Fin (Syd album)

After Ego Death, the members of the Internet decided that they would venture on solo projects to flesh out their individual styles.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/10/04/the-internet-cover-story-interview|title=The Internet Win Alone, Together|work=thefader.com|accessdate=3 February 2017|archive-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085959/http://www.thefader.com/2016/10/04/the-internet-cover-story-interview|url-status=live}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/02/03/512857843/syds-solo-debut-fin-can-smoke-out-the-quiet-storm|title=Syd's Solo Debut 'Fin' Can Smoke Out The Quiet Storm|work=npr.org|accessdate=3 February 2017|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203150846/http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/02/03/512857843/syds-solo-debut-fin-can-smoke-out-the-quiet-storm|url-status=live}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2017/02/syd-fin-album-stream|title=Listen to Syd's Debut Solo Album 'Fin'|work=pigeonsandplanes.com|accessdate=3 February 2017|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203092030/http://pigeonsandplanes.com/music/2017/02/syd-fin-album-stream|url-status=live}} Influences of trap also appear throughout,{{cite web|title=Syd’s Fin Is More Than Just an Internet Side Project|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/album-review-syd-fin.html|website=Vulture|accessdate=1 May 2017|language=en|archive-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302013119/http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/album-review-syd-fin.html|url-status=live}} most notably on the single "All About Me".{{cite web|title=Syd ‘Fin’ Cheat Code Album Review - DJBooth Article|url=http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2017-02-03-syd-fin-album-review|website=DJBooth.net|accessdate=1 May 2017|archive-date=2017-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517144600/http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2017-02-03-syd-fin-album-review|url-status=live}}

"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.{{cite web|title="All About Me" by Syd Review {{!}} Pitchfork|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18671-syd-all-about-me/|website=pitchfork.com|accessdate=1 May 2017|language=en|archive-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427022539/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18671-syd-all-about-me/|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|title=Syd Shares Steamy New Single, 'Body'|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/01/24/511446819/syd-shares-steamy-new-single-body|website=NPR.org|accessdate=1 May 2017|language=en|archive-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323221403/http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/01/24/511446819/syd-shares-steamy-new-single-body|url-status=live}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 7.7/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8474/Syd-Fin.aspx|title=Fin by Syd reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305114120/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/8474/Syd-Fin.aspx|url-status=live}}

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/fin/syd|title=Reviews for Fin by Syd|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=March 3, 2017|archive-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221090526/http://www.metacritic.com/music/fin/syd|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/fin-mw0003017439|title=Fin – Syd|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=March 3, 2017|archive-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303051626/http://www.allmusic.com/album/fin-mw0003017439|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Kalia|first=Ammar|date=February 9, 2017|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/syd-fin|title=Syd – Fin|work=Clash|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305114313/http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/syd-fin|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Exclaim!

| rev3Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Patrick|first=Ryan B.|date=February 2, 2017|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/syd-fin|title=Syd: Fin|work=Exclaim!|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305192131/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/syd-fin|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Aroesti|first=Rachel|date=February 16, 2017|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/feb/16/syd-the-kid-fin-review-odd-future|title=Syd: Fin review – subtly tearing up the R&B playbook|work=The Guardian|accessdate=March 4, 2017}}

| rev5 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev5Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Killin|first=James|date=February 8, 2017|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/syd-fin|title=Syd displays an exquisite ear for balance and aggregation on solo debut Fin|work=The Line of Best Fit|accessdate=September 14, 2019|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925022656/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/syd-fin|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = The New Zealand Herald

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|date=February 16, 2017|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11800417|title=Album review: Syd, 'Fin'|work=The New Zealand Herald|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303001640/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11800417|url-status=live}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7Score = 8.1/10{{cite web|last=Frank|first=Alex|date=February 8, 2017|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22836-fin/|title=Syd: Fin|work=Pitchfork|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305114754/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22836-fin/|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8Score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Pontecorvo|first=Adriane|date=February 7, 2017|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/syd-fin/|title=Syd: Fin|work=PopMatters|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305191931/http://www.popmatters.com/review/syd-fin/|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = State

| rev9Score = 4/5{{cite web|last=Keogh|first=Stephen|date=February 21, 2017|url=http://state.ie/album-reviews/syd-fin|title=Syd – Fin|work=State|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222140351/http://state.ie/album-reviews/syd-fin|archivedate=February 22, 2017}}

| rev10 = Vice (Expert Witness)

| rev10Score = A−{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=March 3, 2017|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/expert-witness-with-robert-christgau-turn-to-eros|title=On Syd's Depth and Resonance: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau|work=Vice|accessdate=March 4, 2017|archive-date=June 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602102143/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/expert-witness-with-robert-christgau-turn-to-eros|url-status=live}}

}}

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".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2978883/syd-fin-review/|title=Syd’s Fin Is A Cool, Confident, Sexy Solo Debut|work=MTV|access-date=3 February 2017|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203174921/http://www.mtv.com/news/2978883/syd-fin-review/|url-status=dead}} 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.

{{Track listing

| headline = Fin track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Shake Em Off

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Syd|Nick Green}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Sydney Bennett|Chauncey Hollis, Jr.|Nicholas Eaholtz}}

| extra1 = Hit-Boy

| length1 = 3:00

| title2 = Know

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Green|Rose Marie Tan|Syd}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Eaholtz|Tan|Green|Bennett|Michael Davidson}}

| extra2 = Green

| length2 = 3:35

| title3 = No Complaints

| lyrics3 = Syd

| music3 = Bennett

| extra3 = Syd

| length3 = 1:13

| title4 = Nothin to Somethin

| lyrics4 = Syd

| music4 = Bennett

| extra4 = Syd

| length4 = 3:29

| title5 = All About Me

| lyrics5 = Syd

| music5 = {{hlist|Bennett|Steve Lacy}}

| extra5 = Lacy

| length5 = 3:31

| title6 = Smile More

| lyrics6 = Syd

| music6 = Bennett

| extra6 = Syd

| length6 = 4:01

| title7 = Got Her Own

| lyrics7 = {{hlist|Syd|Green}}

| music7 = {{hlist|Bennett|Eaholtz|Rashad Muhammad|Isiah Salazar}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|HazeBanga|Salazar}}

| length7 = 3:06

| title8 = Drown in It

| lyrics8 = {{hlist|Syd|Green}}

| music8 = {{hlist|Bennett|Eaholtz|Anthony Kilhoffer|Julian Gramma}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Kilhoffer|JGramm}}

| length8 = 1:10

| title9 = Body

| lyrics9 = {{hlist|Syd|Green|Tan}}

| music9 = {{hlist|Bennett|Eaholtz|Tan|Sean Rhoden}}

| extra9 = MeLo-X

| length9 = 4:22

| title10 = Dollar Bills

| note10 = featuring Steve Lacy

| lyrics10 = {{hlist|Syd|Lacy}}

| music10 = {{hlist|Bennett|Lacy|Ronald Colson}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Flip|Lacy}}

| length10 = 3:08

| title11 = Over

| note11 = featuring 6lack

| lyrics11 = {{hlist|Syd|Green}}

| music11 = {{hlist|Bennett|Eaholtz|Muhammad}}

| extra11 = HazeBanga

| length11 = 3:11

| title12 = Insecurities

| lyrics12 = {{hlist|Syd|Green|Brent Faiyaz}}

| music12 = {{hlist|Bennett|Eaholtz|Columbus Smith III|Faiyaz|Keith Askey}}

| extra12 = Rahki

| length12 = 3:25

}}

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

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2017 debut albums

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Syd albums

Category:Albums produced by Steve Lacy

Category:Albums produced by Syd (singer)

Category:Albums produced by Hit-Boy