Best Rock Album

Not only is Blank Range’s long-awaited debut LP Marooned With the Treasure one of the most evocatively named local releases of 2017, it’s also among the strongest. Somewhere between the charming garage rock of The Replacements, the striking power pop of Big Star and the rough-hewn Southern rock of Lucero, Marooned With the Treasure features nuanced, road-tested playing and vocal performances that are just the right amount of rugged. Songs like the heartstring-tugging “Labor of Love,” the richly playful “Opening Band” and the weary but graceful “The Season” sound like they were written beneath the glow of the beer light at last call. These are clever dudes making smart, fun rock ’n’ roll with a lot of character, and Marooned was worth the wait. D. PATRICK RODGERS

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