Top 89 of 2017: Local Artists
December 30, 2017
We asked, you voted! All December long, you — the local music lover — voted for your favorite Minnesotan artists, and the results are in.
Be sure to tune in to The Current's listener-curated Top 89 of 2017 countdown on Dec. 31, starting at 5 p.m. CT with a rebroadcast on New Year's Day starting at 10 a.m. CT.
5. Lizzo
She may have moved to Los Angeles, but Lizzo and her breakneck, body-positive bangers will always have a place in our hearts. She's back this week to celebrate New Year's Eve at the Myth.
4. Chastity Brown
Chastity Brown released Silhouette of Sirens this year and sustained many a heart. Reviewing Silhouette for The Current, Andrea Swensson wrote, "When Chastity Brown sings, the wind takes a breath. Clouds hover. Waves flatten out and the lakes go still. Twitter stops updating. To listen to Chastity is to lose yourself completely."
3. jeremy messersmith
jeremy messersmith went lowercase this year to orthographically reduce the space he takes up in the world. He tossed his listeners another curveball when he postponed his next record in order to release 11 Obscenely Optimistic Songs For Ukulele: A Micro-Folk Record For the 21st Century and Beyond. Always full of clever surprises, messersmith is one of the most beloved Minnesotan musicians we have.
2. Bruise Violet
Danielle Cusack, Emily Schoonover, and Bella Dawson are Bruise Violet, a band of "sugar, spice, and a kick in the teeth" who named themselves after a Babes in Toyland song. Here's what I wrote about their set at this year's Rock the Garden:
Bruise Violet are a dream. The three band members — guitarist Emily Schoonover, drummer Danielle Cusack, and bassist Bella Dawson — thunder through punk songs "Talk S— Get Hit," "Wasted," and many more at the Garden Stage while the wind tosses over mist from Spoonbridge and Cherry. Behind them, pedestrians on the elevated bridge gawk with confusion, repulsion, and wonder.
1. Hippo Campus
Hippo Campus had another big year, releasing their album Landmark and EP warm glow to their growing sea of fans. They've nailed the sleek pop-rock formula. The band will play the Palace Theatre on Feb. 17, 2018, but surprise — the show has already sold out.