Abraham Li
Brotherhood (Album) - New Order (New wave, Synthpop, Post-punk): I've always been aware of New Order. I was a big fan of Joy Division in highschool but I wasn't into their work post Ian. A few months ago I listened to the single off this album "Bizarre Love Triangle" and started listening to their discography. Over the last year I've really gotten into this band, they take these very simple song structures and make them so catchy and almost hypnotizing. "Bizarre Love Triangle" starts with a simple synth baseline and slowly adds more elements until the song kind of washes over you in the final chorus. Also, the hook on that song is probably my favorite thing in pop music idk it's crazy. The rest of the album keeps a similar approach, starting very skeletal and building throughout. I'd also recommend other songs by new order, my personal favorites being "Touched by the Hand of God", "The Perfect Kiss", and "Ceremony."
Gee (song) - Girl's Generation (Kpop): I'm a big fan of 2nd-3rd gen Kpop and this song is just really good. Very bubbly and infectious, it keeps a sense of playfulness that I feel like a lot of current gen Kpop lacks. The verses have a sort of call and response structure and it's such an earworm.
Extra Extra (Song) - Pz' (Atlanta Hip-hop, Underground Hip-hop): This artist is part of a larger rap collective from Atlanta called øway. I don't like all of their output, other members being very hit or miss, but Pz' is by far my favorite. Throughout 2025-2026 he dropped a steady stream of singles and they've all been in my rotation. It's hard to describe why I like it so much, it really is as simple as me liking his voice and subject matter, this new wave of underground rap is very focused on high fashion from the late 2000s and early 2010s, but the music just feels good to listen to. I would definitely recommend checking out other artists from the collective like Tezzus and Diamond*.
Gerrit Notch
ii - Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats: This is probably the best hip hop album of the year. It’s a masterclass in both Jazz Rap and Abstract Hip Hop following “UNLOCKED,” the duo’s furst EP.
GRID RUNNER: PSYCHE STATION SELECTIONS - DRILLOFTHEDEEP: This soundtrack was done by a very close friend of mine, and he’s been working on it for the past few years before finally dropping it at the end of June. It’s a breakcore / drum n bass album primarily inspired by 90’s racing video game music, if you need a great blend of recorded instruments overlayed with electronic production I’d HEAVILY recommend this one.
Carson Meier
Steely Dan, do it again, Dire straits Sultans of swing
Caleb Robertson
John Mayer - He Rocks
Ella Langley - She Rocks
William King
Straight Outta Compton- N.W.A.: foundational hip-hop album which really defined what the scene would look like. Full of attitude, defiance and some unkind words about the Compton Police Department
Kiss all the time. Disco, occasionally.- Harry Styles: I was fortunate enough to see Harry live in Wembly stadium in London, and ever since his newest album has been on repeat. It’s his classic pop sound mixed with sporadic electronic elements. you could call it “Neo-pop” maybe??
Ethan Raley
Discovery - Daft Punk: Something I would not normally listen to, but I finished the album and bought the CD the next day at 10kHZ. Seriously catchy hooks that get stuck in your head and really high energy. Endlessly replayable (literally- after the final track, it loop around to One More Time)
Romantico - 800 Cherries: This has been my go-to album recommendation for a little while now. It’s so sunny and bright; it’s impossible to listen to this while frowning. It blends acoustic instruments and synthesizers. The album might predate ProTools, so I like to think that someone is actually pressing keys to make those sounds.
Shae Soutter
Paramore - Paramore: I ended up listening to a lot of Paramore this summer, it started as a ear worm like I would hum some of the songs, and then it turned into listening to a lot of it even at work. It fit whatever mood I was in, I’m still listening to the album over and over again.
Elijah McCay
The Lonesome and Crowded West - Modest Mouse: I can’t believe I didn’t listen to this album sooner. It is such an amazing double album that blends alternative rock, post-hardcore, and alternative country in such amazing ways. Lounge (Closing Time), Convenient Parking, and Polar Opposites were standouts.
Silas Hahs
In the Morning - Built to Spill: I have been listening to a ton of Built to Spill over the summer and have been embracing their slacky bitter loser sound big time. I was talking to a friend about how l rediscovered this song cause it starts off super weak but noticed it hits REALLY hard during the bridge. "Ignore my condition, last night was just an isolated incident," the lyrics sound like an alcoholic coping with his realization that his drinking habits aren't normal. The bridge slows the tempo and physically harms the listener with some absolutely STANKY discordant squeaky guitar dissonance and the most utterly shameful bass line I know. It sounds like the inside of my brain after I just got told about some GNARLY things I did last night, by my worried friends. They only want the best for me, but I don’t think I’m gonna listen to them.
Gabe Allen
I’ve spent summer trying to get to 200 full albums listened to and I did it! Thus what I spent this summer was catch up.
To start off I finally had my brat summer and I regret missing out for two years that album is everything people say about it but it also has real human edge which I was not expecting that dilute the dance and pop bangers surrounding these moments
Imaginal disc I ironically first heard on WEGL on the way home from camp war eagle and I had to listen to more. Ethereal pop goodness is the only way I can describe this must listen pop record.
When it comes to stuff actually from this year both are from bands hitting their 2nd and 3rd decades as bands and considering that are doing pretty good. Sure Reality Awaits is no "Is This It" but it’s not bad.
And Weezer (Gold) is solid for a bands 20th album it’s standard but it’s not of poor quality which with Weezer is pretty good. Personally I would rank it as Weezer’s 3rd best self titled.
Casey Simmons
World of Dweebs and For Your Safety and the Safety of Others - Graham Kartna: Two recent-ish albums from the same artist. They scratch a specific summery itch for me that can’t be described that well.
Mary Davis
Jamiroquai, specifically Canned Heat. It just encompassed how I felt during field camp for some reason, and it pumped me up for long days.
Katy Perry, Live at MTV Unplugged. She just sounds even better live back when she was still Fiona Apple adjacent. Plus I stand by the fact that One of the Boys is the single greatest pop album of all time.
Malcom Todd! I got into him recently, and I really like his style. It’s good pump up, hot weather music. Makes me feel like i’m in New York on a hot day with nothing to do but wander.
