Top 20 Albums of 2017

Once again, this is a highly personal list of the music I most enjoyed in the past year; in no way is it an attempt to outline the most 'important' or influential albums. This time, two very different records, both heavily influenced by amazing live experiences dominated my listening for much of the year. Yet, it was the one which engaged directly with the political tragedy in America which best embodied  and accompanied this challenging, traumatic year.

1) Hurray For The Riff Riff: The Navigator

2) Pumarosa: The Witch

3)  The National: Sleep Well Beast

4) St Vincent: Masseduction

5) Lorde: Melodrama

6) Zola Jesus: Okovi

7) Hiss Golden Messenger: Hallelujah Anyhow

8) The War On Drugs: A Deeper Understanding

9) Laura Marling: Semper Femina

10) Slowdive self-titled

11) Aimee Mann: Mental Illness

12) The Weather Station self titled

13) The Big Moon: Love in the 4th Dimension

14) Julien Baker: Turn Out The Lights

15) Lowly: Heba

16) EMA: Exile In The Outer Ring

17) Aldous Harding: Party

18) The Deep Dark Woods: Yarrow

19) Austra: Future Politics

=20) Phoebe Bridgers: Stranger In The Alps

=20) Torres: Three Futures

Top 20 Live Performances of 2017

Financial constraints changed the nature of my music experiences in 2017: foreign festivals were out of reach, and the number of gigs I could attend was reduced. Yet, I was still able to visit smaller venues, and the absolute highlight of my musical year was an outstanding Green Man Festival in Wales in August.

1) Hurray for the Riff Raff, Green Man 18th September 2017

2) The National, O2 Apollo 22nd September 2017

3) Pumarosa, Green Man 18th September 2017

4) Zola Jesus, Band on the Wall 1st November 2017

5) St Vincent, O2 Apollo 18th October 2017

6) Austra, Deaf Institute 24th March 2017

7) PJ Harvey, Green Man 20th August 2017

8) The Big Moon, Sugarmill 9th October 2017

9) Slow Dive, Albert Hall 10th October 2017

10) Michael Kiwanuka, Green Man 19th August 2017

11) Julien Baker, Deaf Institute 6th June 2017

12) Grizzly Bear, Albert Hall 6th October 2017

13) Aldous Harding, Green Man 19th August 2017

14) Laura Marling, Albert Hall 12th March 2017

15) Julia Jacklin, Soup Kitchen 23rd February 2017

16) EMA, Soup Kitchen 4th October 2017

17) London Grammar, O2 Apollo 20th October 2017

18) Banks, Albert Hall 10th March 2017

19) Waxahatchee, Deaf Institute 5th September 2017

20) Pinegrove, Dot to Dot Festival 26th May 2017