Melanie Martinez K-12 LP (Baby Pink Vinyl)

Melanie Martinez's sophomore album, K-12, is another ambitious triumph for the artist. As with her multi-platinum debut, Cry Baby, K-12's music is a vibrant and singular melting pot of low-key hip-hop, soulful pop and indie-leaning electro.

K-12's universe is an expansion of the one introduced on Cry Baby. Using lyrics rich with metaphor, the songs on K-12 address the struggle to find a place to belong -- including within friendships, the physical world and romantically -- even when fitting into society feels like an uphill battle. Package features new inner gatefold imagery.

...a more sophisticated production, with better hooks showcasing Martinez's growth as a songwriter. It's a sound that ably straddles the line between Lana Del Rey's disaffected noir style and Mike Posner's more confessional pop.