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Casey Parks

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Favorite albums of 2017

December 19, 2017 Casey Parks
highly rare.jpg

1. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

The most-genius with a tight-loop of conscious bangers

2. sza - CTRL

I don’t think I went a day without listening to this album. She has so much rhythm and so much to say. Every lyric feels like the right one.

3. Lorde - Melodrama

The production, but especially the lyrics. “I am my mother's child, I'll love you 'til my breathing stops. I'll love you 'til you call the cops on me.” 

4. Tyler the Creator - Flower Boy

The lyrics, but especially the production

5. Future - HNDRXX

The trap king gets loose

6. Makaya McCraven - Highly Rare

My favorite modern jazz innovator

7. Dirty Projectors - Dirty Projectors

I don’t love every song, but the good ones are so good, they blur out the rest.

8. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory

Still my favorite rapper, veering left toward Detroit while everyone else co-opts the sounds of Atlanta

9. The xx - I See You

Still the best at driving emotions through minimalism

10. dvsn - Morning After

Sexy, jealousy-filled and way better than all the other dark R&B guys

11. Calvin Harris - Funk Wav Bounces, Vol. 1

Stupid fun

12. Ty Dolla $ign - Beach House 3

So many hooks

13. Migos - Culture

Irresistible tastemakers

14. Moses Sumney, Aromanticism

If Joanna Newsom and R&B merged. His voice is a wonder.

15. Jay-Z 4:44

Yes, write all the man-unfolded think pieces. Jay will forever have the best voice, but I’m here for NO ID. 

16. Drake - More Life

If only Drake put out one album every other year, it’d be perfect. This one is no exception -- plenty of clutter, even more gems.

17. Big Sean - I Decided.

I don't even think the lyrics or production are necessarily great, but I just kept wanting to listen to this album. 

18. Smino - blkswn

Rap from the era of Chance: Open-armed beats bolstered by such a good voice

19. Slowdive - Slowdive

The dream(y shoegaze) of the ‘90s is alive.

20. Majid Jordan - The Space Between

Vibes.

 

Honorable mentions: Aimless - Beats from 2017, A.Chal - On Gaz, Keyon Harrold - The Mugician, Nate Smith - Kinfolk, GoldLink - At What Cost, Perfume Genius - No Shape, A Boogie wit da Hoodie - The Bigger Artist, Young Thug & Future - Super Slimey, Mr. Eazi - Accra to Lagos

 

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