{"id":65139,"date":"2017-12-23T10:30:58","date_gmt":"2017-12-23T16:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/?p=65139"},"modified":"2017-12-23T18:17:01","modified_gmt":"2017-12-24T00:17:01","slug":"top-albums-of-2017-staff-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/2017\/12\/23\/top-albums-of-2017-staff-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Albums of 2017: Staff Picks"},"content":{"rendered":"

KJHK Music Staff’s Top Albums of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, well, well, 2017…you are soon to be over. To say a lot has happened this year would be an understatement, so let’s get to the one good thing we can all agree upon: the music. If there’s one good thing to be said about 2017, it would hands down be the music put out this year by so many talented artists–let’s have a look at the Music Staff’s top albums for 2017!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Andrew Chavez, Music Director<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Melodrama\u00a0<\/em>– Lorde\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0MASSEDUCTION\u00a0<\/em>– St. Vincent<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Lust for Life\u00a0<\/em>– Lana Del Rey<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0The OOZ\u00a0<\/em>– King Krule<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Ctrl\u00a0<\/em>– SZA<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Slowdive\u00a0<\/em>– Slowdive<\/p>\n

7. Rainbow\u00a0<\/i>– Kesha<\/p>\n

8. Pleasure\u00a0<\/i>– Feist<\/p>\n

9. BLUE LIPS (lady wood phase II)\u00a0<\/i>– Tove Lo<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0No Shape\u00a0<\/em>– Perfume Genius<\/p>\n

I was at war with myself in terms of selecting my ten personal favorites or selecting what I thought the ten best albums of the year were, so what you see is a result of this.\u00a0Regardless,\u00a0Melodrama<\/em> would boast the number one spot on both of those lists. Sometimes records drop at the times you need them the most, and sometimes you realize it then, and sometimes you’ll see it later. Thank you, Lorde.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Grant Martin, Music Director<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Migration<\/em> – Bonobo\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0I See You –\u00a0<\/em>The xx<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Process\u00a0<\/em> – Sampha<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Slowdive –\u00a0<\/em>Slowdive<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Humanz\u00a0<\/em>– Gorillaz<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Nothing Feels Natural –\u00a0<\/em>Priests<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Love What Survives –\u00a0<\/em>Mount Kimbie<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Everybody Works<\/em> – Jay Som<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Boo Boo –\u00a0<\/em>Toro y Moi<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0No Shape\u00a0– <\/em>Perfume Genius<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dylan Fox<\/strong>, Programming Director<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Dedicated to Bobby Jameson\u00a0<\/em>– Ariel Pink\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Relatives in Descent<\/em> – Protomartyr<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Images<\/em> – You’ll Never Get To Heaven<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Utopia<\/em> – Bj\u00f6rk<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Phantom Brickworks<\/em> – Bibio<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Rocket<\/em> – (Sandy) Alex G<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Crack-Up\u00a0<\/em>– Fleet Foxes<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0The OOZ<\/em> – King Krule<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0DAMN.<\/em> – Kendrick Lamar<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Drunk\u00a0<\/em>– Thundercat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sam Blaufuss<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Ctrl\u00a0<\/em>– SZA\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0DAMN.\u00a0<\/em>– Kendrick Lamar<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Flower Boy\u00a0<\/em>– Tyler, The Creator<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Green Twins\u00a0<\/em>– Nick Hakim<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0A Crow Looked At Me<\/em> – Mount Eerie<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Brutalism\u00a0<\/em>– IDLES<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Aromanticism\u00a0<\/em>– Moses Sumney<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0The OOZ\u00a0<\/em>– King Krule<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Run the Jewels 3\u00a0<\/em>– Run the Jewels<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0No Mountains in Manhattan\u00a0<\/em>– Wiki<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jaya Chakka<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Belladonna of Sadness\u00a0<\/em>– Alexandria Savor\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0New World\u00a0<\/em>– Koda<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Missing Link\u00a0<\/em>– Nick Murphy<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0RMCM\u00a0<\/em>– Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0The OOZ\u00a0<\/em>– King Krule<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0The Underside of Power<\/em> – Algiers<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Modern Addiction\u00a0<\/em>– TENDER<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Relaxer\u00a0<\/em>– alt-J<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0A Moment Apart<\/em> – ODESZA<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Vera\u00a0<\/em>– Crooked Colors<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sully Dyvad<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Pure Comedy\u00a0<\/em>– Father John Misty\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0SATURATION II\u00a0<\/em>– BROCKHAMPTON<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Safe Like Silk in Polyester Sheets\u00a0<\/em>– Blonde Tongues<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone\u00a0<\/em>– Chastity Belt<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0If Blue Could Be Happiness\u00a0<\/em>– Florist<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Slowdive\u00a0<\/em>– Slowdive<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0SATURATION\u00a0<\/em>– BROCKHAMPTON<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0A Crow Looked At Me\u00a0<\/em>– Mount Eerie<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Antisocialites\u00a0<\/em>– Alvvays<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0This Old Dog\u00a0<\/em>– Mac DeMarco<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Patrick Kennedy<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Turn Out The Lights\u00a0<\/em>– Julien Baker\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Greatest Hits<\/em> – Remo Drive<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Rocket\u00a0<\/em>– (Sandy) Alex G<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Everybody Works\u00a0<\/em>– Jay Som<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Soft Sounds\u00a0<\/em>– Japanese Breakfast<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0The Yunahon Mixtape\u00a0<\/em>– Oso Oso<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Process<\/em> – Sampha<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0You’re Not As _____<\/em>\u00a0As You Think\u00a0<\/em>– Sorority Noise<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0If Blue Could Be Happiness<\/em> – Florist<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Bear Your Mind\u00a0<\/em>– Free Throw<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scott Knettle<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Take Me Apart<\/em> – Kelela\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0No Shape\u00a0<\/em>– Perfume Genius<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Routines\u00a0<\/em>– Hoops<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Rocket\u00a0<\/em>– (Sandy) Alex G<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0What Now<\/em> – Sylvan Esso<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Dada\u00a0<\/em>– B Boys<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Big Fish Theory<\/em> – Vince Staples<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0About U<\/em> – MUNA<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Crack-Up\u00a0<\/em>– Fleet Foxes<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Pure Comedy\u00a0<\/em>– Father John Misty<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Griffin Lowry<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Flower Boy\u00a0<\/em>– Tyler, The Creator\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Flying Microtonal Banana\u00a0<\/em>– King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often<\/em> – Quelle Chris<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Brick Body Kids Still Daydream\u00a0<\/em>– Open Mike Eagle<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Crack-Up\u00a0<\/em>– Fleet Foxes<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0SATURATION I & II<\/em> – BROCKHAMPTON<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0DAMN.\u00a0<\/em>– Kendrick Lamar<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0The OOZ\u00a0<\/em>– King Krule<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0At What Cost<\/em> – GoldLink<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0A Deeper Understanding\u00a0<\/em>– The War On Drugs<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Zack Murphy<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0DAMN.\u00a0<\/em>– Kendrick Lamar\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Flower Boy\u00a0<\/em>– Tyler, The Creator<\/p>\n

3. All-Amerikkkan Bada$$<\/em> – Joey Bada$$<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Subluxe<\/em> – Healy<\/p>\n

5.\u00a04:44<\/em> – Jay-Z<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0This Old Dog\u00a0<\/em>– Mac DeMarco<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Blkswn<\/em> – Smino<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Peak<\/em> – Choker<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Good For You<\/em> – Amin\u00e9<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Colors\u00a0<\/em>– Beck<\/p>\n

Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN.<\/em>\u00a0was everything I hoped for when I first heard it. The album felt like a combination\u00a0of the jazzy and funky influences\u00a0of To Pimp a Butterfly<\/em> and the classic sound of west coast hip-hop on Good Kid, M.A.D.D City<\/em>. Kendrick confirmed these thoughts of mine when he said in an interview that he made DAMN.<\/em> to feel like a mix of both of his previous two albums. Maybe the best thing abut the album though is the concept of it. The album tells a story and examines all of the emotions Kendrick has been feeling. The concept is so deep that many people including myself\u00a0still don’t, and may never, know the full meaning behind it. So deep is this work that he just released a collector’s edition version of the album that has it’s track listing played in reverse. In fact, Kendrick said in an MTV interview that the album plays a full story and has even better rhythm when played this way. All in all, after you get done listening to the album, all you can say is: damn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Miranda Roberts<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Sleep Well Beast\u00a0<\/em>– The National\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Pure Comedy\u00a0<\/em>– Father John Misty<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0The Wild\u00a0<\/em>– The Rural Alberta Advantage<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0Lotta Sea Lice\u00a0<\/em>– Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0No Shape\u00a0<\/em>– Perfume Genius<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Take Me Apart\u00a0<\/em>– Kelela<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0Goths\u00a0<\/em>– The Mountain Goats<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Hot Thoughts\u00a0<\/em>– Spoon<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Prisoner\u00a0<\/em>– Ryan Adams<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Salutations\u00a0<\/em>– Conor Oberst<\/p>\n

Sleep Well Beast<\/em> is a beautiful type of bleak you want to wallow in forever. While The National hasn\u2019t released an album since 2013\u2019s Trouble Will Find Me<\/em>, Sleep Well Beast<\/em> feels like an old friend. Berninger\u2019s signature baritone and dark humor are comforting despite being lined with gloom. This album provides The National\u2019s classic appeal without sounding stale. It\u2019s exquisite and was without question my favorite album of 2017.\u200b<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Josiah Witteman<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Zombies On Broadway<\/em> – Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0LUV\u00a0<\/em>Is Rage 2\u00a0<\/em>– Lil Uzi Vert<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Reputation\u00a0<\/em>– Taylor Swift<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0The Science of Letting Go\u00a0<\/em>– Smallpools<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0One More Light\u00a0<\/em>– Linkin Park<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0HNDRXX<\/em> – Future<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0DAMN.<\/em> – Kendrick Lamar<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0Memories…Do Not Open<\/em> – The Chainsmokers<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0Live For The Moment\u00a0<\/em>– The Sherlocks<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0M. A. G. S.\u00a0<\/em>– M. A. G. S.<\/p>\n

Andrew McMahon, former front man of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, continues to showcase his musical genius with\u00a0Zombies on Broadway<\/i>. With this release, McMahon continues to experiment with the indie-pop sound that he aspires to perfect, taking a ninety degree turn from much of his previous work. The record was largely influenced by the bright lights and loud noises of New York City. Subsequently, McMahon wrote the record in New York, between tours with the rest of the Wilderness crew.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KJHK Music Staff’s Top Albums of the Year Well, well, well, 2017…you are soon to be over. To say a lot has happened this year would be an understatement, so let’s get to the one good thing we can all agree upon: the music. If there’s one good thing to be said about 2017, it would hands down be the music put out this year by so many talented artists–let’s have a look at the Music Staff’s top albums for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":65181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,4,3268,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-on-kjhk","category-music","category-music-articles","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/475403463.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kjhk.org\/web\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}