Cry Baby (Melanie Martinez album)

Cry Baby is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Melanie Martinez, released on August 14, 2015, through Atlantic Records. Following her appearance on The Voice in 2012, Martinez developed the album as a concept record, centered on a fictional character of the same name which she used to explore themes of emotional vulnerability, family conflict, and troubled relationships.

Cry Baby is a pop and alternative pop album that incorporates toy-like sounds, synth-driven production, and hip-hop-influenced beats. Martinez drew from imagery of childhood and domestic life throughout the record, reworking them into narratives addressing abandonment, abuse, romance, and emotional isolation. She directed and styled the album as well as all of its accompanying music videos, which together form a continuous visual storyline. The album was released in multiple formats, including vinyl, CD, cassette, and digital download, with physical editions featuring special packaging and an illustrated storybook written by Martinez. Three singles were issued from the album, including "Pity Party", "Soap", and "Sippy Cup". Martinez supported the album with the Cry Baby Tour, which ran from 2015 to 2016 and included shows across North America and Europe.

Cry Baby received generally positive reviews from critics, who commented on its cohesive concept and distinctive aesthetic. Commercially, the album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 and later achieved multi-platinum certification in the United States. In 2020, the deluxe edition track "Play Date" gained renewed attention after going viral on social media platforms, and it led to the album's re-entry on Billboard 200.