A Thousand Hours–Sleep
Genre: Dream Pop, Shoegazing, Slowcore, Chillwave
FFO: Slowdive, Cocteau Twins, Chapterhouse
Alaskan artist Red Collier returns with a second record in 2017 under the A Thousand Hours title serving as a drastic shift on the sonic spectrum compared his LP Endless Gray released only a few months prior.
Sleep maintains a much darker, gothic tone drawing influences from Garlands era Cocteau Twins and the melancholic opus Souvlaki from Shoegaze/Dream Pop legends Slowdive.
Collier achieves an authentic, nostalgic sound melding various influences across the board.
Avey Tare–Eucalyptus
Genre: Indie, Electronic
FFO: Animal Collective, Panda Bear, Deakin
Animal Collective’s Avey Tare returns with a second solo LP fans of the group’s older works are sure to love.
Avey Tare abandons the more pop-oriented sensibilities of Painting With and Panda Bear’s solo material to generate a bizarre, atmospheric listening experience.
Strums of an acoustic guitar ring sporadically accompanied by various noisey drone only an artist such as Avey could create.
Integrity–“Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume”
Genre: Metalcore, Thrash Metal, Melodic Death Metal
FFO: Hatebreed, Ringworm, Earth Crisis
Cleveland-based Metalcore pioneers Integrity are back with LP#12 and it easily proves to be their strongest work since 2003’s To Die For.
Howling, For The Nightmare Shall Consume sticks to the usual formula the act has become known for but experiments with a more Blackened sound incorporating blast beats and lightning-fast riffage.
It’s always a treat to see a legendary act return with such a powerful comeback record, and this is one you should NOT sleep on.
Japanese Breakfast–Soft Sounds From Another Planet
Genre: Indie Rock
FFO: Little Big League, Frankie Cosmos, Big Thief
Little Big League frontwoman Michelle Zauner returns to her (in my opinion) vastly superior solo effort, Japanese Breakfast, for a charming sophomore LP.
Soft Sounds From Another Planet features twelve layered, pleasant, and dreamy pop tunes making use of her delicate vocals and songwriting in the best possible way.
Pawns– The Gallows
Genre: Punk Rock, Goth Rock, Post Punk, Death Rock
FFO: Joy Division, The Damned, Bauhaus
New York-based punk outfit, Pawns, delivers a dark LP basking in the nostalgic sounds of early Post Punk acts melded with the Gothic sensibilities of Christian Death and Bauhaus.
Retrieval–Sleep Cycle
Genre: Alternative Rock, Shoegazing
FFO: Ride, Swervedriver, Silversun Pickups
Tunisian rock duo,Retrieval, offer a solid sophomore effort this year utilizing the hazy walls of sound the Shoegazing genre is known for yet successful capture it to write upbeat, rock tunes similar to the likes of Creation veterans Ride or Swervedriver.
Sleep Cycles is a mandatory listen in 2017 for fans of the scene that celebrates itself.
Star Tropics–Lost World
Genre: Dream Pop, Jangle Pop
FFO: The Cure, The Smiths, Alvvays
Chicago-based trio Star Tropics grace our ear drums this year with a beautiful record blending enchanting vocals with pristine licks that would undoubtedly flatter Johnny Marr.
The writing here specifically brings the obscure Strawberry Wine-My Bloody Valentine era to mind sandwiched between their humble post punk flops and their signature sound. Lost World offers 9 tracks of pure dreamy, euphoric pop music.