This mixlist, (2017) Best of Last Year, which you can listen to on Spotify, is comprised of the best songs that I’ve come across this past year.
This year I rediscovered hip-hop in a big way. Kendrick Lamar and Run the Jewels became new staples in my music rotation for their musicality and energy as well as their lyrical prowess. If you’ve ever wanted to understand the fuss about Kendrick Lamar, check out Dissect Season One which digs pretty deeply into “To Pimp A Butterfly,” Lamar’s Grammy Award-winning 2015 LP. It was jaw-dropping and mind-expanding.
The list is not all hip-hop, however. You’ll still find plenty of indie rock (is that even the genre?). Arcade Fire came out with a pretty great album, and I discovered quite a few new gems from the near and distant past. You’ll also find some classical music and some great musical surprises that don’t fit neatly into a single musical style.
It was a wild and varied year for music, but sometimes that makes for the best mixlists. Enjoy!