7 albums for a 2010s Nostalgia Summer
Check your friend’s moodboards for the summer and you’ll probably see pictures of M.I.A, Charli XCX, Sky Ferreria and an overall longing for the early 2010s. A time of houseparties, late night drives, and county fairs. When the internet was just getting started and no one took social media so seriously. A time before terms like ‘covid-19’ and ‘social distancing’ existed and caused the entire world to retreat into their individual shells. Well not this summer. Why long for what once was when we can recreate it here and now? Using music as our time capsule, we can live today through the lens of back then. Here are some albums that can help you do just that.
check out the following tracks and more on our Noize 2010s nostalgia summer playlist.
NOIZE Favorites: Hai Bby, Low Tide, Half Open
From San Francisco, one of the biggest home bases for indie sleaze during its peak, The Bilinda Butchers have a genuinely authentic album that encapsulates the era perfectly. uSING LOTS OF SYNTH, SOUND EFFECTS, AND (ON SOME SONGS) ACOUSTIC GUITAR, GOODBYES HAS A DREAMY AND OPTIMISTIC SOUND THAT MATCHES THE FEELING OF THE SUN COMING OUT ONCE AGAIN. On the more chill, easy listening side, Goodbyes is a perfect listen for winding down while also feeling nostalgic.
NOIZE Favorites: Genius, Ulterior Motives, Runaways
a good place to start when you want music that will transport you to the 2010s is the vaporwave classics. Mirror kisses being one of the first george clanton vaporwave projects, Clanton knows how to make music that brings the fun and spontaneity of THE 2010S. The nostalgic electro-pop sound backed by distorted vocals is the perfect addition to any summer playlist. ‘Genius’ especially makes for the perfect house party anthem.
image by redbrick
noize favorites: She’s Gone, Takeover, Proud
the second mirror kisses album on this list, i think it’s safe to say that George clanton knows his shit. Essentially an extension of Heartbeats, Bad Dreams blends elements of vaporwave and dance-pop, the album has the perfect feel-good energy THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO THE BEST SUMMERS YOU CAN REMEMBER. It's easy to picture any of the songs on this album playing at an outdoor festival on a hot day.
Noize Favorites: 2007, In Love, New Superheroes
A popular electronic music artist in the UK in the 2010s, You Love Her was even featured on Season 3 Episode 7 of SKINS, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TV SERIES AT THE TIME AND A VERY ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE ERA. 2007 is an iconic track that, if you know it, is hard not to scream the lyrics and/or dance to. Similar to the George Clanton records, New Superheroes is perfect for parties or whenever you want to be hyped up.
Noize favorites: Run Into Flowers, America, Noise
Straying further away from the party vibe and more into the introspective yet stimulating kind of listen, the M83 album is the perfect window into the early 2010s despite its release in 2003. The album was much ahead of its time, as anything made by M83. The experimental electronic record is very unique and definitely worth a listen.
puzzle performs live via weirdo music forever
Noize favorites: There IS A Reason, I Saw An Angel, Scenes Like This
Made into the later side of the 2010s decade, Soaring is one of the most upbeat projects from Puzzle, which will match the energy of the summer season. Undoubtedly inspired by video games and other nostalgic sounds (like most of puzzle’s work), Soaring takes listeners back to the early times of the internet and videogames, the center of many of our childhoods.
n0ize favorites: Where The Damage Isn’t Already Done, Keen on Boys, Lost And Found
Ahead of its time, the 2003 record Lesser Matters HAS A DISTINCT 2010S ‘HIPSTER’ VIBE DESPITE ITS RELEASE IN THE EARLY 2000S, AT LEAST IN MY OPINION. The dream-pop album is perfect for easy listening, at home or in your headphones. Lesser Matters earns its reputation as an indie sleaze record with Keen On Boys being featured in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette movie… enough said.
Listening to these albums, I hope that the NOIZE vision for this summer becomes clear to you all. Going out as often as possible, discovering new music, and most importantly, connecting with people on a whole other level.
