By Michael Harrington

So long as I have existed have I been a fan of music. I grew up listening to the local classic-rock station, old cassettes and background music for my video games. In recent years, I’ve listened to far more music than I ever would have thought possible, even five years ago, when I started to practice to be the best musician I could be.

Listening to, writing, playing, and talking and writing about music have become an immeasurable part of my life, and I would like to share this portion of my life with you. This is the first installment of “Record Scratch,” a column where I will discuss fresh music releases. I will do my best to recommend music that might have been ignored by the masses.

We’ll start with the alternative hip-hop albums “Saturation” and “Saturation II” by Brockhampton.

Brockhampton describe themselves as “the Internet’s first boy band,” but they are a new breed of boy band. Having met on a Kanye West fan-forum website, this group of young men released their first mixtape last year. Their debut album, “Saturation,” was released in June. “Saturation II” released in August. By the end of 2017, the “Saturation” trilogy will be complete.

Whereas mixtapes are used more as a demonstration of musical capabilities, the debut album needs to solidify why an artist is relevant in their scene. “Saturation” is an emotionally rough album. The stories told on “Saturation” are charged with energy that has been waiting to be released. Heartfelt performances from every member make the lyrics resonate more closely with the audience. Regret, sorrow, anger, frustration, dedication, and perseverance are all conveyed by the men who tell these stories. They pause, they end things unexpectedly, and they change direction sometimes without warning.

The rhythms and sounds they use are unconventional, but Brockhampton manage to form a cohesive project thanks to their production and mastering team. They create a form of art unique to themselves. “Saturation” is for those who want to explore a more artistic and experimental side of hip-hop.

“Saturation II” is a sequel. “Saturation” was the blockbuster hit, and its successor had a legacy to live up to. Releasing so soon after the original was a huge risk for Brockhampton. It paid off.

Any sophomore album needs to take the sound of the original and twist it enough to be different while staying recognizable, and “Saturation II” does just that. “Saturation” is a love project; while there are definitely strong rap verses and tracks that bump, the album is more R&B influenced. “Saturation II” goes hard. It sounds like its predecessor, but you notice how Brockhampton have pushed themselves to innovate. The R&B tracks are still here, but there are more rap verses over both R&B and rap tracks. If you would rather listen to rap than R&B, I would suggest “Saturation II.”

The boys in Brockhampton are not afraid to say what’s on their mind, nor are they afraid of new flows and rhythms. They know how swiftly they are rising in the hip-hop community, and they want everyone to know that they know. If you do not know now, you will certainly know by the end of 2017.