The Top 10 Albums of 2017

Music is deeply tied to my work. All day long, while I’m designing, I listen to what I consider to be the best music out there. And for the last few years I pick my Top 10 albums of the year for the KEXP countdown. This year was extra difficult. 

I had a shortlist of about 30 albums. From some of my all-time favorite bands to other artists I heard for the first time this year. It was tough getting it down to only 10.

It’s also worth noting, given the state of America and our insistence on going backwards, the music was a counter. It pushed us forward. It kept us dreaming, hoping, wondering, working. It was full of beauty, hope, outrage, unity, solidarity, and, most of all, truth.  

With that, these are the albums that spoke to me in the year 2017, in no particular order:

Also worth noting, the Arcade Fire Everything Now tour was absolutely incredible. While their album, which I liked very much, didn’t make my Top 10, their Seattle show was probably the best concert I’ve ever been to. And Valerie June on a freezing cold winter’s day in Omaha? I’m in love.

How do you get better at design?

  1. Do a lot of design

  2. Do more design

  3. And then do some more design

  4. Work with open-minded, thoughtful collaborators who have high standards and keep their word

  5. Then make sure you still feel good about doing design

  6. Find inspiring clients you want to help

  7. Do more than just sell

  8. Take feedback and criticism gracefully

  9. Have your own very high standards

  10. Never think you know everything

  11. Be stubborn

  12. Be brave

  13. Be humble

  14. Remember to also have a life

  15. Keep a (public) journal

  16. Add to it often [...]

Ebbing/Flowing: 2 lists

Things I’m getting tired of:

  • Hustle

  • Startups

  • Social Media

Things I’m getting stoked on: 

  • Podcasts

  • Walking Slowly

  • Cooking

Brand Assessment Scale

Now offering brand assessment services on a scale:

  1. Quite Wonderful

  2. Super Solid

  3. Appropriate

  4. It’s OK

  5. Falls Flat

  6. Hmmmmmmmmm

  7. Not Even Average

  8. Um, We’ll Get Back To You

  9. Maybe As An Album Cover

  10. Your Cousin Do This?

  11. We will tell you it’s tremendous while winking

The Top 10 Albums of 2016

The albums that pushed me through this year of intensity and loss, of dread and motivation. The music out there in the world is always a sign of our great potential for beauty, harmony, understanding, and hope. For me, these are the albums of 2016, in no particular order:

I’ve always known Beyoncé is really something special. But until this year, nothing she’s done has really spoken to me. Then she released “Formation.” And the Earth stood still. Also, special shoutout to that new Beck song “WOW.” Still can’t believe how amazing it is. Finally, I discovered Valerie June this year. Can’t wait for January 27, 2017.

Running lists of things

Things I’m really bored of:

  • Designs w/ pizza in them

  • The word “awesome” used to describe the kinds of things a particular designer or company makes

  • Urgent deadlines

  • Sloppy dev teams

  • Being asked to talk, meet up, or put together a proposal for someone and never hearing back

  • Pretty much all TV commercials

  • Working too much

Things I’m really stoked on:

  • Community-focused design projects

  • People running for local office

  • My go-to dev team

  • The First Day of Autumn

  • Launching some projects that have been going on for a VERY long time

  • Project Runway Season 15

  • Vince Staples

  • NOFX playing Omaha in November

  • Affect Conf + PDX + OCT

The Top 10 Albums of 2015

These are the ones that left the biggest imprint. The albums that, when I look back on this year, I can feel them shake my being and alter the standard course of my day-to-day trajectory. Without further ado, in no particular order:

And if I could have 11, I’d include Wolf Alice, My Love Is Cool. But thems the breaks.