Fin (Syd album)

Last updated
Fin
SydFinAlbum.jpg
Studio album by
Syd
ReleasedFebruary 3, 2017
Recorded2015–16
Studio
  • The Loft
  • Haze's Room
  • McCadden Enterprises
  • Rahki's Room
Genre
Length37:11
Label Columbia
Producer
Syd chronology
Fin
(2017)
Always Never Home
(2017)
Singles from Fin
  1. "All About Me"
    Released: January 11, 2017
  2. "Body"
    Released: January 24, 2017

Fin is the debut solo studio album by American R&B singer Syd. It was released on February 3, 2017, by Columbia Records.

Contents

Background

After Ego Death , the members of the Internet decided that they would venture on solo projects to flesh out their individual styles. [1] When speaking about what the album would entail, Syd stated:

"This album is not that deep, but I feel like this is my descent into the depth I want the band to get to... For me, this is like an in-between thing — maybe get a song on the radio, maybe make some money, have some new shit to perform." [2]

The album has a more pop-influenced feel in comparison to her output with the Internet. However, Syd states that she has always been influenced by pop, and that the album is inspired by popular artists from her time, including Usher and Brandy. [3] Influences of trap also appear throughout, [4] most notably on the single "All About Me". [5]

"All About Me" was released as Fin's lead single on January 11, 2017. A music video for the song was released a day earlier on Syd's Vevo page. [6] On January 24, "Body" was released as the album's second single. The song's audio was also released on the singer's Vevo page. [7]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.7/10 [8]
Metacritic 81/100 [9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Clash 8/10 [11]
Exclaim! 8/10 [12]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [13]
The Line of Best Fit 8/10 [14]
The New Zealand Herald Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Pitchfork 8.1/10 [16]
PopMatters 8/10 [17]
State 4/5 [18]
Vice (Expert Witness)A− [19]

Fin was released by Columbia Records on February 3, 2017, to widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on 10 reviews. [9] Reviewing Fin for NPR, Lars Gotrich wrote that Syd "has an affinity for the '90s R&B singers who kept their emotions open and voices close, like Aaliyah (see 'Know') or the ladies in TLC ('Smile More', 'Nothin' To Somethin'') — embracing the limitations of their range, but finding the core of the performance via self-styled confidence". [2] [20] In Vice , Robert Christgau found the singer distinct from contemporary R&B's "voice-plus-sound" aesthetic, particularly because of her "soft and slender" voice, "her brave sighs and whispers", and "how easily her voice carries this music unaugmented by her former guitar and drum kit". He appreciated her themes of financial success and especially love, while naming "Dollar Bills" the album's highlight. [19]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Complex 50 Best Albums of 2017
11
Exclaim! Exclaim!'s Top 10 Soul and R&B Albums of 2017
9
Highsnobiety Top 25 Albums of 2017
24
The Independent Top 30 Albums of 2017
8
The Line of Best Fit Top 50 Albums of 2017
19
Okayplayer Top 15 Albums of 2017
15
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2017
36
Thrillist Top 40 Albums of 2017
4

Track listing

Fin track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Shake Em Off"
  • Syd
  • Nick Green
Hit-Boy 3:00
2."Know"
  • Green
  • Rose Marie Tan
  • Syd
  • Eaholtz
  • Tan
  • Green
  • Bennett
  • Michael Davidson
Green3:35
3."No Complaints"SydBennettSyd1:13
4."Nothin to Somethin"SydBennettSyd3:29
5."All About Me"Syd
Lacy3:31
6."Smile More"SydBennettSyd4:01
7."Got Her Own"
  • Syd
  • Green
3:06
8."Drown in It"
  • Syd
  • Green
  • Kilhoffer
  • JGramm
1:10
9."Body"
  • Syd
  • Green
  • Tan
MeLo-X 4:22
10."Dollar Bills" (featuring Steve Lacy)
  • Syd
  • Lacy
3:08
11."Over" (featuring 6lack)
  • Syd
  • Green
  • Bennett
  • Eaholtz
  • Muhammad
HazeBanga3:11
12."Insecurities"
Rahki 3:25

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Visuals

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ) [29] 10
US Billboard 200 [30] 75
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [31] 32

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