The Arts & Entertainment section is starting a new tradition of sharing the soundtracks of our summer break. You’ll see that we are far from single-minded; our picks range from soft bedroom pop to harsh, experimental hip hop. If you aren’t sure of your niche, well, all that’s left is for our talented writers to make their case.
Noël Da: Mucho Mistrust by Fake Fruit
The title was enough to seal the deal. It’s my favorite line from my favorite Blondie song: at the end of each chorus in “Heart of Glass,” she sings “mucho mistrust / love’s gone behind.” I never really knew what that meant, but I was always a fan of the half-Spanish, double-M syllable combo. The album Mucho Mistrust is just as fun and echoes many of the same jerky instrumentals.
It is, however, much angrier. Delivering a dozen tracks of girl-punk goodness, I found it to be the perfect soundtrack for grocery shopping, painting or angrily cleaning my room. It’s the type of album that stirs you up and gets you going. Each song is different: some are noisier, more jittery or sonically busier than others.
Most of the lyrics belong to that vengeful riot grrl persuasion, though, and I love it. It feels like Fake Fruit extracted only the best from that “candid breakup lyric” trend (think Olivia Rodrigo, Blondshell and many of the singers popular on TikTok) and refined it into something more interesting — gave it sharper points. One of the best moments happens on the track “Más O Menos” when the electric guitar drops away and only the vocals and drums remain. The lead singer says, “I hope you have a good time on your sympathy tour / hope you found everything that you were looking for,” and I have to say, the way she does it — it hits hard. Give the album a listen and I think you’ll see what I mean.
Ruben Diaz: Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter has officially ascended to pop royalty with her latest album Short n' Sweet and, let me tell you, if this record doesn’t snag Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys, I’ll be absolutely flabbergasted! Only Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine comes close to rivaling this masterpiece.
Short n' Sweet is a sugar rush of pop perfection, blending the effervescence of early 2000s bubblegum with the emotional punch of modern-day heartbreak anthems. Carpenter effortlessly dances through the highs and lows of love, serving up a collection of tracks that are as flirty and fun as they are introspective and smart. "Please Please Please" has been ruling the charts with its infectious beat and irresistible chorus, and it’s no surprise that it topped the Billboard Hot 100 back in June.
What’s more, the entire album has stormed the Billboard Hot 100, with all 12 tracks charting in the Top 50 this week with three of them in the top five spots — a clear sign that the world is just as obsessed with Carpenter as I am. From the cheeky "Bed Chem" to the cinematic "Espresso," every song is a gem that sparkles in its own right.
Critics are hailing Carpenter as the next big thing in pop, and with Short n' Sweet debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, it’s clear that she’s not just rising — she’s skyrocketing. Get ready world, because Sabrina Carpenter is here to stay, and she’s making sure that every song is as sweet as the last.
Spruha Deo: Charm by Clairo
Clairo’s third studio album Charm, with its dreamy vocals, jazz-and-R&B-inspired backing tracks, and soulful lyrics, became an immediate staple for listeners worldwide this summer after its mid-July release. Amidst a “Brat Summer” full of acid-green backdrops, countless packs of chic cigarettes and sequined crop tops, Charm feels like a breath of fresh air reminiscent of earthy tones, cozy candlelit evenings and the transition between summer and fall. But most of all, Charm introduces us to a grown-up Clairo.
Straying away from the ‘80s-inspired, bedroom pop beats that once characterized her work, songs on Charm like "Second Nature” and “Nomad” move the audience further back in time with elements of ‘70s jazz and soft rock. Playful piano riffs along with wistful flute and clarinet sections paired with soft vocals make the album both nostalgic and floaty — reminiscent of legends like Joan Baez and Carole King.
Clairo’s maturity shines through her lyricism. As opposed to her second studio album Sling, which is deeply painful and almost self-loathing, Charm’s lyrics reflect a real adult who understands her shortcomings and holds herself accountable for them. On the fifth track of the album, “Thank You,” she thanks her ex-lover for their time despite the eventual end to their rocky relationship (“I really hate to admit it / I put my pride on the line”). The more upbeat tracks on the album like “Sexy to Someone” and “Juna” have a sensual yet endearing quality to them with more playful lyrics — “(You make me wanna) slip off a new dress” — in her trademark soft and bouncy voice.
Overall, Charm has carved a place for itself as one of the most memorable albums from the summer of 2024 — one of the most memorable albums in Clairo’s discography, even. It’s left me (and other listeners around the world) simply charmed!
Timothy McShea: I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU by JPEGMAFIA
Since his breakout album Veteran, which was produced in Baltimore, JPEGMAFIA (also known as JPEG) has maintained a quality output, reinventing himself with every new project. In All My Heroes Are Cornballs, he took a step back from the oddball, high-energy beats of the Veteran era and instead formed a far more ethereal and quasi-surrealist production, adding auto-tuned crooning over distorted synth-pop melodies.
With LP!, he somehow managed to funnel his wild experimental beats into something commercially digestible and again gained national recognition. Flash forward a few years and he’s having the time of his life rapping with Danny Brown over some of the most infectious beats in experimental hip-hop, releasing the groundbreaking SCARING THE HOES collaborative LP.
And now JPEG is reinventing himself again, with the experimental hype-rap, hard rock LP I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU. Standout tracks like the Brazilian phonk-inspired “It’s dark and hell is hot” and the soul-filled ballad “either on or off the drugs” prove he isn’t losing steam. If I were to describe this album in two songs it would be “i scream this in the mirror before i interact with anyone” and “vulgar display of power.” They both feature the same cheesy electric guitar with brief bursts of dubstep stabs and live drum loops, and I think that says something about JPEG’s intentions for this project. Whenever he does anything even remotely tonally consistent, it warrants recognition.
This tone carries over even to the softer cuts like “I’ll Be Right There” and “Don’t Put Anything On the Bible (feat. Buzzy Lee),” which have hints of acoustic and psychedelic rock. My favorite record by far is “Exmilitary,” a symphony of bard-like flutes, wailing synths and delayed staccato guitar.
It’s undeniable that JPEGMAFIA is the most original hip-hop producer in the game right now. I just hope he gets the recognition he deserves without sabotaging his creative principles.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The News-Letter.