Characterized by shimmering synth-driven production punctuated with distinct drum beats and self-indulgent lyricism, the summer of 2024 spurred an era of paradoxical contrast: apathetic nonchalance, explosive emotion, and club-ready confidence, all at the same time.
BRAT – Charli XCX
Serrated, garishly loud, and sleazy at its most decadent, Charli XCX’s “BRAT” is the unabridged narrative of the party girl lifestyle. “BRAT” captures the essence of its namesake; from the dizzying ecstasy of club-hopping, to the clash between dance floor bravado and lime-green envy, to the self-loathing introspection the morning after, the internet-coined “Brat Summer” is all about ditching minimalist “clean girl” perfection for low-resolution Arial typography, smudged mascara, and neon strobe lights.
The viral album, jammed with wild, electric synths and hyperpop hooks, doesn’t stray far from Charli’s classic sound. Yet what makes the record so compelling is Charli’s ability to weave songs that seesaw between loud, bitter anthems and personal, vulnerable ballads.
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan
Although released in Sept. 2023, Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” — and her eccentric pop star persona — exploded in popularity this summer, hailing the revival of high-energy music and campy performances in pop music. The pure pop record fuses infectious synths and electric riffs with provocative, upbeat lyrics epitomizing both the highs and lows of the queer experience.
“Midwest Princess,” in its 80’s sonic glamour and glory, captivated the internet with its uncanny relatability and sheer confidence. Amidst the trend of yearning, downtempo pop in sapphic music, the viral “HOT TO GO!” dance was a breath of fresh air, embracing the giddy excitement of queer romance and adding an interactive spark to concert culture. Roan seesaws between the tragic and the empowering — while songs like “Casual” traverse her struggle for emotional intimacy, Roan is unafraid to embrace her femininity in spunky anthems like “Femininomenon.”
Hit Me Hard and Soft – Billie Eilish
Eilish’s latest project ventures deeper into the dark alt-pop genre characteristic of previous works, edged with macabre grunge and pulsing synths. Its most notable track “Birds of a Feather,” however, treks into uncharted territory for Eilish, taking on the warm nostalgia reminiscent of indie coming-of-age movies and the summer after high school.
Despite the album’s overall cohesiveness with her discography, Eilish pushes the constraints of her signature sound. Airy whispers continue to bolster low and eerie songs like “The Diner,” romanticizing the thrill of obsession and stalking, but morph into strong, sentimental belts in “Birds of a Feather,” an ode to relationships both platonic and romantic. Radio hit “Lunch” broke pop culture in an unabashed exploration of Eilish’s queerness against a backdrop of typical thrumming bass and electric guitar yet adventurous with unusually tongue-in-cheek lyricism.
Short n’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter
Topping the pop charts with hit singles “Espresso,” “Please Please Please,” and “Taste,” Sabrina Carpenter hit a home run this summer with her own niche: cheeky, mature femininity as sweet as soft-serve ice cream.
Though seemingly inspired by the retro aesthetic of 2020’s pop, “Please Please Please” elevates the sound with sparkling, glassy arpeggios atop smooth, vintage-inspired production. “Espresso” toys with similar sounds in a Baywatch-esque blend of funk, groove, and beachy guitar, adding a laidback summer-tan depth to the overdone disco-pop genre. Undoubtedly, Carpenter owned the summer in an addictively catchy, sultry, and girlish redefinition of the title “pop princess.”
Honorable Mention: God Said No – Omar Apollo
Rejecting the cheeky, impassioned spirit that dominated this summer’s musical landscape, R&B artist Omar Apollo’s sophomore album, “God Said No,” offered a raw, poignant confessional on love imploding against the backdrop of hot, sticky weather and lonely, seemingly endless days. Heartbreaking at its core, the record is a chronology of the souring — and eventual evanescing — of a relationship, narrated through vignettes of bitter spite, heated arguments, and romantic estrangement.
Amalgamating subdued R&B acoustics with airy pop-trap inflections, “God Said No” captures both the somber regrets and scathing throes that burgeon during the aftermath of a breakup. While the record’s gut-wrenching ballads present Apollo at his most vulnerable, it’s the groovier, brass-heavy tracks — like the raunchy trap anthem “Against Me” and the 80’s synth-inspired “Less of You” — that illustrate his artistic prowess, coalescing together the rich sounds of pop and R&B. Although “God Said No” was overshadowed by the summer’s more effervescent releases, it’s a candid composition that cements Apollo as a rising star in the pop sphere.
