My Favorite Albums of 2017


In my opinion, 2017 was such a great year for music! Artists that I have been a fan of for years came out with new music, as well as some really amazing new discoveries that I believe have a bright future ahead of them. In today's post, I'm going to tell you about my favorite albums released in 2017 and what makes them stand out for me. Enjoy!

Click here to read about my favorite makeup products of 2017! 

Melodrama - Lorde


The albums on this list are in no particular order, but I knew I had to talk about Melodrama first. Not only is it my favorite album of 2017, but it is actually one of my all-time favorites. I have listened to it over and over since the day it was released, and I never get bored of it. All of the songs on Melodrama are incredible and tell a really beautiful story. I really discovered the beauty of Lorde's music in 2017 and I am so happy I did. She is now one of my favorite artists that have made such a positive impact on me in the past year. If you haven't listened to this album all the way through yet, it is an absolute must. You will not regret it!

My Favorite Songs:
Homemade Dynamite
The Louvre
Liability
Writer In The Dark
Perfect Places

Buy & Stream it here!

Harry Styles - Harry Styles


I have been anticipating the release of Harry Styles' debut solo music ever since One Direction took their hiatus in 2016 (and even years before that). His solo music definitely did not disappoint. There is just no denying how talented he is and his potential for the future. I have enjoyed most of his former bandmate's solo music, but Harry's really stands out amongst the rest. With everyone else, I get the feeling that they are just releasing music to ride the wave of their One Direction fame, but Harry's just sounds really authentic and doesn't seem like he's making music for it to be a radio hit. He actually seems like he enjoys what he's doing, which is not what I feel about most of the others. There really is something for everyone here, and you don't need to be a fan of his prior work to enjoy this album.

My Favorite Songs:
Sign of the Times
Carolina
Sweet Creature
Kiwi
Ever Since New York

Buy & Stream it here!

The Thrill Of It All - Sam Smith


I have always enjoyed Sam Smith's music in the past, but I didn't know how much I was really going to love his newest album. It only just came out in November, but it has quickly became one of my favorites of the entire year. His voice is what really makes the album so incredible, it is like no other. Pretty much every song is quite emotional, so I do wish that there were more light-hearted tracks mixed in, but he delivered it all so well. He hasn't released new music since 2014, but The Thrill Of It All was worth the wait. 

My Favorite Songs:
Say It First
Midnight Train
Palace
Pray
Nothing Left For You

Buy & Stream it here!

Reputation - Taylor Swift


Taylor Swift is someone who I have been a huge fan of for as long as I can remember, so I was obviously so excited for her to finally be releasing new music in 2017. I love all of her albums in her discography, especially 1989, which I would definitely consider to be one of my all-time favorites. I do really enjoy this album, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping it would be. There are songs that I believe are some of the best she ever released (for example; "Delicate", "So It Goes...", and "New Years Day") , but some of them feel sort of forced and unnecessary to the album. I do think she was too focused on making a "comeback" by making cookie cutter pop songs that would perform well in the mainstream media. Reputation is an album that I have really enjoyed listening to since it's release, but it is by no means my favorite Taylor Swift album.

My Favorite Songs:
I Did Something Bad
Delicate
So It Goes...
Call It What You Want
New Years Day

Buy & Stream it here!

Dua Lipa - Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa Dua Lipa CD cover

The first song I ever heard from Dua Lipa was "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)" early last year before she was as popular as she is now. I didn't know anything about her then, but I knew that her music was going to be huge (it was actually my most played song of the year on Spotify!) I couldn't wait to hear more from her when I found out she was going to release her debut album in the summer. She has such a distinctive voice, which in some songs is reminiscent of Amy Winehouse. Her sound is so fresh and something that was really needed for pop music. She has already seen so much success since its release, and shows a promising future of becoming one of the biggest pop stars. 

I might do a separate post about my favorite music videos of 2017, but I have to mention her "New Rules" music video here, as well. I love everything about it, from the choreography, the wardrobe, and to the overall message of female empowerment.

My Favorite Songs:
Hotter Than Hell
Be The One
Blow Your Mind (Mwah)
Thinking 'Bout You
New Rules

Buy & Stream it here!

Nervous System - Julia Michaels


Julia Michaels is someone who has been behind-the-scenes for most of her career as a songwriter for some of the biggest pop artists including; Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran, Gwen Stefani, and Nick Jonas, just to name a few. I'm so happy that now she is venturing out and doing her own music, because someone like her is really needed in the music industry. I first heard "Issues", her biggest song to date, around this time last year before it was ever on the radio or anyone knew about her. I knew from the first time I heard it that it was going to be a huge hit. Julia is so talented and deserves all of the recognition she is getting for her music, and then some. I loved every song she has released so far, and I am very excited to see what 2018 brings for her!

My Favorite Songs:
Issues
Uh Huh
Worst In Me
Pink
Don't Wanna Think

Buy & Stream it here!

American Teen - Khalid

See the source image
I first heard about Khalid through social media, but I didn't really know who he was until this album was recommended to me through Spotify. He really has such an incredible voice that stands out so much amongst all of the other male pop vocalists. His music is something really special that I hope more people recognize in the future!

My Favorite Songs:
Young Dumb & Broke
Location
Another Sad Love Song
Saved
8TEEN

Buy & Stream it here!

don't smile at me - Billie Eilish

See the source image

I only recently discovered Billie Eilish in late 2017, but her debut album, don't smile at me, is something I haven't stopped listening to since I came across it. The first song I ever heard from her was "my boy", which is one of the best songs I've heard in a long time. I love everything about don't smile at me, from the lyrics, to the melodies, to Billie's vocal performance. She was only 15 years old when this was released, but her music sounds so much more mature and darker than what other musicians her age, or older, sound like. I have listened to it on repeat since I first heard of it and suggest you check it out, as well!


My Favorite Songs:
COPYCAT
idontwannabeyouanymore
my boy
bellyache
ocean eyes

Buy & Stream it here!

Hopeless Fountain Kingdom - Halsey


I have been a big fan of Halsey ever since her debut album, Badlands, was released in 2015. Hopeless Fountain Kingdom is a great follow up to that album and continuation of the story she is telling through her music. The story that the lyrics, music videos, and live performances tell is so well thought-out and meaningful, which just adds to the experience of it all. Everything just flows together seamlessly and there aren't any songs that sound like they don't belong with the rest of the album. 

My Favorite Songs:
Eyes Closed
Alone
Now Or Never
Walls Could Talk
Bad At Love

Buy & Stream it here!

Flicker - Niall Horan 


To be honest, I didn't expect much from Niall's solo music after One Direction, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I love it. His style is very different than what I expected it to sound like, but it is really so genuine and doesn't sound forced whatsoever. Other than Harry Styles, Niall is the only other 1D member that I believe is doing music because they actually enjoy doing it and not to just stay relevant. He has proven his talent with this album and shows so much potential for the future!


My Favorite Songs:
On The Loose
This Town
Seeing Blind
Since We're Alone
Flicker

Buy/Stream it here!

Divide - Ed Sheeran


There is no denying that Ed Sheeran is truly one of the greatest male songwriters of this generation. He had some of the biggest songs of the year, but unlike most other chart-topping hits, his music is so meaningful with strong messages behind the lyrics. Divide was the first album of 2017 that I really loved and listened to continuously for the rest of the year.

My Favorite Songs:
Eraser
Dive
Shape of You
Perfect
New Man

Buy/Stream it here!


Thank you so much for checking out my blog and I hope you come back soon for more posts! Comment below what some of your favorite albums of 2017 were and what you thought of mine! Make sure to subscribe or follow me on Bloglovin' here, so you never miss anything! Happy New Year!



-Melissa




♡follow me! @melkacar

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