End Of Summer Sounds: Albums + Tracks For The Season That Wasn't

My roommate and I just wrapped up a conversation that took place on our rooftop. Looking out at the city, we wondered what will happen when the nights get darker, sooner, and when we will (possibly) experience the Second Wave.

With the summer that never was, it’s hard to think that the blissful, idling “dog days” of the holiday ever really happened. We’ve been slowly, tentatively, let out of our quarantines. For a picnic in a socially-distanced chalk circle in Domino Park. To grab a plastic cup of beer between a construction barricade on a busy street. To shop two at a time, to order coffee through a window. A lot of people have been job hunting, and a lot more are losing theirs every day.

When quarantine started I began a playlist of Quarantunes that would help me get through it. I didn’t anticipate a full five to six months of it. I have a whole summer party playlist that was never played as there were no parties to attend. But my 2020 favorites playlist has grown significantly - I figure we’re in this for the long haul, especially in New York.

For the rooftop nights of conversation, the masked walks through Bushwick, a glance back in time and the daydreaming of a better future, I had these albums and songs to get me through the season:

ALBUMS

L.A. Witch - Play With Fire
Bully - SUGAREGG
Teyona Taylor - The Album
Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher
Sweeping Promises - Hunger for A Way Out
Washed Out - Purple Noon
Victoria Monet - Jaguar
SAULT - Untitled (Black Is)
Frank Ocean - Blond

SONGS

Mariah Carey - The Roof
Omar Apollo - Stay back
IDLES - Model Village
Moses Sumney - Keeps Me Alive
Angel Olsen - Waving, Smiling
Keleketla! - International Love Affair
Brandon Banks - Lucy
Future Islands - For Sure
Brooks & Dunn - Neon Moon
Soccer Mommy - Drive
Joey Bada$$ - Shine
Billie Eilish - my future