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Terry Currier on Terry Currier Day with former Portland Mayor Bud Clark, left. August 2017. / Photo by Diane Russell

12/03/2017

Terry Currier's Top 15 albums of 2017

Music Millennium's owner Terry Currier's favorite albums of the year.

In August, the City of Portland proclaimed Terry Currier day to honor Music Millennium's owner and pillar of the music scene in Oregon. It was long overdue.

Last year we published his top 15 albums of 2016. 

Here's his list for this year:

1. RASPBERRIES / POP ART LIVE

I never saw the Raspberries in the 70's. I flew to Cleveland on Thanksgiving of 2006 to see this reunion after they had been apart for 30 years. On of my Top 10 shows ever. Just came out on CD. Amazing!

2. NIKKI LANE / HIGHWAY QUEEN

Great Americana album by an up-and-coming artist who needs to be heard. Great songs that hit a nerve with every listen.

3. MICHAEL CHAPMAN / 50

He's made over 40 albums to date but the 76 year-old Michael Chapman may have made his best album to date. Amazing acoustic guitar playing and songs.

4. DON BRYANT / DON'T GIVE UP ON LOVE

A former staff writer for Hi Records, Don Bryant releases a Soul album at age 75 that sounds like one released in 1969.

5. SON VOLT / NOTES OF BLUE

Son Volt is back in fine form. It's the most rockin' record that Jay has ever made. Americana bur with blistering guitar and solid songs.

 6. SWEET PEA ATKINSON / DON'T CRUIZE ME

Another musical veteran makes a delightful Soul/Blues album. What a great singer!

7. JASON ISBELL / NASHVILLE SOUND

The energy level is kicked up a notch on this album, with songs as strong or better than "Something More Than Free."

8. OFFA REX / QUEEN OF HEARTS

The Decemberists team up with vocalist Oliver Chaney and take on century-old folk songs. They do quite well, will take you to another time and space.

9. QUATRO-SCOTT-POWELL / QSP

 Suzie Quatro, Andy Scott (Sweet) and Don Powell (Slade) ruled the British charts in the 70's. Here they cover many 60's songs and original material. Fine album.

10. EYELIDS / OR

 Psychedelic Power Pop from this Portland band made up of veterans from the Oregon music scene.

11. PORTUGAL THE MAN / WOODSTOCK

Portugal The Man are in a category all their own, writing inventive pop songs with a creative twist.

12. STEVE EARLE / SO YOU WANNA BE AN OUTLAW

Tribute to the 70's Outlaw Country artists such as Waylon, Willie and Steve Young. It's a keeper.

13. CHEAP TRICK / WE'RE ALRIGHT

These guys sound as great as they did 40 years ago. Robin's vocals are stellar and Reck's guitar work brilliant...and the songs are as catchy as ever.

14. EBBOT LINDBERG / FOR THE AGES TO COME

Former Soundtrack of Our Lives vocalist delivers the closest thing to having the band back together. Enjoyable for sure.

15. JD MCPHERSON / UNDIVIDED HEART AND SOUL

Rockabilly, fuzz guitar and just straight ahead Rock n Roll mix together to make this one of the great albums of the year.

BUBBLING UNDER:

Chris Hllman, Kacy & Clayton, Glen Campbell, Justin Townes Earle.

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