Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas

2017 Year-End Roundup

Admin1 Comment

Alright, so the big album-related lists from 2017 are out of the way (Best Albums & “Worst” Albums), so let’s jump into some more year-end lists! Let’s start with best songs. We’re gonna blow through the majority of these and then talk about the list-toppers a bit more in detail. Keep in mind this is all my personal opinion and you’re free to disagree! Let me know your favorite songs of 2017 down in the comments below.

Best Songs of 2017

  1. “All the Land Glimmered” by Julie Byrne
  2. “No Halo” by Sorority Noise
  3. “Main Attraction” by Sincerely, Me
  4. “Hiccups” by WATERS
  5. “Get By” by Real Friends
  6. “All” by Joseph
  7. “Better Off” by 7 Minutes in Heaven
  8. “Cannot Do This Alone” by Colony House
  9. “New York” by LEDGES
  10. “Take What You Want (feat. 5 Seconds of Summer)” by ONE OK ROCK
  11. “Feel Good” by Neon Trees
  12. “Apartment” by Seaway
  13. “The Last of the Real Ones” by Fall Out Boy
  14. “Paradise” by Broadside
  15. “Okay” by As It Is
  16. “Certainty” by Seasonal
  17. “What’s Wrong” by PVRIS
  18. “Sold” by Heavy Things
  19. “Caroline” by A Will Away
  20. “Everything You Want Me to Be” by Coldfront
  21. “Young for the Summer” by DALES
  22. “Celebrate the Reckless” by Magic Giant
  23. “The Fog” by LAYNE
  24. “Kids” by The Gospel Youth
  25. “Feelings” by Hayley Kiyoko
  26. “Don’t Take the Money” by Bleachers
  27. “Last Young Renegade” by All Time Low
  28. “The Breakup” by LANY
  29. “Slow Burn” by State Champs
  30. “Lookers” by The Menzingers
  31. “Fire” by The Dangerous Summer
  32. “In the Middle of It All” by Citizen
  33. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles
  34. “Tiger Teeth” by Walk the Moon
  35. “Daylily” by Movements
  36. “Hiding With Boys” by Creeper
  37. “Liability” by Lorde
  38. “Beautiful Things” by Grayscale
  39. “Black Butterflies & Déjà Vu” by The Maine
  40. “Fake Happy” by Paramore

That’s it! My top choice is “Fake Happy” by Paramore because I found myself constantly coming back to this song and loving it more and more every time. The lyrics are amazingly well-written and give such an awesome commentary, and the melodies in this song are absolutely stellar. “Black Butterflies & Déjà Vu” is my second pick because this song is so emotionally-charged and “gives me all the feels,” if you will. The instrumental is fantastic and the guitar melody is always stuck in my head on repeat. “Beautiful Things” by Grayscale is next on the list due to its heartfelt lyrics and spectacular vocal performance, along with that catchy hook! “Liability” by Lorde is a song that I can personally relate to and is such a moving piano ballad, which is quite out-of-the-ordinary for Lorde. “Hiding With Boys” is an epic rock tune outlined by smoky nostalgia and heart-rending lyrics that makes me feel some type of way. “Daylily” by Movements also makes me … feel something … and is such a poignant song between its raspy, impassioned vocals and raw instrumentals. I’ve been waiting for a studio version of “Tiger Teeth” by Walk the Moon for AGES and we finally got it! It definitely lives up to and even surpasses the live recordings of this atmospheric, emotional tune. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles isn’t what most fans expected from him, but my God, this monumental power ballad the best thing we could’ve ever dreamed of getting from this former boy band member. All of my top picks have something in common: they all made me feel. I don’t mean to get sappy, but that’s why I love music, it makes me feel things.

Best EPs of 2017

  1. Fade by Cold Climb It
  2. Likes Me Like That by Over Atlantic
  3. Aesthetically Pleasing by Sincerely, Me
  4. Do You Feel the Same Way Now? by Forbidden Envy
  5. Best When In Motion by Life Lessons
  6. Bloom by Seasonal
  7. Symmetry by 7 Minutes in Heaven
  8. Hard by The Neighbourhood
  9. Without You by pineview
  10. Wednesday by LAYNE

Click the links to read what we have to say about these EPs!

Best Debut Albums of 2017

  1. Totem by Welman
  2. AM/PM by The White Noise
  3. Lovely Domestic Bliss by Guide Dog
  4. Prosper by Gold Route
  5. Love Jail by Julia Louise
  6. Tasha Sits Close to the Piano by Jaws of Love.
  7. Homecoming by LEDGES
  8. Busybody Lazybones by Woolbright
  9. Landmark by Hippo Campus
  10. Red, Green, or Inbetween by WSTR
  11. Fail You Again by Can’t Swim
  12. Float Around by Coldfront
  13. Overexposed by Sleep On It
  14. Coast Modern by Coast Modern
  15. Always Lose by The Gospel Youth
  16. The Heights by Knox Hamilton
  17. Dreamcar by Dreamcar
  18. Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex
  19. Greatest Hits by Remo Drive
  20. Here Again by A Will Away
  21. In the Wind by Magic Giant
  22. Eternity, In Your Arms by Creeper
  23. LANY by LANY
  24. Feel Something by Movements
  25. Harry Styles by Harry Styles

Click the links to read what we have to say about each of these albums!

Most Underrated/Overlooked Albums of 2017

  1. Apprise. Assemble. Arise. by Concealed in Clouds
  2. Enjoy the Great Outdoors by Spencer Radcliffe & Everyone Else
  3. Odyssey by The Accidentals
  4. Swear I’m Good At This by Diet Cig
  5. Fever Dream by Everything Everything
  6. Sincerely by Dude York
  7. Telephone by Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas
  8. Waiting on the Sun by Jule Vera
  9. Bear Your Mind by Free Throw
  10. come out, you’re hiding by flor
  11. Connect the Dots by MisterWives
  12. Make the Best of It by Have Mercy
  13. For Posterity by Dryjacket
  14. Overexposed by Sleep On It (ironic title)
  15. Vultures by Dead Leaves
  16. Orc by Oh Sees
  17. Chew by Muskets
  18. Hurts So Good by The Polarity
  19. The Same View With a New Light by WATERMEDOWN
  20. Easy by The Weeks
  21. Homecoming by LEDGES
  22. The Love You Let Too Close by Thousand Below
  23. The Good Life by Makeout
  24. Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers
  25. Tasha Sits Close to the Piano by Jaws of Love.
  26. Waiting for Morning to Come by Being As An Ocean
  27. Totem by Welman
  28. Not Even Happiness by Julie Byrne
  29. Always Hope by Forever Starts Today
  30. Float Around by Coldfront
  31. Camp Cope by Camp Cope
  32. Busybody Lazybones by Woolbright
  33. Metaphysical by The Technicolors
  34. Landmark by Hippo Campus
  35. Content by Joywave
  36. The Heights by Knox Hamilton
  37. Goner by Heavy Things
  38. Dreamcar by Dreamcar
  39. Volcano by Temples
  40. In the Wind by Magic Giant
  41. Awkward Phase by Eternal Boy
  42. Coast Modern by Coast Modern
  43. Here Again by A Will Away
  44. Back to Beautiful by Picturesque
  45. Diverge by Hawking
  46. Something More! by WATERS
  47. All These Countless Nights by Deaf Havana
  48. Synesthesia by Courage My Love
  49. Origami by Vinyl Theatre
  50. After the Party by The Menzingers

Click the links to read what we have to say about each of these albums!

Those are all the lists we have for 2017! Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

June 2017 Alt Col Picks

AdminLeave a comment

A lot of great albums were released in June, so here are our favorite records of the month! (In no particular order.) Want a Spotify playlist? Click here!

  • Lorde – Melodrama

Four years after her groundbreaking debut album, Lorde returns more lyrically mature and musically expansive than ever. Youthful yet mellow, Melodrama doesn’t hold back its emotions. Between songs of break-ups, struggles in the industry, and friendly endeavors, Lorde has certainly grown, and this record was well worth the wait. Standout tracks include “Green Light,” “Liability,” and “Perfect Places.” Melodrama will appeal to fans of Broods, Alessia Cara, and CHVRCHES.

  • Broadside – Paradise

Upbeat cadences and gritty guitar riffs outline Broadside’s sophomore effort titled Paradise, and it’s paradise indeed. This album is chocked full of pop punk songs ready for a sunny summertime drive with the windows down, but it has its softer, more cultivated moments as well. Standout tracks include “Hidden Colors,” “Paradise,” and “Laps Around a Picture Frame.” Paradise is sure to attract followers of Seaway, State Champs, and Waterparks.

  • All Time Low – Last Young Renegade

Pop rock veterans All Time Low transition to a more electropop rock vibe for their seventh studio album Last Young Renegade. The band clutches on to their organic instrumentation for a number of tunes, but many are dazzled by synth-driven melodies and artificial beats. Standout tracks include “Last Young Renegade,” “Nice2KnoU,” and “Dark Side of Your Room.” Last Young Renegade will capture listeners of We Are the In Crowd, Against the Current, and Set It Off.

  • Bleachers – Gone Now

The ’80s-inspired pop rock of Gone Now is thunderous, charming, and undoubtedly entertaining. Jack Antonoff, former member of the hit band Fun., takes on his second full-length project with impassioned gusto and a love for the past. After working with artists like Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Taylor Swift, Antonoff delivers his own pop sensibility. Standout tracks include “Don’t Take the Money,” “Hate That You Know Me,” and “I Miss Those Days.” Gone Now is sure to interest fans of Passion Pit, Smallpools, and Fun.

  • Rise Against – Wolves

With revived political apprehension, Rise Against lives up to their name through diligent angst and exasperation on their eighth long-player. Fiery guitar melodies and resentful libretto characterize Wolves, solidifying it as another coterminous release in the band’s catalog. Standout tracks include “The Violence,” “Welcome to the Breakdown,” “House on Fire,” and “Mourning in Amerika.” Wolves will appeal to listeners of AFI, The Menzingers, and Sum 41.

  • Royal Blood – How Did We Get So Dark?

Granular distortion and crisp percussion grant this two-piece some fervor and ferocity, which is impressively pulled off with only a bass guitar and drum set. Royal Blood cemented themselves as a dark, sabulous duo on their 2014 debut album, but How Did We Get So Dark? elevates that charisma to new heights. Standout tracks include “Lights Out,” “I Only Lie When I Love You,” and “Hook, Line, & Sinker.” How Did We Get So Dark? is sure to satisfy followers of Highly Suspect, Wolf Alice, and Nothing But Thieves.

  • Phoenix – Ti Amo

The spellbinding dreaminess of Ti Amo attests to Phoenix’s dynamic musicianship and stylistic charm. Four years after 2013’s cool and glamorous Bankrupt!, Phoenix expands upon that glimmering and irresistible timbre on their sixth studio album. The synth-pop and relaxed appeal causes this release to be undeniably alluring. Standout tracks include “J-Boy,” “Ti Amo,” “Goodbye Soleil,” and “Fleur de Lys.” Ti Amo is bound to attract listeners of Atlas Genius, Passion Pit, and Foster the People.

  • LANY – LANY

Indie electropop band LANY unleashes their debut long-player detailed by glittery synth inflections and catchy, savory choruses. Through liquidy vocals and youthful lyrics, this self-titled project is colorful, vibrant, and lively, each song bringing a new spectacular attitude to the table. Standout tracks include “ILYSB,” “Super Far,” “Pancakes,” and “The Breakup.” LANY will capture fans of The 1975, Heart of Gold, and The Japanese House.

  • Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas – Telephone

Impish and beguiling, this bilingual frontwoman delivers a scorching sophomore full-length that is bound to bring you coming back for more. Telephone is spirited and jaunty between its buoyant, energetic anthems and rollicking choruses, but the more leisurely moments provide this album its devilish bite. Standout tracks include “Oh No,” “Bad At Loving You,” “Hot Damn,” and “Break Your Heart.” Telephone will appeal to followers of Catey Shaw, Elle King, and Lake Street Dive.

  • Cigarettes After Sex – Cigarettes After Sex

The mellow, daydreamy intonation of Cigarettes After Sex’s self-titled debut is entrancing and emotional. The heartfelt lyrics of this LP are captivating and compelling, which is complemented by the mesmerizing smoothness of the instrumentation. Standout tracks include “Apocalypse,” “Each Time You Fall in Love,” “Young & Dumb,” and “K.” Cigarettes After Sex will satisfy listeners of Bombay Bicycle Club, Lana Del Rey, and London Grammar.

Honorable Mentions

  • Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up

Mellow folk alternative bliss. Standout tracks include “Third of May/Ōdaigahara,” “Fool’s Errand,” and “Cassius.” For fans of The Oh Hellos, Julie Byrne, and Sea Wolf.

  • The White Noise – AM/PM

Piercing rock with impassioned vocals and a lot to offer. Standout tracks include “Bite Marks,” “Picture Day,” and “I Lost My Mind (In California).” For fans of A Day to Remember, Issues, and I Prevail.

  • Noah Guthrie – The Valley

Calming singer/songwriter folk beatitude. Standout tracks include “Pardon Me,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and “Leaving California.” For fans of Chris Dupont, Little Chief, and Trent Dabbs.

  • Hey Violet – From the Outside

Groovy, captivating pop rock. Standout tracks include “Brand New Moves,” “Break My Heart,” and “O.D.D.” For fans of DNCE, Before You Exit, and Masketta Fall.

  • Imagine Dragons – Evolve

Energetic pop rock with an electronic tinge. Standout tracks include “Walking the Wire,” “I Don’t Know Why,” and “Believer.” For fans of AWOLNATION, X Ambassadors, and Coldplay.

  • Volumes – Different Animals

Solid rock with a hip-hop verve. Standout tracks include “Finite,” “Feels Good,” and “On Her Mind (ft. Pouya).” For fans of Issues, Slaves, and Palisades.

  • Rancid – Trouble Maker

Gravelly punk rock with a convivial attitude. Standout tracks include “Where I’m Going,” “Ghost of a Chance,” and “Farewell Lola Blue.” For fans of NOFX, Teenage Bottlerocket, and The Bouncing Souls.

  • alt-J – Relaxer

Expressive, experimental indie alternative. Standout tracks include “In Cold Blood,” “Adeline,” and “3WW.” For fans of Bon Iver, Future Islands, and Arcade Fire.

  • London Grammar – Truth Is a Beautiful Thing

Minimalistic indie alt-pop. Standout tracks include “Oh Woman, Oh Man,” “Truth Is a Beautiful Thing,” and “Big Picture.” For fans of Banks, Elbow, and Foals.

  • Color Film – Living Arrangements

Fun, sprightly alt-rock. Standout tracks include “Even If It Did Exist,” “52 Minds,” and “Small Town.” For fans of Don Broco, Divine Fits, and The Social Animals.

  • Currents – The Place I Feel Safest

Exhilarating metal with a bite. Standout tracks include “Apnea,” “Night Terrors,” and “Silence.” For fans of Novelists, The Healing, and Delusions of Grandeur.

  • Portugal. The Man – Woodstock

Jovial indie alternative vibes. Standout tracks include “Feel It Still,” “Rich Friends,” and “So Young.” For fans of Atlas Genius, Cage the Elephant, and The Districts.

Let us know what you think of June’s releases down in the comments below!