# Fin (Syd album)

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

## Background

After Ego Death, the members of the Internet decided that they would venture on solo projects to flesh out their individual styles. 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."
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. Influences of trap also appear throughout, most notably on the single "All About Me".
"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. 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.

## Release and reception

Professional ratings :
| Aggregate scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 7.7/10 |
| Metacritic | 81/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Clash | 8/10 |
| Exclaim! | 8/10 |
| The Guardian | |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10 |
| The New Zealand Herald | |
| Pitchfork | 8.1/10 |
| PopMatters | 8/10 |
| State | 4/5 |
| Vice (Expert Witness) | A− |
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. 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". 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.

### Accolades

| Publication | Accolade | Rank |
| 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 |

## Personnel

Musicians
* Syd – vocals
* Michael Davidson – additional keyboards (track 2)
* Rose Marie Tan – background vocals (tracks 2, 9)
* Nick Green – background vocals (tracks 2, 12)
* Lamont Savor – guitar (track 6)
* Steve Lacy – guitar (track 10)
* Rahki – bass, drum programming (track 12)
* Brent Faiyaz – background vocals (track 12)
* Keith Askey – guitar (track 12)
* Robert Glasper – piano (track 12)
Technical
* Colin Leonard – mastering
* Fabian Marasciullo – mixing
* Syd – recording (tracks 1–6, 9–11)
* Todd Cooper – recording (track 7)
* Anthony Kilhoffer – recording (track 8)
* Stuart Schenck – recording (track 12)
* McCoy Socalgargoyle – recording assistance
Visuals
* Justin Brown – photography

## Charts

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