Another twelve months, another year of defining tracks. 2017 has had its fair share of bangers, pop hits and absolute stinkers. Who better to officially rate them than Blaenavon? It’s a rhetorical question. Please don’t send in suggestions.
Declan McKenna – The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home
Harris: Three yesses this kid is going all the way to Vegas.
Frank: It’s pretty good, innit.
Marika Hackman – Boyfriend
Harris: Will play this to my children one day.
Frank: Also pretty good, innit.
Sigrid – Don’t Kill My Vibe
Harris: A familiar headache.
Frank: It’s really not aimed at me and doesn’t really work for me. Her voice sounds funny tho!
Pale Waves – There’s A Honey
Harris: This blend is not my cup of coffee.
Frank: I know exactly what the video for this song looks like from seeing it over and over again in the scroll, but I never tapped for audio. I don’t think the Facebook and Instagram advert people really know me that well.
Lorde – Green Light
Harris: A rousing cacophony!
Frank: A great, empowering song.
Paramore – Hard Times
Harris: Yes, the future is not that promising.
Frank: I like how the intro sounds like Countdown on holiday.
Wolf Alice – Don’t Delete The Kisses
Harris: Charming noise, leave them in.
Frank: Okay nice here’s a chill song, all those songs before this were way too exciting/intense for me. Nice.
Charli XCX – Boys
Harris: An accurate description of the apocalypse.
Frank: Loving how chill this is too! Always thought this song was quite hard for some reason. But yes, big head nod swagger on this. I think the sentiment is well funny too.
The Killers – The Man
Harris: Good to listen to seriously or in jest depending on how your life is going.
Frank: The Killers are back? Fuck yeah! He’s being way more obvious with the funny this time. I think it’s good, but I wouldn’t listen to it again, it’s too funny. Would make a great Flight of the Conchords scene.
Liam Gallagher – Wall of Glass
Harris: Nursery rhymes, dad rock.
Frank: I don’t really have anything to say about this, sorry.
Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee – Despacito (remix)
Harris: Turns my bedroom into a sweaty club – a ponderous marriage.
Frank: Yesss another chillin’ head nodder. Best song of 2017. So weird too, the first time anyone hears it they don’t get it, it’s like ‘What, why is this a thing?’ Then the melody sticks with you so hard, and you can’t shake it off for the next few weeks, and listening to it becomes so satisfying and fun. Bieber you funny, funny guy. Also, I love the guy with a lisp.
Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times
Harris: Wish he could be a bit more specific – good though.
Frank: Think the music really speaks for itself on this one. This generation’s ‘Stairway’?
Taylor Swift – Look What You Made Me Do
Harris: Frankenstein’s Monster spewing WKD.
Frank: Would have worked better as a chipmunk voice ringtone that kids Bluetoothed to each other in 2008.
Ed Sheeran – Galway Girl
Harris: Mercifully short, still didn’t make it to the end.
Frank: I love all the other new-gen Sheeran singles, but this one pisses me off! C2 at 0:29 though, very impressive.
Blaenavon – Orthodox Man
Harris: Sounds a bit flat after ‘Galway Girl’.
Frank: The greatest song of all time of course. Nice second verse. Ending the playlist in style… Encore!
Taken from the December/January issue of Dork, out now.