Year-end Recommendations 2017

2017 was an interesting year for music. I heard a lot of stuff but, like any year, I also missed a lot of good gear too. PROPAGANDHI’s latest still hasn’t crossed my ears and I think I only heard about one release on Deranged Records. What I did hear though made for an impressive year, with older bands like CHANNEL 3 cranking out brand new stunners along with newer names like DEBT NEGLECTOR.
For me, 2017 also had a very dark shadow in the passing of GRANT HART. It remains hard to believe that I was talking to him, here in NZ, just the year before. It has brought a whole new sensation which would have otherwise been lacking when listening to the recent HUSKER DU boxset.
Didn’t get to see as many bands as I would have liked. MINISTRY were due to play but cancelled (drug issues was it, Al?), I caught THE DAMNED for the 36th time and ADAM ANT blew me away on the ‘Kings Of The Wild Frontier’ tour. I’m still blitzed by that version of ‘Beat My Guest’!!
Anyway - Top Tens and also-rans as follows. As I said above, there is a lot I have not heard - and these lists are always objective - but for me, these represent the Top Sounds of 2017.　

ALBUMS

1. CYANIDE PILLS - Slice And Diced {Damaged Goods}
2. DUNCAN REID AND THE BIG HEADS - Bombs Away {LBH}
3. CHANNEL 3 - Put ‘Em Up {TKO}
4. CAREER SUICIDE - Machine Response {Deranged}
5. DEBT NEGLECTOR - Atomicland {Smart Punk}
6. PARANOID VISIONS - Rebellion {FOAD/ Overground}
7. REPLACEMENTS - Live At Maxwell’s {Rhino}
8. KOMPLIKATIONS - Humans {Rockstar}
9. CJ RAMONE - American Beauty {Fat Wreck}

10. PANDEMIX - Scale Models Of Atrocities {Boss Tuneage}
Other contenders: 1919 - Bloodline {Westworld}, BAD COP/BAD COP - Warriors, PEARS/ DIRECT HIT - Human Movement, WESTERN ADDICTION - Tremulous {Fat Wreck}, THE CRAVATS - Dustbin Of Sound {Overground} , DAMNED - 40th Anniversary: Live In Margate {Liveherenow}, DEAD ENDING - Shoot The Messenger {Alternative Tentacles}, DIRTY PRIESTS - s/t {BDI}, GRAND COLLAPSE - Along The Dew {TNS}, STUNGRENADES Class War: Fight Back! {Bastard Son}, SWHAT - Wasty Tasty {Heart Of The Rat}, DELINQUENTS - About Last Night {Violated}, FOX FACE - Spoil + Destroy {Dirtnap}, TIM BARRY - High On 95 {Chunksaah}　

SINGLES/ EPs

1. DUNCAN REID AND THE BIG HEADS - C’mon Josephine {Damaged Goods}
2. DEALING WITH DAMAGE - Don’t Give Into Fear {Boss Tuneage}
3. FIVE THOUSAND - Monadh {Our Future}
4. NIGHT MEN - C’est La Vie {Rockstar}
5. JADED EYES - Hatespeak {Boss Tuneage}
6. NIGHT PEOPLE - Night People {Deranged}
7. STAY CLEAN JOLENE - Live At The Dog {JSNTGM}
8. FEEDERZ - WWHD? {Slope}
9. PAGANS/ HIP PRIESTS - Split {Just4Fun}
10. THE SWEET THINGS - Slather {Spaghetty Town}

Other contenders: ANTI-SYSTEM - At What Price Freedom?, NATTERERS - Toxic Care {Boss Tuneage}, FACE TO FACE - Say What You Want {Fat Wreck}, STARVING MILLIONS - V {DIY}, WRATHS - My Home {Bird Attack}, LAST GANG - Sing For Your Supper {Fat Wreck}, HUSKER DU - Extra Circus {Numero Uno}, DR. BOOGIE - She’s So Tuff {Spaghetty Town}, PATSY’S RATS - Roundin’ Up {Dirtnap}　

REISSUES/ COMPILATIONS

1. HUSKER DU - Savage Young Du {Numero Uno}
2. COVENTRY AUTOMATICS - Dawning Of A New Era {Free Range Product}
3. RAMONES - Rocket To Russia/ Leave Home box sets {Rhino}
4. DAVID BOWIE - A New Career In A New Town {Parlophone}
5. BAD DRESS SENSE - We Rule! {Boss Tuneage}
6. HANOI ROCKS - Reissues {Dissonance}
7. SWINGIN’ UTTERS - Drowning In The Sea, Rising With The Sun {Fat Wreck}
8. STEVE DREWETT AND THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT - Disgraceland {Cruel Binary}
9. MANIACS - So Far... So Loud {Overground}
10. ELECTRO HIPPIES - Collected Works 1985-1987 {Boss Tuneage}

Other contenders: THE PROLES - Morton Crescent {Overground}, CHRIS SPEDDING - The RAK Years {Cherry Red}, MINISTRY - Reissues {Dissonance}, GOOD RIDDANCE - Ballads From The Revolution {Fat Wreck}