Soundtrack Your Summer 2025: 6 Must-Hear Albums For Every Mood
Summer is the season for soundtrack moments- from late-night city strolls, those long drive to sunny hangouts alongside a flaming grill. Whether you’re craving something mellow or upbeat, introspective or lively, the right album can elevate the entire vibe! Have a look at some albums that deserve a spot on your summer rotation:
Kali Uchis has always danced between genres (pun intended)- R&B, soul, pop, and even Latin psychedelia. But Sincerely marks an evolution into something more grown-up and groovy. It’s certainly her most polished work yet- dreamy, smoky and with vintage flair whilst remaining unquestionably modern. It’s intimately quiet but also epic- grand but not overwhelming.
It gives the energy of the main character in a movie walking through the dimly lit streets on a summer’s night. Those moments where things are quiet and peaceful- like when the kids finally settle down for the evening and the dog stops barking at the neighbour’s fence.
The Doobie Brothers- Walk This Road
The Doobies are back are indeed still walking this road, and their latest album released this year aptly titled Walk This Road continues their return to new material following 2021’s Liberté. With the band being together since 1970, Walk This Road is a reminder that good ol’ saxophone rock and roll groove never goes out of style. This album is a delightful mix of country rock, chill funk, and easy harmonies- it feels perfect for a summer BBQ.
Alice Cooper– The Revenge of Alice Cooper
At 76 years old, Alice Cooper is not only still kicking… he’s kicking the door down. The Revenge of Alice Cooper was released just a couple of weeks ago (25th July) and reunites him with the original Alice Cooper band for the first time in over five decades (minus the late Glen Buxton). Produced once again by the legendary Bob Ezrin, the album is full of the classic Cooper we love: theatrics, dark humour, and a bit of campiness all wrapped up in a hard rock package.
This feels like some horror-western fusion with just the right amount of funk, and it’s perfect for those summer mornings where you want to start your day with something fun, ferocious, and unapologetically over the top.
Deftones’ private music (yes, stylised in all lower case) whilst not out yet- but just around the corner on August 21st, looks to be keeping that moody, shoegaze style along with the emotional weight with which Deftones thrive. The lead single “my mind is a mountain”, seems like something you listen to on a late summer night drive (yes I know this list is almost exclusively night music) as you ponder life’s big questions and you’re feeling just philosophical enough to remember your high school emo phase.
Deftones also literally have a song called “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” so I’d say we’ve hit the nail on the head, and they know exactly what kinds of vibes they provoke. Chino Moreno’s vocals remain a perfect pairing for existential dread, and what’s summer without a little bit of existential dread?
After a 24-year studio hiatus, Pulp stormed back with More in June- their first full-length since 2001’s We Love Life. Produced by James Ford and recorded in just three weeks, More is a return to more classic Pulp and their Britpop roots, but they’re older and wiser this time. Tracks like “Spike Island” and “Got to Have Love” explore aging, desire, nostalgia and discomforts with fame. with that underlying emotional undercut and wit that Pulp are known for.
More hits that sweet spot between reflection and groove. It’s an album that’s both a reunion and a sort of revelation as Crocker sings about life and being middle-aged in a very grounded and authentic way (see “Grown Ups”). Melancholic summer Sunday afternoons vibes.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard- Phantom Island
If this is your first time hearing of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, you might be thinking psychedelic doom metal and not “grown-up summer album” and usually you would be right (about the psychedelic part, not so much the doom metal), but their 27th studio album is a refreshingly orchestral departure from their usual high-energy sound.
Recorded alongside their previous album Flight b741, Phantom Island leans into more strings and laidback rhythms that evoke that melancholic 70s vibe. This album would make a breezy companion for a long drive or late-afternoon garden chill. Phantom Island feels more sophisticated, more expansive, and more thoughtful without losing that sense of Lizardy-Wizardy adventure! It’s a rich, surprising, and wholly satisfying summer listen.
No matter how you spend your summer, these albums offer the perfect soundtrack. Each one brings a unique energy and mood, capturing the diverse spirit of the season. Make this summer unforgettable with sounds that move you, and soothe you!
For more music and must-hear albums of 2025:
For more great modern bands:
For the best movies of the year so far:
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