The staff of XRAY In The Morning look back on what made 2017 worthwhile.
1. What was the best music of 2017?
Zeke Martin-Brunkhart (News Writer) – Two songs that gave me a sonic surprise: “Stranger” by Paul Simon, “Drink I’m Sippin On” by Yaeji; One song that really made sense this year: “Under Pressure” by Queen; One song that is helping me get my ass in gear for the year ahead: “No time for crying” by Mavis Stapels; Four songs that had some crazy personal emotional impact: “Break Free” by Perfume Genius, “Adore You” – Miley Cyrus, “Monsoon” by Hippo Campus, “Ran” by Future Islands; One song that kicked me so hard in the balls that I pretty much went catatonic for a week: “Death Is Real” by Mount Eerie; My biking around like a madman song: To a New Earth (Gramatik Remix) by Kill Paris; And all the rest for good measure: “You Don’t Know How It Feel to Be Me” by Tom Petty, “Primitive” by Roisin Murphy, “Shout Out Out Out” by Bad Choices, “Picture of a Man” by Daws, “Ghost (Switch Remix)” by Ella Henderson, “I Get Overwhelmed” by Dark Rooms, “We will all go together when we go” by Tom Lehrer, “2 Doors Down” by Dolly Parton
Michelle Wiley (News Writer) – “Pa’lante” by Hurray for the Riff Raff
Karim Alamdari (Assistant Producer) – Japanese Breakfast’s Soft Sounds From Another Planet was my album of the year
Amalia Boyles (Producer) – Kendrick Lamar nationally, Brown Calculus locally–also everything on KMHD all damn day.
Chauncé Cooper (Assistant Producer) – Toro y Moi’s dreamy new album Boo Boo is my personal fav for 2017
Melissa Aguilar (News Writer/ Foreign Correspondent) – Half-Light by Rostam and Melodrama by Lorde
Zach Jones (News Writer) – “Blue Train Lines” by Mount Kimbie
Lindsey Smith (Lead Producer) – No Burden by Lucy Dacus
Nick Roberts (Lead Producer) – “Natural Blue” by Julie Byrne, “Up In Hudson” by The Dirty Projects, Double Ecstasy EP by Antwon, R Plus Seven by Oneohtrix Point Never, Fish Eyes EP by Haley Henderickx, “Brutus” by The Buttress, Paint Soup 3 by Paint Soup, “Gym Class” by Lil Peep, Aytche by Joseph Shabason, “Funeral Potatoes” by Caroline Says, Masterpiece and Capacity by Big Thief, “94s” by Antwon, “Easy Wind” by Bill Callahan, Beach House 3 by Ty Dolla Sign, CTRL by SZA, Haha by The Garden, A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie
2. What was the best non-music audio of 2017?
Michelle – I’ve been listening to this podcast about Charles Manson and it’s pretty interesting. It’s called Young Charlie from Hollywood and Crime.
Karim – I’m trash and really enjoyed Gimlet’s Crimetown
Amalia – Love + Radio probably
Chauncé – Complex’s Everyday Struggle is a hot pipeline for HipHop news!
Melissa – Death, Sex, and Money
Zach – Doug Jones – Decency Wins In Alabama
Lindsey – Maybe S-Town
Nick – The Organist episodes “magnificentwebsite.com” and “Incense, Sweaters, and Altadena: An Interview with Martine Syms”, The New York Times The Daily and being introduced to Here Be Monsters
3. What was your favorite TV show or movie of 2017?
Zeke – Star Trek: Discovery made me super super happy.
Karim – Get Out
Amalia – Rick and Morty, Mr. Robot, Get Out, and though it didn’t come out this year, I saw The Congress recently and had my mind blown (recommended for the intellectual artist in you).
Chauncé – Get Out!
Melissa – Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things, of course.
Zach – Twin Peaks: The Return
Lindsey – OOOOOO definitely Skam
Nick – Foreign Parts, Leviathan, and The Iron Ministry
4. What was the best thing you ate in 2017?
Michelle – I had dinner with DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid a couple months ago and they made me Indian food and it was so amazing. I want to eat it forever.
Karim – I don’t know. Whatever nourished me during finals season?
Amalia – I perfected my own prosciutto and kale risotto and I’m obsessed.
Chauncé – Rocios on SE Gladstone makes the greatest burrito bowls ever, can’t go wrong with the Californian.
Melissa – It was as good year for me, food-wise so it’s hard to choose. But 1€ tacos might be near the top of the list.
Zach – The Bulgogi on Sandy
Lindsey – Granadilla
Nick – Chicken Tagine With Olives and Preserved Lemons, Roasted Chicken with Potatoes, Arugula and Garlic Yogurt, Mince pies
5. What’s going to be better about 2018 than 2017?
Zeke – I been hitting the gym just about every day, and I’m pretty damn determined. I’ll be buff and rough and tough and stuff: see Mavis Staples
Michelle – I no longer have to work at a job I don’t care about in 2018! Hooray! It’s all radio all the time.
Karim – As time marches on, there’s always a greater probability of Donald Trump dying, so I look forward to that in 2018.
Amalia – Socio-political resistance and revival, achieving international climate goals, personal professional growth (re: wtf am I doing with my life), smoking less weed and no longer consuming cheese as a primary food group, unfortunately. Travel and get outside more on my weekends.
Chauncé – I don’t already know what’s going to happen.
Melissa – Personally looking forward to more memes and the Winter Olympics.
Zach – 2018 will be a year of action.
Lindsey – More art!!!!!!!!!!
Nick – 2017 fucking blew. I think I’m going to make more art next year. Also I just read Karim’s answer and the man does not lie.
6. What’s the thing you’re most proud you learned this year?
Michelle – I learned so much about writing for radio and editing audio and field reporting and literally everything that ya’ll taught me. I honestly couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity. It has literally changed my entire life.
Karim – Coriander and Cilantro are actually the same thing.
Amalia – I learned to “lean in” to opportunities, challenges and moments I previously lacked the courage to embrace. This includes making music and using my voice as an instrument in my new musical collaborations.
Chauncé – Definitely delving into the world of radio has been the highlight of my year.
Melissa – I learned a lot about myself and how to see the world from another language. Also that Spanish has a single word for ears nose and throat doctor and it’s “otorrinolaringólogo.”
Zach – I’m most proud of improving how I deal with life’s challenges.
Lindsey – I learned a lot of Norwegian this year and now that I’m thinking about it, it’s a shame I gave up that effort but maybe I’ll resume it in 2018.
Nick – I learned how to be a manager, which might sound corporate-y and dumb but I’ve had a lot of bad managers and I strive to be a good one. But TBH it did make me far less weird/ fun.
