I think we were all pretty ready for 2017 to limp along to an end. One of the good things about last year was a pretty substantial number of new albums dropped. Some were amazing as expected, and some...were not. It's always a little disappointing when a band you really love releases something that is more mediocre than expected, and I found myself with several this year. Here were my biggest excitements that turned into disappointments:

1. Everything Now by Arcade Fire

I was looking forward to this probably more than any other record this year, especially after not really liking Reflektor, and it was a huge letdown. It seems like these days artists are releasing a lot more tracks ahead of a new album, and it really felt like Arcade Fire made their record completely anticlimactic by offering up all the best tracks upfront. The rest was kind of lackluster.

2. What If Nothing by Walk the Moon

I was delighted when I heard Walk the Moon was releasing a new record in 2017, especially because the first song off it, “One Foot,” was excellent and uplifting. But the rest of the album didn’t really have the same kick. The next single, “Headphones,” was just downright bad. I liked maybe three songs total, which was a bummer because Walk the Moon has been one of my favorite new bands of the past few years.

3. Science Fiction by Brand New

My problematic favorite band does not get a pass on this list. Science Fiction was Brand New’s too-long awaited fifth album, and I think the record suffered from trying to do too much at once. And that was before the allegations came out against Jesse Lacey. I have seen many of Lacey’s apologists taking to the internet to denounce the accusers, but as hard as it may be to swallow, allegations of abuse against one of your favorite artists should still be taken seriously. I personally need a little bit of a break from the band.