2017 has been a super creative year for the Italian music scene, so here’s a summary: the best albums according to the most influential Italian music magazines.
Polaroid – Carl Brave x Franco 126
Romantic trap music made in Rome’s ancient alleys: something that before this album simply didn’t exist.
Listen: Pellaria (prod. Carl Brave)
Fa Niente – Giorgio Poi
Psychedelic pop rooted in the Italian songwriting tradition.
Listen: Tubature
Infedele – Colapesce
With this album, Colapesce brought Italian pop to a new level of complexity.
Listen: Totale
L’amore e la violenza – Baustelle
Inspired by the orchestral scores of Morricone and disco-music maestro Moroder, Baustelle released the perfect pop album.
Listen: Amanda Lear
Album – Ghali
A Milanese-Tunisian rapper who went far beyond rap: his stunning videos made him famous and his first album, a playful mix of pop and trap, was critically acclaimed.
Listen: Happy Days
Io in terra – Rkomi
One of the best artists from the new generation of Italian rappers.
Listen: Milano Bachata ft. Marracash
Patterns of consciousness – Caterina Barbieri
A brightly colored mix of synths and various music patterns drawing severe geometries in time and space.
Listen: Scratches on the Readable Surface
Graziosa utopia – Edda
One of Italy’s most abrasive crooners, and his most inspired album.
Listen: Signora
A casa tutto bene – Brunori Sas
Heir to the Italian traditional songwriters, Brunori has now crafted his own unique style.
Listen: La verità
Terra – Le luci della centrale elettrica
Can rock be spiritual, deep, layered and still be fun? “Terra” is the positive answer to this question.
Listen: A forma di fulmine
Bonus: staff picks
Azulejos – Populous
A wholehearted homage to Lisbon, a joyful celebration in music and colours with pounding beats and soothing melodies.
Listen: Azul Oro ft. Ela Minus
A thousand skies – Clap! Clap!
An explosive fusion of just about everything — african music, house, electro, footwork, hip-hop, brass blowouts: all magically taking the listener through an interstellar trip.
Listen: Ode to The Pleiades
Sonic Boomerang – Bee Bee Sea
Frenzied catchy psych-punk and music fun in the first place.
Listen: D.I. Why Why Why
