August '24 Monthly Music Recap
Each year, the month of August can bring conflicting feelings of wanting to soak up the final days summer while getting back into the groove of school and work.
Whether you’re hanging on to the last days of warmth before the days get shorter or donning your sweaters and revving up for fall, August provided new music for everyone. From dance-worthy remixes to tender ballads, here are the tracks that Off The Record had on repeat to close the summer.
Watch the "Guess featuring Billie Eilish" music video on YouTube.
Billie Eilish becomes latest member of Brat universe with “Guess” feature
From Addison Rae to Lorde, Charli xcx knows how to pick remix features. The songwriter and DJ extraordinaire started August with a bang with the release of “Guess featuring Billie Eilish” on the first of the month.
An instant club classic, the remix elevates the track to another level of iconic. In true Billie fashion, Eilish brings a certain seductive flair to “Guess,” reminiscent of her solo tracks like “Oxytocin” and “LUNCH” — a big win for queer fans. Complete with a powerfully feminine music video where fans do not have to “guess” the color of any underwear, Charli xcx ensured that Brat summer was not over with Eilish’s feature.
Despite Eilish’s said nerves about collaborating with an artist other than her brother in six years, it is clear that her and Charli’s musical chemistry is spectacular in “Guess,” and the summer of Billie Eilish is not over.
Beabadoobee takes her future into her own hands in latest album
With the release of her third full-length album, Indie singer-songwriter beabadoobee worked to explore new stylistic avenues while perfecting her signature pop-rock sound. This Is How Tomorrow Moves seamlessly blends a 90s-inspired indie rock sound with modern pop production and quickly became an August staple for OTR.
In particular, the opening track, “Take A Bite,” is a definite highlight off the album. Beabadoobee takes a big leap away from her bedroom-pop roots as she experiments with a more grungy and raw sound. She tells a story with introspective lyrics like “It gets harder to breathe / But I take it and want it / And I love when it bleeds.” Her warm vocals combined with lush piano synths create an intimate background for her reflections on unhealthy habits. “Take A Bite” introduces listeners to the unique sound, clear themes of introspection, self-criticism, and desire for intimacy that run throughout the album.
Other tracks on This Is How Tomorrow Moves such as “California” and “Coming Home” take on a quieter sound, with delicate piano and soft, soothing vocals as Bea tells a story. As OTR editor Christina Ryan-Wilson writes in her review of the album, “If Bea’s 2022 Beatopia found the singer with her head in the clouds, This Is How Tomorrow Moves sees Beabadoobee with her feet planted firmly on the ground.”
- Arna Churiwala
Soccer Mommy enters a heartbroken dreamscape in “M”
Watch the "M" music video on YouTube.
After releasing her first single of the year in June, indie artist Soccer Mommy — born Sophia Allison — ushered in August with an album announcement and second single drop. “M,” the newest preview of Allison’s fourth studio album, Evergreen, combines her ever-aching storytelling with a more tender sound.
Besides the alluring guitar intro, the reference to her previous music was the first thing that piqued my interest upon my initial listen. As she sings “‘Cause I miss you / Like a loyal dog” in the first verse, Allison lets fans know she is certainly not in the vexed stage of life she may have been in when writing her 2020 track, “Your Dog,” which contains the abrasive lyric, “I don’t wanna be your f**cking dog.” Sonically, “M” showcases a range of instrumental elements that stray from Allison’s previous work. After a subtle build leading to the last minute of the song, the otherwise present guitar strumming and drum beat drop, making way for a flute melody to carry out the track.
In her announcement Instagram post, Allison said “M” was the first song written for the album and it paved the way for the “organic textures” of Evergreen. “M” sets up fans perfectly for this upcoming era of Soccer Mommy.
Sabrina Carpenter proves her musical spotlight is no “Coincidence” in new album
Since the album’s perfectly-executed rollout, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet has been arguably one of the most highly anticipated records of the year, and the final result certainly did not disappoint. The five-foot (to be exact) pop princess takes listeners on a 36-minute journey through revenge, brutal honesty, and sexuality.
While tracks like “Good Graces” and “Juno” cover the album’s dance-worthy pop bases, track five, “Coincidence,” showcases Carpenter’s knack for fitting her witty lyrics into any genre. Driven by a lively acoustic guitar and laden with gang vocals and hand claps, “Coincidence” leans on the folksy side, a sound that blends seamlessly with Carpenter’s slight Pennsylvanian twang. As the song tells the story of a lover’s slow betrayal, Carpenter twists the knife with clever lyrics, especially in the bridge: “What a surprise, your phone just died / Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs.”
Throughout Short n’ Sweet, Carpenter continuously flexes her comical muscles. As OTR contributor Tabita Bernardus writes in her review of the album, “‘Bed Chem’ takes the cake for the most fun and flirtatious song on the album. Its shimmering instrumentation glistens over Carpenter’s precise vocals as she cuts to the chase: “Where art thou? / Why not uponeth me? / See it in my mind / Let’s fulfill the prophecy.’” There is no doubt in my mind that Short n’ Sweet is among the most iconic albums of Summer 2024.
Check out OTR’s August Coverage!
New Music Reviews:
“Imaginal Disk is a mosaic of texture, both in sound and on screen, that tells a tale of personal transformation via a retro-futuristic sci-fi adventure.” - Grace Moiloi on Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Disk
“Mendes’ immediate vulnerability and openness in this new era of music is refreshing, especially from an artist with so much star power and such a large fan base.” - Sullivan Jordan for Shawn Mendes’s new singles
“‘The Right Time’ is the perfect soundtrack for the internet’s nostalgia.” - Cassidy LaPointe for Allie Sandt’s “The Right Time”
“This album is a fresh new version of the band, with a message to fans about freeing themselves from mental or emotional baggage.” - Daniela Mireles on Foster The People’s Paradise State of Mind
Live Shows:
“Throughout the entirety of the live performance, deep emotion echoed in equilibrium between The Japanese House and her audience; Bain has a profound ability to naturally connect with her music and spill out every ounce of passion through her vocals and guitar playing.” - Logan Goettemoeller on The Japanese House at Newport Music Hall
“Slipknot has evidently been around for 25 years with their absolute professionalism and expertise on the stage, but with their intense energy, they feel nearly as fresh as their 1995 beginning.” - Peyton Mott on Slipknot at Scotiabank Arena
“Made up of childhood friends Kevin McKeown and Eric Owen, the hometown duo does not need large production or gimmicks to completely control the room from the moment they walk on stage.” - Alex Stefan on Black Pistol Fire in Toronto
Interviews:
“Barkan’s electric and inviting presence makes the conversation feel eternal and ethereal.” - Emma Hug Rosenstein on her interview with Bridget Barkan
Staff Picks:
Christina Ryan-Wilson - “Post” by beabadoobee
Suma Sesay - “Lonely Fight” by Mk.gee
Cassidy LaPoint - “running in circles” by Faith Zapata
Dany Mireles - “Casual Drug Use” by Katie Gavin
Jaymee Gallagher - When a Thought Grows Wings by Luna Li
Sophie Weil - “Yoü and I” by August James
Lucy Curtis - “What’s Fair” by Blondshell
Grace Moioli - “Fear, Sex” by Magdalena Bay
Tabita Bernardus - “Here’s The Thing” by Fontaines D.C.
Madison Avery - “Hardcore Romance” by Beach Weather
Kofi Owusu - “One Time” by beabadoobee
September releases to look forward to:
9/6 - Escaper by Sarah Kinsley
9/6 - Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman
9/6 - The Alexander Technique by Rex Orange County
9/6 - Willson by Ashe
9/13 - Dayglow by Dayglow
9/13 - I’m Not Afraid Of Music Anymore by COIN
9/13 - No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire by Dora Jar
9/13 - Memoir Of A Sparklemuffin by Suki Waterhouse
9/13 - Everything Matters, Everything’s Fire by Lunar Vacation
9/18 - “Jocelyn” by The Beaches
9/20 - Flood by Hippo Campus
9/20 - 7 by Nelly Furtado
9/20 - Five Dice, All Threes by Bright Eyes
9/20 - City Lights by The WAEVE
9/27 - Late Start by Carol Ades
9/27 - Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind by Kate Bollinger