Ken Geiger's 2017 Recap

Ken enjoying The Dillinger Escape Plan

In a Nutshell

By Ken Geiger

[CoolDad Note: In a year when I really needed it, our great contributors stepped up to fill in some of what would have been some long, empty spaces here. Ken did some great work and expanded our coverage to places -- important places if you're talking about independent, underground music -- it had never been, and I can't thank him or our other contributors enough.]

2017 was a great year for music, in my opinion. I have continued to expand the almighty KPG empire to places I never thought were possible. So many shows, a short tour and many new friends along the way; hopefully that trend can continue in 2018. I want to thank anybody who helped me attain that success.

Lastly, I just wanted to thank Jim for another year of letting me conduct interviews and ramble on about music that I love. He has been a huge supporter of me writing for his site since the beginning. I truly believe that the power of music is greater than any of us can imagine. Whether it is meeting someone new at a live show or talking about albums online with people halfway across the world, music continues to help me bridge new connections in this strange world. The fact that I am able to write about my interests and have people react to them positively is great. I am keeping in short this time -- no long explanations for each album or live band. If you want those, you can personally message me. Everything is up to interpretation in this world!

11 BEST ALBUMS (because 10 is NOT enough)

Full Of Hell- Trumpeting Ecstasy
Melvins- A Walk with Love & Death
Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels 3
Pissed Jeans- Why Love Now
Queens of the Stone Age- Villains
Godflesh- Post Self
Father John Misty- Pure Comedy
Aaron Dilloway- The Gag File
Nine Inch Nails- Add Violence [EP]
Melkbelly- Nothing Valley
Jesu & Sun Kil Moon- 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth

11 BEST LIVE ACTS

Melvins
The Dillinger Escape Plan (night 2 of their 3 final show run, specifically)
Amenra
Aaron Dilloway
Full Of Hell
Limbs Bin
The Jesus Lizard
Pinback
Sun Kil Moon
Run The Jewels
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

If your 2017 sucked, check out some of these things. There is still time for you to look back on the year fondly!