In the spirit of the season, I wanted to share some of my favorite releases of the year. Obviously not exhaustive; just some personal highlights. Quite a few of these are giant major label releases, so I’ll be taking down those download links quickly or leaving them off accordingly. Let me know if links are broken. Happy holidays!
Sinead O’Connor – The Lion And The Cobra, 1987 buy
Yasuaki Shimizu – Music For Commercials, 1987 buy / download
10 thoughts on “25 Favorite Releases of 2017”
Hey Jen. Your blog continues to be a really bright spot in an otherwise dismal 2017 landscape. I’m happy that you and Listen To This exist in the world!
That’s a lovely selection… 1987 was indeed chock full of interesting, forward-thinking releases.
Other really nice ones I would suggest in a little annex to this list would be Steve Tibbetts’ “Exploded View”, David Torn’s “Cloud Over Mercury” (two of the key albums published by ECM during the 80s), Jonn Serrie’s “And the Stars Go With You”, David Arkenstone’s “Valley in the Clouds” (two classic New Age albums), Penguin Café Orchestra’s “Signs of Life” (call it whatever), Holger Czukay’s “Rome Remains Rome” (even more so), the seminal “Strings of Life” by Rhythim Is Rhythim and the fusion jazz smash hit “Still Life (Talking)” by the Pat Metheny Group.
(with these suggestions I’m not trying to improve by any means Jen’s selection, which is fantastic… they are simply albums that fit the style of the blog and are thus maybe worth a spin).
All gorgeous, all wonderful & THANKYOU for sharing. Back in 1987 it was a year I wasn’t very fond in general, but there are some lovely gems here! I would add also: Siouxsie & The Banshees gorgeous covers album ‘Through The Looking Glass’ & Marc Almonds ‘Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters’ & the 4AD com ‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’ to round it off. The Pet Shop Boys album ‘Actually’ was a key commercial release in the UK (where I reside), & is to 1987, what the Human Leagues ‘Dare’ was to the UK in 1981. Keep on Jen x
Hey Jen. Your blog continues to be a really bright spot in an otherwise dismal 2017 landscape. I’m happy that you and Listen To This exist in the world!
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares… absolument sublime. Thank you, and may this blog live long and prosper.
Thank you!
all from 87!
Great blog… am visiting often and have enjoyed many of your posts this year. thanks!
That’s a lovely selection… 1987 was indeed chock full of interesting, forward-thinking releases.
Other really nice ones I would suggest in a little annex to this list would be Steve Tibbetts’ “Exploded View”, David Torn’s “Cloud Over Mercury” (two of the key albums published by ECM during the 80s), Jonn Serrie’s “And the Stars Go With You”, David Arkenstone’s “Valley in the Clouds” (two classic New Age albums), Penguin Café Orchestra’s “Signs of Life” (call it whatever), Holger Czukay’s “Rome Remains Rome” (even more so), the seminal “Strings of Life” by Rhythim Is Rhythim and the fusion jazz smash hit “Still Life (Talking)” by the Pat Metheny Group.
(with these suggestions I’m not trying to improve by any means Jen’s selection, which is fantastic… they are simply albums that fit the style of the blog and are thus maybe worth a spin).
Wow, I’m listening to ‘Cloud over Mercury’ and it’s so amazing! Thank you!
All gorgeous, all wonderful & THANKYOU for sharing. Back in 1987 it was a year I wasn’t very fond in general, but there are some lovely gems here! I would add also: Siouxsie & The Banshees gorgeous covers album ‘Through The Looking Glass’ & Marc Almonds ‘Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters’ & the 4AD com ‘Lonely Is An Eyesore’ to round it off. The Pet Shop Boys album ‘Actually’ was a key commercial release in the UK (where I reside), & is to 1987, what the Human Leagues ‘Dare’ was to the UK in 1981. Keep on Jen x
Just bright!
<3