The Fashionably Late Top 66 of 2017: Pretty Lightning

It’s been a hell of a year. 2017 was exhausting, stressful, and at times just plain terrifying. But for all the mess that’s happened over the past 12 months, and there’s certainly been so much, there’s also been a lot of good going on in the world. From a musical standpoint, for instance, 2017 was rather exceptional. There were so many glorious new sounds to take in.

I’ve put together my list of favorites from the year that was, a touch fashionably late as always. Once again, I’ve decided to eschew a ranking system and instead give you an alphabetical look at the records I fell for this year. There’s some names here that will come as no surprise to anyone, and perhaps a few that might surprise you. These are simply my favorites from 2017, the albums I went back to again and again, the albums that I swooned over. So, without further exposition, here’s my list. I think you’ll find you can get your kicks from any and all of the 66 records I’ve chosen, and I truly hope you’ll find some treasures to cherish, as I cherish each and every record here. Many, many thanks to the artists who put out this fantastic music, their sounds helped make 2017 bearable.

Who: Pretty Lightning

What: The Rhythm of Ooze

When: November 2017

Where: Fuzz Club Records

Why: Pretty Lightning refers to themselves as purveyors of "ooze/blooze." Essentially, that translates to some hellfire and brimstone, blues-inspired psych rock sound and fury. This German duo makes a mean swamp psych with a dash of the hypnotic; these songs are ageless and not entirely of this earth. Theirs is the kind of drone that makes my heart flutter, heavy and murky and unrelenting. One of the year's most pleasant surprises.  

[posted 2.24.18]