Albums From 2017 That Critics Raved About

With 2017 behind us, critics are looking back at some of the most surprising, exciting, hard-hitting, and overall best records of the year. The year produced a ton of high-profile records from artists like Ed Sheeran, Kesha, Taylor Swift, and U2: but were any of their albums critical favourites? This list covers albums that critics could not stop raving about. From emerging artists like Khalid to some of the most legendary acts in music such as Jay Z, these are 10 albums that critics loved in 2017.

Lorde – Melodrama

After a lengthy break following her debut record, Lorde returned in 2017 with the surprise success of the year. Critics overwhelming named Melodrama the best record of 2017; it topped year-end lists at NME, Rolling Stone, Consequence of Sound, and Entertainment Weekly, among others, in addition to earning an Album of The Year Grammy nomination. With a narrative loosely based around a single night at a party, Lorde produced a record with emotional maturity well beyond her age. On Liability she laments that her eccentricities drive friends and lovers away; on Supercut she fondly remembers a love lost, replaying moments in her head and wishing that she had acted differently during moments of contention; on the album-ending Perfect Places she ponders the endless adolescent search for perfection, drenched in the imperfections of sex, drugs, and young love.

Kendrick Lamar – DAMN

Kendrick Lamar’s third consecutive album to garner an Album of The Year nomination at the Grammy Awards, DAMN., also racked up nominations in categories including Best Rap Album and Record of The Year for the single HUMBLE. On the album, Lamar explores themes of racial injustice, poverty, religion, war, and violence. Critics unanimously praised DAMN., citing Lamar’s poetic lyricism as well as the intricate and often unique production flourishes. In addition to teaming up with Rihanna for the single LOYALTY., classic rockers U2 make a surprising appearance on the track XXX., which features guest vocals from lead singer Bono while ruminating on the effects of Donald Trump taking office. In turn, Lamar appeared on U2’s 2017 release, Songs of Experience. At Metacritic, the album holds 95% favour based on nearly 40 reviews from major critics.

Ryan Adams – Prisoner

Ryan Adams had a lot to write about on his latest record: after a high-profile divorce from singer / actress Mandy Moore, Adams released Prisoner to rave reviews. Drawing parallels to classic records from Bruce Springsteen (notably Tunnel of Love), Prisoner focuses largely on the difficulties of separation. Some tracks tackle the pressures of a marriage in crisis, though the majority of the record is a reflection of a man struggling to stand on his own in the wake of a major loss. “I don’t want to live in this haunted house anymore”, Adams sings at one point; finally ready to move on, but still full of regret. The record was a success commercially and fared even better with critics. Later in the year Adams released a 17-track companion album titled Prisoner B-Sides featuring tracks that did not make the cut.

Lana Del Ray – Lust For Life

Calling the album a welcome throwback to her debut record, Born to Die, critics were enamoured with the latest release from crooner Lana Del Ray. With the album, Lana got decidedly more political – but with a twist. On Lust For Life, Del Ray decided to take an optimistic approach to the Trump era, despite being known for her dark lyrics and often-edgy subject matter (in the past, she has been accused of glamorizing some pretty dark subjects). The record boasts an exciting sonic pallet, thanks to work from several diverse producers including Benny Blanco and Mighty Mike. It also features some surprising collaborations; Lana duets with The Weeknd, Stevie Knicks, ASAP Rocky and Sean Lennon. Debuting at #1 in the United States, Lust For Life also made several year-end Best Of lists, including Billboard, Complex, and NME.

SZA – Ctrl

SZA is another massive 2017 breakout artist. Her debut album, Ctrl, was a huge critical smash, and also widely considered one of the ‘coolest’ records of 2017. While she never had a big hit on the Billboard Hot 100, SZA drew massive streaming numbers on both Spotify and YouTube, and her list of collaborators are a who’s-who of A-List talent: so far, she’s worked with everyone from superstars like Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar to up-and-coming acts such as Post Malone and Khalid. In addition to heaps of praise from music publications, SZA earned an impressive five Grammy nominations for Ctrl, including Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best R&B Performance, and Best New Artist. Impressed by how mature and confident her debut record was, NME wrote that she “isn't a star in the making, [but] a fully-fledged talent who's practically showing off."

Jay-Z – 4:44

Of Jay-Z’s most recent record, 4:44, Rolling Stone wrote, "[it’s] a stunning, raw and mature apology that's as much an ode to partnership and family as it is an example of how vulnerability can make for truly excellent art." The record quickly made headlines for the Jay’s acknowledgement that he had cheated on his wife, Beyonce, which she originally alleged on her album Lemonade. On other tracks, he explores racial inequality, stereotypes, and oppression. Several songs on the album also included acclaimed videos, such as the shocking cartoon presentation of The Life of O.J. In addition to debuting at #1 in the United States, 4:44 also picked up more Grammy nominations than any other album in 2017 (tied with Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars), including Album of The Year, Record of The Year and Song of The Year.