Since June of 2024, some of the most iconic albums of the year have been released. We, the Communicator Staff, have included our top most influential album of the start of the 2024-2025 school year. From the end of the summer to the coziness of fall we review our favorite albums of the school year so far.
“Brat Album Review” by Jake Williams June 7, 2024
Charli XCX’s “BRAT” was the album of the summer and for good reason. Fun and catchy front to back, paired with the genius strategy to keep releasing extras and remixes for weeks after made this an album you just couldn’t get away from.
My personal favorite song, “Talk Talk,” is, like most songs on this album, unbelievably catchy. Pulsing bass and shimmering synths with some of Charli’s best vocals on the album and an infectious chorus make this something that’s hard to stop listening to.
“Von Dutch,” the lead single, is ridiculous. The synths on this song sound like a car engine revving, and the layering makes it feel very dense. Charli’s lyrics are incredibly boastful with several refrains about how she’s “your number one.” All around it’s a really fun banger that is only heightened by its remix featuring A.G. Cook and Addison Rae. The remix feels like a much smoother, more upbeat version of an already pretty upbeat song.
“365” is an interesting track as it’s a remix of the album’s opener “360.” This version follows the same kind of vibe and melody as “360” for about 90 seconds before becoming its own thing entirely with heavy synth and bass hits that sound like some sort of futuristic laser. Near the end of the second chorus the beat starts to distort until, out of nowhere, the song goes full EDM. It’s so much fun and is a perfect closer, as it feels almost like a recap of all the styles Charli touches on throughout the album.
“BRAT” is a near-perfect album with some unbelievably great production and writing that ranges from insightful to braggy and fun. It’s also the album that keeps on giving with its deluxe tracks, endless remixes and recently released remix version titled, “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.” It’s a project that will be talked about for years to come and excites me for whatever Charli XCX does in the future.
“The Secret Of Us Album Review – Gracie Abrams” by Vedha Kakarla
To put it simply, singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams’ second studio album, “The Secret of Us” is one of the most thoughtful and breathtaking albums I have listened to in a very long time. The album, composed of 13 tracks, explores topics such as young love, heartbreak and personal growth. From the relatable lyrics to the emotion-evoking melodies, the album has seen wide success across the world, even soaring to number two on the Billboard Top 200 in the United States.
Before the album’s release in June 2024, Abrams released three singles from the album. First came “Risk” and “Close to You,” which quickly became popular, with “Close to You” going viral on TikTok with millions of people dancing to the song. A few months later, Abrams released another single, “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” This song skyrocketed to fame and has since been the most popular song on the whole album, reaching over 242 million streams on Spotify and over 2.2 million views on YouTube.
As someone who has never really listened to Abrams’ music before, I was quite surprised when I fell in love with the album the very first moment I listened to it. As I listened through each song, expecting a moment of shortcoming as most albums have, I quickly realized that this album was different. Not only did I not find a moment of flaw, but I also found constant perfection.
To me, the very best music is the music where you can feel the singer’s story and pain while also being able to see and feel your own. Abrams does this exceptionally. The biggest reason I feel that her music has spoken to so many young adults like me is because of the relatableness of the lyrics and the topics Abrams sings about. In every one of her songs, Abrams finds the most beautiful way to capture the feelings and emotions she has gone through in her early 20s specifically about her experiences surrounding love. The album also has a few overarching themes that are apparent when you take a look at the lyrics.
In her song “Close to You”, the second verse goes:
“I burn for you”
“And you don’t even know my name”
“If you asked me to”
“I’d give up everything”
“To be close to you”
This perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being a lot more invested—romantically or platonically— in a person than they are in you, which seems to be one of the biggest themes throughout the album.
While each and every song on the album has its own beauty, one song has stuck out ahead of the rest. “I Love You, I’m Sorry” quickly grew to be the most popular song on the album with listeners from all around the world. Not only did it top the charts in the US, but it also performed extremely well in Australia, the Netherlands, Scotland and the United Kingdom.
With the overwhelmingly positive feedback for the album, Abrams surprised fans with the release, of “The Secret of Us” Deluxe Album on Oct. 18, 2024. The deluxe version of the album includes a new single, “That’s So True,” along with the live versions of “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “Free Now” and “I Knew it, I Know You.” The live versions of these songs contain slight variations of their originals and have also garnered wide success with fans especially loving the live version of “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” For me, what makes the live version of these songs better than the original is the way that she sings certain parts of them. It seems like she puts more emphasis on the lyrics that mean the most to both her and the listener and this has made the already spectacular music even better.
This newfound fame led Abrams to begin her world tour in 2024. So far, she has traveled all around the United States as well as some places in Europe and Canada. Abrams has also performed at events such as a Kamala Harris rally and various days of Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour concert.
While Abrams has already become a well-known name in the industry, this is only the beginning. With her talent and ability to create amazing music that her audience can relate to, she will remain at the forefront of music for a long time.
“Short n’ Sweet” Album Review by Lydia Debord
Written with a cheeky wink and grin, Sabrina Carpenter’s album spares nobody. Reading as giggling late-night gossip, the album breaks Carpenter’s mold of sentimental long-form love letters. Recounting affairs with a narrative of sass and provocativeness, Carpenter has shattered how she was previously seen by the media.
Released in late August, the album was already making headlines in May, with hit singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” tales of pride and embarrassment.
In a vague sense, Carpenter is sharing her life, with lines critiquing and doing everything but name-dropping her love interests, sparing nobody.
It is a good album, but it is very surface. What she says is what she means, which for some could offer a blandness. But, as a Carpenter fan, this was a really nice change in the lack of metaphors and direct honesty. Carpenter has nothing to hide, and in an industry showcased by lies and passive aggression, it is refreshing.
Proving that albums don’t need to be long to be good, “Short n’ Sweet” lives up to its name. Its twelve tracks are right to the point addressing the obvious with no lengthened dwindles. The brutally honest confessions are available wherever you listen to your music.
“Older and Wiser” Album Review by Payton Sly
Lizzy McAlpine released her fourth studio album “Older (and Wiser)” on Oct. 4, 2024. It’s a deluxe version of her previous album “Older” which was released on April 5, 2024, with five additional songs. The original album contained fourteen songs holding themes of bittersweet longing and loss.
The new additions continue her journey of reflection and growth, hence the name. To McAlpine, the word “older” seems to represent not just age maturation but also growing out of past habits and watching past things go, ready to open your eyes to a bigger, better picture.
Her songs on the album are intimate yet represent universal experiences. “Method Acting (Demo)”, the first new track, paints a picture of avoiding conflict in a relationship by “acting” your way through it, allowing conflict and spikes in the road to pass, though it may ache on the inside.
“Method acting like you love me, living constantly in pain.”
The second bonus track is “Pushing it Down and Praying”. It explores McAlpine’s desire for intimacy but reluctance due to the vulnerability that comes along with it. Deeper feelings overwhelm McAlpine as she achieves intimacy, telling herself, “I need to want something more; he gives what he can, but now I don’t know what he’s giving for.”
Inevitability is the main theme of the next song: “Soccer Practice”. McAlpine finds struggle in change. “I’m waiting for someone who will make me say no to you.”
The theme of the next song, “Force of Nature” is the avoidance of bringing up the past and finding out who you are.
“Who am I if not your lover?”
To close the album, in “Spring into Summer” McAlpine uses the change of seasons as a metaphor for change in a relationship and how hard it is to let go. The past tugging at her sleeve, McAlpine yearns to know what would be different if she could change the past.
“Spring into summer, and the winter’s gone, I try to hold on to it, but the current’s too strong.”
My personal favorite songs are “Soccer Practice”, “Spring Into Summer” and “Force of Nature.” They have different sounds compared to “Method Acting” and “Pushing It Down and Praying”, which are especially similar in theme and sound. Both these songs display raw vocals, with fewer instrumentals. The theme of both is turning a blind eye and just hoping for the best in a relationship. Although both songs are well crafted, only one of them was necessary to add to the album given that both added the same tone and expression to the album.
Overall, the album provides anthems of experiencing change, accepting it, and the struggles of learning how to live without a second half for a bit.
“Clipped Wings” EP Review by Willow Rosenfield and Lucy Lowenschuss
Maya Hawke, a singer-songwriter most commonly known for her role as Robin in “Stranger Things”, released a new EP, “Clipped Wings”, on Oct. 4 of this year.
“Clipped Wings” is easy to listen to, not only because of its short length but because of the way it draws you in and keeps you wondering. Hawke’s voice is very distinctive, and she takes full advantage of her vocal abilities here. The EP contains four songs, each has its own mood, which offers something for everyone. The four songs feature the quirky, evocative lyricism also found in Hawke’s other work.
The opening track “Kamikaze Comic” begins with a few bold piano notes. Fans of Hawke may recognize this as a departure from her usual soft guitar melodies. The song is a little jaunty but still vulnerable and soft. It’s also a little higher than Hawke’s usual octave, but the relatability in her lyrics keeps your attention: “I don’t know what’s so funny, but no one’s laughing now”. It’s catchy and enjoyable, a strong start to the EP.
“You Won’t Feel A Thing” is the second track in Hawke’s latest release. This song is one of the more traditional songs you would hear from Hawke. The melody sounds like one that you might’ve heard before, almost like a familiar face, except you don’t know who it is. The lyrics almost make it feel as if Hawke is speaking right to you; she repeats the title throughout the song, saying, “Squeeze my hand, you won’t feel a thing”. Hawke uses her voice in a soothing yet clear way. She doesn’t mumble in this song, unlike in other ones on the EP. Although the melody is calm, the lyrics are powerful and have meaning behind them.
The intro to Hawke’s third track, “Jack London”, is more intense than the other three tracks. It starts with a sped-up beat, hearing the electric guitars in the background. This creates quite a surprise due to the contrast between her relaxed voice and the way her lyrics pierce your soul. Hawke returns to her usual lower vocal key in this song. In the last minute of “Jack London”, a surprising voice comes into play. The voice sounds like a male voice and makes you wonder who he is. This song leaves you wondering about Hawke’s inspiration.
The EP’s last song, “New For No One”, is almost a country song. Filled with twangy guitar and soft singing, it feels nostalgic and intimate. Hawke is a master at pairing slightly soul-crushing lyrics with soft, plucky melodies and she does exactly that here. On the surface, “New For No One” is laid back and summery, but if you look closely, it is a resigned and lonely ballad about feeling like nothing you do is enough. It’s a great song on its own, but it is a slightly underwhelming end to the album, as it leaves you wanting more.
After listening to Maya Hawke’s “Clipped Wings”, fans are left longing for more. How Hawke ends her tracks leaves hope that there could be more coming to Hawke’s profile soon. No matter the amount of individual styles Hawke uses in each of her songs, she is still easily identifiable because of the way she can tell a story with her lyrics. This singer-songwriter continues to release music that amazes people no matter their taste in music. “Clipped Wings” by Maya Hawke is highly recommended if you are looking for something unlike what you’ve heard before.
