The Bullpen's Top 100 Songs of 2017: Part 3: #50 to #26
- Alex Marchante
- Dec 30, 2017
- 11 min read
Part 3 of our countdown takes us around the world, from the States to the UK to volcanic nation of Iceland to the
Down Under and back to Russia.
Hi there, we missed you. Welcome back to Part 3 of our countdown, where things begin to heat up and we get into some true bangers of the year.
THE BULLPEN'S TOP 100 SONGS OF 2017:
Continuing Disclaimer:
This part of the Top 100 will compose of the songs ranked #50 to #26 and will have links to all the songs on YouTube or in some cases, music streaming sites. It will also display the release package (album, EP, etc.) the songs came from as well as the release date and will have a longer description/analysis of the song than what we had Part 2,
highlighting each track's merits and style to belong this far on our list.
Qualifying for Top 100:
Songs must have been released in 2017 or have been a track of an album that was released in 2017 if they were released in 2016. Covers are eligible but scarce, as are remixes. In the cases of some of the songs on this list, songs not previously released and later released on a deluxe version of a previously released album prior to 2017 are also allowed.
#50: "Rattlesnake" - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Single off the album Flying Microtonal Banana,
released February 24, 2017.
As interesting as everything that's above might suggest, listening to this Aussie psychedelic band is definitely an adventure. Frontman Stu Mackenzie promised five albums released in 2017 in an interview when the "first of five", Flying Microtonal Banana was released. Not only did the band deliver, releasing their final album, Gumboot Soup, New Year's Eve 2017, the albums released were all solid and have redeeming qualities. However, I'll have to turn to the single from the first album. "Rattlesnake" is a
nearly-eight-minute-long journey in the band's unique sound and promises to impress.
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Track off the album The Emancipation Procrastination, released October 20, 2017.
We come back to Mr. Christian Scott with this track, "Ruler Rebel". The first minute or so of this track serves as a buildup to the mysterious hip-hop beat accompanied by a flute and Scott's unique trumpet performance. Tracks like "Ruler Rebel" are difficult to describe given its lack of lyrics, so it's best to listen and take the music in.
#48: "See You Again" - Tyler, the Creator ft. Kali Uchis
Track off the album Flower Boy, released July 21, 2017.
This collaboration between Tyler, the Creator and Kali Uchis (not the only time we'll mention a strong featured performance by this Latina singer) provides a mix of gentle, melodic singing to the anecdotal storytelling style Tyler provides frequently. This track about envisioning the perfect lover that only exists with your eyes closed is an incredible track off this album, eyes open or closed.
#47: "Unrigging November" - Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Track off the album The Emancipation Procrastination, released October 20, 2017.
Christian Scott brings drums and guitar to this track, creating a vibe of increasing speed and promptness in the song's musical journey once the piano kicks in. The switching between said piano and trumpet dominating the foreground of this track serves as a beautiful dichotomy that, although different, create a somehow intrinsic element to this album.
#46: "Recovery" - Gramatik ft. Eric Krasno
Track off the Re:Coil Part I EP, released October 20, 2017.
Eric Krasno provides the vocals to this easygoing and enjoyable tune that becomes our second and final mention of work by Gramatik, who provides us with an onslaught of drums, piano, guitar and synth that raises our goosebumps and makes our hairs stand in ovation. It'll be difficult to not dance to this track and become taken over by the wonderful instrumental work.
#45: "Whiplash" - Motorhead
Track off the album Under Cover,
released September 1, 2017.
Following his death just four days after turning 70, it seemed like we may never hear the legendary voice of Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, one of the most beloved rockstars of his era. However, Motorhead released Under Cover, a cover album that answers the question of what the legendary tracks of AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols and more, would sound like coming from the voice of the immortal Lemmy. We choose the final track of the album, the headbang-inducing Metallica cover that fits Lemmy's
hard-rocking persona that makes him Heaven's badass. Rest in power, Lemmy.
#44: "God Save the Jungle" - Benjamin Clementine
Track off the album I Tell A Fly,
released September 15, 2017.
Although the title may bring an allusion to conservation of our world's natural resources, "God Save the Jungle" addresses alienation, a common theme of Clementine's work this year, as also more explicitly stated in the track "Jupiter". Clementine compares his British home to the American "jungle" where it seems life passes by at an alarming pace, while also bringing the tension we see in American culture following the 2016 Election. The theme of alien, as Clementine describes himself, entering "jungle" is related to immigration or in other cases we see in the world, such as the mass refugee crises of the Middle East, make this track relatable to many in this changing world.
#43: "Bop N Keep It Dippin" - Dizzee Rascal
Single off the album Raskit, released July 21, 2017.
Staying yet again in Britain, we shift from hard rock to
avant-garde to now grime, as we take a look at one of the UK's all-time greatest grime artists, Dizzee Rascal. In a career spanning nearly 15 years, this nugget off of Dizzee's fifth studio album serves as part of an autobiography; a magnifying glass highlighting the poverty of East London, Dizzee's sexual experiences and the artists that influenced him and the people that influenced him, for better or worse.
#42: "Momma's Prayers" - JP Cooper ft. Stormzy
Single off the album Raised Under Grey Skies,
released October 6, 2017.
Staying in the British hip-hop scene, we turn to two featured artists on this list working together to create a musical "thank you" note to their mothers for praying for their safety and security. JP Cooper provides the soul while Stormzy brings the lyrical storytelling that highlights his struggles and that of his family during his childhood, as his mother's prayers and actions helped keep their heads from going underwater during a time of trial and tribulation.
#41: "The Cypher" - Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Track off the album The Emancipation Procrastination, released October 20, 2017.
Yet again, we turn to Christian Scott. This time, we are welcomed to this track that contains a greater hip-hop influence in its beat. This time, the harmony of piano, trumpet and flute with the background beat work well to create an ambiance of a gritty downtown vibe that works well while staring at the nightly skyline of your local metro area.
Track off the album Utopia, released November 24, 2017.
There is no track that contains such a high saturation of natural sound and flutes as "Saint". The natural, spiritual orchestra at work on this track is nothing short of beautiful and film-worthy. Rather than combating the music with her vocals, Bjork's echoed, somewhat distorted vocals are enhanced by the buildup of flutes and overlapping lyrics, that ultimately leads to a section in the track of flutes that sounds like it belongs to the film The Sound of Music. "Saint" is a beautifully worked track, with much credit deserved to young Venezuelan producer Arca who works with Bjork during the album's entirety to provide musical bliss to our ears.
#39: "Sorry Not Sorry" - Demi Lovato
Single off the album Tell Me You Love Me,
released September 29, 2017.
Perhaps my guiltiest pleasure of the year, I can't deny the sheer catchiness of this song, jeez. The confidence found in both the lyrics and the performance by Ms. Lovato is something people of all walks of Earth can applaud and dance to. The savagery of the contradictory lines in the chorus adds boldness and passionate, precious confidence that is admirable.
#38: "Airfield" - Enter Shikari
Track off the album The Spark,
released September 22, 2017.
Vocalist Rou Reynolds gives us two contrasting emotions in this trick off of Enter Shikari's latest album. The emotion first displayed is a sense of dread and resignation. However, the track turns the loneliness of a vast field into an inspiring, empowering airfield where we can all take flight with just a little push. Soon, the waves of depression and sorrow turn into an upswing rush of uplifting support and hope to prove that just because "you're down on your luck, don't mean you're out".
Track off the album DAMN., released April 14, 2017.
Another nearly-eight-minute-long musical odyssey on our portion of the list today takes us to Kendrick Lamar. His critically acclaimed album DAMN. gives us a lot of tracks to choose from, however I feel that "FEAR." does justice in highlighting the titular emotion that Kendrick has struggled with in life. During the first verse, he highlights the fear he has of his mother when growing up, threatening to beat him if he does anything wrong. The chorus provides an unsuccessful hope that smoking weed with take away his fear, while it transitions to the ultimate fear of death in the second verse and when and where death will come. The rest of the track alludes to past tracks and experiences highlighted in Kendrick's discography. This track is definitely worth listening to.
Single off the album OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017, released June 23, 2017.
In a tale of life and inevitable change, Radiohead's frontman Thom Yorke brings to light the feeling of stagnation and lack of progress, where life has changed and yet you feel stuck in a lift (or elevator) with nowhere to escape. The chorus of dream-like emotions, or rather aromas, remind us that to feel free and escaped from the dreaded lift is easy, if we let that feeling go and embrace change.
#35: "Kora Sings" - Sampha
Track off the album Process, released February 3, 2017.
In another edition of Sampha's album-long story about his family and the coping of loss of his parents, both to cancer within five years of one another, Sampha gives a heartbreaking story about his mother and her strength during her bout with cancer. Sampha's mix of singing in this mother's point-of-view and his reflection of his faith in his mother's strength even during the peak of cancer's effect gives a heartbreaking sense of dread knowing the end result. "Kora Sings" also expresses the inner struggle of Sampha's religious beliefs in the afterlife, given that his faith began to slip. He hopes that his mother protects him while she is alive and possibly once she has left to the next life.
#34: "Busted and Blue" - Gorillaz
Track off the album Humanz, released April 28, 2017.
Humanz, although described by vocalist Damon Albarn as a dance album, contains tracks that pull heartstrings. "Busted and Blue" is perhaps the greatest example, illustrating an internal existential crisis where the world we inhabit seems to be faked and we are left alone in the most solitary of conditions, hoping that a single light leads us in the path to normalcy. Truly a beautifully emotional track given Gorillaz is a band of animated characters we wouldn't expect to have such crises.
#33: "Arisen My Senses" - Bjork
Single off the album Utopia, released November 24, 2017.
We discussed how "The Gate" and "Saint" beautifully and artistically blend a complex musical style with Bjork's intimate lyrics. However, the title track of Utopia perhaps does the best job of this, preparing the audience with wave after wave of piano and vocals with indistinguishable excess of instrumental pieces. That isn't to say that the layers of music entering your ears is nonsensical or overpowering the point of the album, on the contrary, it enhances the whirlwind of powerful audible luxury that is Utopia as a whole. "Arisen My Senses" is the Bjork at her best, while also being at her most vulnerable and open in his intimate life.
#32: "La Musica" - Russkaja
Track off the album Kosmopoliturbo,
released August 4, 2017.
A Russian ska punk band singing in Spanish about friendship, unity and music as a universal religion? What is not to love? This track off Kosmopoliturbo preaches positivity in love and selflessness while rejecting greed and simplicity, stating (in Spanish) that money without friends and life without dreaming is worthless. Not to mention the mix of ska punk with Spanish and Latin influences adds a genuine touch of unity and love to the track that makes this work by Russkaja especially exceptional.
#31: "Live Outside" - Enter Shikari
Single off the album The Spark,
released September 22, 2017.
Another track emphasizing the impact of reaching passed the boring, depressing parts of life, "Live Outside" preaches the importance of living in the moment and escaping depressing situations. Accompanied by a music video that further emphasizing the lyrical meaning of the track to perhaps an excessive amount (while also being undeniably entertaining), the especially catchy chorus will leave you belting out positive hopes and dreams of living your wildest dreams.
Single off the album DAMN., April 14, 2017.
Perhaps the most audacious tracks on this entire list of 100, in "HUMBLE.", Kendrick Lamar tells his competitors to be humble and essentially bow to him, as he has made his mark on being one of the world's most successful artists coming from a difficult childhood. Kendrick states that he can be done with his career tomorrow and still be regarded as one of the best while also being set for life. Also, while boasting about his success, Kendrick made the most successful track of his career, as "HUMBLE." has amounted more than 650 million plays on Spotify alone, while the music video for the song has passed 400 million views in nine months.
#29: "Blood On Me" - Sampha
Single off the album Process, released February 3, 2017.
This track off of Process emphasizes more of the nightmarish paranoia that swells in Sampha. In very dark tones and lyrics, Sampha transports us to a chase of cat and mouse where between demons and us, we are, without a doubt, the mouse. The change from the familial to the micro-personal enhances Sampha's delving into his inner struggles by highlights bouts with sleeplessness, nightmares and sleep paralysis and "Blood On Me" is the culmination of a man at his ultimate worst.
#28: "Feet Don't Fail Me" - Queens of the Stone Age
Track off the album Villains, released August 25, 2017.
Following the release of the more pop-influenced single "The Way You Used To Do", many Queens of the Stone Age fans became skeptical of the direction the band was taken under producer Mark Ronson. Although I scrutinized the heavy use of synth in Villains as a whole, the two-minute of introduction of Villains in the first two minutes of this opening track gives the sense of devious rebellion and a similar tone to that of the previous Queens album, 2013's ...Like Clockwork. Josh Homme's vocals in this track gives a first impression into the album that only Queens can deliver, with a slow buildup into a heavy, sexy and pure rock-and-roll roller coaster ride.
#27: "Andromeda [DRAM Special]" - Gorillaz ft. DRAM
Track off the Humanz's Super Deluxe Vinyl Box,
released November 3, 2017.
Despite being a double repetition of the same 10 lines, Gorillaz and DRAM work together once again on this special version of the single "Andromeda" from Humanz to provide a greater club vibe that illustrates a man's desire to party even if he has no money to spend but the heart of a party animal. We'll cover the original version of this club track later on in the countdown but it would be criminal to neglect all the remixes and remakes of the work on Humanz, especially this bonus treat that was released months after the album was originally released.
#26: "Velvet/Jenny Francis Interlude" - Stormzy
Track off the album Gang Signs and Prayer,
released February 24, 2017.
We end today's portion of the best tracks of the year reflecting on one of the favorites from the early half of 2017. Stormzy's Gang Signs and Prayer wonderfully blended the grime rap style with softer, more intimate musical flow that hadn't been previously on display by the London artist. The issues of balancing a relationship with the culture shock of success and fame are displayed on this track, as Stormzy balances his own emotions of wanting to push away from a needy love interest to coming back to her because she means so much to him. The chorus of this track and the bridge of Stormzy giving his own singing voice to boost the track makes this song remain one of my favorites of the year.
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