Ok, so when I first decided to undertake this common activity of bloggers and commentators compiling their “Best of” lists at the end of every year, I may have underestimated the difficulty that I would encounter.

 

2017 was a strange year for my music listening. There was no real new stand out band or musician to come along and capture my attention. Instead it was a year where songs by previously know artists caused me the most enjoyment. That is reflected in the list of five songs that I have chosen to include as my best songs of 2017.

5. Oh Wonder – Ultralife (Ultralife)

Very few days go by without me listening to this song. Upbeat and poppy, it’s hard to think of a better feel-good song that was released this year. One of the most innovative bands making music at the moment, Oh Wonder are continuing to grow into their sound, and it is a thoroughly enjoyable process watching them do it.

4. Dermot Kennedy – Glory (Doves & Ravens EP)

Dermot Kennedy has been threatening to explode onto the Irish music mainstream for a few years now, but 2017 felt like the year that it finally happened. The release of Glory in late March of 2017 would see Kennedy get some serious radio play, and the Doves & Ravens EP that would feature it would be one of the most exciting Irish releases of the year. Dark, moody, and atmospheric, Glory has the ability to transport you into your subconscious to properly analyse your thoughts.

3. Dua Lipa – New Rules (Dua Lipa)

Ignore what other people might say, this was without question the song that dominated 2017. Instantly catchy and expertly produced, New Rules carried on the sequence of excellent singles by twenty-one year old Dua Lipa that we have heard in the past year and a bit.

2. The National – Nobody Else Will Be There (Sleep Well Beast)

One of my stand out albums from the year 2017, Nobody Else Will Be There is by far my favourite track from the Sleep Well Beast LP by The National, a band who were the feature of a post on this particular blog back in November. There is so much to love about this song, but for me it is the beautiful sentiment at its heart, let’s be somewhere that will be just me and you.

1. Ailbhe Reddy – Relent (Relent)

Another musician who was a feature of a post earlier this year, this song by Dublin singer-songwriter Ailbhe Reddy was debuted on Soundcloud within the first week of January of this year and nothing that I heard in the following eleven months came close to it. The fragile and dark lyrics resonate instantly with the listener and I for one can not wait to hear more from Reddy in 2018.

A full list of all the songs that were in consideration can be found on Spotify:

MK