Fall is almost here and we have nearly been in school for a month. As we come to terms with all this change, the staff writers here at WRVU have decided to give one last ode to the albums we were jamming to on those bygone summer nights. In case you missed it, here are some albums we had our turn to enjoy and would now like to share with you.

BADLANDS- Halsey

Halsey released her debut studio album on August 28th. BADLANDS borrows two songs, “Hurricane” and “Ghost,” from her attention-gaining EP album titled Room 93. If you like post-2014 Taylor Swift, Lorde, and raw, poetic lyrics then BADLANDS is the album for you. My personal favorite tracks are “New Americana,” and “Roman Holiday.” Also, if you loved Taylor Swift’s red, you’ll adore Halsey’s “Colors.” – Madeline Goetz

Blurryface- Twenty One Pilots

For a group of just two people, Twenty One Pilots has an incredibly full sound. About a year after performing at Vanderbilt’s own Rites of Spring, this duo has released their fourth studio album, entitled Blurryface. Tyler Joseph’s poignant lyrics and soulful voice are perfectly matched by Josh Dun’s pulsing drum lines. Together, they put their insecurities on display, making Twenty One Pilots one of the most relatable musical acts today. Blurryface includes songs about anger, doubt, adulthood, and accepting your flaws. If you have not experienced Blurryface for yourself, go listen right now and prepare to join the cult-like following of this increasingly popular alternative hip hop group. – Katie Linek

California Nights- Best Coast 

Maybe I’m biased being from California, but I really love Best Coast. While, yes, their songs may all sound very similar after the third or fourth listen, to me, I judge their music more on the “vibe” rather than an individual song-by-song basis. California Nights, released earlier this summer, perfectly encapsulates the feeling of driving down Highway 1 at 8 o’clock at night. While it may not be the album I listen to on repeat for days, it should certainly be an integral part of any summer playlist. – Sara Keller

Choose Your Weapon- Hiatus Kaiyote

Hiatus Kaiyote’s Choose Your Weapon is funky, rhythmically complex neo-soul that will draw anyone in who appreciates a solid groove. I especially encourage any musician to listen to this album, as the group experiments with many different rhythmic feels and harmonies. Nai Palm crafts her vocals like an instrument and takes melodic and harmonic liberties that few singers explore currently in popular music. The album’s runtime of almost one hour and ten minutes offers a musical journey, but almost every song can stand alone. Great tracks to start with are “Atari” seguing directly into “By Fire,” and “Molasses.” – Jordan Nunnelee

Dancing at the Blue Lagoon-Cayucas

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats- Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats

So her album didn’t exactly come out this summer but America finally seemed to catch on to Australian singer Courtney Barnett and I certainly loved listening to her this summer. An album that really did come out this summer that I was really excited about was Nathaniel Rateliff’s project as Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats. If you haven’t yet graced your ears with a bit of that album, you’re missing out for sure. He’s got a heck of a lot of soul and some songs that I’m anticipating will be really fun to see live. – Gracie Gonzalez

Star Wars- Wilco

Wilco’s “Star Wars,” dropped in mid July not only for free but also completely by surprise, was just as unexpected in its style as it was in its sudden release. “Star Wars” is still distinctly Wilco, of course, and yet it deviates from the group’s previous influences in an exciting way. Alternative and psychedelic sounds make their way into songs like “Taste The Ceiling” and “You Satellite,” while the catchy tunes in “Random Name Generator” and “The Joke Explained” promise not to disappoint. As a whole, the album works both as a cohesive unit and a statement of reinvention, stepping slightly away from their previously well-honed identity.  –  Meredith Mattlin

I was at work on a Thursday when Wilco decided to drop Star Wars Beyoncé-like into the world’s collective lap, and this disarming launch defines the character of the album: loose, brisk, and fun. It’s Wilco’s least ambitious album since their debut AM, which is why it’s so good — they let the beautiful chord changes on “Where Do I Begin” shine out, and the lyric hook of “Random Name Generator” is allowed to grab you. The fuzzed-out guitars throughout the album only highlight the songs’ tunefulness. And then there’s the starry-eyed and circuitous “You Satellite,” which might just be the best Wilco song since 2004’s “Company in My Back”.   – Jamie Stoike

Star Wars shows a new side of Wilco, exemplifying how the band is able to constantly change their sound and still create consistently great music.  I enjoyed this album much more than several of Wilco’s most recent releases simply because it sounds raw, like a group starting rehearsals on new music and experimenting with different structures and textures.  Nels Cline shines on this album with guitar parts that are occasionally jazzy, sometimes fuzzy and in-your-face, and always a key part of what makes this album such a fantastic late-career album for Wilco.  Between the occasionally fuzzed-out guitars and constant guitar pedal experimentation lies some of the band’s most unique songwriting yet.   – Brandon Bout