This past summer brought time for rest and relaxation after the busy school year, and with summertime comes summer music that you can listen to while you kick back.  There were countless incredible releases last season, ranging from the smooth vocals of The Killers lead singer Brandon Flowers’ solo album to the upbeat, rhythmic styling of New Politics’ junior album.  I, myself, have a fairly wide variety of interests when it comes to music and for that reason, I have compiled a list of the top 8 album releases from the summer (in no particular order) including records from a few different genres including indie pop, psychedelic rock, and alternative.  Music is a great unifier in that no matter what genre you enjoy, you can always find a certain connection to the sound. By shedding some light on the pieces that I have chosen, I hope to help others make the same kind of connection to them that I did.  Whatever genre you take interest in, these albums are certainly gems within the music scene; I hope you give some or all of them a chance.  (And if you would like to take a listen, I have listed my personal favorite three tracks from each that I would recommend- get to it!)

1) Badlands– Halsey (Astralwerks, Capitol)

Release: August 28, 2015- Debut

Genre: Indie pop, electropop

Throughout the industry, there has been a deficit of artists like Halsey, women who are not only activists for social issues (a quality which I greatly admire) but also release incredibly genuine, fresh music that is relatable to a diverse audience.  Following her EP, Room 93, which was released in October 2014, Ashley Frangipane, known by her stage name, Halsey, began work on her debut record which was released no more than a month ago.  Badlands is a concept album which she says is a reference to her mindset whilst the album was in production, giving a physical representation for the “desolate and lonely mind” that she had at the time.  Halsey mashes the genres of pop and electropop to create a record chock full of emotion, ripping at the seams and a track listing with which I can find no flaws.  Taking away from female artists similar to herself, her indie/alternative sound rings strong and powerful, forcing you to listen to the words, explaining her anguish and pain, love and emotion.  This past year alone, Halsey has already risen to fame.  With this album’s release and her sold out fall tour which started this month, I see huge success ahead for her, but that is a given considering just how spectacular her sound is.

Top 3 tracks:

1. Gasoline
2. Control
3. Colors

2) VIKINGS– New Politics (DCD2, Warner Bros)

Release: August 14, 2015

Genre: alternative rock, dance rock

Following their stint on the Monumentour during the summer of 2014, New Politics, a band of three originating from Copenhagen, have risen to a new sort of fame and have recently released their junior album, VIKINGS.  The trio has been described as a blend of “punk, pop, and electronically induced dance rock,” which describes this new record to a tee.  VIKINGS takes lots of likeness to the group’s self-titled debut album, which combined a pun, indie rock-feel with dancable, upbeat tracks, resulting in an album that is as easy to listen to as it is to dance to.  New Politics has been known for how high-energy they really are, and for that reason, it is no surprise that each track instantly makes you want to scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs.  They do include two slower, toned down songs including, “Stardust and “Lovers In a Song” that branch out from their recognizable lively sound and add a much-needed break in the middle of all the hype. The trio has created a very diverse and unique album, and it can be said that their album consists of some of the strongest songs in the alternative spectrum as a whole for the summer.

Top 3 tracks:

1. Loyalties Among Thieves
2. Stardust
3. 50 Feet Tall

3) The Desired Effect– Brandon Flowers (Island)

Release: May 15, 2015

Genre: New wave, synthpop, alternative rock

Brandon Flowers, known for his long-time run with the iconic rock band The Killers, has juiced out an incredible album of similar caliber to his band’s 2008 masterpiece, Day & Age.  Surely paying homage to decades past, this record is something rare, as you do not normally hear such strange (in the best way possible) synth-disco sounds on a record this modern.  He bends, breaks, shifts, and sways throughout the entire album, and the feelings he exudes are evident; his pop-leaning lyrics are indebted to the 80’s due to the gated drums and huge, dramatic choruses, oozing with an almost innocence and immaturity as he nips at the ankles of “love,” or whatever it may be. Flowers is hard to pin down as a pop star, but in recent memory, this record is the closest he’ll get; he grabs listeners with his famously garbled words and hypnotic melodies, and he does it well.  Each track will stick with you, as it is so different, and Flowers pulls it off so that this style makes a huge splash.

1. Can’t Deny My Love
2. Diggin’ Up the Heart
3. The Way It’s Always Been

4) Currents– Tame Impala (Modular, Universal)

Kevin Parker’s revival with this third album is triumphant and extraordinary,  though in an occasionally melancholy isolation that is clear throughout each track.  This is a breakup record to end all breakup records, whether actually describing a breakup as in the emotion and agony presented in the tracks, or splitting with past selves and reinventing yourself, as Parker has done with this new record.  He acknowledges this change, and clearly the public, including myself, have embraced this new idea that creates emphasis on re-imagining the artist’s relationship with rock.  In the process of rediscovering himself and reinventing his sound, the new Tame Impala manifests in Currents, an album bursting with simple riffs enveloped in a melodic frame and psych-disco swings. The entire piece is incredibly easy to listen to, considering that his voice takes similarity to that of John Lennon’s, a definite perk, and that it is so simple, yet not really simple at all. It is truly revolutionary, and this change has ultimately marked a new era for Parker and for rock itself.

Release: July 17, 2015

Genre:  psychedelic pop, disco, R&B

Top 3 tracks:

1. Eventually
2. The Less I Know the Better
3. New Person, Same Old Mistakes

5) That’s the Spirit- Bring Me the Horizon (Sony, Colombia)

Release: September 11, 2015

Genre: Alternative rock, nu metal, pop rock

Rising to cult-like fame, Bring Me the Horizon has taken many ups and downs within the past year and with the sound of this album being much different than their earlier releases, that fact is almost predictable.  The band is known for their heavier albums, seeing as they’ve been one of the most relevant “pre-metal” bands of the past few years, and this new album comes with a bit of controversy for that reason.  The group has taken a significant transition from breakdowns and screaming to a much lighter, alternative sound which was either embraced with open arms or entirely rejected by fans.  Personally, I really enjoy it, seeing as the band effortlessly evolves into an almost more mature sound, developing a much more alternative-based backbone. However, many fans feel as though they should pick their heavier sound back up seeing as this is such a drastic contrast to their last record.  The entire album is a lot more positive and upbeat than their previous records, each track laced with electronics and entrancing, sluggish rock melodies.  Front man Oliver Sykes says that he likes their new sound and the fact that “every song on the album explores the happiness we can find in the sadness.” Do you agree?

Top 3 tracks:

1. What You Need
2. Follow You
3. Blasphemy

6) COIN– COIN (StarTime International, Colombia)

Release: June 16, 2015

Genre: Indie rock, pop rock, indie pop

COIN, a little band from Nashville, came onto the scene just last year with the release of their EP 1992 last year. They continued to rise in relevance with the great success of their summer single, “Run” on the alternative charts.  The entire album fits together perfectly, each song flowing evenly and continuing that beachy, upbeat sound that the band as a whole always manages to convey.  Though this is their first professional debut, the four guys have managed to establish such a strong, confident record; it seems as though they’ve been in the industry ages longer than they actually have. I have had multiple interactions with drummer Ryan Winnen and front man Chase Lawrence through social media; they’re such genuine guys and it really warms my heart to see them getting to where they are.  That little bit of kindness carries throughout the record, I think, as you feel almost like you are being enveloped in a warm embrace with the changing of the tracks.  With the little bit of bias aside, COIN has created something that is truly dynamic from beginning to end, almost a new subgenre within the alternative scene, one that establishes a sound that you can’t help but sing along and dance to, no matter if you’ve listened to it once or a thousand times.  COIN is getting somewhere and with just how enjoyable this record is, I can see them getting somewhere big in the future.

Top 3 tracks:

1. Better
2. Time Machine
3. Speaking Voice

7) Communion– Years & Years (Polydor, Interscope)

Release: July 10, 2015

Genre: synthpop, electronica, house

With the release of the British trio’s debut album, their ability to marry thematic precision with such lovely song writing while highlighting the ups and downs of love and loss of love infects the American airwaves effortlessly.  Front man Oli Alexander’s smooth vocal styles blended together with slick-dance pop that hypnotizes and draws attention is nothing that can be ignored.  Though often infused with melodrama, the raw emotion each track exudes is enough to keep you from pressing pause, and this quality reigns true for every single track.  I see no downfall throughout the entire record. The evident lust and subtle mention of life’s torments is masked behind a house sound that is in some ways reminiscent of those of the 80’s and 90’s, and though strange, they manage to pull it off and leave you aching for more.  Each track makes you want to get up and dance or sway along to the beat, but also makes you feel a strong emotion, even sympathy, toward the singer as he croons his heart out over his trials.  Whether you can relate or not, this record is a masterpiece in its own right.

Top 3 tracks:

1. Gold
2. Desire
3. Worship

8) Cry Baby– Melanie Martinez (Atlantic)

Release: August 14, 2015

Genre: pop, alternative

Melanie Martinez rose to certain fame as the gap-toothed, blunt-banged standout from The Voice season 3 where though she didn’t take the grand prize, she was able to gain a small following and now has risen to stardom as her debut album hit the stores this summer.  This year, her track “Carousel,” a single off this record, was featured as the opening sequence for the hit television show American Horror Story: Freak Show, leading her to further develop her appeal early on.  This album is a concept piece, portraying events that took place during Melanie’s childhood in warped ways.  She takes family-friendly concepts and twists them around with her words, set in front of haunting melodies and synths in the combination alt pop fantasy.  Her wispy, feminine presence creates a vocal sound tugging at the coattails of artists like Lorde and Lana Del Ray, but what sets the 20 year-old apart from her competition is the way she effortlessly draws an audience in despite her dark lyrics, spiked with gloom ( a comfortable gloom).  She is utterly intoxicating and this album generally makes you think about society and reality, considering her bubblegum pink words are shrouding the horror beneath.

Top 3 tracks:

1. Potato Head
2. Tag, You’re It
3. Pacify Her

This summer was packed with new releases, each managing to keep the dog days of summer exciting and refreshing despite the almost unbearable heart. Summer has rolled by with great releases in tow, and I’m sure they remain blasting through speakers everywhere, even as the leaves change colors and the air turns crisp.  With that in mind, make sure to spend some time checking out these albums if you get the chance- you’ve got 8 masterpieces to delve into! Enjoy!