This is part of Creative Loafing Tampa's new issue, The Year In Music. See and listen to the rest of our top albums here.
Phantogram, Three (Republic) Phantogram’s fourth studio album, Three, was released in October, and proved that the electronic-pop duo has nearly perfected its dynamic. With the raging, almost-pop-punk single “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore,” Phantogram set a high-paced momentum that lasted throughout the remainder of the album; other in your face tracks include “You’re Mine” and “Calling All.” What makes the album one of the best of the year, though, is how Phantogram effortlessly breaks the momentum every few tracks with more melodic, thoughtful and moving ballads, such as “Destroyer” and “Barking Dog,” in which Josh Carter gets the opportunity to extend his vocal chops. This album manages to have high energy yet holds onto what makes Phantogram so sexy — its ability to send you through a flurry of emotions in a matter of ten tracks. —Kelly Smith
This article appears in Dec 15-22, 2016.