My Top 25 Songs Of 2017 (So Far...)

Well, we're just beyond the halfway mark of 2017 and I feel the need to talk about some of my favourite songs of the year as of right now. Just like I did with 2016, these selections are my twenty-five favourites so far. Things could be much different by the end of the year with some big releases coming in the second half. However, for now, these are my favourites! I'm posting some videos along with some of the songs, and as usual, I do not own any of the videos posted. Enjoy!

1) Kendrick Lamar - DNA.

Technically the second song from his newest album, DNA. is the song that makes quite the first impression on the listener. It sets the tone right away and makes a statement. With sharp lyricism and wonderfully booming beats (including a delicious beat drop to conclude the song), it's a song with a certain intensity that you simply cannot overlook. That's Lamar's main strength: he makes songs that hit hard, but you'll be consistently thinking about them for quite some time because of the content he presents. It's short, it's sweet, it gets the blood flowing, and it is the song that has had the most impact on me thus far in 2017.

2) Ibibio Sound Machine - The Chant (Iquo Isang)

Ibibio Sound Machine's new album is, so far, the most fun I've had with an album this year. As someone who never actually dances much, these songs make me want to move, and The Chant (Iquo Isang) is a perfect example of this influence. The production is deep and allows for every instrument to shine through with the vocals, allowing for a fun, grooving track with a lot of enthusiasm. Fortunately, the entire album is in a similar vein, and I'm having a blast with it. If you're wondering if you'll like Afro-funk music at all, then just listen to this and enjoy.

3) Forest Swords - Raw Language

The dramatic climaxes present on Compassion are always worth the listen. But the push and pull moments of Raw Language create a tense sound that is both engaging as well as haunting. Still, there is something hopeful amidst all of the tension presented here. The electronic soundscapes combined with the vocal sampling dominate this record. But if you want a song that's going to grip you in many different ways, then check out Raw Language. Oh, and check out the whole album, too.

4) Todd Rundgren - Fiction

It almost seemed inevitable that I would have a song from Todd Rundgren on this list. After all, I am a huge fan. His new album, White Knight, has a long list of collaborators, which is fairly rare for Rundgren. However, Fiction is a pure Rundgren solo track consisting of a hypnotic, yet straight-forward synth beat and memorable melodic vocals. It relies more on the electronic styling of Rundgren's more recent work, which makes Fiction a perfect showcase of his contemporary songwriting.

5) Mokoomba - Kumkukanda

Performance of the song (with a different title) on Seattle's KEXP. It was recorded back in 2014, but the song has officially been released on 2017's Luyando.

Let's venture into some Afro-fusion, shall we? I'm relatively new to Mokoomba, the fusion band hailing from Zimbabwe, but I feel like I've struck gold with them already. The vocals have that beautiful, African, throaty timbre which allows you to feel the music that much more. Surround those vocals with adventurous songwriting, and you have quite a lovely record. Along with Ibibio Sound Machine, Mokoomba are producing some of the most exhilarating music I've heard this year.

6) Marty Friedman - Self Pollution

Self Pollution is a blistering track. It takes you on a ride, but allows you to catch your breath in the middle with a tasteful solo before launching back into a metallic groove. That classic Marty tone is present throughout, and should be a treat to listen to for the entire album. I'm pretty excited about this one.

7) Feist - I'm Not Running Away

Feist's new album is a masterful work in the alternative genre. It is quite a departure from her more pop-oriented work, but it pays off in spades. Each song feels like it's telling a separate story, and I'm Not Running Away is a perfect example of how well her new approach works. This song feels like you're walking down the road and pondering about a possible lost love that you can't give up on. Then the bridge of the song opens up into a soaring declaration of support for the relationship. It's quite a beautiful song, and the instrumental, along with Leslie's dry sounding vocals, absolutely nail the atmosphere. Check out the whole album!

8) Foster The People - Pay The Man

The song that opens up the group's newest album, Sacred Hearts Club, Pay The Man is one of those songs that you'll put on when you want to feel cool walking down the street. As lame as that sounds, it's actually true. Seriously, try it out. It has such a fun spirit to it, with bouncing grooves and semi-rapping vocals from Mark Foster. It reminds me of something Moby would write, except with a more mainstream feel. They had said that they wanted their new album to be about joyous feelings, and they definitely captured that essence on this track!

9) Steven Wilson - Permanating

Steven Wilson once again ventures into pop music with his latest single, Permanating. However, something is different about this attempt. It sounds, dare I say, happy? Wilson is known for making dreary, melancholic music, but this new single is bouncy, bright, and even danceable. Wilson has said that this song is meant to sound like a mix of ABBA and ELO with a twist, and he has sure succeeded with that. He's also stated how proud he is of this song, and it's easy to see with his enthusiasm surrounding its release. I honestly love this song and how it's a departure from the usual dreariness, especially when you consider that his previous album was a story-driven record about a woman who was murdered with no one noticing her disappearance. This is a breath of fresh air!

10) Lorde - Homemade Dynamite

Sometimes the simplest songs can have an impact on you and you don't even realize it until you start humming them over and over again. Well, that's basically what Lorde's Homemade Dynamite did to me. It's a moody number, but it bops pretty hard, and it's one of those singalong songs that you would love to belt out while intoxicated, or while driving (though not at the same time... ha). Something about repeating the line "Blowing shit up with homemade d-d-d-dynamite" feels absolutely freeing. The entire album has moments where you feel the need to sing as loudly as possible, and I think that's a wonderful trait for an album to have.

11) Chelsea Wolfe - 16 Psyche

Chelsea Wolfe's dark vision turns into something heavier on 16 Psyche and I am in love with it. It has a doom metal influence, with Chelsea's vocals echoing in the background of the mix. The best thing about this kind of approach is that you don't even have to like metal to get into something like this. It is heavy, but it's still such an evocative song that you'll be drawn in no matter what. Still, as a metal fan, this is just really cool to hear. But listen to the track and get swept up by the atmosphere that just pours out and surrounds you while you listen. This is an exquisite song.

12) Mastodon - Jaguar God

The epic closer to their newest album, Emperor Of Sand, Mastodon give us another combination of their psychedelic/aggressive style first perfected on 2009's Crack The Skye. Jaguar God stands out on an album that consists of shorter, more linear songs. It's a whirlwind of a song, beginning with a moody, acoustic introduction before transitioning into an odd variety of electric guitars and increased tempos. It's a crazy bookend to Mastodon's newest conceptual release, similar to The Last Baron on Crack The Skye, and it shows that Mastodon still have that ability to throw a curveball at you.

13) Paramore - Told You So

Paramore was not on my radar for 2017, as I've never really been a huge fan of theirs. However, I had heard that they radically changed their sound for their newest album, which encouraged me to check it out. And I'm glad I did. The combination of happy music with sad lyrics is addicting. The pop sensibilities on this record are plentiful and the actual instrumental work is exciting and fresh, especially for a band making a full push into the pop spectrum. It's just a really exciting album to listen to, with Told You So being one of the highlight tracks. You'll hear influences from artists like No Doubt as well as subtle nods to other genres like reggae and electronica/synthpop. Everything about this album comes together brilliantly and the result is one of my favourite surprises of the year.

14) Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - An Intention

Kaitlyn once again gives us a spacey thrill with the first song from her upcoming album, The Kid. An Intention feels like a simpler take on the more abstract sound she achieved on 2016's Ears. It almost feels a bit poppy for Kaitlyn, but that makes it all the more exciting. It's as if she's been able to condense her unique songwriting into more concise structures, giving An Intention a feeling of being more in-the-moment than her previous efforts, which felt more exploratory. Not that those past efforts were unsatisfactory. Quite the contrary, actually. But this new song makes me feel as if Kaitlyn is coming more and more into her own sound as a producer. It's exciting to witness, especially since I adored her two releases last year.

15) Pharmakon - Nakedness Of Need

Frankly, this song scares the shit out of me. But I adore it for that reason alone. I talked about Pharmakon's newest album when I was discussing my anticipated albums of 2017, and this song delivers on the feeling of making contact with extraterrestrials (and I'm not even sure that's the intention). I won't even describe the song because it needs to be heard in order to be fully understood in all its eerie glory. Just know that it won't be a comfortable experience.

16) Joey Bada$$ - For My People

I love Joey Bada$$, but never actually thought him singing a hook would hit me this much. His singing of the chorus in For My People isn't just a nice sounding hook, it's a call to understand the world around you, especially for those struggling. It sets up the song so well that you almost forget he's a rapper until he comes in and showcases why he's also one of the better rappers on the scene. It's a poignant song with a great hook, some great rapping, a lovely sample, and a proper message.

17) Elder - Sanctuary

This sludgy, psychedelic 11-minute behemoth is the introduction to Elder's newest album, Reflections Of A Floating World. The thing I love most about Elder is that even though they produce lengthy songs, they're always engaging, and they never drone on and on. Nothing is worse than a longer song that goes absolutely nowhere, which I find is a common issue with a lot of newer sludge metal bands. Luckily, Elder show that they know how to write and perform a song that stays engaging, while also bringing that face-melting heaviness that is accented in perfectly muddy production.

18) Queens Of The Stone Age - The Way You Used To Do

The new offering from Queens is radically different from what we heard on their previous album. The Way You Used To Do is upbeat and features a swing-like quality in its structure. You can snap your fingers to it! Queens has always had a knack for producing upbeat, sexy songs, but this one is a bit different. It still has that sexy personality, but it's much more dance-inspired. I'm curious to know how the rest of the album will sound, considering ...Like Clockwork was quite morose due to Josh Homme's near-death experience. Either way, this is a fun start!

19) Ronald Bruner Jr. - Whenever

This song is funky as hell! Bruner Jr. is a drummer, and you can hear how powerfully his percussion breaks through in the overall sound of his album. Whenever represents a funky R&B sound with an extra punch and a jazzy backdrop. The percussion gives it a unique feeling that you don't seem to get with a lot of contemporary R&B songs. Definitely a nice change of pace from the usual neo-soul/R&B I hear.

20) Coco Hames - Dead River

Much like Feist's contribution to my list, singer/songwriter Coco Hames gives us her own lo-fi inspired effort with her latest album. Dead River, the final track of her eponymous album, is creepy and tiptoes along with its intriguing instrumental. I guess that makes sense with a song called Dead River, but Coco's voice adds quite a bit of old school charm (think Nancy Sinatra) to the song, making it an enjoyable listen even with the eerie vibes. It's nice to hear a more stripped down background for Coco after hearing her efforts with her more garage-inspired band, The Ettes. This way, you get the best of both worlds!

21) Charming Disaster - Snake Bit

The fun rocking duo Charming Disaster bring along their spooky ballads, but also their quirky uptempo tracks on their newest effort, Cautionary Tales. The thing I love about Charming Disaster is that both voices suit the songs perfectly and it's no different on Snake Bit. The rocking verses give way to a waltz-inspired chorus, which only helps to give the song an increase in energy. The whole album isn't as punchy as this one song, but believe me, it is still a wonderful effort. These two deserve your attention.

22) Tash Sultana - Murder To The Mind

A standalone single after the release of her Notion EP in 2016, Murder To The Mind is Tash Sultana's first release (with hopefully more to come) of new music in 2017. It strays from her more guitar-driven sound on Notion until the absolutely corking guitar solo at the end. As for the rest of the song, it features a more hip-hop inspired beat with Tash's signature vocals. It's catchy and has a nice urban feel to it, but the guitar solo takes the song to a whole other level. Tash is quite the guitar player and her ability to add that kind of gift into an already memorable song is wonderful. I can't wait until we get a full album from her.

23) Amelia Curran - Watershed

Amelia Curran is an expert at her craft, writing solid alternative tunes. Her newest album, Watershed, is evidence enough of her accomplished songwriting approach, with the titular track having the most impact on me. If you're looking for a steady, mid-tempo, singalong kind of alternative song, then Watershed is the song you should be looking for. It's a lovely song to just strum along to, while Curran's more subdued vocals give the track a hint of longing.

24) Austra - Utopia

Utopia may be one of the most straight-forward songs on Future Politics, with its steady beat and keyboard arrangements. However, much like Lorde's example above, Utopia stays with you for a long time after listening to it. It has incredible vocal passages which bring such verve to the song that it's impossible to not get lost in its sound. It also features a prominently futuristic (no pun intended) sound, which is a sound that I tend to adore when done well. I just found out that I might be seeing Austra later this year, so I am pumped to hear some of these new songs live!

25) Shay Lia - What's Your Problem?

Last but not least, Shay Lia comes in with her newest single, What's Your Problem?. Unfortunately, she has not yet announced any plans for an album, but her singles have been consistently exciting. Whether it's this song or Blue which came out earlier this year, Shay Lia has a knack for writing refreshing soul music. With this newest offering, Shay Lia turns up the pace a little and gives us a track that feels inspired by 90's R&B. It is a lovely jam of a song. Now if she would just announce an album so we can get a whole collection of these gems!