My Fav Albums of 2017

December 28, 2017  /  Shawn Clarke

And we're at the end.  2017 was another crazy year for the world, but a pretty solid year for me.  I released what I think is my best work yet, TOPAZ (which you can listen to by clicking this run on sentance).  I also toured Europe for the first time ever, and that was such an amazing experience.  I'll be heading back soon, you can bet on that.  In the new year you can expect more shows in Ontario, an East Coast tour in April/May, and as I just mentioned, a trip back to Europe.  Know any places I should play?  Send me an email at shawnclarkemusic@gmail.com

Now on to something I love to do every year, somehow take the hundreds of albums I heard and narrow them down to a few for totally arbitrary reasons!  At the bottom you'll find a super handy Spotify link where you can listen to a track from all the albums I mention (or just click on this sentence!).  Enjoy!

The Top 10

  1. Weather Station - Weather Station
  2. Alvvays - Antisocialites
  3. Little Kid - Sun Milk
  4. Sampha - The Process
  5. Moses Sumney - Aromanticism
  6. Land of Talk - Life After Youth
  7. Abigail Lapell - Hide Nor Hair
  8. Fiest - Pleasure
  9. Jon McKiel - Memorial Ten Count
  10. Big Thief - Capacity

The Next 5

  1. Richard Laviolette - Taking The Long Way Home
  2. Jerry Leger - Nonsense And Heartache
  3. Kelela - Take Me Apart
  4. Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution
  5. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN

Extra: Two Reissues you should definitely own

So here are 2 fun extras for you.  I absolutely loved these reissues, and played them so much.  First, Jackie Shane - Any Other Way .  Jackie was a pioneer of transgender rights born in a male body, living her entire life as a woman at a time when to do so seemed unthinkable.  And she was an icon in Toronto during the 60's.  All that and the music is fantastic.  She should be more well known.

Next is the longest title of the year, World Sprituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda .  Another artist who should be better known.  This is a collection of her spiritual music, recorded at the Ashram she established and directed in 1983. As someone who spent a lot of time with Ambient, New Age and Spiritual music this year (and as someone who's spent a lifetime exploring the world of Free Jazz and experimental music), this comp is a must get! 

Thanks folks!  I hope you had a great 2017, and if you think I missed any great albums, please comment below! 

Love, and best wishes for the new year


SWC

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