Welcome to my site! I’ll be sharing with you some personal music discovery via monthly(-ish) playlists featuring a mix of new tracks I dig. To start things off, here are 17 of my favorites from 2017. You can also find 13 tunes from the Top Half of 2017 and my Top 20 2016 Picks. More to come in 2018!

Listen to the entire playlist HERE or below:

First up is Flying Apart from Nashville’s Los Colognes. Their entire third album features a bunch of vibey, blissful tunes and this song certainly makes me feel as though I’m soaring.

You could tell me that Motorcycle is Sam Elliot’s debut into country music, instead its Colter Wall, the 20-something Canadian who has a voice that sounds like he’s been around. I for one hope he sticks around.

Singer/songwriter (Sandy) Alex G has been self-producing music for quite a few years, and Proud showcases his striped-down, indie-rock style quite nicely.

Beach Fossils are a Brooklyn-based group that has been around a couple of years, and I was really impressed with this year’s release. The track Down the Line is the epitome of chill vibes.

Kevin Morby has been releasing solo music for several years since his departure from the band Woods, and his latest is a strong addition to his catalog. 1234 is a very obvious homage to the Ramones and its cool to see their legacy live on in new music.

Everything Goes begins with an interesting build up of fun percussive layering and Poolside creates a beaming energetic sound. The falsetto vocals work so nicely and there is a great build for a fantastic finish.

While she may hail from New Jersey, singer Nicole Atkins has adopted a more southern, almost honky-tonk style. Darkness Falls so Quiet spotlights her wonderful voice so well but her entire album is worth a listen.

Alejandro is the real first name of the folksy/bluesy Shakey Graves. The seemingly self-referencing Alexander, City Born is a great sample his stripped-down style and teleports me to a time where music was much simpler.

Jesse Malin has been around for many years, playing music all over New York since the early 80s but has largely been under the radar. Meet Me at the End of the World has the feel of a great classic rock ‘n roll tune, complete with a sing-along-able “do-do-do. do. do.” section and a catchy chorus. There’s something that just feels right about how this one comes together.

The son of legendary Willie Nelson obviously grew up with music in his blood, but Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real is out to prove they can make their own music. You can certainly hear the influence, and at times Lukas’ voice is reminiscent of Willie, but Find Yourself is a great tune and features Lady Gaga crushing the accompanying vocals.

Next is Ted Leo who released an album this year without the Pharmacists, and Can’t Go Back was the tune that jumped at me here. It’s an upbeat song that reminds me somehow of a 1950s variety show or something, but still features a bit of Leo’s punk rock style.

From punk rock we go to some very twangy country music from Charlie Parr. My guess is the song Dog is an ode to his dog, and if so, it must be something to be Parr’s Best Friend. This is a catchy tune and I just can’t get enough of the resonator guitar sound.

I listen to Habbie Doobie and can’t help but hear “Have a Doobie” and can imagine that might enhance this downright funky, ripping number from The Texas Gentlemen. I loved every song on their debut album and they come hot out of the gates with this opening track.

The music of Hiss Golden Messenger is a nice blend of rock, folk, soul, country and even funk styles. MC Taylor adds his unique voice to the mix, and on Domino (Time Will Tell) the result is quite fantastic.

Most of the music on The Barr Brothers latest album is more what I would call indie-folk, but Kompromat grabbed me on my first listen. It’s darker and heavier but the driving percussion and and guitar melody seem to pull me into a trance whenever I listen.

I was lucky enough to watch Margo Price slay her set under the hot afternoon Louisiana sun at Jazz Fest this year and it stood out as a highlight of the festival. She has this unabashed energy on stage and is putting the “oomph” into country music for me. Her album interestingly features a duet with the aforementioned Willie Nelson, but A Little Pain was my favorite track and proves she doesn’t need any fancy names to display her talent.

Last but not least is Need Your Love by Curtis Harding. The sophomore album by the Atlanta-based soul singer and guitarist perfectly nails the classic soul sound with a hint of gospel, blues and rock mixed in. And he’s an impressive guitarist too, which sort of makes him a combination of Otis Redding and Jimi Hendrix in my mind.. not a bad combo!