2017 was…something. While our leaders set the world on fire, our favorite artists rose to the occasion and spat out some fire of their own, making the year gone by a whole lot more bearable. idobi’s staff put together their best of 2017 music picks, and shared some of the moments that made it all better—throwing in a few memes along the way (because what would the internet be without them?). Join us as we raise our glasses and say goodbye to 2017 with some good tunes and some reasons to cheer:
Best Album:
How Did We Get So Dark? – Royal Blood
Best Song:
“Young Dumb & Broke” – Khalid
Best Music Video:
“Obsession” – OK Go
Favorite Collaboration:
Kristen Bell & Dave Grohl perform Frozen & Metallica mash-up on Jimmy Kimmel
Moment that Made it Better:
The Women’s March.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Flying cars.
Favorite Meme:
The one where it shows what Trump’s doodling when signing bills.
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Best Album:
The Altar – BANKS
(it dropped in 2016 but it’s all I listened to this year)
Best Song:
“Weaker Girl” – BANKS (it’s ALL I listened to. Fight me.)
“Die Young” “Humble” (I’m all over the place)
Best Music Video:
“Boys” – Charli XCX
Favorite Collaboration:
“Thunder/Young Dumb & Broke” – Imagine Dragons x Khalid (AMAs)
Moment that Made it Better:
My nephew singing, “I love my tia!”
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
We enter an age of enlightenment without further turmoil.
Favorite Meme:
I’m ringing the “shame bell” for idobi founder Tom Cheney—he never turned in his list. Way to lead by example, sir. Way to lead.
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Best Album:
Mansionz – Mansionz
Best Song:
“Black Butterflies and Deja Vu” – The Maine
Best Music Video:
“Cassie” – Chase Atlantic
Favorite Collaboration:
“All My Friends” – Hoodie Allen feat. State Champs
Moment that Made it Better:
The first Warped Cruise
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
I hope everyone can get along in 2018
Favorite Meme:
—
Best Album:
This is really, really, really hard. There was so many incredible albums this year. Picking one seems unfair, when in reality, for myself, there’s 30-40 records I could easily list. It was a great year for heavy music, and an absolute pleasure to be a fan of these genres. Here’s five you should all check out, listed in no particular order:
You Are We – While She Sleeps
Deadweight – Wage War
False Idol – Veil of Maya
The Mortal Coil – Polaris
Arch Echo – Arch Echo
Best Song:
“Doomsday” – Architects
This is a very special, emotionally heavy, and personal song for the band. First time I ever listened, I definitely had a pretty huge lump in my throat along with tears welling up.
Best Music Video:
“After The Party” – The Menzingers
Favorite Collaboration:
“Ascending a Mountain In Heavy Light” – The Body & Full of Hell
Two great bands on their own, this epic collaboration album is something fans of heavy, experimental music need to hear.
Moment that Made it Better:
Glassjaw releasing their first album in 15 years. I think most fans would agree, it was worth the wait!
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
I’d really like if Motion City Soundtrack, along with some other broken up, OG Warped Tour bands (My Chemical Romance, etc.) reunited to play a couple dates of the last year of Vans Warped Tour 2018. Regardless, if Kevin & co. are able to reunite some bands for some special shows, the lineup will be nothing short of incredible!
Favorite Meme:
Rollsafe meme, Meryl Streep singing meme, and who could forget, the distracted boyfriend and all the hilarious memes that spawned! Cracking Open A Cold One with the Boys was good, and just about any Wendy’s tweets/comebacks they posted all year.
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Best Album:
From A Room – Chris Stapleton
Best Song:
“Taylor Swift” – Beans on Toast
Best Music Video:
Do they still make those?
Favorite Collaboration:
Brett Davern & Katie Leclerc on The Brett Davern Show (lame answer?)
Moment that Made it Better:
When we got to interview Frank Turner on the show! Big fan of his and it was cool to make him laugh.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Favorite Meme:
Not sure what this is…
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Best Album:
All We Know Of Heaven, All We Need Of Hell – PVRIS
Best Song:
“Same Soul” – PVRIS
Best Video:
“Boys” – Charli XCX
Favourite Collaboration:
Carly Rae Jepsen with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Moment that Made it Better:
The Dangerous Summer reuniting
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
I get one (1) full night of restful sleep
Favorite Meme:
Richard Spencer getting punched in the face to various perfect songs
Alt Right Strays From The Path pic.twitter.com/pFyW4jNhYd
— Spicy Emo Meme 2; Electric Boogaloo (@ThyArtIsMemes) January 23, 2017
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Best Album:
After Laughter – Paramore
Best Song:
“The Gold” – Manchester Orchestra
Best Music Video:
“Green Light” – Lorde
Favorite Collaboration:
“End Game” – Taylor Swift, Future, Ed Sheeran
Moment that Made it Better:
The return of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Music wise, I’m looking forward to a new DCFC album in 2018
Favorite Meme:
That little dancing hotdog
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Best Album:
OGILALA – Billy Corgan
Best Song:
“Less Than” – Nine Inch Nails
Best Music Video:
“Say10” – Marilyn Manson
Favorite Collaboration:
Lady Gaga + Metallica
Moment that Made it Better:
All the horrible [predatory] scum being exposed for what they are, big win for women.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Original Smashing Pumpkins lineup reunion, 1995 Red Hot Chili Peppers lineup reunion, Hole Reunion.
Favorite Meme:
Babadook for Gay Pride, Saltbae
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Best Album:
N/A (too A.D.D. for entire albums)
Best Song:
“Young, Dumb and Broke” – Khalid
Best Music Video:
“Despacito” – Luis Fonsi feat. Daddy Yankee
Favorite Collaboration:
“Walk on Water”- Eminem feat. Beyonce // “Revenge” – Pink feat. Eminem (basically anything with Eminem)
Moment that Made it Better:
Everyone stopped being a dick for a few hours to watch the eclipse
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
#impeachtrump
Favorite Meme:
Who wore it better? Credit – me
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Best Album:
Last Young Renegade – All Time Low
Best Song:
“Pool” – Paramore
Best Music Video:
“Most Girls” – Hailee Steinfeld // “Giants” – LIGHTS
Favorite Collaboration:
“What Lovers Do” – Maroon 5 feat. SZA
Moment that Made it Better:
That interview with Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. You know the one.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Something that rhymes with shmimpeachment. Treason’s greetings, y’all!
Favorite Meme:
Kermit sipping tea has been me all year tbh
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Best Album:
Last Young Renegade – All Time Low
Best Song:
“How Do You Feel?” – The Maine
Best Music Video:
“Sorry Not Sorry” – Demi Lovato
Favorite Collaboration:
“Strangers” – Halsey feat. Lauren Jauregui
Moment That Made It Better:
Chrissy Teigen’s pregnancy announcement, bless
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Watching the scene – and world as a whole – rebuild a safer and more inclusive atmosphere for my siblings to grow into.
Favorite Meme:
The Old Carly Is Dead
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Best Album:
The Search For Everything – John Mayer
Best Song:
“Could It Be Over” – Eli Teplin
Best Music Video:
“Ahead Of Myself” – X Ambassadors
Favorite Collaboration:
“Walk On Water” – Eminem & Beyoncé
Moment that Made it Better:
Krispy Kreme donuts at the office
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Eminem and Ed Sheeran Collab (dream is coming true December 15th)
Favorite Meme:
Shocked guy blinking
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Best Album:
After Laughter – Paramore // AWKOHAWNOH – PVRIS
Best Song:
“Rose Colored Boy” – Paramore
Best Music Video:
“Kiwi” – Harry Styles
Favorite Collaboration:
Him & I – Halsey & G-Eazy
Moment that Made it Better:
The Dangerous Summer reuniting
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
ONE DIRECTION REUNITING…..and world peace.
Favorite Meme:
White guy blinking gif meme…gets me every time.
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Best Album:
A Black Mile To The Surface – Manchester Orchestra
Best Song:
“Yours” – Now Now
Best Music Video:
“The Alien” – Manchester Orchestra
Favorite Collaboration:
“Your Name” – Radwimps & Makoto Shinkai
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
I find the time to beat Zelda BOTW
Favorite Meme:
—
Best Album:
Last Young Renegade – All Time Low
Best Song:
“Black Butterflies and Déjà Vu” – The Maine
Best Music Video:
“Pretty” – Don Broco
Favorite Collaboration:
“I Know You” – Craig David feat. Bastille’s Dan Smith
Moment that Made it Better:
Brendon Urie making thigh-high red heels work in Broadway’s Kinky Boots
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
The Academy Is… will stop teasing us and actually announce a ten-year anniversary tour for Santi
Favorite Meme:
Mocking Spongebob (especially this one)
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Best Album:
Rainbow –
Kesha
Best Song:
“Sorry Not Sorry” – Demi Lovato
Best Music Video:
“Want You Back” – HAIM // “New Rules” – Dua Lipa
Favorite Collaboration:
“Good Old Days” – Macklemore feat. Kesha
Moment that Made it Better:
Selena Gomez winning Woman Of The Year at Billboard’s WIM
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
A Harry Styles & HAIM collab/tour ’cause they both have a high appreciation for Shania Twain but with surprise guest Shania herself.
Favorite Meme:
It’s still the dog in the burning room. Doesn’t matter if that wasn’t created this year.
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Best Album:
Hopeless Fountain Kingdom – Halsey
Best Song:
“We Were Here” – Lights
Best Music Video:
“Good Times” – All Time Low
Favorite Collaboration:
“Strangers” – Halsey feat. Lauren Jauregui
Moment that Made it Better:
Finally graduating from Ohio State University was definitely my favorite moment in 2017.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
More new music from Fall Out Boy soon! I love everything off Mania so far and can’t wait to hear what they are doing with the rest of the album.
Favorite Meme:
Eevee on the TV
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Best Album:
Masseduction – St. Vincent
I was torn between St. Vincent, Lorde and Bjork—all three put out beautifully unique, lush and gorgeously constructed indie pop records, but Masseduction is the one I’m likely to put on more often. Just stunning, and Annie Clark is at the top of her game.
Best Song:
“Green Light” – Lorde
Lorde continues to mature and dive inside her own psyche. This is just a gem of a tune.
Best Music Video:
“The Gate” – Bjork
We already knew Bjork was a psychedelic pop imp-ress, and this wonderfully weird and compelling video proves it.
Favorite Collaboration:
I got nothin’
Moment that Made it Better:
Even though it started last year, the ongoing Guns N Roses reunion has been a thing of joy. To see this fallen giant reclaim its place at the top, to put aside differences and just kick ass all over the world, has been phenomenal. They might not be dangerous anymore, but they’re still exciting.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
Whisper it. Impeachment.
Favorite Meme:
Nothin’ from me.
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Best Album:
The Altar – BANKS
Best Song:
“Closer” – POWERS
Best Music Video:
“Obsession” – Okgo
Favorite Collaboration:
“No Limit” – G-Eazy feat. A$AP Rocky & Cardi B
Moment that Made it Better:
Richard Spencer getting punched in the face.
Thing You Still Hope Will Happen:
That I will finally get some szechuan sauce, Morty.
Favorite Meme:
Redbone remix
What Redbone would sound like while you’re making out in the bathroom of a house party pic.twitter.com/1X4T7jFvZc
— chloé (@chloestixx) May 14, 2017