Albums I Liked in the Summer of 2024
Being born in ‘91 means I was raised alongside actual, tangible records that held music that was meant to be listened to in order. (And by records I mean CD’s.) So even though people may not have kept listening to music that way, I still do. When an artist releases a new album, I’ll listen to it all the way through a few times, while I read the lyrics, so I can actually hear and digest the piece of art. SO! The albums below are great in order, out of order, in a playlist - or just really quick to match your mood.
Deeper Well, Kacey Musgraves
genre - country; pop; folk
You Should Listen If - You’re trying to chill out while calming down your children. You’re waking and baking. (Hitting the gravity bong that you made.)
Favorite Songs - “Sway,” “Jade Green,” “The Architect,” “Heaven Is,” “Anime Eyes”
What Playlist to Add This To - Chill. Work. Hot Girl Walks. Waking and Baking.
Favorite Lyrics - “You’ve got dark energy, something I can’t unsee, and I’ve got to take care of myself; I found a deeper well.” - “I was in a weird place, then I saw the right face, And the stars and the planets lined up.”
On Tour? - Yes
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - “I Remember Everything”
website - Apple - Spotify
The Secret of Us, Gracie Abrams
genre - Indie pop
You Should Listen If—You were raised in the 90s or 00s. You like Anthropologie. You like Taylor Swift or boygenius.
Favorite Songs - “Risk,” “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “us.,” “Tough Love,” “Gave You I Gave You I,” “Free Now,” “Close To You”
What Playlist to Add This To - Craft Night. Girls Gossip Sesh. Deep Cleaning Your Apartment. Long Drive.
Favorite Lyrics - “Watch this be the wrong thing, classic.” - “That’s just the way life goes. I like to slam doors closed.” - “I know you know. It felt like somethin’ old. It felt like somethin’ holy. Like souls pleadin’, so.” - “If you find yourself out, if there is a right time. Chances are I'll be here, we could share a lifeline.”
On Tour? - Yes
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - “I miss you, I’m sorry”
website - Apple - Spotify
the rise and fall of a midwest princess, Chappell Roan
genre - synth-pop; dark pop
You Should Listen If - You liked HelloGoodbye in 2006. You love singing songs loudly. You like glitter and drag queens. You’re a part of the LGBTQIA+ Community. You like dancing to YMCA.
Favorite Songs - “Femininomenon,” “Red Wine Supernova,” “Casual,” “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl,” “HOT TO GO!” “My Kink Is Karma,” “Kaleidoscope,” “Pink Pony Club,” “Naked In Manhattan”
Favorite Lyrics - “Let’s get coffee, let’s meet up, I’m so sick of online love” - “We’re leaving the planet, and you can’t come”, “You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling”
What Playlist to Add This To - Running. Getting Ready to Go Out. Motivation Nation. (Similar to Running.) Car Singing. Ladies Night.
On Tour? - Yes
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - “Good Hurt”
website - Apple - Spotify
eternal sunshine, Ariana grande
genre - pop
You Should Listen If - You liked R&B as a kid. You like dancing while mean mugging. You went to cotillion in the early 2000’s. You watched Disney Channel Original Movies. You’re into slow dancing in the kitchen.
Favorite Songs - “Intro,” “bye,” “the boy is mine,” “yes, and?” “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” “imperfect for you”
Favorite Lyrics - “How can I tell if I’m in the right relationship? Aren’t you really supposed to know that shit?”- “Be your own fuckin'’best friend. Say that shit with your chest. Keep movin'’ like, “What’s next? Yes, and?”- “Don’t wanna tiptoe, but I don’t wanna hide. But I don’t wanna feed this monstrous fire. Just wanna let this story die”
What Playlist to Add This To - Rollerblading. Long Drives. Sexy Dinner.
On Tour? - No
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - “Rain On Me”
website - Apple - Spotify
The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift
genre - pop
You Should Listen If - You’re feeling soft pop.
Favorite Songs - “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys,” “Down Bad,” “So Long, London,” “But Daddy I Love Him,” “loml,” “The Black Dog,” “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” “How Did It End,” “So High School,” “I Hate It Here”
Favorite Lyrics - “There was a litany of reasons why, We could’ve played for keeps this time, I know I’m just repeating myself, Put me back on my shelf” - “It was legendary. It was momentary. It was unnecessary. Should’ve let it stay buried.”
What Playlist to Add This To - Happy and Sad at the Same Time.
On Tour? - Yes
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - “Vigilante Shit”
website - Apple - Spotify
MUNA, MUNA
genre - Alternative/Indie
You Should Listen If - You love dancing with your arms in the air while you say “woo!” You’re driving for a while, and the sun is out. You’re by the pool tanning. You like Robyn. You watched Girls.
Favorite Songs - “Silk Chiffon,” “Runner’s High,” “Home By Now,” “Solid,” “Anything But Me”
Favorite Lyrics - “Life's so fun, life's so fun. Don't need to worry about no one” - “And sure, it's not all so black and white. Sure, I'm gonna cry. For the love we couldn't keep. But I would rather lose you. Than who I'm meant to be. So you can have anything but me.”
What Playlist to Add This To - Dance Party. Road Trip. Acoustic Dreams. Beeps and Bops.
On Tour? - Yes
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - “I Know A Place”
website - Apple - Spotify
brat, charlie xcx
genre - dance-pop, electropop, pop punk and alternative pop
You Should Listen If - You liked The Secret Handshake or Play Radio Play growing up. You’re in a bad mood and want to be in a better mood.
Favorite Songs - 360, Club classics, Sympathy is a knife, Talk talk, Rewind, 365
Favorite Lyrics - “In a place that can make you change. Fall in love again and again.” - “All this sympathy is just a knife. Why I can't even grit my teeth and lie? I feel all these feelings I can't control. Oh no, don't know.”
What Playlist to Add This To - Rage Mode.
On Tour? - Yes.
Song Not on the Album That Is 10/10 - I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)