Summer brings nostalgia for many people. Whether it’s going on vacation with family or attending summer camps with friends, memories of this time are often cherished. Another key point to this season is the music we listen to and what we deem our soundtrack for the summer. Every year the listening vibe changes based on artists and mood. Last summer it was the song “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, and the year before that it was “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter. These songs are very different from one another, but they still fall under the pop category. “Ordinary” is very emotional and is an outpouring of the singer’s feelings for his significant other, where “Espresso” is more of a fun and upbeat tune that makes people want to dance. With both of these exciting hits, what will the next Summer showstopper be?

Olivia Rodrigo’s new album “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love” is set to be released on June 12, and is already showing a lot of promise. Rodrigo released a single titled “Drop Dead” from the album earlier this year and it grew in popularity quickly. With this single climbing the charts, and the success she gained from her last two albums, it is safe to assume she could have one of the leading sounds this Summer. It is also likely that the trends will stay consistent with the pop theme that has been present in previous years. 

My favorite album to listen to during the summer is Staying at Tamara’s by George Ezra. This album was released in 2018, and it has not failed me for a summer yet. The mood is slower with a more mellow feeling throughout the album. Ezra uses storytelling along with an acoustic sound to paint the listener a picture of a blissful time. My personal favorite to listen to with my windows rolled down on a nice summer outing is “Shotgun.” It talks about a simple life where the only thing the singer is worried about is riding in the front seat of a car on a beautiful day. This album is the perfect way to start a summer road trip or barbeque with friends and family. As I said before, summer brings many memories, and music holds a lot of memories as well. Therefore, instead of only playing the new hits this June, it might do us some good to hear from previous artists that have paved the way for new summer hits. All in all, when it comes time in a couple weeks, you better believe I will be riding shotgun and listening to my hit sounds for the summer.

The album begins very strong due to the fact that the best songs are the first four. “Blame it On Me” is a fun song, exemplifying George Ezra’s youth and innocence. It is a great start for the listener and it leads into the most popular song on the album, “Budapest.” Hitting number one in numerous countries, “Budapest” is the song that establishes George Ezra as an artist. The instrumentals in this song are the best on the album and, combined with Ezra’s unique vocals, its no wonder why this song has had so much success. Following this hit is “Cassy O,” another substantial song on the album. It is rambunctious and powerful and more comparable to artists with large ensembles like Mumford and Sons rather than a solo artist. “Cassy O,” hands down, is the stand out track on the album and is a pleasant surprise for the listener. “Barcelona” is another memorable song. It’s the first slow-paced track that showcases Ezra’s voice in a different setting than the first three playful songs.

Unfortunately, after the first four tracks, the album begins to lose its charm. The next few songs are remarkably unmemorable and all sound similar. The next song to evoke a response is “Stand by Your Gun,” but it’s memorable for the wrong reasons. The instrumentals are unlike any other track on the album and sound like something composed by a ten year-old in their first few weeks of music lessons. It pulls the listener out of the mundane past few tracks, but is not a substantial or pleasant song to listen to at all. If there were any track to remove from the album, “Stand by Your Gun” would be the one.

But, the last savior of “Wanted on Voyage” is the song “Breakaway.” Like “Barcelona,” it is one of the slower songs on the album and has some of the most meaningful lyrics. “Breakaway” is an example of how delightful it can be when the lyrics match the mastery and complexity of Ezra’s voice.

Essentially, “Wanted on Voyage” is a twelve-track album that should have had no more than eight. The fillers in the middle and the jarring instrumentals of “Stand by Your Gun” were disappointing. For a debut album, George Ezra established himself as one of the best new male vocalists, but his potential isn’t fully realized. I give this album three stars.

Photo courtesy of sosogay.co.uk