By Paul Jacobson | Contributor
Lina Tullgren - WISHLIST: I have a confession; this one's not actually a "hot summer release that you might have missed" (it was released in March 2016). But, I've been listening to it all summer, so I would be remiss to exclude it. Tullgren's lo-fi singer-songwriter sound isn't anything groundbreaking. However, much like Julien Baker's fantastic self-titled 2015 release, Tullgren exhibits excellent songwriting and lyricism. Perhaps the most interesting part of this EP is Tullgren's vocals, which are twangy at times and incredibly evocative and emotional at others. I highly recommend this EP. FAVORITE TRACKS: "All five tracks are wonderful"
Carly Rae Jepsen - EMOTION Side B: Jepsen's 2015 release, "Emotion", caught me completely off guard and quickly became one of my favorite pop records of the year. The biggest strength of the album (aside from its undeniable catchiness) is its consistency, with each track being just as good as the previous. This collection of B-sides is more of the same solid songs heard on "Emotion", which speaks volumes about Jepsen's songwriting ability. She's proving herself to be a pop tour de force with two solid releases in back to back years. FAVORITE TRACKS: "First Time", "Higher", "The One", "Cry"
Shura - Nothing's Real: Shura's debut is about as good of a debut as you can make. I was instantly hooked after hearing the first two tracks "Nothing's Real" and "What's It Gonna Be?". The album brims with nods to her influences, Madonna and Janet Jackson, with the song "Tongue Tied" being an obvious homage to the latter of the two. Despite its long running time, the album never overstays its welcome. FAVORITE TRACKS: "What's It Gonna Be?", "What Happened To Us?", "2Shy"
Hoops - Hoops EP: Bloomington, Indiana rockers Hoops have been making waves this past summer through extensive touring and their indie label debut with Fat Possum Records. Infectious guitar leads, wonderful lo-fi production, and sticky-sweet grooves are all over this fantastic, albeit short, EP. The concise nature of the songs allows the boys of Hoops to focus on making tight, catchy pop songs. Recommended for fans of Tops, Real Estate, Porches or Ducktails. FAVORITE TRACKS: "Cool 2", "Going Strong", "Give It Time"
Mitski - Puberty 2:Mitski Miyawaki's newest album is a sequel of sorts to her 2014 release "Bury Me at Makeout Creek." While her DIY punk/garage rock sound hasn't changed much, "Puberty 2" digs even deeper emotionally with Mitski searching for what happiness is to her at this point in her life. She isn't sure if it's to be found in relationships, what others think of her or somewhere else entirely. The songs on the album range from quiet slow burners like "Once More to See You" to the abrasive and in-your-face "My Body's Made of Crushed Stars". Lead single "Your Best American Girl" captures the feeling and sentiment of this album perfectly. FAVORITE TRACKS: "Dan the Dancer", "Your Best American Girl", "Thursday Girl", "Crack Baby"
Noname - Telefone: This mixtape wins the award for the most warm, fuzzy feelings given to me this year. I can't really explain it, but there's just something about this tape that I absolutely adore. The jazzy instrumentals and beats immediately calm and soothe the listener, with the xylophone-like synths evoking images of childhood toys. Noname's rapping has an air of optimism to it, even when discussing difficult topics like drug abuse, funerals and abortion. She addresses the guilt of past sins she carries and how she's learned and grown in the face of them. FAVORITE TRACKS: "Yesterday", "Diddy Bop", "Reality Check", "Freedom", "Bye Bye Baby"
