Isaac’s Songs of the Summer 2024

Welcome back to another edition of Isaac’s painting Journal, the number one platform for fresh Isaac Gelb thoughts. In this entry I’ll be highlighting music that has prompted me to move my body and drum on my steering wheel all summer. It’s been an incredible year for music already and there’s still plenty of time for more hits to arrive in the next few months. But for this entry I’m focusing on the songs of the summer as I hold on to the last remaining sliver of the season. With just one notable exception I’m limiting this list to one song per artist, but many of these songs are from incredible albums worth experiencing in full.

First five — Honorable Mentions:

Starburned and Unkissed— Caroline Polachek

Caroline Polachek had a massive 2023 with her full-length art-pop masterpiece “Desire I want to Turn Into You,” an album I adore and replay often. Her momentum continues in 2024 with another gorgeous, ambitious vocal performance on “Starburned and Unkissed,” a song that only gets better each time I hear it.

Shake it Like A– Frost Children feat. Danny Brown

This is the first song I’ve heard from Frost Children, and it fills that mysterious craving for maximalist, overproduced internet dance music. Danny Brown’s odd delivery fits perfectly with the humor and energy of the song, and Frost Children deliver something you might expect to hear on a 100 gecs EP. Wild, pure fun. 

Bless Yourself– Jack White

Jack White of the White Stripes makes it very easy to pick up what he’s putting down on his new album “No Name.” While the whole album is full of crashing drums and aggressive vocals, “Bless Yourself” distills the passionate, unbridled energy of the project in its subject matter and instrumentals. Other highlights from the project include “Old Scratch Blues,” “It’s Rough on Rats,” and “That’s How I’m Feeling.” 

Drip Sweat– KAYTRANADA

I have danced pretty vigorously to this song several times this summer. It’s impossible not to dance along– the beat is infectious, Channel Tres’s voice adds a deep, monotone palate to the punchy horns in the background, and Kaytranada reminds his listener’s of his impressive range as a producer.  

Floating on a Moment– Beth Gibbons

Definitely the most low-energy, emotionally complex song on this list. Beth Gibbons, the iconic vocalist for the inimitable trip-hop group Portishead, crafted a dense and harrowing album full of challenging lyrics alluding to love, time, and death. “Lives Outgrown” is a must-listen for Portishead fans or anyone who appreciates magnificent songwriting. In “Floating on a Moment,” Gibbons expresses uncertainty in time, brilliantly reminding her listeners of life’s transience and mystery. Her poetic style is never overdone, imbuing her songs with timeless replay value that allows for new interpretations with each listen.

Top 10 SONGS OF THE SUMMER 2024

10. Second Nature– Clairo

Clairo already solidified herself as a very good songwriter on her debut album “Immunity” in 2019 and her second album “Sling” in 2021. I was excited to see how her artistic journey developed on her new album “Charm,” which admittedly took me a few listens to “get” it. Clairo leans into a more intimate style throughout this album, which borrows sounds from neo-soul and folk-rock. “Second Nature” might be my favorite song on the album, but it’s hard to compete with the opening track “Nomad” and the hugely popular “Juna.” Perfect music for relaxing, (un)requited pining, and the occasional wave of longing.

9. POLITickle– Mach-Hommy

Mach-Hommy is a certified rap savant and his recent album “Richaxxhaitian” might be his most accessible project yet. Throughout the album Mach-Hommy raps circles his contemporaries, switching effortlessly between Haitian patois, French (see “Sur le point d’Avignon”), and English while sharing the mic with some of the rap underground’s most accomplished characters. (Roc Marciano, Your Old Droog, Black Thought, and even 03 greedo grace “Richaxxhaitian” with their unique voices). “POLITickle” is consistent with the best songs in Mach’s cerebral catalog, chock-full of breakneck political bars and exquisite wordplay over a thunderous, grimy beat. 

8. Muñekita– Kali Uchis with El Alfa and JT

“Que buena esta mi reina, oof” 💃

Kali Uchis new album, “Orquideas,” is more fit for the dance club than her last album, “Red Moon in Venus,” which had a more soulful and romantic tone. It’s nice to hear her letting loose on such infectious dance beats across this album, “and Muñekita” is as sexy as it gets. “Tu angelita es lo que necesitas,” she sings, and her mischievous smile comes through the lyrics. Kali Uchis recruits rappers El Alfa and JT (of the City Girls) to contribute their own styles to the song, and while they do their jobs, it’s Kali Uchis who runs the show. Even though “Orquideas” might not be as consistent as some of Kali Uchis’ past work, her more lighthearted approach comes through in a really nice way. 

7. Étouffée– Vince Staples 

Vince Staples’ “Dark Times” album was probably my least favorite of his recent run of albums (“Vince Staples” from 2021 and “Ramona Park Broke My Heart” from 2022 both featured heavily on my playlists), but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fantastic album. While Vince spends most of the album keeping the energy and mood on the lower side, “Etouffee” and “Children’s Song” bring higher energy instrumentals and more braggadocious lyrics. The chorus on “Etouffee” is easily the catchiest on “Dark Times,” with Vince Staples acknowledging the difficult circumstances of his upbringing and arrival in the music industry while confidently promising “I’ll forever be the hardest” in spite of these challenges. Vince Staples has only expanded his skillset as an artist since dropping his most experimental album, “Big Fish Theory,” in 2017. This year he took his biggest step forward yet, coming out with an original series on Netflix in February and showing off his skill and personality through his acting and screenwriting. 

6. Classical– Vampire Weekend

I could’ve picked almost any song from Vampire Weekend’s excellent new album “Only God Was Above Us,” (see “Ice Cream Piano, “The Surfer,”  “Mary Boone,” or “Hope”) for just a few other highlights– in my opinion, this is easily the best album they’ve ever made). “Classical” is arguably the album’s thesis statement, at least lyrically, carrying the emotional weight of the entire album. Koenig’s songwriting is sensitive and accessible, especially on this track, as he considers evil in human history and the universal desire to see things change. “Untrue, unkind, and unnatural/how the cruel, with time, becomes classical,” he croons, as the song builds to a dissonant climax of horns which ultimately resolves into one of the most beautiful instrumental runs in Vampire Weekend’s catalog.

5. It’s Dark and Hell is Hot– JPEGMAFIA

JPEGMAFIA has been probably my favorite artist over the last five years or so. I’m absolutely obsessed with what he’s been doing as a producer and a rapper. He doesn’t sound or act like anybody else. His artistic ambition knows no boundaries. And although I was ticked off by some of his combative twitter antics and incessant praise for Kanye West, I still admire and respect his art and was looking forward to hearing new music from him. While I think his new album “I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU” lacks the cohesion and vision of some of his previous projects, it still sets the standard for experimental music production and performance. “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot” is an absolutely wild song on an album that frequently gets much wilder. Peggy raps over a portuguese techno sample that sounds like alien music, rapping braggadocious bars but cutting himself off when the beat deserves its shine.“I can’t be no basic bitch,” he raps, reminding himself and his fans of his never ending quest for original self-expression.

4. Ever Seen– beabadoobee

Just a gorgeous, endearing song from beabadoobee on an album full of gorgeous and endearing music. When I first heard this song (a bit late, admittedly) I immediately dove into discovering the rest of her catalog. While I found plenty of music to enjoy, “Ever Seen” remains my favorite of hers. Her silky-smooth, molten-gold voice floats over twangy guitars and well-timed instrumental swells, perfect listening for a long summer drive.

3. Image– Magdalena Bay

There’s just too much magic in Magdalena Bay’s art to even begin a coherent paragraph here. The drums, the vocals, the costumes and videos…. The whole album strings together heavenly layers of vocals, crisp percussion, and soaring instrumentals which float and harmonize as if they are emerging straight out of a dream. Songs build and explode in climaxes of crashing sound and emotion (see “Watching TV,” “Tunnel Vision”). Almost every song on  “Imaginal Disk” could be song of the summer material, but “Image,” the second single preceding the album, contains all of the best stuff Magdalena Bay has to offer, including some heavenly cowbell. Magdalena bay is simply irresistible– they were in 2021 with “Mercurial World,” and in 2024 they have another masterpiece on their hands.

2. Not Like Us– Kendrick Lamar

1b. 365– Charli xcx

It was hard to say the word “summer” this year without opening with “brat.” “brat” was not just an album, it was a cultural moment, a phenomenon, a historic lime-green tsunami wave. I’ve been a devoted charli XCX fan for several years now and was anticipating “brat” impatiently all year. When charli xcx dropped “von dutch,” the lead single, in February, it became clear that “brat” was going to be special. And it sure was. From the singles to the remixes to the tiktok dances and photoshoots, charli XCX put a stranglehold on the music industry and pop culture this summer and seems unready to relinquish it any time soon. I could’ve mentioned any song on this list, and in fact, pretty much all of them belong on a summer 2024 soundtrack, but the wild, over-the-edge party energy of “365” ultimately became the clear choice. Still, “von dutch” might have the best beat charli’s ever sung over, and “sympathy is a knife,” “mean girls,” “rewind,” and “talk talk” deserve recognition as well. (And don’t forget about the remixes either!!)

1.Girl, so confusing feat. Lorde— Charli XCX

Forget song of the summer, this one should be song of the year, song of the decade, whatever. “Girl, so confusing” was a good but unremarkable song on “brat” when it first came out– not to say it was lacking in its original form, but that it didn’t necessarily stand out in a tracklist packed with hits. But when Lorde jumped in on the remix, the track became truly iconic. “Let’s work it out on the remix,” she sings at the beginning of her verse, and she and Charli– two of the biggest popstars on the globe over the past decade– proceed to do just that. Where “girl, so confusing” is a cryptic but candid peek into Charli’s insecurity and jealousy in her celebrity friendships, the remix is an inspiring ode to reconciliation and empathy, a cultural olive branch in the age of social media competition and internet bullying. Both charli and Lorde sing candidly about the unspoken obstacles in friendships, specifically female friendships, specifically their personal friendship, while dramatically and publicly embracing each other as artists and people. The song is vulnerable, true, and empowering. I don’t think I had ever heard a song with this kind of immediacy, relevance, and bravery before it dropped. While Lorde and Charli XCX have been two of my favorite artists for years, I still think this remix blew my high expectations out of the water. Plus, it gave us Kyle MacLachlan’s best tiktok era, so there’s another reason to appreciate this song.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!! Please contact me if you feel like I missed anything :). Happy listening!