This is the same question I asked r/ClassicRock and r/80smusic on Reddit months ago. So it’s time to ask Lemmy users in order to see the variety of answers and music taste here :)
Always as big fan of Carly Rae Jepsens Emotion. Just good vibes and bops.
But I also want to shout out to any of the recent records by the folks at Vulfpeck. Their records are fun and funky - and you can’t go wrong with any of the side projects such as those by The Fearless Flyers, or by Theo Katzman.
Seconding EMOTION. A lovely listen if you enjoy well-produced pop music. Warm Blood still gets me once the chorus gets dropped on you.
Love Carly Rae but I’m more of a Dedicated fan myself. “No Drug Like” Me fucking SLAPS and “Everything He Needs” is like the perfect summer pop jam imo.
Low’s I Could Live in Hope is very melancholic and slow music. Helps me get my emotions out and it doesn’t feel right to cry to any other album on this earth.
If you’re looking for something a little more cheery, I’d recommend Van Halen’s Diver Down. While not necessarily groundbreaking or anything it’s the most cheery album I listen to regularly and it always feels good.
I actually have a cheer me up Playlist on Apple Music.
Currently there are the following songs inside there:
Spiral Mountain Grant Kirkhope
Freezeezy Peak Grant Kirkhope
Escape From The City Ted Poley, Tony Harnell
Undefeatable (feat. Kellin Quinn) SEGA / Tomoya Ohtani
Wouldn’t It Be Nice The Beach Boys
Barbara Ann The Beach Boys
This Is the Life Amy Macdonald
Can you feel the power!? ARC-V
What the Hell Avril Lavigne
衝動 B’z
Surfin’ U.S.A. The Beach Boys
Hanging Out with All the Wrong People Billy Talent
A Sky Full of Stars Coldplay
The Anthem Good Charlotte
Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous Good Charlotte
Centerfold The J. Geils Band
Get Your Game On Yu-Gi-Oh!
Dreamer Supertramp
(Hope the formating isn’t too bad)
https://music.apple.com/ch/playlist/cheer-me-up/pl.u-MayJi4rgVaN?l=en
Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails has a weird way of perking me up. I go downl then I go up, then I go down, then I go up.
cliche answer but it’s gonna have to be anything Daft Punk, probably Random Access Memories because the entire album is just a love letter to the joy of music.
Charles Bradley’s Changes is an absolute masterpiece front to back imo. Released in 2016 but it’s a Daptones produced record which means it’s got that classic old school soul/funk vibe that I love.
I also think Mood Valiant by Hiatus Kaiyote is basically a perfect record from beginning to end, but I understand that it definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea if they aren’t in to hiphop/jazz fusion.
