Ayla Boose is a journalism junior and a member of the KCPR content team. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
The change to semesters was supposed to be seamless, yet the consensus seems to be the opposite. As the weeks drag on and the work piles up, you might be in search of a silver lining.
Lucky for you, the state of music right now is delivering just that. Below are seven albums handpicked to get you to the light at the end of the tunnel.
Whether you’re in the mood to dance, need to sink into melancholy or just are in search of something fresh to mix up your music rotation — look no further.
“Weird Little Birthday” by Happyness (2015)
I discovered “Naked Patients” by Happyness in the midst of my junior year of high school, during one of the muddiest, rainiest and most insufferable winters I’ve experienced in San Diego. The one thing I looked forward to every day was listening to that damn song.
This is one of those albums that is comforting, a bit sad and concerningly nostalgic. By drummer Ash Kenzai and guitarists and vocalists Benji Compston and Jonny Allan, the record gives voice to the more self-deprecating thoughts that creep in during the colder months.
The London-based trio’s 2015 album chronicles a boy who shares a birthday with Jesus (Christmas) and follows him as he descends into jealousy, according to an interview with DIY. Despite the stripped, gentle vocals that the opening track “Baby Jesus (Jelly Boy)” begins with, the tension that follows throughout the album is very obvious. Especially within the refrain, “I’m the motherf**king birthday boy, don’t steal my thunder, Baby Jesus.”
The album ebbs and flows from woozy guitar to distorted madness. Featuring tracks like “Monkey in the City,” “Orange Luz” and “Stop Whaling,” its fuzzy melodies mixed with hushed vocals make it great for colder days, providing a warm yet satirical edge both sonically and lyrically to your day.
“Lush Life” by The Belair Lip Bombs (2023)
I was rolling burritos one day at my part-time barista job during sophomore year of college when a coworker introduced me to “Look The Part” by The Belair Lip Bombs.
The song has stuck with me ever since. I’ve shown it to friends, acquaintances, and play it whenever I’m on AUX.
The track falls in the middle of their 2023 album “Lush Life,” a fitting collection of indie rock anthems that describe yearning, reflection and how losing yourself is almost guaranteed to be a part of the process. The four-piece Australian band creates a world of inspiration and intensity portrayed through catchy melodies or expressive guitar solos
“Look The Part” is full of guitar embellishments that act as little easter eggs throughout the song. The build-up is optimistic yet feels rooted in a specific anger. The chorus is especially addictive, with the track building with an incessant drone of guitars that explode into sonic bliss. Yet this blip in their musical cosmos is just one of the highlights of “Lush Life.”
Upon first listen, this album instantly feels like home. With uplifting guitar riffs backed with lyrics of yearning and imminent heartbreak, this album is one of my no-skip albums. Each song delivers something different, but delivers full force nonetheless. To me, this album combines the perfect amount of gravelly guitar and classic indie angst. It’s great for both studying as well as soundtracking your runs or bike rides through town. Highly, highly recommend.
“Forward” by First Day Back (2025)
One more for the grittier albums, First Day Back began to make a name for themselves in the midwest emo scene with their debut album “Forward.”
Hailing from Santa Cruz, their sound is made up of fast-tempo drum fills, screeching guitar strings, and driving vocals from lead singer Maggie Masumi. The whole album isn’t just headbanging, though. Tracks like “Upstairs 212” and “Paint” are accompanied by brassy violin, gluing the songs together. The momentum built throughout each song is meticulous and intentional. Each track is mesmerizing and will have you coming back for more.
Sometimes Midwest emo bands are just some guy screaming about the one that got away, layered over his best friend trying to show off on guitar, but safe to say First Day Back is not one of those bands. Each sound you hear has its purpose, and their musical timing creates these moments of anticipation leading up to cathartic release. Even in “Wait Can You Hear That,” one of the more solemn tracks, Masumi’s yells create a new layer that gives the whole piece a blanket of anguish.
“Switchbacks” by Hannah Cole (2026)
This album is already one of my favorites this year. If you’ve been exposed to the newfound indie twang movement characterized by artists like Emma Ogier, James Eichman, and Oscar Lindsey, you might know that these up-and-coming artists are reconstructing styles reminiscent of Elliot Smith or This Is Lorelai,
But what you might not know is that this merry band of twang-obsessed individuals are also all friends. Another member and contributor to this friend group is Hannah Cole.
Standing apart due to a fuller alternative rock sound, Cole’s newest release, “Switchbacks,” is perfect for when you’re airing on a side of rage and need something to fill your ears and busy your thoughts.
The narrative of this project is led by guitar feedback, far-out synths, whizzing and buzzing overlaid with her calm and collective hum. Pulling heavy influence from ‘90s grunge and dream pop, this album is sonically full of waning grit, melodic reflection and vulnerability. Tracks to look out for on this one are “MMA” and “Mosquito Hawk.”
“Popstar” by Tinashe (2026)
Uplifting Tinashe is all I’ve been doing according to my Spotify history the past couple of weeks.
If you haven’t listened to “Popstar,” the next time you’re pregaming or getting ready, put it on.
“Melatonin” induces mandatory ass shaking, and even the bedroom pop pioneer herself, Clairo, credited “Crash Out” as her song of the summer in an Instagram video shared by Dazed.
The production on this album is an insane mix of starry, bass-boosted madness, with noteworthy variety: From ballads about her struggles with fame to ones of immense confidence and flair, there’s a little bit of everything.
Each track will either make you want to dance in your living room or do some serious self-reflection. Seeing Tinashe through the frame of this project acts as a window into the culmination of an almost 14-year-long career spent mostly in the shadows, with her more well-known tracks being the background to various internet memes, like “2 On.”
“Sunglasses” is a great opening track, providing ear-scratching production that serves as an intro to what the listener will hear throughout the album. I gravitated to the other dance-heavy songs like “Nobody Wanna Dance Anymore” and “Too Easy.”
The record is a super fun listen and will hopefully give you a boost to keep chugging along as the semester continues.
“Anarchy” by Pretty Sick (2026)
This next one is a close second on my favorite album of the year.
If you do or don’t know Pretty Sick, fronted by Sabrina Fuentes, started making music when she was 13. I’ve been following them since I was 15, and I am a die-hard fan of their work.
Many of the band’s older albums are alternative rock. Their newest release, “Anarchy,” is a complete divergence from their sound in the best way possible. It’s an alternative electro-pop album reminiscent of “U” by underscores, with Fuentes’s own New York flair. When I listen to it, I wonder if the feeling I get is how teenage boys at my high school felt the first time they heard Playboi Carti.
Fuentes’s usual weapon of choice is the bass; you can hear how the years of playing more classic alternative rock influences this album. The shift to an early 2000s production style and overall aesthetic dates back to the release of her “Streetwise” EP from 2024. On this new album, glass-breaking transitions and circling synths put the songs center stage in a time in music where we can see artists simply creating the stuff they want to hear.
“home2hide” is my favorite track. Fuentes talks about her party persona and the vulnerability of someone else seeing through her mask, with lyrics like “It hurts me when you see through my disguise, I go running home to hide myself.”
“Needles” is also a track that I’ve had on repeat. With a melty guitar melody in the background, her reverbed voice against a buzzing bass makes for the setting of lyrics like “I have grown so ashamed of the things I did, at least I could look pretty for you that night.”
Anarchy stands out in this mix not just because of its creativity and boldness, but because it captures a sense of seasonal sadness in a way that isn’t just droning noise or cloudy indie. It’s upbeat yet still devastating — a fresh sound and hopefully something to expand your palette.
Whether you need something to scream to, move to or wallow in, these sonically diverse picks should cover all your bases.
You could start the day off strong with The Belair Lip Bombs, transition to First Day Back to guide your afternoon crashout, reminisce while listening to “Switchbacks” and then get ready for a night out with “Popstar.” Whatever your choice, with about half of the semester left, these albums should give you some solace.
