Yung Lean: Stranger (2017) (Hip-hop/R&B)

In a cleaner more polished formula than usual, Lean crafts a cloud rap album filled with a mix of introspective ballads and catchy cuts. Lean's rapping and lyricism is occasionally captivating and in association with the crisp and clear production of Gud, Yung Sherman, and Whitearmor he does effectively write songs that embody a sentiment of melancholy and bliss. Like much of his work, there are moments with underwritten, unstructured songs, marinating in instrumental vapor, but that being said, Stranger may be his most accessible album and also one of his strongest.


Best Tracks: Muddy Sea*, Red Bottom Sky, Skimask, Hunting My Own Skin, Iceman, Agony*, Yellowman

B



Alternative R&B/Ambient Pop/Cloud Rap/Emo Rap

Fleet Foxes: Crack-Up (2017) (Folk, Rock)

On their third album, Fleet Foxes have effectively sidestepped the evident retro-folk inspirations of previous albums and replaced them with grand orchestral arrangments with more intricacy. The sound is quite a departure from previous albums with much more eclectic instrumentation, incorporating more studio techniques such as sampling and electronic instruments as well as heavier elements of rock. The diversity in sounds is often enjoyable and feels like a unique progression of their sound, but also has the album going through a decent amount of filtration and washes of reverb. The lyrical tone remains similar to their last album, however this time it seems more cerebral and conscious of creating grand folk odysseys. Rather than sounding like the earthy landscapes of previous albums, Crack-Up sounds watery, occasionally stormy and purifying, at times haunting but at times indistinct.

Best Tracks: I Am All That I Need/ Arroyo Secco/ Thumbprint Scar, -Naiads, Cassadias*, Third of May/ Ōdaigahara*, If You Need to, Keep Time on Me, On Another Ocean (January / June)




B+

Chamber Folk/ Folk Rock/ Psychedelic Folk