anthonystirford

Vince Staples delivers a raw, fearless, and sonically aggressive political statement on Cry Baby, blending fiery live instrumentation with unfiltered social commentary, though repetitive choruses keep it from reaching true classic status.

It’s a gritty banger, and it fits right alongside what Underscores and Hemlocke Springs have been doing this year in terms of that chaotic, confrontational energy.

May was a genuinely heavy month for acoustic-leaning records, and I’ve been on a run with that sound this year. Aldous Harding, Friko, My New Band Believe, American Football, The Lemon Twigs, all of them hit me this year. And then Ed O’Brien dropped this quietly brilliant record at the end of the month and extended that list further.

Another acoustic experience, and another great one. It’s like a real portrait of what sadness should feel like naturally, not just through hooks. It shares a lot of DNA with the American Football record, and with what My New Band Believe and Friko were doing back in April.