Folks, I am here to confirm that it is indeed a brat summer. Many people are saying this. For all my angels/Charli XCX stans, we are eating good tonight. Charli’s highly anticipated sixth studio album, brat, just dropped, causing an off-the-charts motherquake. Fans of Chali’s COVID era, how I’m feeling now (me!) will love this new project as she takes a deep dive into club/electronic music. I have only listened to the album once, so a more in-depth review will have to wait for another musing, but…… it is incredible. Inspired by her days attending raves as a teenager, brat is brimming with artistry. From the puke-green blurry cover to the “360” music video, Charli knows how to roll out an album. Truly dance music for the hot girls. Somehow, an album full of “Club Classics” can be deeply personal and contemplative at the same time. There are no other artists that I am constantly in awe of. Feeling like an instant classic loves!

Track-by-track breakdown coming soon <3

From one of my faves to another, I saw Vampire Weekend last night and was instantly healed of any diseases or ailments. These white boys do not miss, let me tell ya. I have been in love with their new album, Only God Was Above Us, and I could not wait to hear the songs live. The airy and light Ivy League-drenched instrumentation from their debut and Contra return on this work. They are able to weave it in while still providing us with a new and exciting sound. Masterful!

Keen-eared among you might remember that I (and the rest of the wedding party) walked down the aisle to “Step” off of Modern Vampires of the City. Catie and I also had our last dance at the end of the wedding to “Hannah Hunt” from the same record. Needless to say, the Vampire Weekend love is a deep and integral part of my psyche.

The band opened with two classics, “Mansard Roof” and “Holiday.” The former is their debut single! They then played the first five songs of the new record in order, and I was living. “Classical” and “Connect” are such quintessential Vampire Weekend songs and it was a pleasure to hear them live. They ended up playing almost the entire album in full. Then it was a nonstop hit fest of past songs. “Unbelievers,” “Oxford Comma,” and “Cousins” went absolutely dummy. We had nosebleed seats that ended up having a good enough view with ample room to rage.

Editors note: We could still see his jawline :o

During the encore, the band took suggestions for covers to play and played small parts of “1901” by Phoenix, “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House, and “Wonderwall” by Oasis. It was an amazing concert experience that I will never forget.

Thanks for reading :) besos <3

Jonny’s Songs of the Week:

• All of brat (but specifically)

  • Everything is romantic

  • So I

  • Girl, so confusing

  • I think about it all the time

  • 365

• Jamie xx - Treat Each Other Right

• New Jeans - How Sweet

• Caribou - Break My Heart

• WILLOW - b i g f e e l i n g s

• PinkPantheress - Turn It Up

• Vince Staples - Black&Blue

• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Wild God