Andrew's Favourite Songs of 2017

If 2016 kinda sucked, 2017 royally sucked. Nearly every day there was a new attack on our democracy from within or a reversal of some progressive gain. Every day I wondered if 45 and his regime could embarrass himself or us any more, and he did. Every day the bar was lowered in some way. MAGA, my ass! Sigh. Despite all that, I found 104 songs I liked enough to rank in a rough order as per my tradition. There are signs of hope here and there, but it will be an uphill battle, and I'm weary from the constant barrage of idiocy and disregard for established norms and the rule of law. Good music helps. Here's hoping 2018 is better. 

1. “Everything Now” – Arcade Fire
2. “In Cold Blood” – alt-J
3. “New York” – St. Vincent
4. “The System Only Sleeps in Total Darkness” – the National
5. “Mourning Sound” – Grizzly Bear
6. “High” – Sir Sly
7. “Die Young” – Sylvan Esso
8. “Waiting for the Stars” – Vitalic
9. “This Strange Effect” – the Shacks
10. “Broken” – lovelytheband
11. “Anymore” – Goldfrapp 
12. “Black Rainbows” – Cut/Copy
13. “Comb My Hair” – Coast Modern
14. “The Gold” – Manchester Orchestra
15. “Long Time” - Blondie
16. “Creature Comfort” – Arcade Fire
17. “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” – Car Seat Headrest
18. “Fields of Wheat” – Frightened Rabbit
19. “Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea” – Missio
20. “Edge of Town” – Middle Kids

21. “One of Us” – New Politics
22. “Always Ascending” – Franz Ferdinand
23. “Get Out of Your Own Way” – U2
24. “Los Ageless” – St. Vincent
25. “The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home” – Declan McKenna
26. “I Will Follow You” – Said the Whale
27. “In a Black Out” – Hamilton Leithauser + Rotsam
28. “Heartworms” – the Shins 
29. “Say Something Loving” – the XX
30. “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man
31. “Hate That You Know Me (So Well)” – Bleachers 
32. “Gentle Storm” – Elbow 
33. “Wonder Blind” – Karen Elson
34. “Apocalypse” – Cigarettes After Sex
35. “Blame” – Bastille 
36. “Little Dark Age” – MGMT
37. “Can I Sit Next to You?” – Spoon
38. “How It Gets In” – Frightened Rabbit with Julien Baker
39. “May I Have This Dance” – Francis and the Lights
40. “Night of the Long Knives” – Everything Everything

41. “Deadcrush” – alt-J
42. “High Ticket Attractions” – the New Pornographers
43. “Robot Man” – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
44. “Fire” – Beth Ditto
45. “Deadly Valentine” – Charlotte Gainsbourg
46. “In Undertow” – Alvvays 
47. “A 1000 Times” – Hamilton Leithauser + Rotsam
48. “I Dare You” – the XX 
49. “Call the Police” – LCD Soundsystem
50. “Live in the Moment” – Portugal. The Man
51. “Can’t Get It Out” – Brand New
52. “Little One” – Highly Suspect
53. “Doom or Destiny” – Blondie 
54. “Season 2, Episode 3” – Glass Animals
55. “Lies of Summer” – Aimee Mann
56. “Lost on You” – LP
57. “Hey Banana” - BNQT
58. “Tell Me What You Need” – Alex Clare
59. “Crossing Out” – Faded Paper Figures
60. “This Time” – Land of Talk

61. “&Run” – Sir Sly
62. “Slow Disco” – St. Vincent
63. “Mildenhall” – the Shins
64. “Don’t Take the Money” – Bleachers
65. “Lazarus Online” – Wolf Parade
66. “Brush with the Wild” – Grandaddy
67. “Do I Have to Talk You Into It” – Spoon 
68. “Desire” – Everything Everything
69. “Cold Cold Cold” – Cage the Elephant
70. “Emotions and Math” – Margaret Glaspy
71. “Rhythm & Blues” – the Head and the Heart
72. “Middle Fingers” – Missio
73. “The Punishment of Luxury” – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
74. “Rain” – the Shacks
75. “Vidlik” – Onuka
76. “Privilege” - Stars
77. “3ww” – alt-J
78. “Lights of Home” – U2
79. “Neighbors” – Grizzly Bear
80. "Half a Million" - the Shins

81. “Lips” – the XX 
82. “In and Out” – Beth Ditto
83. “Step Into the Darkness” – Said the Whale 
84. “Youth” – Glass Animals
85. “Fun” – Blondie 
86. “Feels Like Summer” – Weezer
87. “Call Your Name” – Karen Elson
88. “Dreams Tonite” - Alvvays
89. “Hot Thoughts” – Spoon 
90. “Beautifully Unconventional” – Wolf Alice
91. “Whiteout Conditions” – The New Pornographers
92. “Giver” – K.Flay
93. “Three Circles” – Grizzly Bear
94. “Westermarck” – Charly Bliss
95. “Paper Love” – Allie X
96. “My Name Is Ruin” – Gary Numan
97. “It’s a Trip” – Joywave 
98. “The Blackout” – U2
99. “On Hold” – the XX 
100. “Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)” – Sparks
101. “Pills” – St. Vincent
102. “Everybody Gets High” – Missio 
103. “Surrender Under Protest” – Drive-By Truckers
104. “The Man” – the Killers