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Best Albums of 2017 (So Far)!

  • March 31, 2017
  • 3 min read
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Best Albums of 2017 (So Far)!

the xx, I see you, alternative rock

The XXI See You

The third album by the enigmatic trio’s third album may possibly be there best yet as it incorporates their individual talents and makes it a cohesive and a multi-introspective effort. They cross several genres here with the poppier “On Hold”, which is a borrowed variation from Hall and Oates “I Can’t Go For That” with a tinge of something that sounds very familiar to Tears For Fears “Pale Shelter.” Sampled or not, The xx has delivered a standout work that deserves its place on this list. Standout Track: “On Hold”


Thundercat, Drunk, Funk, R&B

Thundercat – Drunk

Another third album masterpiece here. I guess 3’s the lucky number because Thundercat gives us his finest piece of fusion, genre-melding work yet with an album that can easily be defined as having uproarious, meaningful, and candescent moments. Drunk delivers some of the funkiest, soulful, and fun songs of 2017–and it doesn’t stop there because the guest spots are jaw-dropping. Standout Track: “Friend Zone”


The Jesus and Mary Chain, Damage and Joy, Post-Punk, Alternative Rock

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Damage and Joy

The Reid Brothers are back. Here is the band that is the bellwether of all the shoegazing, noise pop bands out there. And they have only gotten better. Luckily, they haven’t gotten happier, because who wants happy music in this day and age. Combine Lou Reed with Johnny Rotten, you get The Jesus and Mary Chain. Standout Track: “Always Sad”


hippo campus, landmark, indie pop, indie rock

Hippo Campus – Landmark

Hippo Campus has delivered us one of the sunniest and melodically delicious masterpieces of 2017 thus far with their debut album Landmark. The album starts with a experimental electronic track “Sun Veins” that slowly slides into the glorious “Way It Goes”. This warm, cheery, and harmonious track is the kind of song you’d find yourself listening to on a beach at sunset. Standout Track: “Way It Goes”


The Shins – Heartworms

James Mercer produced, conceptualized, and played 2017’s best indie pop album thus far and I’ll be surprised if anyone surpasses this. Mercer laid down an 11-track, exquisitely polished self-produced album that playfully jumps around from psychedelic to classical pop to country to the beloved indie rock that made him ohh so famous! There are several moments on this album that will bring sheer joy to the faces of those that listen and quite a few nostalgic moments that will leave you forgetting what year you’re in. Standout Track: “Painting A Hole”


Methyl Ethel, everything is forgotten, alternative rock

Methyl Ethel – Everything Is Forgotten

And lastly, the Perth (Australia)-based psychedelic rock band Methyl Ethel are back with a second album after last year’s Oh Inhuman Spectacle. However, James Ford is on production duties here and gives this album the much needed rhythmic drive that it needs. Songs like “Drink Wine” and “Ubu” have some irresistible beats and catchy hooks that make nearly every song on this album highly-listenable. Standout Track: “Ubu”

 

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc. In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year. In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever. In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization. 2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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