Pretty much the same as the last thread: post your top releases for 2017! I cut mine down from a top 50 to a top 40. This year provided a lot of fantastic music and even some all-time favourite records. However, even though this year produced some gems, I found 2017 to be far more patchy than 2016 in terms of quality. We had albums from Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith all in the same year nnnnnnnnnn. What did we do to deserve such punishment?? This really is a white Trump world. Anyway, let's focus on the good side xD
40. Gwen Stefani - You Make It Fell Like Christmas
39. Zak Abel - Only When We're Naked
38. Bebe Rexha - All Your Fault: Pt 2
37. Road Trip - Tokyo Hotel EP
36. Allie X - Collxtion II
35. Dua Lipa - The Only EP
34. J Sutta - I Say Yes
33. Madonna - Rebel Heart [Live]
32. Agnez Mo - X
31. Sia - Everday Is Christmas
30. Lea Michele - Places
29. Matt Terry - Trouble
28. Katy Perry - Witness
27. Jessica Agombar - Bullet For Your Love: Chapter One
26. LeToya Luckett - Back 2 Life
25. Bjork - Utopia
24. CupcakKe - Queen Elizabitch
23. Bebe Rexha - All Your Fault: Pt 1
22. Jessica Agombar - Bullet For Your Love: Chapter Two
21. Charli XCX - Pop 2
20. Harry Styles - Harry Styles
19. Shania Twain - NOW
18. Demi Lovato - Tell Me You Love Me
17. Shawn Mendes - MTV Unplugged
16. Paloma Faith - The Architect
15. Road Trip - Miss Taken EP
14. Charli XCX - No.1 Angel
13. Nelly Furtado - The Ride
12. P!nk - Beautiful Trauma
11. Miley Cyrus - Younger Now
TENDua Lipa - Dua Lipa
NINESteps - Tears On The Dancefloor
EIGHTFifth Harmony - Fifth Harmony
SEVENUna Healy - The Waiting Game
SIXBETSY - BETSY
FIVEKelela - Take Me Apart
FOURAustin Mahone - Dirty Work
THREEBetty Who - The Valley
TWOFergie - Double Dutchess
ONENiall Horan - FlickerThis album takes the #1 spot for many reasons. It might not be as adventurous as some other records on here and it is far from groundbreaking but what it lacks in gay-shrieking inducing production and features, it makes up for in heart, warmth and originality. Niall has always been my favourite 1D member. People know how much I love the band and he is the pinnacle of it for me, so that puts into perspective how much I adore this unproblematic, lovely human being. Back in the day, fans would trend #LetNiallSing because the producers of the earlier records were too focused on Harry and Liam. Not to take away from any of the members but Niall's tone and THAT ACCENT always did it for me. By far my favouite voice within the band. I remember what it felt like to be a fan back in 2011 and being pissed at his small solo airtime and loving/savouring the special moments he got...so to have an ENTIRE ALBUM OF NIALL in my hands is just...I can't describe. I feel so proud.
This is a mixture of folk-pop and a tad of country, genres which I usually steer away from but Niall just sells it so well. I feel like this album speaks to my roots. It's more Irish/celtic guitar than American country for a start. I'm Scottish-Irish and while this style of music isn't my go-to, it always makes me feel at home while listening. Una Healy's debut solo album (which is also in my top 10) has the same effect on me. It's basically a female version of Flicker. This record just tugs at my heart and feels like home. Not sure how many people can relate to experiencing that but hearing a fellow Celtic guy doing his thing on the world's stage mixed in with the fact that I've been championing him since the very beginning, it all comes together and feels like this album was made for me. It embodies my love for him, WHY I love him and all the sounds I've been exposed to since birth. I'm going to be a wreck when I meet him in March!!
