Melanie Martinez: Cry Baby (Deluxe Edition) (2LP)

On her debut album "Cry Baby," Melanie Martinez tells a story. "Cry Baby" is a collection of pop songs that draw inspiration from singer-songwriter folk and hip-hop and follow a character learning to come to terms with herself. The journey of the character, called Cry Baby (crybaby) by Melanie, reflects her own journey. Melanie Martinez began writing songs and playing guitar at the age of 14, bringing together her love for poetry and music. The album, created by Melanie in collaboration with producers and songwriters Kinetics & One Love, embraces childlike themes and imagery, connecting all the songs together as if in a children's storybook. At the same time, the current adult experiences in Melanie's own life, with relationships, broken hearts and self-knowledge, are juxtaposed with this young aesthetic in a tremendously interesting way.