2017 brought us some terrible politics, but some great music, thanks to new albums from Lana Del Rey, Princess Nokia, Kehlani, and many more. We’ve rounded up BUST cofounder and art director Laurie Henzel’s and BUST music editor Emily Nokes’ picks for the top 23 albums of 2017 — and, btw, we have to mention that if Cardi B. had put out an album, it would absolutely be on here and we can’t wait to listen to her debut album in 2018. And now, here are our picks — scroll down to listen to an accompanying playlist.
1. PRIESTS
Nothing Seems Natural
(Sister Polygon, January 27)
2. KEHLANI
SweetSexySavage
(Atlantic Records, January 27)
3. DIET CIG
Swear I’m Good At This
(Frenchkiss Records, April 7)
Read the BUST review here.
4. GIRLPOOL
Powerplant
(Anti-, May 12)
Read the BUST review here.
5. ALDOUS HARDING
Party
(4AD, May 19)
Read the BUST review here.
6. DADDY ISSUES
Deep Dream
(Infinity Cat Recordings, May 19)
Read the BUST review here.
7. CHASTITY BELT
I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone
(Hardly Art, June 2)
Read the BUST review here.
8. DONORMAAL
Third Daughter
(self-released, July 11)
9. WAXAHATCHEE
Out In The Storm
(Merge Records, July 14)
Read the BUST review here.
10. LANA DEL RAY
Lust for Life
(Interscope Records, July 21)
Read the BUST review here.
11. DOWNTOWN BOYS
Cost of Living
(Sub Pop, August 11)
Read the BUST review here.
12. LEIKELI47
Wash & Set
(RCA Records, September 8)
Read the BUST review here.
13. PRINCESS NOKIA
1992 Deluxe
(Rough Trade, September 8)
Read the BUST review here.
14. ZOLA JESUS
Okovi
(Sacred Bones Records, September 8)
Read the BUST review here.
15. L.A. WITCH
L.A. Witch
(Suicide Squeeze Records, September 8)
Read the BUST review here.
16. KAITLYN AURELIA SMITH
The Kid
(Western Vinyl, October 6)
17. ST. VINCENT
Masseduction
(Loma Vista Recordings, October 13)
Read the BUST review here.
18. MARGO PRICE
All American Made
(Third Man Records, October 20)
Read the BUST review here.
19. JACKIE SHANE
Any Other Way
(The Numero Group, October 20)
Read the BUST review here.
20. FEVER RAY
Plunge
(Rabid Records, October 27)
Read the BUST review here.
21. YAEJI
EP2
(Godmode, November 3)
22. ANGEL OLSON
Phases
(Jagjaguwar, November 10)
Read the BUST review here.
23. MAVIS STAPLES
If All I Was Was Black
(Anti-, November 17)
Read the BUST review here.
More from BUST
BUST’s Top 25 Books of 2017 (Spoiler, They’re All By Women)
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