Taiga

Celebrated for her chilling eclecticism—over four albums she's combined industrial, goth, classical, and electronic with her powerhouse vocals, with affecting results—Zola Jesus, born Nika Roza Danilova, sets her sights on a pop audience on Taiga. "Dangerous Days" sets the pace, its pulsing beat and anthemic chorus sounding like something out of Sia's playbook. In contrast to earlier releases, Danilova's vocals here are brought to the fore, and tracks like "Go (Blank Sea)" and "Hunger" are adventurous, haunting pop hymns. It's a sharp left turn for the brooding chanteuse, pulling her from the fringe and aligning her with artists like Jessie Ware and Banks.