Release date Artist Album Genre Label Ref. A poem written and read by his mum on ‘Sun Of Jean’ makes for a highlight with a twist on this Mercury-nominated gem. Jam-packed with knock-out punchlines (“’Nuff of dem are spring leg just like frogs / But man ah man are old-school like Joe Bloggs”) and dazzling beats, this is a classic grime album full-stop. frontman had every right to take the rest of 2017 off. 1 Review", "Tears For Fears Announce Greatest Hits Compilation, Release First New Song in 13 Years", "Barenaked Ladies announce new album, 'Fake Nudes,' with tour", "Katharine McPhee's romantic new single has a Frank Sinatra connection — listen here! The languid, lush ‘Drew Barrymore’ is pure relationship goals, as she coos, “Somebody get the tacos / Somebody spark the blunt / Let’s start the Narcos off at episode one”, while ‘Prom’ shows a deep understanding of millennial pop. Detroit’s Protomartyr felt more vital than ever this year. Only Archy Marshall can combine ska, rock’n’roll, sentimental ballads and mystical poems into the same magic potion. Those who miss the dramatic, complex pop music of late legend David Bowie will find many of the same musical cues inside this beautiful work of contemporary chamber pop, where balanced blends of world rhythms, guitars, and synthesizers are joined by a thick glue of lyrical self-investigation. Via old-school samples, a trusty Frank Ocean guest spot and the headline-baiting appearance of Beyoncé on ‘Family Feud’, he more than gets his point across. Polished production and catchy songwriting make every song on Beach Fossils‘ third full-length album stick in your head as a stand-alone single, helping its short, 36-minute runtime roll by with astonishing speed and grace. Alt-county hero Ryan Adams‘ Prisoner easily ranks as the best breakup album of the year, a driving work of contemporary rock with painful and personal edges. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: there’s way more songwriting nous to be enjoyed here, from pulsing synthpop opener ‘Drink Wine’ to the moody ‘Hyakki Yako’ and the dimension-twisting ‘No. In an era in which too many things are painted in black and white, that’s a powerful achievement. We never lose the vulnerability or melancholic euphoria that drew so many to the band; just this time around we have it with killer beats and club ready choruses, and it’s all the more fun. Previously a member of indie group The History Of Apple Pie, the Welsh musician’s debut is a far cry from the sickly-sweet indie-pop they excelled in. While it may not top our list, this album easily ranks among the most compelling of the year. ", "Foster the People Drop Three New Songs on 'III' EP: Listen", "Gabbani, titolo nuovo disco è Magellano", "Observational Tragedy: Jonathan Coulton's Approach to Songwriting", "Kontra K: Tracklist mit Features zu "Gute Nacht, "Marie Miller Pours Her Heart Out on Debut LP 'Letterbox': Album Premiere", "Eurovision France: Alma's first album is on its way! Read NME’s review of Loyle Carner – ‘Yesterday’s Gone’, Gyrating well away from the angularity of her fourth album, this glam-pop confection’s title track has St Vincent yelling, “I can’t turn off what turns me on”. The award for Catchiest Album Of The Year easily goes to the sophomore release from Canadian indie-pop outfit Alvvays, whose all-killer, no-filler Antisocialites grabs your eardrums from every conceivable angle. Joined by a bevy of a-list pals, ‘Mura Masa’ is an album of proper bangers. In frontman Will Gould, they possess a half Meat Loaf, half Gerard Way dynamo who helps make their wildly ambitious ‘Eternity, in Your Arms’ debut a theatrical odyssey. Punchy kick drum and jangly guitar lines slowly bring you into the first track of Chastity Belt‘s I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone, building up for over a minute before the opening lines: “You’re hard on yourself/Well, you can’t always be right/All those little things that keep you up at night/You should take some time to figure out your life.” What follows is a series of extremely relatable stories about self-examination and the anxiety of aging that are shaped into being by atmospheric guitars, warm vocals, and steady drum beats. When released back in July, the song ‘Garden Shed’ was taken as a ‘coming out’ announcement. Read NME’s review of Stormzy – ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’. Despite having a sound that’s as expansive and otherworldly as the cosmos itself, Soft Sounds from Another Planet is an album rooted in the here and now. Read NME’s review of Creeper – ‘Eternity, In Your Arms’. Read NME’s review of LCD Soundsystem – ‘American Dream’. In the single-driven pop universe, it’s becoming increasingly rare to find albums that are worth dedicated, front-to-back listening time, but in this case we must insist: Sit down and listen to its full 43 minutes without stopping.