Kicking back in a tanning chair near the ocean with earbuds in listening to your favorite summer music is arguably almost everyone’s favorite activity. This summer, many albums have been released that created new staples for that exact playlist. (Here is a list of my top 10 albums released from June – August (in order of release date). To see the mass amount of albums released this year, check out Wikipedia’s list of 2024 albums.
Starting off strong, Maya Hawke’s alternative album Chaos Angel, released on May 31st, travels through relationships and emotional concepts like heartbreak, yearning, and more. This album is beautifully written and produced. Hawke’s angelic voice mixed with alternative-lofi beats makes this record an “always on repeat” for me while studying, relaxing, and reading. My favorite track is “Big Idea”, which explores thinking for yourself.
Following with arguably the most influential album of the summer, Brat by Charli xcx takes an electronic approach to her typical music style. Since the release, it has become an internet sensation with many people referring to this summer as a “brat summer”. It is a well composed album with very interesting elements, but it is definitely not my favorite summer release.
A most-loved album for pop fans, The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams, dives into themes of love, heartbreak, and everything in between. Abram’s released this album on June 21st, and since then it has remained in the Billboard top 200. She is now touring across the country and selling out various venues, including The Anthem in Washington D.C. If you are looking for an album that will leave you sobbing for hours, The Secret of Us is close to perfection.
Country music star Zach Bryan released his album The Great American Bar Scene on July 4th. The single “Pink Skies” turned out to be one of his most popular songs ever. Something I personally noticed about this album is Bryan’s captivating voice and interpretation of the country genre. ”Better Days” is my most-loved track, as it has a nostalgic feeling to it and a great theme of knowing that it always gets better.
Continuing the country streak, Megan Moroney’s Am I Okay? has a quite romantic theme. For example, the title track, “Am I Okay?” is about meeting someone new and realizing that they are making you happy. This whole album is amazing and truly encapsulates Moroney’s talent. It also brings a different perspective to country that really appeals to younger generations.
Another album that was released this summer that truly reflects the musical talent of the artist who released it is Charm by Clairo. This is Clairo’s second album and it continues to include lofi-indie beats along with her soft and angelic voice. Every song on this album is great, but “Juna” is my personal favorite. This song also got recognized on social media, and it is now the most popular song on the album.
ROLE MODEL released his second album, Kansas Anymore, on July 19th. This album has gone on to be one of my favorite albums. Like many others this season, this pop album explores themes of heartbreak, homesickness, and love. My most-liked song is “Frances”, which became an internet sensation after fans suspected it was about influencer Emma Chamberlain. Regardless of its popularity, this is an incredibly written song with gorgeous vocals and lyrics that has made it become one of my favorite songs of all time. This entire record is remarkable and can resonate with anyone who listens.
On July 19th, Childish Gambino released the R & B album Bando Stone and The New World. Not only is this a record, but it is also a movie starring and directed by Donald Glover. This album was extremely chaotic, but filled with strong tracks. I absolutely love this album because it is a roller coaster the whole way through. From an outsider’s point of view, this album is definitely strange and a bit overwhelming. However, if you are already a fan of Childish Gambino, this album will be great for you.
Another incredible summer 2024 release is This Is How Tomorrow Moves by beabadoobee. All fourteen tracks reflect how much Beatrice Laus has improved musically. This is by far her best production. Her vocals have improved so much, and she has expanded her production to more than simple, melancholy beats.
Last but definitely not least, Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter is a good but plain pop album. It definitely is her best production, but in my opinion it is nothing remarkable for the pop genre itself. Sabrina’s vocals are great, but the instrumentals got boring by the end of the album. I don’t think it did a lot compared to other pop albums that were released this summer. However, this record has been quite a success in regards to Carpenter’s career, and her tour has been a mega hit.
The summer of 2024 was memorable for many music artists. There were quite a few significant records released that paved the way to success for many upcoming singers and performers. Although the summer is over, you can reminisce on the excitement and joy of the season with these ten albums.
