2017 saw a slew of big pop and hip-hop records, a number of breakout female singer-songwriters and all-girl bands, and the return of beloved '60's soul artist Don Bryant and pop star Kesha.
Friday on the NewsHour, music critics Ann Powers of NPR and Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times join Jeffrey Brown to discuss tell us about their favorite music of 2017. Here are their picks for the 12 best albums and songs of the year, both popular and overlooked:
1. "Damn" by Kendrick Lamar — "Loyalty" / Top Dawg Entertainment
2. "Rainbow" by Kesha — "Praying" / Kemosabe Records
3. "Reputation" by Taylor Swift — "Look What You Made Me Do" / Big Machine Record
4. "4:44" by Jay-Z — "The Story of O.J." / Roc Nation LLC
5. "All American Made" by Margo Price — "Pay Gap" / Third Man Records
6. "Out in the Storm" by Waxahatchee — "Silver" / Merge Records
7. "Ctrl" by SZA — "Love Galore" / Top Dawg Entertainment
8. "Don't Give Up On Love" by Don Bryant — "How Do I Get There?" / Fat Possum Records
9. "Gilded" by Jade Jackson — "Finish Line" / antirecords
10. "Slowmotionary" by Ethan Gruska — "Rather Be" [Live Acoustic] / Sire Records
11. "MASSEDUCTION" by St. Vincent — "Los Ageless" / Loma Vista Recordings
12. "More Life" by Drake — "Passionfruit" / OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records