Aquarius

Contemporary R&B is enjoying an embarrassment of riches, with innovative albums by FKA Twigs, Banks, and Kelela stretching the genre's boundaries. Tinashe's debut raises the bar yet again. Building on the momentum of the roiling summer jam "2 On," Aquarius features a who's-who of names, from R&B iconoclasts like Blood Orange's Dev Hynes to bankable pop pros like Stargate. "How Many Times" is a throwback slow jam enlivened by Future's staccato vocals, while "Pretend" out-Drakes Drake with its liquid production and earworm hook. Tinashe remains the star of the show, cooing, rapping, and ruminating (via several interludes). It's one of the year's most adventurous pop records.