High Violet

Decent album with a handful of really excellent tracks. The problem is the material between those peaks isn't compelling enough to hold your attention. Worth cherry-picking the highlights for a playlist.

Really impressive album that showcases an artist at a creative peak. The range of sounds and moods they explore here is remarkable, and what's more impressive is that it all feels cohesive rather than scattered. The transitions between tracks are so smooth you barely notice them. There are a handful of moments where the ambition slightly exceeds the execution — a lyric that doesn't quite land, a sonic idea that needed a bit more development — but these are minor blemishes on an otherwise excellent record. The standout tracks here are among the best songs released in the last decade.

I come back to this every few months and find something new each time.

A few tracks could have been cut without losing anything, but what's here is largely excellent. The production is gorgeous and the performances are top-notch. One of the better albums I've heard recently.

This album exists in its own universe. Nothing compares.

Probably the most perfectly sequenced album I've ever heard. Each track sets up the next one beautifully and the climax hits like a freight train. The fact that they pulled this off is honestly kind of miraculous.

A monumental achievement in every sense.

Just when you think you've heard it all, an album like this comes along.

This is one of those albums where even the deep cuts could be singles. The level of quality control here is insane. You can tell every decision was agonized over and it shows in the final product. A genuine landmark.