By EMMA LAUS
“Sincerely,” by Kali Uchis
Although technically released in spring, I don’t think this list would be complete without Kali Uchis’ ethereal fifth studio album. The album cover’s lush, warm tones and dreamy visuals perfectly encapsulate the sound of “Sincerely,.” Strings swell and blossom, bells softly chime and Uchis’ sultry and airy voice effortlessly oscillates in vocal range. In many of the songs, Uchis reflects on low points in her past and how full of love her life has become since. The album is meditative: full of affirmations reflecting sensuality, love and peace. Overall, this is a beautiful album that made my summer feel a little more magical.
“Adult Romantix” by Winter
“Adult Romantix” perfectly reflects the current indie scene, with features from Tanukichan and Horse Jumper of Love, while also pulling heavily from 90s alternative rock/pop influences. The album opens with an intro track, a slower version of the bright song that immediately follows. On the second track, “Just Like a Flower,” Samira Winter’s voice is soft and almost girlish, reminiscent of twee pop. However, other songs take a more shoegaze inspired approach, with heavier instrumentals, nearly drowning out her voice. On “Like Lovers Do,” Winter’s vocals are throaty and masked with effects, like she’s singing into a fan. On another track, “Candy #9” Winter takes a trip hop approach. The lyrics themselves are full of questions; Winter wonders about death, love, and loneliness, which I interpreted as an ode to the angst of growing up. Despite these explorations in different subgenres, the album remains cohesive as a whole and a good soundtrack to the feeling of end of summer doom.
“The Clearing” by Wolf Alice
Wolf Alice’s fourth album is full of life. Ellie Rowsell’s vocals are rich and powerful (not in the evil way) and versatile across all the tracks. It’s an incredibly consistent album, I don’t find that it loses momentum at any point, with a fun combination of lively songs and ballads that are never dull. One of my personal favorite tracks is “White Horses.” This song features vocals from both halves of the musical duo; Joff Odie, whose verses are quick and low, juxtapose Rowsell’s soaring and confident vocals. For such an emotive album, Roswell’s voice does a lot of the heavy lifting, as the instrumentals provide lively backdrops but never feel especially hard-hitting.
Featured Image: Adult Romantix Album Cover
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