Top 10 Albums of 2017 Part 1

Happy holidays/Merry Christmas/Happy Chaunukah/Happy Yule/Happy Kwanzaa/Happy New Year/etc.! By now I imagine you guys know the drill with this. I'm taking the last week that I will be posting this year to list what I feel were the 10 best albums to come out this year. 2017 had some pretty good stuff released, so I'm looking forward to posting two of them a day till the end of the week after which I will be taking the rest of the year off to enjoy the holidays. These albums will not be listed in any particular order because as I've said in the past, it's a pain trying to place all of them. All that aside, let's get started!

1. Wembley or Bust, by ELO

On June 24th, 2017 ELO showed just how age hasn't slowed them down and how amazing they still are after multiple decades by doing a tremendous performance at Wembley Stadium in England. In order to commemorate this grand show they recorded everything and released it all on a double album as well as a video home release titled Wembley or Bust back in November.

Wembley or Bust features a slew of the band's most beloved songs from the past 40+ years. You wouldn't think that Jeff Lynne and Richard Tandy would still be able to play and sing the way they did back in their heyday any more, but amazingly enough they can. They sound just as fantastic as ever and they are backed by a bunch of talented musicians who are able to bring all of the songs to life the way they're meant to be.

2. Waiting on a Song, by Dan Auerbach


The Black Keys have been on a break for quite a while now, but that hasn't stopped front man Dan Auerbach from working on new songs. Back in June he decided to release his second studio solo album titled Waiting on a Song. The album features his songs with him backed by a bunch of local Nashville talent that are legends in the area. This album is the best material of about 200 songs that they wrote and recorded together over a period of several months.

Waiting on a Song sounds virtually nothing like The Black Keys, though it does retain some of the familiar key elements of Auerbach's style. Honestly, I think that's a great thing. There is no point in doing a solo album if it's just going to sound like your band's material. The sound ranges from 60's pop rock to country to funk to so many odd combinations of things in between. It is definitely a unique treat to the ears.