placed in the tracks poll. Enjoyed it quite a bit.

Other than this, L'Rain (which I voted for) and the Italian Dreamhouse compilation (listening to this right now, incredible) I've been a bit disappointed by the results so far.

here's the band that should be named after a tornado:

https://i.imgur.com/KVb2rQl.jpg

64 EX EYE "Ex Eye" (220 points, 7 votes)
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hell yeah

first one i haven't heard of

boom! my number uh 23 lol, but I predicted it'd show up! second track is a monster. never liked colin stetson so much

liyl: post-metal-math-jazz

#8 on my ballot

i gave this a whirl after seeing it on some year-end lists and fell in love with it

there def should be more saxophone metal in general

this is great so far!

This one completely passed me by and I like Colin Stenson

if sund4r had told us about this then it could have been a wee bit higher

:(

I like the Ex Eye and Elder records. Both narrowly missed my final ballot but such is life.

the opening track has some faint RFTC vibes imo

Will Ed Sheeran chart y/n

Lol sund4r did tell you guys about Ex Eye! re: Odysseus & Michael B

Elder narrowly missed my ballot, orob should've made it (as should've L'Rain). Ex Eye was my #11.

didn't listen to this until the results came in and its a very cool record, i like it

feel kinda bummed no one said "hey man this record is very gr8080, you should listen" to me at all last year

nah i was lazy this year

oh and if you need any more persuasion to hear it, Ex Eye's drummer is Greg Fox, a man operating at barely-precedented levels