ILM's Top 77 Albums of 2017

I enjoy a fair bit of American Dream but it's pretty easily their worst. more than usual of the straight up pastiche tracks and a fair few lesser retreads of their past too.

just low enough

if they had to "reunite" a 12" single would have sufficed

― Simon H., Wednesday, January 31, 2018 12:14 PM (six minutes ago)

love this band, voted for this record, but i 100% co-sign this^

I think I've listened to American Dream more front to back than any of their other albums. First one they've done where the whole is bigger than the sum of it's parts.

Sund4r very otm about Gaussian Curve; kinda lazy to suggest instrumental music needs vocals, but GC is beautiful backdrop in desperate need of some drama from somewhere

although I'm actually digging "Suspended Motion"

so was the #1 for Taylor Swift markers or taytayfan?

drama is exactly what gaussian curve does not need

Blanck Mass is such a mediocrity imo, I'm hoping it was an accident + people really meant to vote for the Varg album which has the same album cover.

Blanck Mass was my number 1. simply ended up playing it more than anything else last year. I've kind of questioned "was this what I liked best, or was it just what most frequently met my listening needs?" but whatever. I voted for the Varg album as well, but they aren't that similar outside of the covers.

Xp. That's what i wanted to say. It is the first time i listen to gaussian curve but their music relaxes me and i love it. Great discovery.

Voted for Call The Police . Didn't vote for the album.

drama is exactly what gaussian curve does not need

― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:23 PM (two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

you might be right and maybe "drama" isn't really my problem. I don't know, hard to describe, but I found this totally enervating (not relaxing) after a while

fffv did you get a chance to see him (BM) live this year? it was easily my favorite show I've seen in awhile. complete sensory overload in the best way.

xp let go of hope, let go of fear

People love getting irate about this particular reunion for some reason.

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

27 MOSES SUMNEY "Aromanticism" (338 points, 12 votes, 1 first place vote)
spotify

didnt vote for this but i really should have - beautiful album

People love getting irate about this particular reunion for some reason.

― Matt DC, Wednesday, January 31, 2018 6:34 PM (one minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Yes. Because it sucks balls.

Really wanted to like the Sumney but it was a bit too sombre-Radiohead for me in the end. Can see the appeal

Same.

this record is not really my thing though i loved the singles

Ended up putting this in my top five. Such a stunning record.

For me it's the fact that LCD Soundsystem they had a pompous farewell show at Madison Square Garden in 2011, instantly packaged for blu-ray. It's just too soon. If they want to make a big deal about reuniting, they should wait another 15 years. Or never would be okay too.

love Aromanticism, especially Lonely World. it is quite In Rainbows-adjacent but that's a very good thing to me

the LCD Soundsystem reunion comes off a bit weird after the farewell spectacular, but NIN did a similar thing not too long ago and I don't really have a problem with it, I just wish the album was a little better (it's not even bad, but was certainly overrated in EOY stuff elsewhere)

Really wanted to like the Sumney but it was a bit too sombre-Radiohead for me in the end. Can see the appeal

― imago

I really like the idea of Radiohead doing a song where the only lyrics are, "I’m not tryna go to bed with you, I just wanna make out in my car" repeated over and over.

The Moses Sumney is gorgeous, and a steady grower - if I was voting now, I'd have placed it higher (and it was already my #10).

Thom Yorke will evidently end up copying Bjork (as ever) and make a post-breakup 'Tinder album', so not so hard to believe maybe

I like Gaussian Curve's basic sound on this album so far but I keep wanting something more to happen, either melodically, rhythmically, or texturally.

― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:08 PM (forty-two minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

You could say that about loads of electronic or instrumental or ambient music. Curious why you feel that way about this one in particular.

For me it's the fact that LCD Soundsystem they had a pompous farewell show at Madison Square Garden in 2011, instantly packaged for blu-ray. It's just too soon. If they want to make a big deal about reuniting, they should wait another 15 years. Or never would be okay too.

― Fastnbulbous, Wednesday, January 31, 2018 1:44 PM (six minutes ago)

sometimes human beings change their minds, is my view

lcd has always been repulsive to me

xp disagree, it was a cold calculated cash-out as befits a cold, calculated band that is the living embodiment of Record Collector Rock

James Murphy is my least favorite Tom Wilkinson role.

for once I can say "the only records I care about are the early pre-LP singles" and really mean it

you are all doing my bidding beautifully

I don't like the new LCD Soundsystem album, but I don't get being angry about them getting back together too soon. It just seems so unimportant. Listen to the album to decide if you like it or not.

wait actually I like that 45:33 thing as well, sorry all

I don't like the new LCD Soundsystem album, but I don't get being angry about them getting back together too soon. It just seems so unimportant. Listen to the album to decide if you like it or not.

― silverfish, Wednesday, January 31, 2018 2:00 PM (thirty-six seconds ago)

no, better to attribute bad faith whenever possible

ban sleeve

for once I can say "the only records I care about are the early pre-LP singles" and really mean it

yes, though I like about half of the debut album and 45:33. LCD Soundsystem has become less interesting and fun with each successive album and the couple of songs I've heard from this one lead me to believe that this streak is continuing post reunion.

https://i.imgur.com/zf4q9tA.jpg]

26 BIG THIEF "Capacity" (362 points, 11 votes, 1 first place vote)
spotify

i don’t know much about this band besides that fact that they were in a ton of year end lists, but i did read that the cover art is a photo of the lead singer being held by her uncle

which is cool imo

Hadn't made the Radiohead comparison with Moses Sumney (Jeff Buckley in angelic mode was my immediate reaction), but listening now I can hear it on Quarrel for sure, though the last bit resolves into languid Stevie Wonder.

the tiny desk concert is worth putting on if you like him: https://www.npr.org/event/music/566905758/moses-sumney-tiny-desk-concert

oh yeh their last album had an old school photo as cover art too iirc

this album is amazing

Capacity was one of the last albums I cut from my ballot. Definitely deserves to be here.

I think I need to listen to this another half dozen times or it to really sink in. I know it'll happen but there's a little effort involved

album is so good, haley might be one of the best songs i've ever heard

I was surprised to be the only voter for Shark Smile in the tracks poll

Man two of my top ten right in a row. Big Thief was my #2 so fantastic.

I imagine there was a lot to Big Thief vote splitting, I had Haley as my #5 track

Shark Smile is...really good