The weather is turning cold, but this summer was jam packed with new music and some throwbacks. Here is what 20 Watts was listening to this summer.

Noah Weinberg - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers by Kendrick Lamar

“I've been goin' through somethin', one-thousand eight-hundred and fifty-five days.” That’s how Kendrick Lamar begins his latest record, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, an hour-plus-long expedition into the Grammy and Pulitzer winner’s psyche. It had been over five years since 2017’s DAMN., a blockbuster commercial and critical hit album. With over half a decade of time and near radio silence on Kendrick’s end, the hype surrounding the Compton rapper’s next project reached unprecedented heights. So instead of rehashing lyrical topics heard on classic albums Good Kid Maad City and To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick released his most intimate and candid body of work yet with Mr. Morale. Framed through an extended therapy session, Kendrick tackles themes of infidelity, fatherhood, gender identity, childhood, cancel culture, and generational trauma through a brutally honest lens. This isn’t a fun or even a very replayable project to listen to, and definitely not something that fits the “summer vibes” criteria, but in terms of a raw and sincere artistic statement, Kendrick simply does not miss. Take the track “Savior,” for example. With its lush, grandiose string section and its swirling, almost distorted drum pattern, Kendrick frankly comes to grips with the fact that he isn’t hip-hop’s deity or prophet. He’s simply a human being, just like the rest of us. Mr. Morale is a record of healing, growth, and ultimately acceptance. And although the response to Kendrick’s album hasn’t been as warm as his previous acclaimed works, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is a deeply personal expression meant to stand the test of time.

Camille Rowlands-Rees - Harry’s House by Harry Styles

While most people were heading home after Spring semester, I took a detour straight to Harry’s House. Released at the end of May, Harry Styles third studio album, Harry’s House, immediately became my soundtrack for the summer. At risk of sounding like a crazy fangirl, I have to admit that I listened to the album top to bottom for a week straight when it first dropped. I simply couldn’t get enough of this new sound we were hearing from Styles. When we look at his previous works, his self-titled debut album relied heavily on rock inspirations, whereas Fine Line was much more straightforward pop, but still with some 70s touches. However, with Harry’s House we were able to see Styles completely let loose and dive into a melody of genres within his overarching pop sound; we’ve seen synth-pop with “As It Was”, psychedelic funk of “Music For a Sushi Restaurant”, and R&B on tracks like “Late Night Talking.” Of course, a Harry Styles album wouldn’t be complete without a couple heart wrenching ballads, and so in came “Little Freak,” “Matilda,” and “Boyfriends.” Styles has an innate ability to reflect on his own insecurities within relationships in a way that is relatable to the masses without losing its intimacy. There are big things to come for this album, and I know I will be keeping a close eye on the Grammy nominations when they come out.

Mattea Vecera - Gemini Rights by Steve Lacy

If you’ve been on the internet the past couple of months, you’ve heard at least one of the extremely catchy tracks from Steve Lacy’s Gemini Rights. This dreamy and groovy summer album finds Lacy using his vast vocal range more than his previous albums. He conveys his vulnerabilities with falsettoed lyrics that speak of past relationships, love, resentment, growth, and just about everything in between. I know I wouldn’t be alone in arguing that this was THE album of Summer 2022. “Bad Habit” is the standout single from the album, and it deserves all the mainstream attention it’s gotten (and more). Although the jazzy, bedroom-pop sound isn’t commonly heard on a top hits radio station, it’s one of those songs that you hear and know it’s going to be stuck in your head for weeks. It really is addicting, and somehow feels nostalgic. Most of these songs invoke that same feeling, where you can imagine going on a sunset drive 10 years from now listening to Lacy’s jangling guitar riffs. Everything in this record is consistent: the instrumentals, themes, flow, production, and overall good vibes. Although I don’t think I’m ready to make the case that it’s the best project in his discography so far, it’s clear that he has grown tremendously as a musician. Not only has this album helped cement his place in the music scene, but also Lacy is pioneering a new wave of music that combines jazz, R&B, and bedroom pop.

Harry Sutton - Simple by IDK

Benning Terrace, or as the locals call it “Simple City”, is a housing project near IDK’s childhood home across the Maryland-DC border. In May, IDK released his third studio album, Simple, which is more than just a titular homage to Benning Terrace. This eight-track album is lyrically centered on the dynamics and experiences of the city, written vicariously by IDK’s friends from home. The project is a brief one, lasting just 18 minutes, but the production from Grammy-winner Kaytranada practically forces you to groove and ensures that you will find a few songs to add to your playlist. The production feels like a middle ground between Pharrell Williams and Thundercat, as his synth-heavy R&B sounds create a platform for IDK to vocally bounce over. While maintaining his signature flows and whimsical word play, IDK reaches a little further into his arsenal with some soulful singing on tracks like “Dog Food'' and “Breathe.” Simple also hosts an aggressive verse from Denzel Curry chalk full of clever lyrics, and some sumptuous flow from rookie Mike Dimes on “The Code,” which feels like it should be accompanied by a night time drive in a drop top by the coast. Despite its brevity, Simple is one of the most enjoyable projects of this year with its entrancing production, surprisingly smooth vocals, and entertaining lyrical wit.

Jean Mariah - HYPNOS by Ravyn Lenae

The reintroduction of the goddess that is Ravyne Lenae has been long awaited. We have survived on rations of EPs and singles since her last album in 2016, but she’s back with the silky-smooth R&B meal titled Hypnos. Lenae’s voice layers on top of one another to seduce and entice you into this crock pot of aromatic and galactic melodies. It feels out of body with its soul and complementary features such as Steve Lacy, Smino, Fousheé, and more. There’s heavy bass and electronic probes that keeps it feeling fresh and mysterious which is new futuristic ground for the artist but still very vulnerable and feminine like the Lenae we know and love. She sounds self-aware and dynamic, luring any listener into her hypnosis, especially in my top three songs: “Xtasy,” “Venom,” and “Lullabye.”

Ian Eisenbrand - Trick by Alex G

I was a decade late to Trick this summer, the 2012 release by the music industry’s favorite indie oddball commonly known as Alex G. Alex G’s elusive (many of his projects are not available on streaming services other than Bandcamp), yet uniquely prolific, campaign through the landscape of contemporary indie in the past decade has cultivated a fanatical cult-like following. I can’t say I hold any shame in my admission as one of its newest members, with Trick being the catalyst of my descent into obsession. The project’s eccentric blends of indie folk are fundamentally shaped by Alex G’s cryptic, quietly intimate lyricism and vocal delivery as they flit somberly across his signature off-center acoustic instrumentation. The wandering runtime of the project across tracks such as “16 Mirrors,” “Sarah,” and “Advice” blooms into an entirely affecting masterpiece, and a disturbingly addictive body of work. This summer marks the beginning of my preoccupation with Trick, and I really can’t see the seasons ahead ending this anytime soon.

Elise Christopher - Jack In The Box by j-hope

Jack In The Box is a joyride of an album, starting with the lore of Pandora’s box and ending with an intense questioning of j-hope’s own career and future ambitions. It came as a very welcome surprise after the rapper and the rest of BTS announced a break from group-centered activities. j-hope pulls you along his journey of introspection with a multitude of sounds, effortlessly jumping from the gritty “Pandora’s Box” to the harmony-infused “= (Equal Sign)”. You can headbang to the loud guitar line in “MORE” and then fall asleep to “Safety Zone”. While the album is a somewhat sharp departure from the rapper’s sunshine persona, his energy never falters. His usual rasp, playful voice inflections, and switch-ups in tempo seamlessly join with the darker tone. The rapper proves his talent for the umpteenth time with Jack In The Box, flexing his rhythm and lyricism muscles that have been well-developed over the course of his time with BTS. Reading the english translations of the songs, the project feels like a victory lap and an unsure confession all in one. And even with a language barrier, j-hope’s emotion almost seems to pour out of every verse. Jack In The Box is truly unforgettable as another one of j-hope’s musical masterpieces.

Roxana Berentes - Ctrl (Deluxe) by SZA

Ctrl (Deluxe) was released by SZA on the album’s fifth birthday, reintroducing some of SZA’s best-known songs and debuting seven unreleased tracks, making this album the perfect mix of nostalgia and fresh sounds for the summer from an artist I love. Listening through the deluxe album for the first time took me back to being 15, hearing bits and pieces of songs like “Broken Clocks” and “Normal Girl.” Getting to listen to such a well-done album for a “second, first time” with the love for music I have grown into over the years, made the older songs sound even better and allowed me to admire how well the “new” songs fit in with the rest. All of this made Ctrl (Deluxe) an album that was sprinkled throughout every one of my summer playlists this year.

Amanda Koehler - Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 by Calvin Harris

Despite the release of Funk Wav Bounces Vol.2 this summer, I still find myself going back to its predecessor far better in quality. Funk Wav Bounces Vol.1, the 2017 record by Calvin Harris did and continues to do exactly what it set out to do: provide a soundtrack to the summer. Harris maintains a cohesive upbeat tropical feel to the sound of the album while simultaneously giving each track its own personality. He can’t receive all the credit, though, as the songs are stacked with impressive features, including legends like Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg as well as upcomers like Jessie Reyez, Kehlani and Khalid. Harris impressively manages to take all of these vastly different artists and create a masterpiece of a collaboration project. Despite finding breakout hits in “Feels” and “Rollin,” my personal favorite song is “Heatstroke.” Between Young Thug’s iconic flow on the verses, a catchy pre chorus from Pharrell Williams himself, and Ariana Grande’s angelic vocals wrapping it up during the chorus, Harris definitely had a vision when putting this one together, and I find myself coming back to it constantly. With such a wide array of features and Harris’ accessible fun and poppy production, I confidently believe that everyone can find a song to love on this album. It’s the perfect record to put on shuffle when you’re driving with the windows down or laying under the beaming sun on a sandy beach. Plus, is there anything better than an opening track featuring Frank Ocean?

Jared Rowland - Mama’s Gun by Erykah Badu

My album and overall sound for this summer was Erykah Badu’s 2000 release Mama’s Gun. This record contains elements of r&b, soul, jazz, funk, reggae, and many other influences. Most of the songs contain very stripped back and minimalistic instrumentals, with groovy basslines and intricate and jazzy percussion. Badu’s voice is incredibly smooth and allows for any word she says to immediately resonate with the listener. Mama’s Gun has songs of all different energies throughout the album. With more upbeat tracks such as, “Penitentiary Philosophy,” and  “Booty,” as well as very somber songs like “Time’s A Wastin,” and “Orange Moon.” Instrumentally, the album contains many soft organ noises, acoustic and electric guitars, and various scintillating chimes that surround the ears like a warm blanket. Mama’s Gun is the perfect album for those hot summer mornings basking in the sun, or for a late night smoke session with a close group of friends. Badu’s words inspire, console, and empower the listeners to live to their truest self, as well as to relax and enjoy the ride. Along with listening to this record on a daily basis this summer, I was also lucky enough to see Erykah Badu live, which only further cemented my love for this soulful classic. Do yourself a favor and listen to Mama’s Gun from front to back, and trust me you will feel more at peace.

Buddy Murphy - Cocodrillo Turbo by Action Bronson

Yeah that’s right. Action Bronson still makes music. It’s good too. This album will kick your albums ass. Action Bronson’s jacked, he eats good, he enjoys life, and he puts all of that into Cocodrillo Turbo, his 8th studio album. I’m one for metaphors, and when I think about Cocodrillo Turbo, I think about a mid morning cruise in an 80’s American convertible to a run-of-the-mill diner set in some muggy bayou after a long and eventful night, but not the good kind. Bronson is unapologetic, as per usual, in the entire album. On one of my favorite tracks on the album, “Subzero,” Bronson states that he “then lay in bed with your wife, and get mad head from your wife, then get out of bread with your wife.” Bronson is in the same realm as the Griselda boys in that he leans heavily into repurposed samples to create an inspiring beat that he throws around with a heavy lyrical flow. Songs like “Estaciones,” “Subzero,” and “Storm Of The Century” have lullaby-ish beats that helped me unwind under the sun this summer. At one point this summer I had to drive from Syracuse, New York to my hometown in Montana in my tiny, old, beat up convertible, and I’ll tell you that I have never felt cooler in my life than when I was pushin 100 mph in the vast emptiness of North Dakota while sipping on a Coke from Chick-Fil-A as the smooth jazzy saxophone on the outro of “Storm Of The Century” accompanied me crossing the border into my home state of Montana. Maybe I am the metaphor I mentioned earlier.