Best music of 2017

It's that time of the year again. As always, several hours of my Christmas holiday is spent putting together a list of the best music the year could offer. Or rather the best new music I've listened to during the year. According to Spotify, I've spent more than 28.000 minutes listening to music on Spotify this year. Then add all the hours I've spent listening to BBC6 Music, or the brilliant Transmission on NRK P13. And then a handfull of hours listening to vinyl or CDs on my old stereo. Let's just say I like music! Listening to my top 20 list puts me in a great mood! Music cures anything. Almost.

Was it a good year, musically? Average, I'd say, or even mediocre. No wow-experiences, like last year's Trentemøller. Of the almost 50 albums that made it to the semi-final (i.e. every album with a better score than 2,5), the average score was 4 (on a scale from 1-6). Still, many good songs to enjoy! So let's get on with the list. The first two are obvious and sure winners. The rest is put in a more or less arbitrary order.

1. The XX: I See You
2. Susanne Sundfør: Music for People in Trouble
3. Slowdive: Slowdive
4. Goldfrapp: Silver Eye
5. Anna Ternheim: All the Way to Rio
6. Cigarettes After Sex: Cigarettes After Sex
7. The Duke Spirit: Sky is Mine
8. Lost Horizons: Ojalá
9. The Mysterons: Meandering
10. Jane Weaver: Modern Kosmology
11. Algiers: The Underside of Power
12. JFDR: Brazil
13. Nadine Shah: Holiday Destination
14. Mark Lanegan: Gargoyle
15. The National: Sleep Well Beast
16. 5 Billions in Diamonds: 5 Billion in Diamonds
17. Aldous Harding: Party
18. J. Bernardt: Running Days
19. Mammút: Kinder Versions
20. Arcade Fire: Everything Now

Listen to all the songs on Spotify:
MCL's Top 20 2017 (The Short List)
MCL's Top 20 2017 (The Long List)

And all the ones that didn't make it: Morrissey, Royal Blood, Jesca Hoop, Shannon Wright, Depeche Mode, Ghostpoet, Harry Styles, Jay-Jay Johansen, Joe Goddard, SOHN, Waaktaar & Zoe, Thåstrøm, Fufanu, Marika Hackman, Michael Krohn, Mind.in.a.box, Paul Kelly, Portugal.The Man, Sgrow, Soulwax, St.Vincent, Thievery Corporation, Washed Out, Grandaddy, The Golden Filter, Father John Misty, Bonobo, The Moonlandingz, Mikko Joensuu. And more.

Actually, my favourite band this year could have been Norwegian electronica artist, Ary. But she only released 2 singles in 2017, so I suppose I have to wait for her debut album another year. But whilst waiting, here are both her songs, and a bunch of other good tunes I've listened to the last 12 months, but where there is no album, or I haven't checked it out yet.
Listen on Spotify: Some Favourite Songs 2017

Wish I could do this for a living: Listening to music and making lists of the best songs:) May 2018 be a good year for pop music!