2017 was jam-packed with album releases. It even got to the point where it got pretty overwhelming to keep up with them all here at The Daily Listening! But after all, 2017 was the year that we needed music the most – to heal, to comfort, and to thrive. For music enthusiasts, album release days feel like major events and the memories we carry of our first listen of a new album tends to stay with us forever.
It was hard to choose just 20 but after a long consensus, these albums meant the most to us during a year of so much trial and error. From the burn outs to the anxiety to the days of just not wanting to feel a thing at all, these albums were there with a shoulder to cry on and a song that mirrored everything we were feeling and needed to hear.
Related: The Best EP Releases Of 2017
20. Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life
Released: July 21, 2017
Lana Del Rey yet again managed to destroy and heal our hearts within the span of her fourth album, Lust For Life. Using the current state of the world as inspiration for her best material to date, Del Rey manages to sneak escapism into the landscape, making Lust For Life a record that could have so easily fit in during the 1970s. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “13 Beaches” | “Lust For Life” (feat. The Weeknd) | “White Mustang”
19. Anna Of The North – Lovers
Released: September 8, 2017
The buzz surrounding Anna Of The North has been palpable for over a year so once Lovers was released, things just took a turn for the best. Covered in icy, scintillating synthpop set to themes of love, loss and despair, it’s no surprise this record is filled to the brim with relatable feels. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Moving On” | “Lovers” | “Always”
18. ROMES – ROMES
Released: October 6, 2017
Despite all the darkness that took place in 2017, ROMES are still shining bright with their shimmering, upbeat indie-pop gem of a debut! It’s impossible to be in a bad mood while listening to ROMES and we can guarantee big things are in store for these lads in 2018! – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “When The Night Comes” | “Someone” | “Can’t Get Enough”
17. MUNA – About U
Released: February 3, 2017
MUNA released their debut, About U, earlier this year to a frenzy of critical acclaim, and justifiably so. With lush and infectious poignancy deep within every track, About U captures a moment in time and freezes it for self-reflection. About U is about all of us as we move through time based on a single moment that changes our lives forever. If you haven’t experienced yours yet, it’ll happen. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Winterbreak” | “After” | “Loudspeaker”
16. Coasts – This Life, Vol. 1
Released: August 18, 2017
It was no secret that UK band, Coasts, were eager to put out their second record, especially after delaying their self-titled debut years prior. This Life Vol. 1 is like a safety blanket for the anxious and one we’ve described as a “cocoon” of sorts. With moments ranging from utter bliss to extreme chaos, This Life explores all the themes of life we all go through but may be hesitant to talk about. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Heart Starts Beating” | “Paradise” | “Make It Out Alive”
15. Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom
Released: June 2, 2017
It’s safe to say that Halsey’s album motto is most likely, “go big or sit the f**k down!” It was obvious that second release, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, was going to be massive given the success of her 2015 debut, Badlands, but we never expected it to pack so many emotions (and hits) in under an hour! Inspired by Baz Luhrmann’s interpretation of Romeo + Juliet, HFK is a force that still has potential to soar to new heights in 2018. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Now or Never” | “Bad At Love” | “Alone”
14. DWNTWN – Racing Time
Released: July 21, 2017
2017 was the year that saw the release of the highly-anticipated debut from DWNTWN. Racing Time, like most of the DWNTWN catalog, is an unknown gem begging to be discovered brimming with emotion and strength glittering from frontwoman Jamie Leffler. If we could bottle them up and send their music off to anyone in the world who hasn’t listened to them yet, we absolutely would. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Love Someone“ | “Bloodshot Eyes” | “Lonely”
13. Michelle Branch – Hopeless Romantic
Released: April 7, 2017
After 14 years, Michelle Branch fans were finally gifted the singer’s third record, Hopeless Romantic. Proving that it is possible to come back after over a decade with a bang, Branch has awakened the souls of 2000’s pop/rock lovers around the globe, selling out venues and stealing more hearts in the process. Hopeless Romantic is a hook-laden journey into the singer’s world as she navigates the trials and tribulations of a divorce while later finding love again with The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney, who helped craft the album alongside Branch. Hopeless Romantic is one of those records where you feel as if nothing’s changed yet everything has, which in our opinion is the best kind. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Not A Love Song” | “City” | “Best You Ever”
12. Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa
Released: June 2, 2017
A fresh voice in the noise, Dua Lipa stamped her name down as a new pop princess with her self-titled debut album. Letting her deeper raspy tone tell us her story, she brought music lovers together to make pop fun again. – Alexis Hinnant
Key Tracks: “New Rules” | “Be The One” | “Begging”
11. LANY – LANY
Released: June 30, 2017
How does one describe the force that is LANY without mentioning legions of fans, sold out tours and roses for days? It’s been a big year for these guys and it looks like it’s only going to get more insane as time goes on. Their stunning debut, however, captures the essence of young love in all its crazy, bittersweet and tragic moments flawlessly, making it impossible to look away. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “The Breakup” | “Super Far” | “Good Girls”
10. PVRIS – All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell
Released: August 25, 2017
Sophomore albums can be tricky but for PVRIS that wasn’t the case at all. Through darker and heavier waves of sound, All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell showed us a wiser, more mature side of the band. Lynn Gunn & company not only possess a unique quality and strength in sound, but they came to show us why they’re one of the most powerful acts in the industry right now. – Naty Cuéllar
Key Tracks: “Anyone Else” | “What’s Wrong” | “Same Soul”
9. COIN – How Will You Know If You Never Try
Released: April 21, 2017
Perhaps the catchiest record of 2017, How Will You Know If You Never Try captures the essence of the sound COIN is known for: exuberant youth. Diving into the stresses of growing up and all the insecurities that follow, HWYKIYNT is the perfect companion for those days when you just need a friend to motivate you to keep moving forward in the midst of confusion. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Lately II” | “Hannah” | “Heart Eyes”
8. Paramore – After Laughter
Released: May 12, 2017
In a year spent struggling with inner demons and trying to make sense of what life is, the return of Paramore was like a therapy session assigned by the universe. Brutally honest lyrics about anxiety and depression find the band at the peak of their songwriting, all cloaked in the most experimental, sparky-pop melodies we all knew was coming after the self-titled era. After Laughter is the album that once it hits – and it sure will – has you ending up crying on the dance floor of fake happiness. – Dóra Udvardi
Key Tracks: “Hard Times” | “Pool” | “Rose-Colored Boy”
7. LIGHTS – Skin & Earth
Released: September 22, 2017
Fans were not expecting feels of this caliber on LIGHTS’ fourth studio album, Skin & Earth. Creating her own dystopian universe mixed with visions of modern day, the singer built onto her already massive sound and took it a step further. Adding in more pop and R&B elements to compliment her signature, bubbling synthpop, the whole LIGHTS aesthetic only shines brighter these days. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Until The Light” | “Skydiving” | “Fight Club”
6. Lorde – Melodrama
Released: June 16, 2017
The diary of a girl falling in and out of love, Melodrama was an open letter to all of us to love ourselves first. Effortlessly performed on top of her usual electrifying and addicting beats, Lorde was gut-wrenching, open, and honest about the painful reality of love. – Alexis Hinnant
Key Tracks: “Green Light” | ” Homemade Dynamite” | “Hard Feelings/Loveless”
5. HAIM – Something To Tell You
Released: July 7, 2017
HAIM made their way back into our ears and hearts this year with sophomore effort, Something To Tell You, and it just might be their best material to date. Tales of a love gone wrong never sounded so good. Filled to the brim with 70’s throwbacks and Fleetwood Mac vibes, Something To Tell You delivers flawless consistency and modern day hope with bohemian sensibilities for days! – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Something To Tell You” | “You Never Knew” | “Walking Away”
4. The xx – I See You
Released: January 13, 2017
In an age where everyone is fighting to be seen, The xx are delivering their own message immaculately. Third album, I See You, is more upbeat than previous releases, uncovering all that we haven’t seen from the UK trio and then some. By exploring new elements of their simplified yet magnetic sound and aesthetic, The xx have managed to yet again capture the inner world of an introverted lifestyle while exploring the possibilities of daring to live outside of a stereotype and comfort zone. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Lips” | “A Violent Noise” | “I Dare You”
3. Taylor Swift – Reputation
Released: November 10, 2017
Taylor Swift made her return this year with sixth album, Reputation, and needless to say, this era is everything Swifties have been waiting for! The singer is finally taking back the narrative and fighting back & we are living for it as the haters get all riled up over the life of a 28 year-old pop singer. Her strongest album to date, Reputation chronicles the singer’s feud with nameless drama queens and newfound love, Joe Alwyn, even giving us a glimpse into a more mature sound and lyrical themes. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “…Ready For It?” | “Delicate” | “End Game” (feat. Ed Sheeran & Future)
2. The Maine – Lovely Little Lonely
Released: April 7, 2017
After 10 years of being a band, The Maine’s sixth record is a journey of nostalgia. Lovely Little Lonely delivers an emotional message of self-awareness to the listener while showcasing the band in their purest form. Challenging, ageless, intimate…lovely; a band called The Maine really outdid themselves with this one and it’s safe to say that fans will hold this record close to their hearts for a very long time. – Naty Cuéllar
Key Tracks: “Bad Behavior” | “Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu” | “I Only Wanna Talk To You”
1. flor – come out. you’re hiding
Released: May 19, 2017
Glimmering with hope and pastel-laden comfort, flor’s debut, come out. you’re hiding, has been one of those albums when the wait just about killed you with excitement yet was totally worth it given the benefits it continues to provide. It’s no secret that 2017 has been a particularly rough year, hence why we’ve all clung to music more than ever. This album gives off a sense of relief and has been such a savior, especially with tracks like “Heart” and “Restless Soul.” co.yh is an album that continues to prove that despite all the negativity thrown our way, everyone is fighting an inner battle. Be gentle. Always. Don’t lose your heart. – Tina Roumeliotis
Key Tracks: “Unsaid” | “Warm Blood” | “Spoiled”
Great list! I loved flor’s album as well. I’d also add Fyfe, Sir Sly and Chase Atlantic into this mix, I thought their respective albums were fantastic.