The Fashionably Late Top 66 of 2017: The War on Drugs

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: The War on Drugs

What: A Deeper Understanding

When: August 2017

Where: Atlantic Records

Why: It's not often that I agree with the Grammy Awards, but in this case we're on the same page. A Deeper Understanding is nothing short of magnificent.  Adam Granduciel's gift is in the way he creates songs that are both majestic in scale and incredibly personal, his swells of Americana-draped psychedelia full of magic and mystery. Hands down, this is one of 2017's most compelling records, and one of the most beautiful.

[posted 3.1.18]