As summer comes to an end, Austinites can now reflect on the newest music and film releases that quickly dominated popular culture and sparked wildfires of interest and fandom. This summer stood out for its memorable entertainment content, and The Daily Texan compiled a list of some of the best film and music summer releases.

Albums

Harry’s House

This summer’s music scene kicked off on a memorable note with Harry Styles’ junior album, Harry’s House. In the album, tracks ranged from groovy, upbeat funk tunes to soft folk numbers, coming together to create an eclectic and unique body of music. Notably, Harry’s House showcases parts of Styles’ voice that usually serve as hidden gems within his songs. Rather than loading the LP with his signature big belt, Styles heavily utilizes a lighter falsetto and mixed registers of his voice that make this collection stand out. From huge, masterfully produced instrumental moments to stunning, soft harmonies, Harry’s House made for a memorable start to this summer’s musical catalog.

emails i can’t send 

Sabrina Carpenter’s deeply vulnerable emails i can’t send is nothing short of pop excellence. The album unpacks the ugly, beautiful and relatable aftermath of a breakup. Sonically, Carpenter’s angelic, flute-like vocals really shine, typically backed by delicate guitar strums, grandiose piano melodies and airy harmonies. However, what truly makes this album great is compelling storytelling, with songs like “because i liked a boy” and “skinny dipping” including seemingly minute details that place listeners right in Carpenter’s shoes. Every emotion expressed in the tracklist is perfectly executed with heart-wrenching, brutally honest lows and glorious, confident highs. 

RENAISSANCE 

Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE stepped into the album-of-the-summer slot immediately after its release. The album bridges several genres, such as dancehall, trap, afrobeats and more, which come together to create the perfect dance album. Even with advanced production, Beyoncé’s vocals do not fall short in any way, with the singer delivering meticulous runs, perfectly blended backing harmonies and powerful choruses. With a tracklist completely composed of songs that uplift and empower listeners, the project’s fierce and upbeat nature made for the perfect feel-good album to close out summer. RENAISSANCE is a vibrant celebration and ode to freedom, femininity, sexuality and confidence. 

Films 

“Bodies Bodies Bodies”

Director Halina Reijn delivers the must-see horror comedy of the summer with this flashy, hilarious whodunnit. The A24-produced film follows a group of wild 20-somethings when a late-night game of “Bodies Bodies Bodies” turns deadly, forcing old secrets to resurface as the friends figure out who among them is responsible for the killings. Brimming with over-the-top characters, a largely hyper-pop soundtrack and a lot of blood, the film takes a more modern, comedic approach to the slasher genre. 

“Nope”

Jordan Peele returned this summer with his latest directorial project “Nope,” a sci-fi horror masterpiece that follows siblings OJ and Emerald as they attempt to catch footage of a flying saucer spotted above their ranch. Incorporating elements of classic Western films while also taking inspiration from creature features like “Jaws,” the film tackles themes of exploitation and spectacle in modern filmmaking. A thrilling watch for horror and sci-fi fans alike, Peele’s attention to detail will leave fans clinging to the screen, taking in the film’s abundance of intricately placed symbolism and breathtaking nighttime landscape shots.

“Elvis”

Nothing compares to the excitement and magnificence “Elvis” brought to the silver screen in June. “Elvis” stands out compared to its musical biopic predecessors with its accurate portrayal of the titular King of Rock from Austin Butler and the chaotic fun of Baz Luhrmann’s direction. Butler nails Elvis’ mannerisms and voice while capturing his extraordinary rise to fame and tragic downfall. From Vegas lights to flashy transitions, every second of “Elvis” captures audiences, evoking feelings of joy, suspense and devastation in the span of two and a half hours.