Five Spot: Favorite Albums From 2017
500 words and five minutes on awesome music.
Welcome to a new series, 500 words and five minutes on topics that interest me. The average person reads about 200–250 words per minute with 60% comprehension. Since I’d really love for you to dig in to these, I’m cutting that in half, to 100 words per minute.
So without further ado, here is 400-ish words on five music albums I kept listening to this year. (In case you’re not aware, I love music.)
The Crack-Up by Fleet Foxes
This the best ambient music. You can put on in the background while concentrating on something else, and the ethereal sounds will wash over you. Or, you can immerse yourself and be transported, spiritually speaking. It sounds like folk-rock, but there are serious influences born of classical and jazz found in the song structures and melodies.
Prime Cuts: “I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar”, “Third of May / Odaigahara”, “I Should See Memphis”
Drunk by Thundercat
This album could not have a better title. I would not be surprised if Thundercat were drunk and high the entire time he recorded this thing. But wow, is it fun. You’ll need to give it a chance, because it is… weird. But also groovy. For example, “Day & Night” kicks off with a real sexy-time strut, and then… that’s it. Thirty-seven seconds. Then, you’re sliding into another space-funk jam. It’s a funny, freaky and fun trip.
Prime Cuts: “Show You the Way (feat. Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald)”, “Them Changes”, “The Turn Down (feat. Pharrell)”
Semper Femina by Laura Marling
It’s been nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album, but I think that’s misleading. The intro cut, “Soothing” owes as much to R&B as it does to any type of folk-ish music. The standout is “Wildfire”, which could be a cliché coffeehouse bore, but instead is a gorgeous story about love and longing. This was my first experience with Ms. Marling, and now I need more.
Prime Cuts: “Soothing”, “Wildfire”, “Always This Way”
A Deeper Understanding by The War On Drugs
My favorite part of HBO’s The Defiant Ones is how Jimmy Iovine annoyed the hell out of Tom Petty but helping him create Damn the Torpedoes. In 2015, Iovine told Billboard, “they [TWOD] should be gigantic.” Well, this is a gigantic album. Band leader Adam Granduciel has always had an ear for mixing and hooks, this album injects those traits with steroids. Put on headphones, press play and let go.
Prime Cuts: “Pain”, “Strangest Thing”, “Nothing to Find”
DAMN. By Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick is the best rapper alive. Period. This album is his reminder to us who’s king. “HUMBLE.” might be the best setting-the-record straight moment in the last decade. “FEEL.” distills the proggy jazz elements of To Pimp a Butterfly into a straight groove, and “DNA.” is a fireball. Listen to the album backwards, a whole new perspective opens up. That’s powerful.
