I’m not sure how this happened, but it appears it’s August, and we have not had one singular all-consuming song of the summer (except for “nothing beats a Jet2 holiday”). That doesn’t mean there’s been no good music though; there are plenty of great tracks—full albums, even—to keep our playlists full this season. It seems like instead of having one dominating anthem, there are many competing fairly popular ones, and maybe that’s okay. That’s just the kind of year we’re having. This past month, we saw a number of fresh entries, from Justin Bieber’s surprise album (and Tyler, the Creator’s surprise album) to Olivia Dean’s latest bewitching single. Here are the new songs we loved in July.
You can listen to all the picks on our Spotify playlist, too. (Want more music? Check out last month’s picks.)
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“Daisies” by Justin Bieber
“Justin Bieber was smart to team up with Dijon and Mk.gee on his new album, Swag. His R&B-pop vocals blend well with the two musicians’ signature fuzzy guitar arrangements and mellow melodies, especially on this track. With its plucked strings and a bouncy rhythm, ‘Daisies’ is certainly one of the highlights of Bieber’s latest album.”—Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, culture
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“Lady Lady” by Olivia Dean
“Give me some bongos, and I’m sold. Rising star Olivia Dean has a winner in ‘Lady Lady,’ a jazzy, soulful, and exciting pop song. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to head to the dance floor immediately.”—Samuel Maude, content strategy manager
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“Jump” by Blackpink
“Everybody say, ‘Thank you, Diplo!’ For Blackpink’s first new song together in years, the producer supplied the group with a high-octane track that might just blow the roof off the club (and the arena). It’s a great comeback single, arriving just as the girls are touring together again.”—EG
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“Vodka Cranberry” by Conan Gray
“This Conan Gray project feels different. Yes, it has his signature pop melodies and classic sad-boy lyrics, but it feels more authentic and raw, which I didn’t think was possible for the singer. ‘Vodka Cranberry,’ an excellent offering from Gray’s upcoming album, Wishbone, has a much-talked-about music video, too, in which Gray reflects on a relationship with a strapping young lad. Gray also hits an insane note in the bridge, showcasing his vocal talent. Oh, and getting too drunk off of vodka cranberries? Been there, done that, babes.”—SM
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“Sugar on My Tongue” by Tyler, the Creator
“Surprise! It’s a new album from Tyler, the Creator. The rapper dropped DON’T TAP THE GLASS while still touring his last LP, Chromakopia, and he’s pivoting to ’80s and electronic influences. After all, he made clear that this album is ‘not for sitting still.’ DTTG is an exciting blend of raucous energy from opening track ‘Big Poe’ to the woozy ‘Ring Ring Ring.’ But ‘Sugar on My Tongue’ is a standout for me. It feels like a hyper candy rush in the best way.”—EG
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“Mannequin Love (The Dare Remix)” by Justice, The Flints, and The Dare
“I’m obsessed with a stomp-down-the-street-song, and The Dare’s remix of Justice and The Flints’ track is a clomper. Call me Herman Munster when I listen to this one, because my boots are big.”—SM
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“Tap That” by Tanner Adell
“It’s time to climb aboard the Tanner Adell train. The young singer’s music is exciting and not afraid to go to more sexual places at times. ‘Tap That’ is a refreshing country song, one that makes this Iowa boy hungry for a line dance.”—SM
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“Is It” by Tyla
“Tyla heard we were in desperate need of a new bop and came to our rescue. With a rhythm like this, and Tyla’s flirtatious confidence, we’ll be taking this one to the dance floor ASAP.”—EG
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“Easy Goodbye” by Emma Louise and Flume
“I could tell a Flume song from a mile away, and this track with Emma Louise has the DJ and producer’s prints all over it. From their upcoming collaboration album, Dumb, ‘Easy Goodbye’ features strong synths, beckoning every listener to the rave.”—SM
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“I Can Tell” by Givēon
“Givēon is back to steal (or break) hearts once again. ‘I Can Tell’ feels like an old-school classic with its soft horns and crisp harmonies. The kind you sing out your crush’s window when you can sense they’re ready to leave their relationship and run away with you.”—EG
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“Mangetout” by Wet Leg
“Between this track and ‘Catch These Fists,’ I’m loving the get-the-fuck-away-from-me vibes of Wet Leg’s latest album, Moisturizer. ‘You’re in our way, get lost forever’ the English duo sing in the chorus—and that’s not the only quotable lyric in this song.”—EG
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“Chains & Whips” by Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Clipse and Kendrick Lamar on a song together? That’s a hater convention right there, and I’m registered to attend. The duo comprised of brothers Pusha T and Malice tapped a number of iconic collaborators on their long-awaited new album, from Nas to The-Dream (Pharrell also executive produces), but this link-up with Kendrick helps kick off the track list on a strong note.”—EG
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“Red Flag.” by Kesha
“Kesha’s first album as an independent artist, Period., has its highs and lows, but a clear peak is ‘Red Flag,’ a fun, easy pop song. You can hear the singer smiling through the lyrics, proving that she has once again found her joy.”—SM
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“With You” by Jorja Smith
“Jorja Smith is delivering banger after banger, and with this latest track, she’s giving us ‘a love song for the summer!’ as she said in a statement. ‘With You’ is moody but upbeat, which is a combination this British singer knows how to do right.”—EG
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“12 to 12” by sombr
“For a millennial like me, who loved MGMT and Phoenix in college, Sombr’s 2010s alt-rock sound hits close to home. ‘12 to 12’ even has a bit of a disco influence, making it a certain hit, following in the footsteps of his viral smash ‘back to friends.’ (Plus, Addison Rae stars in the music video, so how could he go wrong?)”—EG
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“Go Baby” by Justin Bieber
“As a hopeless romantic, I adore an ode to a lover. ‘Go Baby,’ from Justin Bieber’s Swag, is a true love letter to Hailey Bieber, and it works. It’s catchy and has fun lyrics, at one point even referencing Rhode’s iconic lip gloss phone case.”—SM
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“D£aler” by Lola Young
“It’s not easy to get over the end of a longterm relationship; sometimes all you want to do is run away. Lola Young’s latest single captures those avoidant feelings with a touch of snark, saying the only thing she’ll miss when she skips town is her dealer. It’s the kind of playful attitude we’ve come to expect and love from the rising singer.”—EG
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“Doggy” by Geezer feat. Love Spells and Truly Yours
“Kevin Abstract and Dominic Fike make so much sense as a duo it’s hard to believe the latter wasn’t in Brockhampton. Under the joint banner of Geezer, they delivered a vibey and smooth post-breakup track about hating everything connected to an ex, from their favorite songs to the name of their dog. Been there, done that too.”—EG
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“The Mood” by FLO and Kaytranada
“Perhaps no other producer captures the energy of dancing in the summer than Kaytranada, and that man knows how to pick his collaborators. Here, he teams up with It-girl trio FLO. Don’t be shy, guys, why not link up for a full album?”—EG
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“June Guitar” by Alex G
“It’s fitting that Alex G should call this song ‘June Guitar’; its warm acoustic strums feel like sitting by a campfire among crickets in the summertime. The lyrics are a little more devastating, describing someone slowly, but noticeably, pulling away from you.”—EG
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“Mind Loaded” by Blood Orange feat. Caroline Polachek, Lorde, and Mustafa
“In case you weren’t convinced Blood Orange’s first album in years is a can’t-miss, here’s more proof: an airy and angelic single featuring his friends Caroline Polachek, Lorde, and Mustafa. Dream collaborators or dream blunt rotation? Why not both?”—EG
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“Hot Body” by Ayra Starr
“With a hook like ‘look what the hot body can do,’ this is definitely the kind of song you’ll be showing off your dance moves to. Ayra Starr knows how to make listeners want to get active, no matter how hot and sweaty the club is.”—EG
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“Fuck Me Eyes” by Ethel Cain
“We have another climactic Ethel Cain anthem on our hands. This one is not only an ode to ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ but also to ‘the girls who are perfect and have everything, yet carry the reputation of town slut,’ the artist said in a statement. Rippling synths build into a grunge haze as Cain sings, ‘They want to take her out, but no one ever wants to take her home.’”—EG
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“Float” by Jay Som feat. Jim Adkins
“Jay Som’s first new album in six years is coming out in October, and songwriter/producer Melina Duterte teamed up with Jimmy Eat World’s Jim Adkins for her grand return. With its head-bobbing rock feel, the song is ‘about desperately trying to hold on to past versions of yourself for self-preservation,’ Duterte said. The chorus, ‘Float, don’t fight,’ says it all.”—EG
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