This year was a big one for the music industry. Singles and EP's took over, but so many brilliant albums also got created. We tried to compile a list (in no particular order) of our favourite albums/EP's that were released during the year amongst all the different genres and artists. There are so many more that we could've added but we kept it short. We hope you will discover some new music along the way!
Check out our playlist with all our favourite tunes from these albums HERE
Visions of a Life - Wolf Alice:
Tyler’s pick
Reeling off the critical success of their debut My Love Is Cool, Wolf Alice returned with the same rock and roll ecstasy that made them stars, only bigger and better this time. The range of “Yuk Foo,” “Beautifully Unconventional” and “Don’t Delete The Kisses” cemented Wolf Alice as one of the most promising acts coming out of the UK right now. Never mind sophomore album syndrome, Visions of a Life is one of the most cool, necessary, heartfelt, angry and intoxicating albums of the past decade. Play: Beautifully Unconventional
Rennen - SOHN:
Mathieu’s pick
SOHN à été l’une de mes plus grandes inspirations de l’année. Comme sur son album précédent, il sait exactement comment agencer une voix précise et unique, à des synths magiques.
Play: Primary
Slow Wave - The Velveteins:
Coralie’s pick
Slow Wave is one of those pop, surf rock albums that flow so well and no matter how many times you listen to it, it still sounds so good. From the 'First Wave' till the title track outro, the Edmonton boys transport us to some seaside place where the sun never really sets and life is perfect. Slow Wave is the dreamy album that everyone slept on this year which is such a shame.
Play: All I Do
Yours Conditionally - Tennis:
Tyler’s pick
Indie rock’s most beloved married duo returned from their hiatus (where they sailed the Sea of Cortez together) with an early contender for one of the year’s best albums. Reminiscent of 70s morning radio, Yours Conditionally blends a retro sound with modern lyrics that play on gender norms in music and traditional romantic relationships. Outstanding singles like “Ladies Don’t Play Guitar” and “My Emotions Are Blinding” showcases the dichotomy that Tennis embodies best.
Play: Ladies Don’t Play Guitar
DAMN. - Kendrick Lamar:
Tyler’s pick
The most gifted rapper of our generation fuelled his career with the pain and harsh realities of growing up in Compton, CA. So this new positive-outlook era of Kendrick seems well-deserved. Brilliantly dynamic and timeless, DAMN. brought fun back to hip-hop before we even realized we needed it to.
Play: LOVE. (FEAT. ZACARI.)
Parallels - Nosaj Thing:
Mathieu’s pick
L’artiste est revenu deux ans après la sortie de «Fated» avec un album très social. Plusieurs collaborateurs tel que Zuri Marley, Kazu Makino de Blonde Redhead et Steve Spacek ont pu travailler sur cet opus qui nous fait voyager dans un espace nouveau.
Play: Get Like
LANY (Self-Titled):
Coralie’s pick
It took me a few listens before fully liking this album. Once you get past the cheesy lyrics, you realize that this is a very honest, raw and great pop breakup album. The instrumentals and the power of Paul’s emotions brought together created brilliant heartbreaking songs.
Play: Hurts
Landmark - Hippo Campus: Coralie’s pick
The sweetest, purest set of tunes ever. This is an album that will make you feel and there aren’t any words to describe that. Whether it’s Jake Luppen’s unreal vocals or the instrumentals or lyrics or how 'Sun Veins' flows perfectly into 'Way It Goes'; this album is melodious perfection.
Play: Buttercup
Something To Tell You - HAIM:
Tyler’s pick
Oh how we’ve missed the Haim sisters! Sure, they still seem to be singing about the same heartbreak from, like, four years ago, but that isn’t really why we love them anyway. We do it because, who else is making music this fun? Above all Something To Tell You is a technical feat; studied mixed musical styles that meet master-class production. There’s something about the calculation that seems so effortless, the result alleviating the heartbreak a little.
Play: You Never Knew
SYRE - Jaden Smith:
Mathieu’s pick
Jaden Smith en a surpris plus qu’un en Novembre dernier, en lançant son tout premier album. Après trois ans de travail ardu, le jeune karaté kid nous saisit complètement avec 17 pistes à son image faisant preuve de maturité. He’s just an icon living.
Play: Ninety
Migration - Bonobo:
Mathieu’s pick
L’album Migration est un passe-partout dans les soirées relax entre amis, ou seul dans un bain lors d’une tempête de neige. L’agencement de sons uniques nous fait sentir pieds sur terre.
Play: Kerala
Rocket - (Sandy) Alex G:
Tyler’s pick
If Alex G picked up anything from working with Frank Ocean on Endless and Blonde in 2016, it was the power of collaboration. Rocket presents itself as an album of cooperation through its many contributors making it Alex G’s most accessible album to date. Yet its biggest strength comes from the limitless ways you can decipher its characters, like a choose-your-adventure book that you want to read until you’ve exhausted all possibilities.
Play: Proud
don’t smile at me - Billie Eilish:
Coralie’s pick
Never did I think that I would be jealous of a 15 year old, ever. Billie’s songwriting is so heartbreaking but so beautiful and real. I don’t think anyone could’ve written a song as authentic as 'idontwannabeyouanymore' as her. She’s got this toughness, almost insensitive attitude about her that’s unreal. I’ll forever be in awe and impressed by her person and talent.
Play: my boy
Scum - RAT BOY:
Coralie’s pick
This album surprised me, I did not expect that from that brit boy. He caught me with his sweet tune 'LAIDBACK', the rest is history. The blend of hip-hop and rock is super interesting and works so well. RAT BOY definitely know how to make a statement.
Play: FAKE ID
Saw You in a Dream - The Japanese House:
Tyler’s pick
In only four songs, Amber Bain gets us really (really) excited for a possible debut album in 2018 with her Saw You in a Dream EP. The title track marks Bain’s growing confidence while retaining depth with “3/3” and “Count To Nine.” Her ability to show this much promise, variety and emotion in just four songs earns Bain a spot on this end of year list, probably the first of many.
Play: Count To Nine
Harry Styles (Self-Titled):
Tyler’s pick
It was literally impossible not to pay attention to the man during a colossal year which included his film and solo album debut. The release of Styles’ epic ballad “Sign of the Times” opened a new door for the ‘prince of rock & roll’ that didn’t involve radio play or boyband gimmicks. Where he really shines, however, is in the vulnerability of tracks like “Two Ghosts” and “Ever Since New York.” The album wholly embodies the spirit and wit of a soft-rockstar that fully emerged over the course of 2017. Play: Two Ghosts
Off The Radar - Noga Erez:
Mathieu’s pick
Off The Radar est un album audacieux créé avec une imagination hors du commun. Noga Erez apporte un vent nouveau à l’électro/pop sans crainte et avec assurance.
Play: Noisy
Ctrl - SZA:
Robert’s pick
I personally don’t listen to R&B or can relate to the concept of it, but I just think embracing your flaws and admitting you have some growing up to do is great. Its kind of a wake up call in a way for me.
Play: Prom
Voyager - Vitalic:
Mathieu’s pick
Le titre du quatrième album de Vitalic représente bien l’atmosphère et les émotions que les chansons nous font vivre. L’album nous fait voyager tel un rêve dans un sommeil profond.
Play: Hans is Driving
Melodrama - Lorde:
Tyler’s pick
Ella’s long awaited return to the spotlight took the shape of Melodrama, moving away from the cutthroat fight to the top that was her debut Pure Heroine. Instead, Melodrama illustrates what it’s like to be young, dramatic, romantic, heartbroken and drunk with elegance—a fitting allegory for how the year went. The pop masterpiece proves Ella still speaks for the generation of Pure Heroine, only now a little older, wiser, messier. Play: Perfect Places
How Will You Know If You Never Try - COIN:
Coralie’s pick
HWYKIYNT is my favourite pop album of the year. An album about relationships, not crying, dancing and having fun, what more could there possibly be? Oh right! Only the best heartbreak song: Malibu 1992. The album is so easy to listen to, it has a touch of bravery and honesty to it.
Play: Don’t Cry, 2020
Une Année Record - Loud:
Coralie’s pick
In his 10 track debut album, Loud doesn't hide his ambitions and goals that he's setting out for himself. Making a name for himself through his rap group Loud Larry Ajust, this rap queb artist uses his meticulous lyricism and rhymes to rap about his accomplishments and what he hopes for himself in the future.
Play: On My Life
Flower Boy - Tyler the Creator:
Mathieu’s pick
Flower Boy montre définitivement une transition vers une maturité surprenante. Le rapper semble vouloir être compris à travers des sujets tel que la solitude, l'isolement et la désorientation. Après avoir attiré l’attention avec des textes risqués et homophobes, il tourne vers des chansons sincères en mettant l’accent sur la quête de soi.
Play: Boredom
Lovers - Anna Of The North:
Coralie’s pick
Anna! Such a fun, lovely, carefree album! Her vocals are perfection; they blend so well with these 80’s teen movie prom feel songs. Its just such a feel good album, the soft pop tunes will you want to feel whatever ‘love’ is.
Play: Baby
Cigarettes After Sex (Self-Titled):
Tyler’s pick
We’ve waited years for a full-length Cigarettes After Sex release and the result did not disappoint. Retaining their signature dreamy and intimate sound, their debut LP is simply gorgeous. The truth is no one else is doing what Cigs are doing right now. They have a monopoly on their signature ambient sound, and we can’t even be upset about it since they execute it so well. Play: Each Time You Fall In Love
The OOZ - King Krule: Coralie’s pick
This album blew my mind. His voice, musicianship and oddly dark aura made this collection of tracks hypnotizing. There’s nothing else to say about this album, it's simply brilliant.
Play: Lonely Blue
Late Show - The Beaches:
Coralie’s pick
Bold and personal; this is the girl power rock album we all needed. Many albums this year made me want to be in a band but Late Show has this cool, fearless vibe to it with songs like 'Walk Like That', 'Turn Me On', 'Moment' and basically all the twelve songs. Play: Keeper
Sacred Hearts Club - Foster The People:
Tyler’s pick
The purpose of Foster The People has always been to nurture, and they did just that with Sacred Hearts Club. Amidst the chaos of the current political climate, SHC acts as a source of pure joy as Foster has always done best. A new direction seemed inevitable following the departure of original bass player Cubbie Fink but few imagined it would be such a smooth and cool transition.
Play: Pay The Man
Heavy Meta - Ron Gallo:
Coralie’s pick
Ron Gallo is hands down my favourite discovery of the year. Just listening to a few seconds of the first track Young Lady, You’re Scaring Me, I knew I was going to love the album. There’s something endearing about Ron’s vocals, all the guitar parts and really honest lyrics.
Play: Don’t Mind The Lion
EP2 - yaeji:
Mathieu’s pick
À la fois douce et entrainante, Yaeji nous guide vers des sensations fortes mais réconfortantes. Son premier EP a captivé mon attention dès la première écoute et me donne seulement l’envie d’écouter d’avantage sa voix si délicate.
Play: Drink I’m Sipping On
Volcano - Temples:
Coralie’s pick
Temples sound like so many bands at once but also sound so new. Its hard to explain but the album is so groovy and it kind of gets you in a trance. There’s something mesmerizing from this British rock sophomore album, you can’t help but indulge it.
Play: Open Air
Take Me Apart - Kelela:
Mathieu’s pick
Le premier album de la talentueuse Kelela s’est vite hissé au sommet. Un album sentimental à écouter lorsque la nuit tombe.
Play: Frontline
QTY (Self-Titled):
Coralie’s pick
Nothing beats a cool, straightforward rock album. QTY’s debut album has a fresh sound, this laid-back flow to it that fits. Nothing complicated, just good songs.
Play: Michael
Antisocialites - Alvvays:
Coralie’s pick
Often sophomore albums aren’t as good as the first but in Alvvays’ case, from start to finish these tracks prove everyone wrong. Ten songs of amazing vocals, lyrics, cool guitar riffs-I mean this indie pop rock music isn’t for everyone but this album really is; it sounds like a dream. Play: Lollipop (Ode To Jim)
Stranger - Yung Lean:
Mathieu’s pick
Lean débarque avec un tout nouveau son, mais toujours à l’image du sad boy. La production est sans aucun doute et comme d’habitude à couper le souffle, ce qui fera de lui bien plus qu’un Stranger dans l’industrie.
Play: Agony