The 25 best albums of 2017

22 November 2023, 22:21

Take a look back to the year of Who Built The Moon, Wonderful Wonderful, Concrete & Gold, Visions Of A Life and As You Were.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. The xx - I See You: release date 13th January 2017

   The third album from the South London sound lab saw them keep their distinctive sound, but opened up the fascinating use of samples to hit a new level of emotional depth. Tracks included On Hold, Say Something Loving and I Dare You.

   

2. Elbow - Little Fictions: release date 3rd February 2017

   20 years and seven albums into their career and Guy Garvey and his team have perfected their trademark brand of heart breaking, life affirming, beautiful music. Tracks included Magnificent (She Says), All Disco and Gentle Storm.

   

3. Circa Waves - Different Creatures: release date 10th March 2017

   The second album from the young Liverpool indie band sees them open up their classic guitar hooks for a more mature sound. Tracks included Wake Up and Fire That Burns.

   

4. The Big Moon – Love In The 4th Dimension: release date 7th April 2017

   The debut album from the accomplished London four piece was recorded in just 12 days and includes the tracks Cupid, Silent Movie Susie and Formidable.

   

5. Maximo Park – Risk To Exist: release date 21st April 2017

   For their sixth album, Paul Smith and Maximo dug deeper into politics, social anxieties and world affairs, married to classic melodic hooks. Tracks included What Did We Do To You To Deserve This and Get High (No I Don't).

   

6. Gorillaz - Humanz: release date 28th April 2017

   Unbelievable sounds, incredible guests and a fictional band. Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett’s art project release its fifth studio album, which included We Got The Power (featuring Jehnny Beth of Savages), Saturns Barz and Momentz featuring De La Soul.

   

7. Kasabian - For Crying Out Loud: release date 5th May 2017

   The Leicester band turn back the clock for some glam rock-influenced indie bangers, a trip to a rave and a kaleidoscope of lyrical influences. It was the last Kasabian album to feature singer Tom Meighan before he left the band and tracks included Ill Ray (The King) and Bless This Acid House.

   

8. Paul Weller - A Kind Revolution: release date 12th May 2017

   The Modfather’s 13th solo album proved it’s not possible to second guess the man. It’s rich with influences, yet never resorts to cliches and there’s even a collaboration with folk rock legend Robert Wyatt. Tracks included Long LonG Road, Nova and The Cranes Are Back.

   

9. The Amazons - The Amazons: release date 26th May 2017

   The Reading quartet's debut album featured the singles Junk Food Forever, Stay With Me, In My Mind and Little Something.

   

10. The Charlatans - Different Days: release date 26th May 2017

    Tim Burgess and co’s 13th studio album draws on the influences that have seeped through their 25 year career and there’s special guests a-plenty: Paul Weller, Johnny Marr and New Order’s Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert.

    

11. Alt-J - Relaxer: release date 2nd June 2017

    The third studio album from the Leeds art rockers includes In Cold Blood, Deadcrush and 3WW.

    

12. London Grammar - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing: release date 9th June 2017

    The second album from the Nottingham trio, fronted by the mesmerising voice of Hannah Reid. Tracks included Rooting For You, Big Picture, Oh Woman Oh Man and Non Believer.

    

13. Portugal: The Man - Woodstock: release date 16th June 2017

    This Portland outfit had been knocking around for the best part of a decade on the US psych rock scene, but their eighth album has proved anyone who accused them of selling out to be completely misguided. Tracks included the big hit Feel It Still, plus Noise Pollution and Live In The Moment.

    

14. Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? Release date 16th June 2017

    The duo of Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher returned with more strident, confrontational, but still finely-tuned rock. Their second album included I Only Lie When I Love You, Lights Out and the storming title track.

    

15. Lana Del Rey - Lust For Life: release date 21st July 2017

    The singer-songwriter's fifth album included the tracks Summer Bummer and Groupie Love.

    

16. Queens Of The Stone Age - Villains: release date 25th July 2017

    2017 saw Josh Homme team up with Mark Ronson - what seems like a marriage made in hell is EXACTLY that - the savage riffing of QOTSA gets a smooth, sharp makeover and showcases the melodic treasure buried deep in those songs. Tracks included The Way You Used To Do and The Evil Has Landed.

    

17. Everything Everything - A Fever Dream: release date 18th August 2017

    Further adventures in intense rhythms from the Mancunian quartet. Their fourth album includes Can;;t Do, Desire and Night Of The Long Knives.

    

18. The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding: release date 25th August 2017

    Adam Granduciel’s first album for a major label saw him bring out the sparkle within his songs. Tracks included Thinking Of A Place, Holding On and Strangest Thing.

    

19. Foo Fighters - Concrete And Gold: release date 15th September 2017

    Dave Grohl and his team get expansive with producer Greg Kurstin: there’s still the hard Foos rockin’ on display, but with a more melodic, choral, “produced” sound. Tracks include Run, The Sky Is A Neighbourhood and The Line.

    

20. The Killers - Wonderful Wonderful: release date 22nd September 2017

    On the band's fifth album, Brandon Flowers leads tracks like The Man and Run For Cover like they’re soundtracks to fictitious 1980s teen movies and you’re left amazed at how a band this quirky can be so huge.

    

21. Wolf Alice - Visions Of A Life: release date 29th September 2017

    For their second album, the North London quartet expanded on their grungy guitar sound for a more rounded approach that takes in robotic synthpop, dream pop and quirky rhythms, with Ellie Roswell’s voice acting as a whole other instrument in itself. Tracks included Don't Delete The Kisses, Beautifully Unconventional and Heavenward.

    

22. Liam Gallagher - As You Were: release date 6th October 2017

    After the false start of Beady Eye, Liam finally went solo properly and it was everything you’d expect - and want. Big, bold choruses, Beatlesque orchestration, the odd bit of Manc soul and just a touch - a touch, mind - of vulnerability in there, too. Tracks included Wall Of Glass, For What It's Worth, Paper Crown and Come Back To Me.

    

23. Stereophonics - Scream Above The Sounds: release date 27th October 2017

    The tenth Phonics album saw Kelly Jones come across like a veteran Welsh bluesman, especially on the Stuart Cable tribute, Before Anyone Knew Our Name. Other tracks included All In One Night, Caught By The Wind and What's All The Fuss About?

    

24. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built The Moon? Release date 24th November 2017

    While going about his usual business for the previous four years, the elder Gallagher was making a “secret” record with soundtrack mastermind and DJ David Holmes. The result saw Noel pushing himself way out of his comfort zone: samples, French female singers, soul pastiches and instrumental interludes. Tracks included Holy Mountain, It's A Beautiful World, She Taught Me How To Fly and If Love Is The Law.

    

25. U2 - Songs Of Experience: release date 1st December 2017

    The massive Joshua Tree 30th anniversary tour was a brief diversion from the main business of 2017 for Bono and friends: the follow-up to 2014’s Songs Of Innocence. We returned to a trip through Bono’s back pages with memories and a more reflective feel. Tracks included You're The Best Thing About Me, Get Out Of Your Own Way and Summer Of Love.