ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2017

Hey first one I had on my ballot. It's just banger after banger so the whole album is pretty exhausting listen as a whole, but in 2-3 song chunks it's awesome.

Also nice to see a banging Darq E Freaker production on a mainstream album

yeah I don't really sit thru albums much so it's just been in my playlists all year, bangering away being greeat

It's the album he should have made a decade ago but it's still str8 banging for all its victory lap/old people's home tendencies.

Also nice to see a banging Darq E Freaker production on a mainstream album

That track is great but he seems like a weird choice of producer to single out?

https://i.imgur.com/3nDwfix.jpg

59 COLLEEN "A flame my love, a frequency" (266 points, 10 votes)
spotify

I was bowled over by DEF's mixtape Don't Freak Out the other year and am always on the lookout for his work. I think he's one of the best producers out there. Mind you, the Wiley track I voted for was Laptop which was just too charming.

colleen's got a really admirable approach where i think she learns new instruments and switches her whole set-up for each album, but unfortunately i just didn't get into her new thing at all and it was a bit of a letdown after the lovely 'captain of none'

Glorious record.

agree with the last 2 posts!

Agree with Nick. On paper it should have been awesome, but this record didn't do anything for me.

It reminded me way more of her first two records, even though her approach has changed drastically. The austere means with which she drew up such a rich, blissful world. It helps when you live by the sea in San Sebastian.

Tornado Wallace is better than I thought it would be, quite liked 2 of the tracks, sounds a bit like Vakula

Playing 'Separating' by Colleen now and this is good, never heard before. Would be better as instrumental as her voice (on this) isn't particularly complimentary with the music

One Warm Spark is really good, actual proper music not designed to obliterate or immiserate the soul! probably the best thing I've heard on either poll so far.

Not keen on Summer Night, but enough here to come back and investigate the rest

this poll’s only tie is next:

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

57(tie) RYUICHI SAKAMOTO - "async" (228 points, 8 votes)
spotify

This wasn't on my ballot but it's a really nice record.

Three terrific and completely different records in a row now.

kept meaning to spend more time with that, liked what i heard though

Voted for async, even though it's probably his least record in a while (greatly prefer the ones w/ Alva Noto). Still good, mind, but I thought it severely lacks focus.

Wiley way too low

https://i.imgur.com/oN1ZHZh.jpg

57(tie) MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA " A Black Mile to the Surface" (228 points, 8 votes)
spotify

Wow, I didn't know there was a new Sakomoto last year!

oh, a record i voted for!

Ryuichi Sakamoto didn't make my ballot but super props to ILM for voting it into the 77

manchester orchestra placing brings brand new’s science fiction, which makes me sad for all sorts of reasons

https://i.imgur.com/V3ybTnF.jpg

56 DUA LIPA "Dua Lipa" (228 points, 10 votes)
spotify

Genesis and a few other tracks on this were good but didn't really understand the love it got

"Be The One" towers over the rest of the LP. She has an unusual voice though, which helps her stands out from the crowd.

I thought this would be a lot higher. Packed with great songs, yous two haven't even mentioned the best ones

packed with great songs is right. i'm particularly in love with "begging" rn

Sakamoto the second of mine to show, wasn't actually expecting it to make it in!

Is async a good entry point to Sakamoto or is there someplace else I should start?

https://i.imgur.com/sa6XcBD.jpg

55 KING KRULE "The OOZ" (231 points, 7 votes, 1 first place vote)
spotify

i'll use my one 'too low' on this

Really surprised Dua Lipa isn't higher. After initially dismissing the album back in June I went back to it towards the end of the year and found myself listening to it at least once a day for a while. She has a great voice and although she tackles lots of different styles, the whole album hangs together so well. Along with the two songs that placed in the tracks poll, Be The One, Begging, Genesis and Thinking 'Bout You are my favourites. There's some good bonus tracks on there too. She deserves the success she's getting.

there were some good moments on this but I'm still not really sure what to make of it as a whole, the woozy atmosphere all blends together after a while. Dum Surfer is great though, probably just need to spend more time with it

this album is about four years long and has maybe a good track or two. guess I'll show some Lewisham solidarity and say he has promise

If it's Lewisham solidarity you're after fuck the tedious King Krule record and listen to this instead.

i actually hate this record

His vocals are my main problem with this album.

Yay, Manchester Orchestra! Great album.

I don't get King Krule, though the video for Dum Surfer is creepy.

Lol Matt that's great. His Lewisham shirt! <3

I can't get into KK at all

knew Manchester Orchestra would make it, voted for it, fantastic album, their best yet (by far) that I've heard.

I love The OOZ, got a real Rain Dogs underbelly of society vibe. And maybe it's a little long, but, you know, it's a vibe.

would've voted for manchester arkestra had i voted. despite reading about music all day, MO were one of those bands that were wildly popular that i had never even heard of. really great rock record, kinda reminds me of 'bombast rock' like imagine dragons or something actually done well

now that i think about it, this might've been a #1 contender

it's too spacious, lush, and dynamic to be comparable to someone like ID imo. it's mixed like a Steven Wilson record or something.

I'm guessing that Manchester Orchestra album is equal parts Radiohead and Dragonforce?

Sure, in that it sounds nothing like either of them.

the lead singer of MO's voice reminds me of the guy from Fleet Foxes

it's too spacious, lush, and dynamic to be comparable to someone like ID imo

i'm thinking specific of that last song, with its incredible pounding buildup. reminds me of bands that have a tomtom for the singer to play. but yeah it's really just tangential