(Photo courtesy of: Apple Music) “Album art for THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY, one of the summer’s greatest hits.”
Ryan Valin
Connector Contributor
Everybody hears those songs that send you back to never-ending summers. You were out with your friends every day, making memories that you still talk about now, and the music amplified every moment. Let’s take a look back on the albums that this past summer had to offer.
BRAT, Charli xcx – Summer 2024 had many great projects, but the people of social media declared it to be “a BRAT summer.” So what makes this album so special? The record is made up of upbeat club anthems, with some of the most popular tracks being “360” and “Apple”. However, as opposed to just making the standard club pop song, Charli xcx takes a vastly different approach. Countering the animated techno instrumentals are moody lyrics that tackle intricate issues involving self image, and fearing how short life is. Parts of BRAT could’ve been explored further, but seem to be left incomplete or too repetitive instead. B+
Kansas Anymore, ROLE MODEL – The folk/pop record, Kansas Anymore, is the= perfect cure for a long drive. Hence the title, this project is all about being in an uncomfortable environment. But whether it is a relationship falling apart, having to take a look in the mirror, or being too far from home, ROLE MODEL makes it all sound beautiful. Every instrumental and vocal track is detailed for a specific emotion. This collection contains some of the most creative pop music so far from this decade. Only occasionally did Kansas Anymore seem like it could have offered a bit more depth, particularly on “Scumbag”. A-
Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter – Two enormously popular singles, “Espresso” and “Please Please Please”, and the album that followed put Sabrina Carpenter on the A-List! Short n’ Sweet embraces all the aspects of being a spiteful ex. Interestingly, anger and disappointment are backed by lively, almost theatrical music and vocals that make the spite feel exciting. Carpenter seems to be playing a game of petty tug-of-war with her exes, emphasizing that when they pull, she pulls back harder. A few songs towards the end of the project, such as “Don’t Smile”, offer a sad nature behind that concept. She alludes that all of the energy she put into getting back at people did not solve her heartbreak, pulling together a much stronger idea. But, although the idea was strong, the execution was weaker which made it less impactful. B
HOOD POET, Polo G – The extremely talented Polo G, released his fourth studio album in early August, titled HOOD POET. On his latest project, he reflects on his personal experiences, and those of the ones he was surrounded by, growing up in a tough neighborhood of Chicago. He struggles with moving forward, considering his current lifestyle contrasts his early life so heavily. Since his last project, many have hoped to see some more creativity in Polo G’s beat selection. There were glimpses of these hopes being fulfilled, with tracks like “God’s Favorite” and “Angels In The Sky”. But unfortunately, Polo G’s lyricism wasn’t enough, and HOOD POET still came up a bit short of doing something more interesting. C
F-1 Trillion: Long Bed, Post Malone – The certified hitmaker, Post Malone, released his long awaited country record this summer. New to the genre, many wondered what Malone would have to offer, but after his first single “I Had Some Help (Feat. Morgan Wallen)”, listeners felt secure that the album would be a success. Needless to say, Posty did his thing. He didn’t fail to deliver beach, car ride, and heartbreak tracks. However, the listening experience as a twenty-seven song collection drags on. It sounds more like a playlist rather than one whole concept. B-
THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: THE ANTHOLOGY, Taylor Swift – Needing no introduction, Taylor Swift released her eleventh studio album before the summer started. Her latest project showcased arguably some of her best musical compositions. Despite her undeniable knack for creating them, Swift isn’t hunting for hits as much here. Many think that she only has a charting break up song to offer, and although this record has its fair share, she clearly has a more important message to deliver. Swift presents a captivating depiction of fighting for control in her life, whether it’s in the form of a relationship, her career, or the public eye. Her words can be compelling, but over-embellishing regularly makes her analogies become stale quickly. Also, similar to Post Malone’s album, it is far too long for its purpose. The repeating ideas and soft instrumentations turn dull long before the album is finished. Swift initially released only the first half of the album, which was good enough. But the second half should’ve been scrapped or condensed into the first, as it takes away from what the collection could’ve been. B
