MUSIC
of the N
YEAR
o matter how much hype an album gets in the
moment, it’s easy to forget about it once the
next one comes out. But here at Cliché, we are
firm believers in giving credit where it is due.
As 2017 comes to an end, it’s important to remember that
in the midst of all the madness, we were truly blessed with
some amazing releases in every genre from hip-hop to rock
to pop. To make choosing your favorite album of 2017 just
a bit easier, we rounded up a list of all the most influential
releases from the past year. BY LILLY MILMAN
N
A
J
I See You by the xx
GENRE: INDIE ROCK/DREAM POP
The third studio album from the dream-
pop power-duo, I See You marked the
return of the band after a four-year hia-
tus. After years of uncertainty, I See You
ushered in an era of creative stability for
the xx, exploring countless new sounds
to much critical acclaim.
MAR
÷ by Ed Sheeran
GENRE: POP
You don’t need us to tell you Ed
Sheeran came out with new music this
year; “Shape of You” became a hit as
soon as it was released and the song
has been on every radio station ever
since. The newest folk pop album by
the songwriter also included the other
breakout hit, “Castle On The Hill.”
Dirty Projectors by
Dirty Projectors
GENRE: ART ROCK
I Decided. by Big Sean
GENRE: HIP-HOP
If you ever thought Big Sean
was a one-hit wonder, then
this album must have seriously
proven you wrong. With I
Decided., Big Sean invites his
listeners to experience a never-
before-seen inside look at his
life, exploring themes of fallibi-
lity, family, responsibility, and
more. And of course, he doesn’t
shy away from showcasing the
glorious side of things, either.
Don’t forget, this is the album
that gave us “Bounce Back.”
102
After dominating the NYC art rock
scene for years, Dirty Projectors
suffered one lineup change that
would ensure the band would never
be the same. On this album, founder
David Longstreth addresses his
breakup from former