Last year we started a tradition of reaching out to people in the Austin music community to find out what their favorite music was, globally and locally. We’re continuing that this year but we got so many responses we’ve decided to publish it in installments throughout the week. Here’s the first batch! And be sure to also check out our staff selections for best albums, songs, videos and photos!
Lauren Burton
(Vocalist and guitarist in Lola Tried)
Top 5 Songs of 2017:
1. Sweet Spirit “The Power”
Obviously the power anthem of the year. I listen to it before every show, really loud, in my car or house while I’m getting ready. Sabrina Ellis and Andrew Cashen are a dream team of writers.
2. Lizzo “Truth Hurts”
3. Looming “Down”
I’ve been looking forward to the new Looming record for a long time now, and this is definitely my favorite track off of it. It’s aggressive, catchy, and hard hitting.
4. Julien Baker “Turn Out the Lights”
I can’t get past Julien Baker’s presence in everything she does. It’s so raw and so close and her lyrics are incredibly relatable. She makes me cry every time I listen to her.
Top 5 Albums of 2017
1. A Giant Dog Toy
I’ve been seeing this band since I was 18 years old, and Sabrina would let me watch right by the stage before they even had a record out. This band is my favorite band, ever, and hearing their newest release simply confirms that. From their cover of Sparks’ “Angst in my Pants” to their single “Photograph,” each song is just brimming with energy and every time I listen to this record I explode. Sabrina Ellis and Andrew Cashen are geniuses.
2. Bully Losing
This band continues to impress me on multiple levels. They’re loud and thrashy but have melodic moments as well. They are definitely a huge inspiration to my band. Their guitarist and singer, Alicia Bognanno, is so talented and writes really really great riffs. This record has inspired me to start playing more lead parts. She writes really really hooky stuff. This record is great to blast really really loudly at a party. Just some really solid rock n roll.
3. Waxahatchee Out in the Storm
I could go on about how much I love Katie Crutchfield. Waxahatchee’s first record was so inspirational for me and helped me grow as a musician. I really love this newest release because it’s a much heavier side of them, anchored in fuzzy guitar tones and faster tempos. My favorite song on that record is probably “Sparks Fly?” I don’t know, they’re all so great. The record flows really well too, and it’s really well structured. Can’t wait to see her play it live.
4. Regrettes Feel your Feelings Fool!
5. Lemuria Recreational Hate
I’ve been in love with Lemuria since I was 18 years old. They are so melodic and poppy, but still had heavy roots that you could hear flow out in every record they came out with. I was so excited to hear they came out with a new record, Recreational Hate. It’s so different from any Lemuria record I’ve heard; I really, really enjoy it.
Top 5 Albums by Austin Artists
1. Sweet Spirit St. Mojo
Wow, this record was such a blast. It’s a party jam all the way through, it’s loud, it’s rowdy, and the harmonies are fantastic. My favorite tracks on this record are “Sweet Jesus” and “The Power.” “Pamela” is a close runner up simply because it’s really fun to scream “WHY WOULD YOU HIDE YOUR WHITE LEGS FROM EVERYONE” at the top of your lungs. Also, Pamela Anderson is chill I guess.
2. Xetas The Tower
I was recently introduced to Xetas this year after playing a show with them and being completely blown away. Their new record, The Tower, is so damn heavy in the best way. “The Gaze” is my absolute favorite song on it, the dueling vocals are everything on this track. Definitely worth a listen.
3. Poly Action Baby’s First Rock and Roll
I’ve been watching Ray Garza put this record together since we started playing together in Lola Tried. To see a friend release something like this, ESPECIALLY when it’s a really solid record, is such a great feeling. I really enjoy putting this record on at parties and stuff. The album art is fantastic and my favorite track is “Outta Tune.” Absolutely a solid listen for fans of Wilco!!!
4. TOMA Aroma
This record is a solid jam, and watching TOMA play live is always such a delight. The songs are really quite catchy and I love the dynamics in each track. Willie Johnson is a great frontman as well, and that voice could soothe even the crankiest crying baby. Good job, boys.
5. Go Fever Go Fever
Acey Monaro knows how to write a damn good pop song. Go Fever are a blast to watch, and their surf-pop vibes always make me feel good. I’m so glad they released a record this year, it’s absolutely worth a listen.
Favorite Austin Music Video of 2017
Sweet Spirit “Pamela”
Favorite Austin Show of 2017
Probably A Giant Dog’s record release at Hotel Vegas. My back still hasn’t healed from all of the crowdsurfing.
Music Resolution for the new year:
Listen to quieter things. Try writing quieter songs. I get so focused on playing loud and fast that I forget about how fun it can be to write delicately and quietly, and let the absence of sound fill some space on a track.
Jason McNeely
(Hotel Vegas and Barracuda impresario)
Top 5 Songs of 2017
1. Ultimate Painting “Dust on My Eyes”
2. Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile “Over Everything”
3. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever “Sick Bug”
4. Johnny Jewel and Saoirse Ronan “Tell Me”
Top 5 Albums of 2017
1. Slowdive Slowdive
2. Kelley Stoltz Que Aura
5. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever The French Press
Top 5 Songs by Austin Artists:
Molly Burch “Wrong For You”
Hovvdy “Late”
Roky Moon “When You Were Young”
Trouble Boys “I Don’t Care”
Julian Neel “American Bingo”
Top 5 Albums by Austin Artists:
Knife in the Water Reproduction
Molly Burch Please Be Mine
Institute Subordination
The Reputations Begging For More
Leather Girls Leather Girls
Favorite Austin Music Video of 2017:
A Giant Dog “Roller Coaster”
Favorite Austin Show of 2017
Kikagaku Moyo/ Soft Healer/ Hidden Ritual at Scottish Rite Temple Monday May 22nd 2017
Your music resolution for the New Year
Less Drama, More Music
Kaleb Asplund
(Karaoke Underground KJ, member of The Spoils, Math Patrol)
Top 5 Songs of 2017
Broen “<3”
Norwegian art-pop group hits all my buttons with this stilted electro slow jam.
Susanne Sundfør “The Sound Of War”
Idles “Well Done”
Juana Molina “Cosoco”
Argentine experimental pop, hypnotically propulsive, the clear standout on all-around excellent Halo.
Obnox “You”
Heavy and rough beats with outstanding horn riffs made this a danceable standout on Obnox’s typically noisy Niggative Approach.
Top 5 Albums of 2017
1. Susanne Sundfør Music for People in Trouble
2. Spoon Hot Thoughts
3. Mount Eerie A Crow Looked at Me
It feels unfair to list a record that I could never listen to more than three consecutive songs from, but at least half the time I thought about what to play this year I first made a mental check to see if I was ready for this overwhelmingly vulnerable album about death.
4. Idles Brutalism
5. Noveller A Pink Sunset for No One
Percussionless soundscapes that still bounce somewhere between Neu! and John Carpenter, the 8th solo album from Brooklyn-based guitarist (and former KVRX DJ!) Sarah Lipstate is disarmingly fun in a way that feels both grand and rebellious for an artist so strongly tied to terms like ambient and drone.
Top 5 Songs by Austin Artists
Pleasure Venom “In Heat”
The Seize EP as a whole is a step up from Hunt, this is just the rawest and roughest of the excellent bunch.
Super Thief “Full Metal Nixon”
“You can’t face the facts, but I know what you feed on” – Politics in America.
Stretch Panic “You Can’t Stay”
Pseudo-spooky twee pop that sparkles irresistibly, can’t wait for a full-length.
XETAS “The Machine”
The anthem of the year for that “fuck it, I’m done” feeling.
Magna Carda “Back Then”
Low-key but determined, Megz Kelli’s great narrative pushes forward.
Top 5 Albums by Austin Artists
Super Thief Stuck
Fully accomplished noise rock, but also seems like they’re just coming into their own.
Unknown Relatives Lagniappe Per Capita
My favorite local discovery of the year, their fourth release reminds me a lot of my ’90s indie favorites.
Vampyre Hot Ears
Honeyrude The Color Blue
Great dream-pop, the hazy melody of “Flowers” is a direct hit.
Suspirians Ti Bon Ange
Heavy post-punk, the keyboards complement the sound perfectly.
Favorite Austin Show of 2017
Austin Jukebox #7 with Rocket From The Tombs, ST 37 and Will Courtney on May 19 was incredible. The opportunity to hear all those classic songs played at Beerland was the kind of special event that continues to make me love living in Austin.
Your music resolution for the New Year
Book more benefit shows with the Karaoke Underground.
Paige Renee Berry
(Poster artist, back up vocalist in Tyler Jordan and the Negative Space)
Top 5 Songs of 2017
Hip-hop really killed the game this year. Zero apologies about how obnoxious I (still) get every time I hear “Bodak Yellow” on the radio, screaming about “bloody shoes” like I didn’t just scrape together change to go to P.Terry’s. I took a dance class to learn choreography to Bad and Boujee at Austin Ballet. Glad y’all didn’t witness that.
Kendrick Lamar “Humble”
Cardi B “Bodak Yellow”
Top 5 Albums of 2017
High notes:
Honestly drop what you’re doing and listen to Ctrl. SZA’s voice. The features. The dang CONTENT. Whoa.
Pretty sure Big Thief will just be on every list I ever make from now until forever. Buck and Adrianne are not only incredible musicians, they’re seriously good humans. If you somehow missed the hype, sleep on this no longer.
I can’t believe I didn’t meet Lindsey Verrill sooner. Holy shit. This lady is a mover and a shaker and her music soaked into my bones late this year. She also makes gorgeous visual art. Go see Little Mazarn immediately if you want to see an actual glowing banjo and feel whole again.
SZA Ctrl
The War On Drugs A Deeper Understanding
Top 5 Songs by Austin Artists
Hey guys, if you’re reading this can you make this show happen? My body is ready.
Tres Oui “Fall Back”
Little Mazarn “My Love is All Around You”
Caroline Says “Winter is Cold”
The Stacks “Chicon”
Tyler Jordan & The Negative Space “First Crossing”
Top 5 Albums by Austin Artists
I am lucky enough to know these folks to varying degrees and damn I feel so proud. Being a working musician is so fucking hard, which feels like such an obvious statement but I feel a big ol’ swell of pride for all the effort these guys put into making beautiful and meaningful art.
The Stacks Wasted Nostalgia
Little Mazarn Little Mazarn
Big Bill Stand By Your Bill
Caroline Says 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong
Carry Illinois Garage Sale
Favorite Austin Music Video of 2017
Amy Rosalyn “Precipice”
Favorite Austin Show of 2017
The Hootenanny House SXSW Showcase
Make sure you stay tuned for all the happenings at The Hootenanny House. It’s basically all your fave musicians in a garage and you don’t have to pay $5 for a LoneStar. House shows are the future, dood!
Your music resolution for the New Year
GET MY ASS OUT TO MORE SHOWS!!
Write more and do a collab with some of my talented music franns. Keep designin’ show posters and explore new ways to visually represent all the sweet tunes!
Stat1
(hip hop artist)
Top 5 Songs of 2017
Kendrick Lamar “Feel”
Yelawolf “Row Your Boat”
A Perfect Circle “The Doomed”
Big K.R.I.T “Mixed Messages”
Buddy “Find Me”
Top 5 Albums of 2017
Kendrick Lamar DAMN.
Another classic by kdot. He’s such a compelling artist. Every piece of work he releases is thought provoking in a new way while still being him.
Yelawolf Trial By Fire
Big K.R.I.T. 4eva is a mighty long time
Jay-Z 4:44
Sertified See Ya Soon
There is no stopping my bro Sertified right now. He is a hit machine and he only continues to pile up with this album.
Top 5 Songs by Austin Artists
Sertified “On The Go”
One of the best songs outta Austin right now period.
$outh$ide Hippie “Summertime on the Southside”
Y2 “Cee Lo”
Jake Lloyd “Ms. Compton”
S.dot and Dowrong “Proven Wrong”
Favorite Austin Music Video of 2017
Sertified “On The Go”
Favorite Austin Show of 2017
Raekwon at Antones. Getting to open with Sertified was a huge honor, Wu-Tang Clan is one of my biggest influences.
Your music resolution for the New Year
To release this upcoming album produced by Black Davinci soon. Stay consistent while learning the business more thoroughly. Continue spreading good energy.