The 20 Best Songs of 2017 - Oh My Rockness

Random Rockness

The 20 Best Songs of 2017

Come for the great content. Stay for the big time playlist at the end.

November 27, 2017

Written by Patrick McNamara

We blasted lots and lots of new jams this year (and since we work from home, so did our neighbors!).

Most were fine. Some completely _____. But a few really stuck!

Now's the chill time we've set aside to talk about those sticky JAMS.

Here are our favorite songs of 2017.

This was a joy to put together and I hope you love it.

*songs listed in alphabetical order

**all twenty of these songs are #1

(Spotify playlist here)


The 20 Best Songs of 2017 (source: Oh My Rockness)


Alvvays - “Forget About Life"

Could have picked many different songs from Alvvays' new album to include on this list because that album rules.

But we picked the closer!

This jam reminds me about life.

VVhat a good band.

From the album: Antisocialites


Julien Baker - “Appointments "

This song will break your heart.

And at the end you will play it again and again and again (repeat 70 x 7 times).

“Maybe it's all gonna turn out alright and I know that it's not but I have to believe that it is."

Brutal. Beautiful.

From the album: Turn Out The Lights


Beach Fossils - “Down The Line“

“These days I feel like I do nothing right so come with me and we'll go down the line."

IN.

Beach Fossils, take me away!

From the album: Somersault

*RIP The Nasty Bits


Business of Dreams - “Repossesed"

Next on the list, a 100% not depressing sunshine pop jam.

California's Business of Dreams is the creative project of Corey Cunningham. (He also plays guitar in Terry Malts.)

For a good time, turn it up!

Warning: synths slap / beats bounce

From the album: Business of Dreams


Julie Byrne - “Sleepwalker"

This is the perfect Sunday morning song

(or any day's morning... or afternoon…. or evening... but Sunday mornings for sure).

If you like haunting fingerpicked folk that sounds like beauty and sadness slow dancing with each other - then this Julie Byrne jam is the jam for you.

And you. And you. And you.

From the album: Not Even Happiness


Charly Bliss - "Julia"

A grungy pop gem.

A gem, I tell you.

A gem!

From the album: Guppy


Chastity Belt - “Different Now"

The best summer bummer jam!

You can also blast this song in the spring, summer or fall!

Works anytime you wanna feel bummed, really!

From the album: I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone


Cold Beat - “62 Moons"

This resplendent San Francisco indie pop band (led by Hannah Lew of Grass Widow) knocked this dreamy synth jam out of the solar system.

Come for the swirls. Stay for the beats.

From the album: Chaos by Invitation


Day Wave - “Ordinary"

I've never heard a Day Way song I didn't like.

Jackson Phillips just knows how write the laid-back hooks!

But this one is extraordinary.

I've returned to its melancholy bounce again and again and again.

From the album: The Days We Had


Dream Wife “FUU"

This top notch punk JAM was originally released in 2016.

But it's included on Dream Wife's new album coming out in 2018.

Therefore, it qualifies for this “Best of 2017" list.

Plus, I can do what I want. It's my blob.

PUNK. ROCK.

I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want

So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want

I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, F**K YOU UP

From the album: Dream Wife (2018 version)


Funeral Advantage - “Please Help Me"

I feel like more people need to know about Funeral Advantage.

Boston's Tyler Kershaw is the man behind this band and it the opinion of this music blob that his shimmery DIY pop ranks with the best of them.

I mean, this is a great song.

From the album: Please Help Me


Hazel English - “Never Going Home"

This song rules so much.

Light shimmering melodies.

Nostalgic pop swirls.

(end Haiku)

*I first fell for this jam late last year just a few days after I'd already written “The Best Songs of 2016" and I was kicking myself for months for not getting it in under the wire so kudos to Polyvinyl for re-releasing it this summer thereby qualifying it for this year's feature…....life is full of second chances.

From the album: Just Give In / Never Going Home


Iron Chic - “Invisible Ink"

Every Iron Chic jam is kind of the same jam. You get huge Long Island hardcore hooks, crunchy emo choruses, triumphant punk shouts, and thick melodies that make the room explode in ecstatic sweaty rapture.

And most come with this sentiment --> “Life sucks! But things are gonna be okayyyyyyy!"

This jam is no exception to any of that. It's top notch.

*Just a whisper! Just a whisperrrrrrrrrrr!

(so good)

From the album: You Can't Stay Here


Kalax - “Rooftops"

This big time electronic jam reminds me of that part in Ferris Bueller's Day Off when Cameron finally realizes he needs to make a stand against his old man and how he discovers (to borrow from Iron Chic again) “Life sucks. But things are gonna be okayyyyyyyy!"

It's also like a motivational quote set to super sick synths.

“You can do all things if you believe."

“When you feel like stopping think of why you started."

“You are your only limit."

There is no 'I' in Kalax."

From the album: Kalax


The National - “Day I Die"

Wanted to include a song by The National (this band's gonna be big) so this feature would be respected by any NPR listeners who might be listening in. Please don't go looking for typos. You wont find anyee.

I'm not always in the mood for Ph.D pop about dying, but when I am, I reach for this jam!

From the album: Sleep Well Beast


Slowdive - “Sugar for the Pill"

Name a band that's had a more successful reunion after a long layoff (22 years!) than Slowdive.

It's totally cool. I'll wait.

While you're still thinking….this year the lush rock legends released their first new album since 1995 and it's unquestionably* great.

This song in particular makes me want to cast all my cares and sail away and drift on bliss.

*if you question its greatness, please vehemently disagree with me in the comments section this blob has never had

From the album: Slowdive


Sorority Noise - “No Halo"

Oh my Blob, this jam. THIS. JAM.

“No Halo" by Sorority Noise is 2:55 minutes of pure emo punk rock pop perfection.

It's about God and Death and Regret and Flaws and Life.

Tip From Someone Who's Blasted This ___ Times Since This Summer: wait for the transcendence (2:04).

You WILL be able to climb that mountain.

From the album: You're Not As ____ As You Think


Turnover - “Curiosity"

Another perfectly pleasant pop jam from this laid-back Virginia Beach band.

A deep cut from their latest album that both relaxes and refreshes.

Turnover, take me away!

*if you're wondering my favorite part -- it's at 2:27

#BridgesForever

From the album: Good Nature


Vagabon - “Fear & Force"

I went to Pitchfork Fest in Chicago this summer. Have you heard of this thing? Pitchfork Fest?

Anyway, of all the artists and bands I saw there, Vagabon's opening set was the best.*

The band (led by its creator, Laetitia Tamko) was captivating as they crafted seemingly effortless pop majesties for us lucky early birds (we always get the worm). You could've heard a pin drop throughout if anyone had thought to throw one. I sure didn't. I had the wonders of music on my mind.

“Fear & Force" is a scary good tour de force song from a scary good tour de force album.

If you're in the mood for some transcendence, step right up.

*in my opinion!

From the album: Infinite Worlds


Wild Pink “Wizard of Loneliness"

Wild Pink is a laid-back band from Brooklyn (and one of the breakout acts of the year if anyone's asking how I see things).

Listen to a top track from their 2017 debut that will most probably be included in my “Top Albums of 2017" list should I ever make it, but one really great feature at a time!

In summation, put your phone down, dog.

RIYL: INDIE. ROCK.

From the album: Wild Pink


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