Plenty of great records were released in August, so here are our favorite albums, EPs, and singles of the month! (In no particular order.)
This month’s list will be heavily abbreviated. I apologize in advance.
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With Confidence – Love & Loathing
A fabulous pop punk record filled to the brim with energy and emotion. Standout tracks include “That Something,” “Spinning,” “Moving Boxes,” and “Jaded.” Love & Loathing will capture listeners of All Time Low, State Champs, and Broadside. Click here to listen.
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Trophy Eyes – The American Dream
Quite a stylistic transition from their previous outing, The American Dream offers a brighter, more upbeat display of Trophy Eyes. Standout tracks include “Friday Forever,” “You Can Count On Me,” “Lavender Bay,” and “Autumn.” The American Dream will appeal to fans of Like Pacific, Grayscale, and Homesafe. Click here to listen.
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As It Is – The Great Depression
Just about a year and a half after their 2017 record, As It Is delivers a refreshingly dark album, a haunting commentary on mental health, interpersonal struggles, and social norms. Standout tracks include “The Wounded World,” “The Truth I’ll Never Tell,” “The Stigma (Boys Don’t Cry),” and “The Fire, the Dark.” The Great Depression is bound to satisfy followers of Oh, Weatherly, Story Untold, and WSTR. Click here to listen.
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lovelytheband – Finding It Hard to Smile
~~~cool LA vibes, bro~~~ Standout tracks include “Make Believe,” “Maybe, I’m Afraid,” “Stupid Mistakes,” and “Coachella.” Finding It Hard to Smile is sure to attract listeners of Beach Weather, Tilian, Anarbor’s recent material, and joan. Click here to listen.
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WSTR – Identity Crisis
Another quick album turnout, WSTR recrudesces on Identity Crisis with more exhilarating pop punk anthems. Standout tracks include “Bad to the Bone,” “Silly Me,” “Crisis,” and “Hide Everything Sharp.” Identity Crisis is for fans of ROAM, Seaway, and Neck Deep. Click here to listen.
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Vinyl Theatre – Starcruiser
After escaping the neglect of Fueled By Ramen, Vinyl Theatre blows everything out of the water with Starcruiser, an album chocked full of experimental sounds and blazing hooks. Standout tracks include “Feel It All,” “We Make the Music,” “Our Song,” and “Done With These Days.” Starcruiser will attract followers of COIN, twenty one pilots, and Night Riots. Click here to listen.
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Deaf Havana – Rituals
Yet another fast release and stylistic shift. Deaf Havana’s Rituals steps outside their typical rock boundaries to serve a polished, pop rock sound with electronic elements and poppy hooks. Standout tracks include “Sinner,” “Holy,” “Heaven,” and “Hell.” Rituals is sure to satisfy fans of Anarbor, PVRIS, and LANY. Click here to listen.
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Belmont – Belmont
Belmont’s debut self-titled record is a hard-hitting pop punk project with a bit of a harsher tone than most. Standout tracks include “Hollowed Out,” “BMC,” “Empty,” and “Pushing Daisies.” Belmont will appeal to followers of Trash Boat, WSTR, and Like Pacific. Click here to listen.
MORE GREAT ALBUMS
Click to listen.
- Death Cab for Cutie – Thank You for Today
- Jain – Souldier
- Erra – Neon
- Granddad – Quitter
- Interpol – Marauder
- Send Request – Perspectives
- The Frights – Hypochondriac
- The Kooks – Let’s Go Sunshine
- IDLES – Joy as an Act of Resistance.
- Set Before Us – Vitae
- Actor Observer – Pareidolia
- Shy Boys – Bell House
- Plain White T’s – Parallel Universe
- HONNE – Love Me/Love Me Not
- Weathered – Stranger Here
- Blue October – I Hope You’re Happy
- Slaves – Acts of Fear and Love
- The Amity Affliction – Misery
- Alice in Chains – Rainier Fog
- White Denim – Performance
- Passenger – Runaway
- Wild Nothing – Indigo
- Delta Sleep – Ghost City
- Lucero – Among the Ghosts
- Houndmouth – Golden Age
Extended Plays
Click to listen.
- Fall Out Boy – Lake Effect Kid
- Chasing Velvet – Replay
- Exnations – Tiny Sound in the Dark
- Homebound – More to Me Than Misery
- Milk White Throat – House of Fire
- Forest Green – Nothing Is Special
- Crash the Calm & Staleworth Split EP
- Shangrila – Love and Leaving
- Anyone Anyway – All the Kinds of Love You’ll Find
Featured Singles
Click to listen.
- “Coastline” by Leland Blue
- “Think I’m Still In Love With You” by Joyce Manor
- “Fools” by Hey Gigantic
- “Mantra” by Bring Me the Horizon
- “Upside Down” by The Story So Far
- “Cocky” by Tilian
- “Drift” by Young Culture
- “Fear” by CommonWealth
- “Rendezvous” by Saves the Day
- “How I Faked the Moon Landing” by Silent Forum
- “Superposition” by Young the Giant
- “Dark of the Cinema” by Fashion Week
- “Do You Think About Us? (ft. Caroline Polachek)” by The Night Game
- “No Way” by Sylar
- “Back Then” by Light Years
Let us know what you think of August’s releases down in the comments below!
Our Alt Col Picks are curated lists of the best albums and EPs for each month! We keep a schedule of upcoming releases and pick our favorite ones at the end of the month, giving them a spotlight here and on Twitter. To be featured in one of our lists, hit us up on our contact page or Twitter, though nothing is guaranteed. (We rarely make exceptions to include past releases, so if your album came out in June, we might be hesitant to include it in July or August, for instance.)