1. “Gone Now,” Bleachers,
Genre: Indie Pop
Jack Antonoff’s sophomore album, “Gone Now,” was released on June 2, 2017. With its totally ‘80s synth vibes, the entire album is artistically complex and catchy. Antonoff explained to Rolling Stone in April 2017 that his album refers to memories of the 9/11 terror attacks and the loss of his sister after her battle with cancer. “It’s not about not moving on. [The loss] changes you. It changes your relationships; it changes how you see yourself, the way you see your work. I really wanted to be in all that as I made this album,” Antonoff said in a “Rolling Stone” interview. The album is an absolute whirlwind of emotions. Each track is a very intricately composed song that carries the weight of a new discovery in his life. The synth beats, sprinkling of electronic trumpets and intense drum reverb that are repeated throughout the album make for a spectacular piece of art. The themes also make it very compelling. He continuously speaks of heartbreak, loss, anxiety, excitement, change and depression. His tendencies toward extreme emotions are prevalent in his songs, and he channels them wonderfully through bizarre lyrics and funky beats.
2. “Crack-Up,” Fleet Foxes,
Genre: Indie Folk
After a six year hiatus, Fleet Foxes released “Crack-Up” on June 21, 2017. Inspired by a F. Scott Fitzgerald essay, “Crack-Up” is an eclectic mix of self-reflection put into an indie folk album. Lead singer Robin Pecknold told “Pitchfork” magazine, “Lyrically, a lot of the album deals with perception and the difference between how I have seen the world and how it actually is, in terms of people or situations or self-assessment, or any other permutation of the problem…. There are a number of songs where I wanted the transitions to feel jarring, nonlinear, like you were watching a movie that has been edited partially out of sequence… or as if it’s a stained glass window that’s been shattered and reassembled.” From the title track to the closing song, “Crack-Up” certainly achieves this feeling with songs that seem as though you were switching channels on the radio.
3. “Yours Conditionally,” Tennis,
Genre: Lo-Fi
“Yours Conditionally,” the fourth studio album by the band Tennis, was released on March 10, 2017. Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley are the dynamic duo behind the band. Though they are husband and wife, Tennis told “Teeth” magazine that autonomy is important for them and their creative process. With soft vibes and a ‘70s retro feel, much of the album focuses on isolation. “For us, disconnecting is a huge part of our writing process,” Riley told NPR. “If we can reflect on ourselves without any sort of third-party analysis, it just makes us write more freely.” “Yours Conditionally” certainly speaks volumes on the artists’ disconnection and self-reflection.
4. “Nothing Feels Natural,” Priests,
Genre: Punk Rock
On Jan. 27, 2017, Priests released their debut album. With an extremely punk sound, “Nothing Feels Natural” also resembles a 1960s psychedelic rock album. Much of the album revolves around the political tension currently permeating the nation. NPR stated, “‘Nothing Feels Natural’ recognizes just that: an unsettled state of mind, and of society. In weeks and years to come, it will be tempting to historically pin the record to the election of a president who stands in direct opposition to the values of the band and many who surround it.” Each track on the album stirs up an almost existential feeling within the listeners, prompting them to respond to the songs in deep thought.
5. “don’t smile at me,” Billie Eilish,
Genre: Electro Pop
This soft indie debut album was released on Aug. 9, 2017. After releasing “ocean eyes” in November 2016, Eilish began working on her first EP. At only 15 years old, Eilish hit the Billboard charts in 2017 at #167. Her singles “ocean eyes” and “bored” were featured on the “13 Reasons Why” soundtrack, skyrocketing her exposure in the music industry. From that spark came her first studio EP. The instruments and beats on the album are typically upbeat and relatively mainstream, but her melodic voice carries a dramatic and melancholic tone through the entire album. It flows in a way only an indie electro pop album could.