Dr. Lecter-Action Bronson

Released in mid-March, Dr. Lecter is a debut simply too fun to ignore. Bronson, a Queens native, raps in a high-pitched tumble of words, making outrageous claims about himself that range from his bank robbing abilities to the quality of his pasta. Bronson is using his rap career to fund culinary studies abroad in Rome, and the album is packed with stomach-teasing descriptions of food. Bronson never takes himself seriously, and with his goofy sense of humor and the hard-hitting, undeniably old-school New York beats, Dr. Lecter is one of the most likable albums of recent memory.

Helplessness Blues-Fleet Foxes

Their debut album and EP garnered much praise last year, but response to Helplessness Blues hasn’t been up to par. The album contains the same gorgeous folk textures and vocal harmonies as the previous releases, but toned down slightly to give the album a darker feel. The increased presence of lead singer Robin Pecknold gives the band more of an identity this time around, and turns this album into a serious contender for “Album of the Year.”