6 Albums That Remind Me of Summer

By Giannina Fredo

It's summertime in the northern hemisphere! My favorite season. Here are 6 albums from the past 10 years that give me summer vibes or bring back summer memories. With songs ranging from melancholic to upbeat or both simultaneously, you get the best of both worlds. I also managed to find a lyric from each album that mentions summer. Coincidentally, each album in this list features themes of pining and heartbreak. A universal summer experience for everyone? (Or maybe my music taste is a little too angsty.)

Here they are in no particular order:

Honeymoon (2015) — Lana Del Rey

“The summer's hot
And I've been waiting for you all this time
I adore you
Can't you see, you're meant for me?”
— “Salvatore”

No one can deny that Lana Del Rey is the queen of the summertime. She mentions it in her work A LOT (see: “Summer Bummer”, “Happiness is a butterfly”, “Without You”, “Young and Beautiful”, “White Mustang”, “National Anthem”, and obviously, the classic “Summertime Sadness” just to name a few.) She was born in the summer, so it makes sense.

Honeymoon features Lana’s signature haunting melodies and sensual, lovesick lyrics. Listen to it during a night swim for the most cinematic experience.

Honorable Mentions: Her subsequent albums Lust for Life (2017) and Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019) are great and always put me in a summery mood. However, pretty much all her albums give off summer vibes. It was hard to choose between them all for this list!

Un Verano Sin Ti (2022) — Bad Bunny

“Y ahora toca un verano sin ti
La 'toy pasando bien no te voy a mentir
Pero a veces tu nombre no me deja dormir”
— ”Un Verano Sin Ti”

It seems that the reggaeton sensation had the phrase "crying in the club" in mind when he made this album. Titled "A Summer Without You" in English, it's definitely an album you won't want to spend the summer without— even if you don't know Spanish. It's a great mix of having a fun Caribbean summer while also trying to cope with brutal nostalgia and heartbreak from a failed relationship (see: “Un Coco” in which he wishes a coconut would fall on his head to wipe out memories of his ex. Tropical torture.)

Most of the record features catchy island beats to get you in a dancing mood (“Después de la Playa”, “Me Fui de Vacaciones”, “Enséñame a Bailar”, “Dos Mil 16”), while other songs have bittersweet lyrics that can provoke a midsummer meltdown (“Andrea”, “Un Verano Sin Ti”, “Moscow Mule”). The sounds of seagulls, waves, and lighters placed throughout the songs are a nice touch and makes you feel like you’re actually on the Puerto Rican beach he describes.

*A music meme featuring the movie of the summer, Barbie.*

Song recommendation: “Otro Atardecer” ft. The Marias — The epitome of pining and yearning for a second chance. This is arguably one of his most underrated songs and my favorite from the album. I always wish I could listen to it again for the first time. An anthem for anyone who still feels haunted by a missed connection— even if you met them many summers ago while on vacation in some faraway place.

Lover (2019) — Taylor Swift

“And I snuck in through the garden gate
Every night that summer just to seal my fate”
— “Cruel Summer”

The pastel sky on the album cover alone screams summer sunset. The fan-favorite “Cruel Summer”, which has finally become a single years after the album’s release due to popular demand, also speaks for itself. I listened to this song nonstop when the album dropped, and I’m sure it’s going to be my go-to summer song for years to come.

Taylor Swift’s Lover is a rollercoaster of emotions, from wholesome love songs like “Paper Rings”, “London Boy”, and the title track “Lover”, to the gut-wrenching “Soon You’ll Get Better” and “The Archer.” This record reminds me of growing pains, hurting and healing, and the feeling of restlessness that often comes in the warmer months.

Song recommendation: “Afterglow” — She's not kidding when she sings "Meet me in the afterglow." This dreamy and apologetic track will make you feel like you're floating off to another dimension with her… probably to the cotton candy clouds on the cover.

Honorable mentions: Her 2020 album folklore, which I consider to be her magnum opus, if you want the ultimate summer-transitioning-to-autumn heartache (see: “August”).

Call Me If You Get Lost (2021) — Tyler, The Creator

The deluxe edition of the album, Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale, was released earlier this year.

“Switzerland, Lake Geneva
Where I spend my summer in”
— “JUGGERNAUT”

Tyler, The Creator is known for intricate world-building, visuals, and alter egos for each album cycle. For Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler adopts the persona Tyler Baudelaire, a globetrotting millionaire who spends his summers on a yacht in Switzerland, shows off his Rolls Royce and private jet, and falls in love with an unavailable woman (as in, she's dating his best friend level of unavailable.) He has everything he wants except her, so he travels and spends his money to cope with the situation (“CORSO”).

Loaded with lots of fun features (DJ Drama, Lil Uzi Vert, Pharrell, and more) and themes of travel (“SAFARI”), luxury (“SIR BAUDELAIRE”), and a toxic love affair doomed from the start (“WILSHIRE”), it's a unique trip from start to finish. Some of the most whimsical and summery tracks on the album include “WUSYANAME” and “I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE”, with the latter having a memorable reggae instrumental perfect for a summer playlist.

During a show, Tyler explained that the album's title is not meant to be interpreted as feeling helpless or lost in a melancholic way. Instead, he wants the listeners to "call him" when they're so lost doing what makes them happy, exploring the world, and creating a life they're proud of.

The CMIYGL era was the escapism we all needed during that sullen summer in the middle of the pandemic, and will definitely inspire you to get out of your house more.

His other summer-coded albums: Flower Boy (2017) and Igor (2019)

Bury Me at Makeout Creek (2014) — Mitski

“And autumn comes when you're not yet done
with the summer passing by”

— “Francis Forever”

You can’t have a sad girl summer without Mitski. With her comforting vocals, punky instrumentals, and disenchanted lyrics, Bury Me At Makeout Creek is the quintessential soundtrack for small-town summer angst. “Francis Forever” was my introduction to her music a few summers ago and got me hooked on the rest of her discography.

The intro song, “Texas Reznikoff”, sets the mood for the rest of the record with the recurring themes of wanting to escape from your town and feeling dissatisfied. If you think you’re having a desolate summer, try “Jobless Monday” and “Townie” to feel less alone (or they might make you feel worse, sorry!)

Regardless, Mitski has an innate gift for storytelling to make you feel and live the words.

Another song recommendation: “First Love/Late Spring” for a classic Mitski track.

Honorable mention: Her 2016 album Puberty 2

Random Access Memories (2013) — Daft Punk

"The summer memory that just never dies
We worked too long and hard to give it no time"
— “Instant Crush"

This nostalgic album just turned 10 in May and is the French robot duo at their best. If you like electronic music with a 70s and 80s twist and groovy basslines, then this is for you! They even used microphones from the 50s - 70s to commit to the vintage sound they were aiming for (research the way “Giorgio by Moroder” was recorded.) The cinematic and meticulous production in this album deserves to be experienced from start to finish.

R.A.M. has a special place in my heart because I listened to it all the time the summer right before I started college. Then, a few months later, they filmed the music video for "Instant Crush" right on my college campus (the historic Doheny Mansion at MSMU in Los Angeles.) My friends and I agreed to meet up in between our classes to "discreetly" walk by the set from across the lawn. A crew member told us it was just a commercial for a mayonnaise brand, but we didn’t fall for that since we had already seen the Daft Punk logo all over the equipment cases. (It also didn't help that a professor had excitedly told his students that Daft Punk was on campus.) We didn't get to catch a glimpse of Julian Casablancas, but I'll never forget that sunny day!

Song recommendation: "Touch" ft. Paul Williams — This song actually made me cry the first time I listened to it at 5 am in the summer of 2013. Specifically, the otherworldly instrumental transition that happens around the 4:14 mark that I was not expecting but it rewired my brain.

Bonus: Watch the Soul Train edit of "Lose Yourself to Dance." It should have been the alternate music video.