Gallant
Ology
(Mind of a Genius/Warner Bros.)

Whether intentional or not, it’s difficult to place Ology in any one category. With a rising falsetto and insecurities on display, Gallant, a singer-songwriter hailing from Columbia, Maryland, delivers alternative R&B on “Weight in Gold” and “Bourbon,” neo-soul on “Miyazaki,” a beautiful single with “Skipping Stones” featuring Jhené Aiko, and a hint of drums and bass at the outro of “Percogesic.” But its the other 11 tracks that flutter in the air with no place to go. Though Ology is ambitious in mood and ambiance, it gives the impression that Gallant, with his powerful falsetto, is still trying to figure out where he belongs as an artist. Not that genre matters, some artists just know how to pull off a diverse compilation better.