Hey y’all. So as you may have noticed, Radio UTD has taken a bit of a hiatus this summer. So as a strong return back to the real blogging world, we want to share all the albums we would have blogged about during the summer if we weren’t busy swimming, biking, working and being fun.

Station Manager Laura Carroll’s picks:

John Maus- We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves (released: June 28th)
John Maus is a genius. As a professor of philosophy, Maus has obviously contemplated humanity, existence and identity extensively. Not only does his third official release highlight a heightened level of perspective and thinking, these lyrics are matched with smart, electro-synth inspired beats. Maus effectively encourages listeners to empathize with the emotional elements of the album–which becomes achingly obvious during his live performances. Even without actually live mixing his beats, he still manages to engage audiences and evokes a demanding, slightly mad energy.

Balam Acab- Wander/Wonder (released: August 29th)
If Wander/Wonder was physically manifested, it would probably be a paper boat floating in a river that continuously hits waves, disintegrating, falling apart, eventually breaking down to pieces too small to fully grasp and then ultimately becoming one with the river. Balam Acab definitely fits this new wave of heavy bass, slow jam artists that are constantly emerging, but they stand out from this mold with selective use of high-pitched vocals and unexpected tempo changes throughout Wander/Wonder.

Programming Director Zach Brown’s picks:

Givers – In Light (released: June 7th)
With Dirty Projectors-inspired guitar slapping and percussive explosions, Givers first full release is a must-have for summer playlists. In Light is an elated indie-pop record with hints of afro-beat and a never-ending giddiness that outshines the Texas sun. After a strong self-titled EP in 2009, Givers grasps onto their partnered vocals and contagious guitar licks to produce an album with a proper amount of polish that keeps hold of their fervent nature. As much as I’d like to say that vocalist Tiffany Lamson is the only member to steal my heart, I have to be honest– Givers is my summer crush.

Fucked Up – David Comes to Life (released: June 7th)
There’s a coralation between the quality of a summer release and how often I play it in my car. Punk usually takes over my car stereo in the summer, but this is the first time I’ve supplemented road rage with my own incomprehensable screaming. Appealing to the refurbished angst of a college student moving back with their parents over summer, Fucked Up’s newest album, on the surface, fulfills any punk-related desires. Deeper into the album lies a rock opera made up of a four-party story and hardcore, post-punk, and indie rock influences. While some may consider the album over-produced, Fucked Up continues to succeed in using indie-inventiveness to upheave punk onto a different plane. Punk-rockers may have to stretch their limits of comfortablenesss to appreciate all the genres at work, but David Comes to Life is worth the effort.

Music Director Chelsea Upton’s picks:

Battles- Gloss Drop (released: June 7th)
Listening to Gloss Drop is the musical equivalent of surfing in an elevator. The album’s prog/pop mix creates a highly claustrophobic experience that is equal parts invigorating and panic-inducing, leaving you to wonder whether you should dance, or violently tear off all of the wallpaper in your home.

DELS- Gob (released: May 2nd)
Grime might not be the most appealing genre-name ever, but even the most casual degenerate would surely find something to appreciate in this austere album by an up-and-coming British MC. Dark alleyways, shady streets, and questionable people give way to socially conscious lyrics and positive visions of human evolution, topped with a technical mastery that makes Gob a remarkable debut.

Promotions Manager Trang Nguyen’s picks:

Bon Iver – Bon Iver (released: June 21st)
The second Bon Iver album was a huge anticipation for the indie folk buff. It’s been a good year for Justin Vernon, after the previous release of For Emma, Forever Ago, things have taken off for the guy. Featured in some Kanye West tracks (no big deal), signing with a label with the name of Jajaguwar (which features other names such as Peter Wolf Crier, Okkervil River, Dinosaur Jr.). Though a departure from the folk woodsy cabin-fever feel of For Emma, this self-titled is a good kind of different. Following supergroup side-project Gayngs’ Relayted album, Vernon ventured into the soft-rock inspired “Best/Rest.” The individual songs flow together to complete the album, the songs fit, reminding the nostalgia and infatuation I had with Bon Iver (the band) a couple of years back.

SBTRKT – SBTRKT (released: July 7th)
The post-dubstep genre has taken a new toll in the most recent months. With the ever growing popularity of the “Prince of Dubstep” James Blake, other electronic acts in the likes of James Blake such as Holy Other, Clams Casino, and now SBTRKT are sharing the spotlight. SBTRKT (also pronounced as the math symbol “subtract”) is the project of London producer Aaron Jerome. Mainly featuring vocals from partner Sampha, the debut self-titled features tracks like “Never Never,” or “Trials of the Past,” a dig into relationships and the psychological obstacles around them. Another notable is “Wildfire,” a track featuring Little Dragon: which could also be found as a sample of a live SBTRKT featuring Drake (yes, Drizzy, or moreso, yes, Jimmy) performance. It’s noticeable how well-constructed each individual song is. SBTRKT is a little steer away from the normal James Blake-esque tempo. This has upbeat, slow, it’s all there. Now just wishing they were coming closer than Colorado, I guess a girl can dream.