In no particular order, The Roar staff is giving you the best singles of 2017.
“LMK” by Kelela: The electro-R&B track brings back the ‘90s Aaliyah and Janet Jackson vibes. The artist sings about a potential hook up with the bass-heavy song, which goes well for a club banger. I can see the single invading pop radio with the oh so ever catchy chorus, “All you gotta do is let me know.” The whistle note at the end of the track is what really blew me away. Kudos to you, Kelela. (Harold Daniel)
“Alterlife” by Rina Sawayama – Rina draws influence from Y2K-era R&B, Japanese city pop, video game music, etc. Despite her obvious love for these things, however, there is absolutely no one like Rina. Her stunning visuals coupled with her forward-thinking music separates her both from her influences and her peers. This track hits hard with its soaring guitars, Rina’s masterful vocals, and one of the best choruses written in 2017. Rina Sawayama is, without a doubt, the future of pop. (written by Nazareth :^) )
“Dum Surfer” by King Krule: A pulsating and haunting trip of a song, which could have only been created in 2017. Its sinister atmosphere and climatic guitar riffs navigate you through a bizarre stream of consciousness loaded with imagery. Archy Marshall manages to present a song so indescribable, that my best effort is: If Nick Cave was somehow howling from a distant tunnel with a jazz band amplifying his inner dialogue. – Patricia Cárdenas
“Achilles Heel” by Mutemath: The lines between hip hop and rock, electric and organic, are blurred together flawlessly in Achilles Heel. Informed by their funky New Orleans roots, Mutemath offers an aggressive track that somehow deals with gigantic themes of mortality, questioning ingrained beliefs, and the confusion caused by change. This song is one of the triumphs of the band’s musical career. They managed to create a cool, dynamic, almost hostile song that is still somehow incredibly introspective. – Nathanael Cameron
“Fantastic” by Flume: Part of his “Skin companion EP II” released this year as a follow up to his sophomore album “Skin”. Featuring Dave Bayley from the Glass Animals, Flume continues to explore his eclectic use of obscure sounds paired with hip-hop influenced styles. -Cal
“Shadow” by Chromatics: Chromatics delivers mystery, melancholy, and the sublime with “Shadow.” The dreamy soundscapes and shimmering synths offer a sense of distance and longing. Singer, Ruth Radelet may be today’s Julee Cruise. Chromatics featured a debut performance of the track on the season three premiere of Twin Peaks, a seemingly perfect fit for the cult favorite TV series. (Emily Afre)
“raingurl” by Yaeji: If you’re sleeping on Yaeji, get it together. The Korean-American producer from New York is carving her own space in electronic music with her dark fusion of house and hip-hop. Her airy vocals and hypnotic beats mesh effortlessly in this track. What a bop! (Emily Afre)
“Love & Cigarettes” by Kedr Livanskiy: Hailing from Moscow, ambient electronic artist, Kedr Livanskiy, creates music that is introspective and ominous in nature. “Love & Cigarettes” is an otherworldly and cinematic ode to escapism. Yana Kedrina understands how to construct space and sound in a way that allows you to disconnect and reconnect with the outside world. Her decision to sing in Russian adds layers to the lush texture of this dreamy techno track. Underrated. (Emily Afre)
“Fly On Your Wall” by Angel Olsen: Singer-songwriter, Angel Olsen, creates a beautiful sonic experience with “Fly On Your Wall.” The track was the first to be released for Our First 100 Days, a compilation that aims to seek awareness for those threatened by the Trump administration. Influenced by her predecessors, Roy Orbison and Brenda Lee, Olsen combines elements of jukebox ballads with reverb and synth. “Fly On Your Wall” is a delicately crafted song of conceptual romance and longing.
(Emily Afre)
“Road Head” by Japanese Breakfast: Michelle Zauner, aka Japanese Breakfast, blends classic emo and dream pop in her latest album, Soft Sounds from Another Planet. Zauner’s lyricism is intimate and honest as she croons over fluttering synth. The track explores the self-destructive nature of sex as a means to save a relationship. “Road Head” is a subtle stab to the lover who once told her she would not amount to anything in life. (Emily Afre)
“Take Me” by Aly & AJ: The sister duo, most known for their affiliation with Disney, made a musical comeback with this 80s-inspired alt-pop track. On this track, they sing about impatiently waiting for a crush to reciprocate interest and make a move. This song remains on brand for them as far as female empowerment, but has more mature lyrics, a more grown up vibe, and more captivating instrumentals than they were previously known for. This is one of the best contributions to the alt-pop genre in 2017. (Alhi Leconte)
“Scrood” by Jonti feat. Steve Lacy: Electric & funky, both of the artists style can be clearly seen in this track. Borrowing old school sounds and combining them with dreamy synth & vocals “Scrood” is a masterful piece of music. With a groovy bass line & funky-jazzy guitar coupled with dreamy synth sounds this track is a definite bop. (Felipe Zuniga)
About Post Author
