The Miscellany News is back! And after a hectic summer of New Jersey Transit commutes and lengthy drives to the beach, I have listened to plenty of music since we left campus last spring: 21,400 minutes, to be exact. So to celebrate the return of the Arts section—which you should join if you are itching to share your thoughts on the newest media and live performances!—I have compiled a playlist of my favorite summer releases. See below for my top songs that came out in the past three months: a tracklist to spin as you ease into the new school year.
1. “She’s the Best” by Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan’s return to the music scene had to be grand. To follow up his 2023 quintessential pop banger, “Something To Give Each Other,” a sound switch-up was necessary to keep fans interested. “She’s the Best” is a song that has divided audiences due to its spoken-word style of singing and unconventional structure; but its glittery, drum-forward production and “who gives a damn” vocal performance mesh well. Plus, Nicole Kidman’s cameo in the music video and the choppy club-produced background vocals by Charli xcx imitate the college party craving I have been lacking.
2. “Spill” by Slow Pulp
It is officially going to be a Slow Pulp September. Particularly, for Vassar following our previous VICE spring concert. “Melodie”—the band’s upcoming album and first full project in three years—is hitting the shelves Sept. 18. My favorite single from the work, “Spill,” details the anxieties of casual dating and coping with emotional distance. The track paddles along a dark, addicting indie rock soundscape that eventually dissolves into an all-consuming reverb finale.
3. “brand new chanel$” by Slayyyter
Nobody has had a better summer than Slayyyter. After her entrance into the pop culture zeitgeist last March with the album “WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA,” the Missouri native has captured audiences with her engrossing electronic-club hits. With her recent single, “brand new chanel$,” Slayyyter has, once again, delivered the brash electro-pop sound that listeners yearn for. Combined with the lyrics that discuss finding out her partner cheated on her right before her Coachella set, the track is an outpouring of Slayyyter’s determination to become one of pop’s top names—and boy, does it work.
4. “Kill Me” by Phoebe Bridgers
Phoebe Bridgers’ return to music is not something that I, nor my sanity, take lightly, which is why “Kill Me” has proven to be my most cherished track from “Lost Weekend.” The repeating guitar chords, built within Bridgers’ signature melancholic landscape, reach right into my body and tear my heart open. Once you think you are already emotionally tethered to the song, she comes in at the end with a rush of chaotic drums and despondent strings—a clear contender for one of her best tracks of all time.
5. “Love Sensation” by Madonna
Talk about whiplash! This summer, Madonna returned with “Confessions II,” her most well-received record in 20 years. The album had one clear message: Get out on the dance floor. In this album, the 68-year-old superstar proves that she will forever be a force to be reckoned with in the pop world. Similar to the rest of the album’s tracks, “Love Sensation” is a fresh, engrossing addition to her discography. The song is lyrically liberating and the production pulses with euphoria. I strongly urge the Vassar community to give “Confessions II” a try at the welcome back parties… Please, for me.
6. “Barriers” by Ravyn Lenae
Perhaps the most underrated album of the summer comes from alternative R&B darling Ravyn Lenae. “Blue Island” is filled with a unique, genre-bending production that embraces listeners within her angelic indie-pop world. “Barriers” glides with Lenae’s soothing vocals and hard-hitting drum production. The stripped-back, sensual track discusses emotional distance and intimacy between two people who just cannot seem to get on the same page. Lyrics and production combined, “Barriers” is my favorite gem out of a star-studded project.
7. “Camera” by Charli xcx
According to Charli xcx, the dance floor is dead. The album “Music, Fashion, Film,” is the latest installment to the powerhouse’s catalogue, and it comes with a complete creative switch-up. The rebrand is successful on many fronts, with her explosive Lollapalooza set back in July as proof. “Camera” is about the intense pressures of being in the spotlight, as well as Charli’s desires to transition into film. The song builds around a catchy strumming pattern and Charli’s vocals hit the spot of her typical, glitchy sound—easily one of the most unique and captivating soundscapes to come out of the summer.
8. “Detour” by Kim Petras
“This is the beginning of the end,” declares Kim Petras at the onset of “Detour,” her first major album release after separating from Republic Records. With newfound creative control over her music, Petras teamed up with hyperpop divas Frost Children to deliver a campy, chaotic album of grit-laced production and personal raw lyrics. “Detour” is a clear deviation from her previous hampered records under her old label. The title track starts off with an abrasive punch of electrocrash and indie-sleaze production, a clear indicator of her desire to be taken seriously in the hyperpop realm. “Detour” hits you in the heart and—speaking from personal experience—has the ability to motivate you in the early hours of the morning.
9. “u + me = <3” by Olivia Rodrigo
The clearest contender for Record of the Year comes from a 23-year-old. “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” is filled with some of Olivia Rodrigo’s best work ever, and it has consistently stayed in my rotation since its release. “u + me = <3” is a Cranberries-esque, jangly tune that discusses—you guessed it—being in love. Rodrigo’s crisp vocals and guitar-heavy production make the track riveting. “u + me = <3” traps you within Rodrigo’s tender, puppy-eyed romance, and it makes the album’s second half, which discusses a breakup, hit all the more hard.
10. “Ain’t In LA” by ADÉLA
To close off the essential tracks of the summer, one must look toward the rising Slovak pop star ADÉLA. “Ain’t In LA” is clean and sonically freeing. ADÉLA’s vocals come across with the same feelings of liberation that the summer months demand—which is why turning this tune up to max volume and sticking your head out the window is required. While summer may be coming to a close, “Ain’t in LA” promises that the future is bright.