Year In Review: Ten Of The Best Tracks You May Have Missed In 2017

Words: Saam Das

Attention may be starting to move towards the best tracks of 2018 thus far, but we thought that before entertaining that option, we'd look back at some of the best songs you might have missed from 2017. Stellar tracks like 'Don't Kill My Vibe' from new Scandi star Sigrid and 'Love' from the evergreen Lana Del Rey could have appeared but their popularity means that we've decided to focus on some potentially overlooked gems instead.

Year In Review: Saam Das' Top Tracks Of 2017

Words: Saam Das

How do you solve a problem like summing up the best songs of 2017 into an easily digestable list? Well, you take a while and then mercilessly cut it down to your top ten tracks of 2017. Showing my working, efforts like Mikey Me's advert-soundtracking 'Doin' Me' and Dan Black's dreamy return can count themselves unlucky to miss out. After much deliberation, here's my top ten of 2017:

Listen: BASTILLE vs HAIM - Bite Down [Mixtape Preview]

Words: Saam Das

We were pretty impressed to see BASTILLE on the latest Band Aid track, and it's not just the likes of Bono and Bob Geldof that they've been collaborating with of late. 'Bite Down' sees them join forces with HAIM on their new 'VS. (Other People's Heartache Part III)' mixtape - check out Part I and Part II while you're here.

Glastonbury 2014: Our Festival Soundtrack [Playlist]

Words: Saam Das

I only decided that I'd make the trip to Glastonbury this year at about 11pm on the Thursday night of the festival. By which point, approximately 100,000 punters had already entered the site. It would have been a waste to have not used my fancy pants hospitality ticket (thanks to the good folk behind the Emerging Talent Competition) and ultimately, I had an excellent time - even with the occasional torrential rain showers.

Album Review: Haim - Days Are Gone

'Days Are Gone' (UK Release: 30 Sept '13) // Words: Saam Das

Alana. Danielle. Este. The Haim sisters have been on an incredibly successful charm offensive over the past eighteen months or so, since their 'Forever' EP of demos emerged online. The trio (plus touring drummer Dash Hutton) wowed the US music industry at SXSW 2012 before doing the same to the UK lot at last year's Great Escape. A year of semi-hit singles, sold out shows, and prominent festival slots have left the final hurdle for their early career - the debut album, 'Days Are Gone', out today.

Futuresounds: 2013 Tips/Ones To Watch

It might be March but we are still going forward with our tips for the year. Letting the dust settle after the glut of "ones to watch" lists to have already appeared gives us more time to reflect and consider our choices. For example, Palma Violets were celebrated in certain corners as the best thing to happen to guitar music since guitars. But they're not in our list. Find out who is below.

Ed's Note: The Sound Of 2013

Words: Saam Das

At the end of last week came the double whammy of the announced shortlist and winners of the BBC Sound Of 2013 poll and our UK blogger alternative, the Blog Sound Of 2013. Can one band be defined as the "sound of" a year? Well, apparently so with LA's Haim topping both polls - finding consensus amongst 250 of the most prominent music commentators in the UK.

Ed's Note: BBC Sound Of 2013 Poll Longlist

Words: Saam Das // Photo: bbc.co.uk

The latest installment of the BBC Sound Of poll was unveiled this week, to the usual mixed reaction ranging from joy to horror, by way of disinterest. I'm generally one of the more interested parties - indeed, I was even one of the "tastemakers" in the BBC Sound Of 2010. Listen to tracks from the fifteen-strong longlist below.

Ed's Note: Blog Sound Of 2013 Longlist Announced

Words: Saam Das

People tend to get a bit worked up about tips for [insert forthcoming year]/bands to watch, especially when the BBC Sound Of poll appears. For the most part, I quite enjoy it, and being invited to take part in the BBC Sound Of 2010 poll has probably been the pinnacle of my blogging career. For those looking for a variation on the theme, you can find the second annual Blog Sound Of 2013 longlist below.

Listen: HAIM - Send Me Down [New B-Side]

Words: Saam Das

It's only been a few weeks since we last heard from LA's newest bestest band HAIM, and their new Fleetwood Mac-inspired single 'Don't Save Me'. The B-side to that track has reared its excellent head, taking a surprising tack - mixing their usual endearing melodious fare and catchy vocal hooks with a brassy hip hop undertone.

Listen: HAIM - Don't Save Me [New Single]

Words: Saam Das

We fell in love with Los Angeles trio of sisters HAIM when we saw them at The Great Escape in May - a sentiment echoed by pretty much anyone else in the music industry who caught them in Brighton. Recorded material has been scant since then, new single 'Don't Save Me' channels Fleetwood Mac impeccably.

Listen: HAIM - Hold Me (Fleetwood Mac Cover) [Album Preview]

Words: Saam Das

We're eagerly anticipating some more original material from our favourite trio of sisters (and their gentleman drummer) but in the meantime, we have HAIM's cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Hold Me'. The track is part of 'Just Tell Me That You Want Me: Tribute To Fleetwood Mac', which came out this week. Listen to the HAIM cover below.

#Blog6Music: Top Three Artists Of 2012 (Thus Far)

Words: Saam Das

I imagine most people are pretty glad that BBC 6Music managed to avoid being axed two years ago this month. We are more appreciative than most because the station have been extremely kind to bloggers, giving us a different medium to rave about our favourite artists. Once again, they've asked FG to get involved - this time sharing our top three artists of 2012.

Live Review: HAIM @ Dingwalls

HAIM live at Dingwalls (London, 18 June '12) // Words: Saam Das

Last month, we ventured down to Brighton for The Great Escape festival. One of the few buzz bands we were genuinely looking forward to seeing were HAIM, a Los Angeles quartet comprised of "three sisters and one mister". They duly delivered. Fast forward a month and they managed to sell out Dingwalls and enrapture us all over again.

Surfacing: HAIM [New Music]

Words: Saam Das

Hype can be a dangerous thing. Few bands can ride the wave, and many fall to the wayside. One of the few to successfully meet expectations have been HAIM, "three sisters and one mister", who wowed the music industry at US festival SXSW while following it up for the UK music industry at The Great Escape 2012. We saw them at the latter event and were rather impressed.

Festival Review: The Great Escape (2012)

The Great Escape (10-12 May '12, Brighton) // Words: Saam Das

Unfortunately, my experience of The Great Escape was marred by a close family member passing away (thanks for all the messages of support) meaning that I spent much less time in Brighton than otherwise intended. But the time spent proved to be largely enjoyable, an appropriately great escape from my worldly worries. Indeed, I saw terrific performances, most notably from the majestic Oliver Tank and the much hyped HAIM, although failed to make it to any convention talks.