X-Rated: Women In Music: “Most Excellent” of 2017

X-Rated: Women In Music | Most Excellent of 2017

2017 was quite the year for music produced by all genders spanning across every genre. However, I didn’t realize just how many femmes in music released such captivating, and some even astronomical, albums until I started compiling a “Most Excellent” of 2017 program.

What I thought would max out at a 90-minute show easily turned into 3 hours worth of single tracks, from some 40 plus artists, to be split into a two part program. There’s no way I could even begin to chart the list, yet I can eagerly give you some direction to check out albums that you may be interested in and/or looking for.

R&B/Hip Hop/Soul
SZA – “Cntrl”
Kelela – “Take Me Apart”
Rapsody – “Laila’s Wisdom”
Sampa the Great – “Birds and the BEE9”
Lizzo – “Water Me” (single)
Tank & The Bangas – “Quick” (single)
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – “Soul of a Woman”

Folk/Americana/Country
Nikki Lane – “Highway Queen”
Courtney Barnett w/ Kurt Vile – “Lotta Sea Lice”
Shilpa Ray – “Door Girl”
Valerie June – “Astra Plane”

Pop Rock/Punk Rock
Stef Chura – “Messes”
Cayetana – “New Kind of Normal”
Bruiser Queen – “Heavy High”
Sheer Mag – “Need to Feel Your Love”
Downtown Boys – “Cost of Living”
Priests – “Nothing Feels Natural”
A Giant Dog – “Toy”
White Mystery – “F.Y.M.S.”

Indie Pop/Indie Rock
The Mynabirds – “BE HERE NOW”
Tennis – “Yours Confidentially”
Haim – “Something to Tell You”
Tashaki Miyaki – “Girls on T.V.”
Vagabon – “Infinite Worlds”
Feist – “Pleasure”
Torres – “Three Futures”
Big Thief – “Capacity”
Waxahatchee – “Out in the Storm”

Electronic/Dance/Ethereal
The XX – “I See You”
Kelly Lee Owens – “Kelly Lee Owens”
Fever Ray – “Plunge”
St. Vincent – “MASSEDUCTION”
Charlotte Gainsbourg – “Rest”
Sylvan Esso – “What Now”
Austra – “Future Politics”
Ibeyi – “Ash”
London Grammar – “Truth is a Beautiful Thing”
Bjork – “Utopia”
Chelsea Wolfe – “Hiss Spun”
Zola Jesus – “Okovi”

Most Excellent of 2017 pt. 1

Most Excellent of 2017 pt. 2

Most Excellent “In-Studio” Programs

Bien Fang “Listening Party”
The “Listening Party” is a special edition program where a band is invited on the air to preview their latest release. Whether full length album or EP, the music is previewed and the album is broken down track by track by the artist/group. Better Friend and Mad Dog & the 20/20’s took part this year, as did Bien Fang, with their highly anticipated and long awaited release of “Garbage Island”.

Histrionic “Live in Studio”
Nothing is more fun than a loud. live in studio on-air performance from a group who are eager to share their music and gain new experiences. One of my favorite discoveries locally is Nebraska punk band, Histrionic. The trio consists of the necessities, drums, guitar and a bad ass chick rockin the bass with bleeding vocals. The group performed on the show in support of their slot on the X-Rated: Women in Music showcase that was held at The Bourbon last summer.

Live at Omaha Girls Rock
A few years ago I had the opportunity to visit Omaha Girls Rock, a summer camp held in Omaha that empowers young women to find their voice through creativity, music education, and performance. At this time I was able to conduct a few interviews with camp organizers and attendees, as well as shadow their experiences for a day, to air in a later program. Then last July we were able to broadcast Xrated: Women in Music live from the Holland Center, where camp is held. It was an incomparable experience, one not just for myself but for everyone involved. The campers that week ranged in age from 13-16 and were able to participate in an interactive discussion workshop I was fortunate to present earlier in the week. on the history of women in radio. This gave them an opportunity to not only be present during the live broadcast, but for a select few to also sit in live on-air to be interviewed as well as interview the musical guest, Edem Soul Music, using the tools they learned in the workshop.

Tune in to X-Rated: Women in Music every Thursday, 1:30-3 p.m. cst, to hear music led by femmes of every genre and from every decade. Follow #xrwmusic on Facebook and Instagram.

Shannon hosts “X-Rated: Women In Music” every Thursday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on KZUM. Like the program on Facebook and listen to archives of recent episodes via Radio Free America.