you don't spell it, son. you hear it!

Summer, s’il vous plaît laissez! AKA have some songs!

As some of you may remember, last year I was all “Summer, where are you???? I NEED YOU” and I shared some feel-good summer tunes for a week. Well, this year I’m the opposite. I’m all “Summer, I’m over you. GTFO. And take the humidity with you!” But one thing hasn’t changed, I’m still going to share a week’s worth of songs with you.

Summer 2010, can you please leave now? Jamz
Brought to you buy the letters F-R-E-S and H.

She Keeps Bees – Ribbon
She Keeps Bees was always one of those bands I heard a lot about but never really listened to for one reason or another. Looking back, I want to kick myself. After watching the Brooklyn duo open for Peggy Sue at Schubas last month, I ran to the merch table and purchased their self-released album Nests and I haven’t stopped listening since. Their raw, minimalistic approach to 70s-inspired garage rock allows frontwoman Jessica Larrabee’s deep, raspy vocals to blow listeners away. “Ribbon” is an a capella number featuring nothing more than perfectly timed hand claps, a tambourine, and a powerhouse voice. Listen to this song in the dark, on your headphones, with your eyes closed on a summer night. Feel it.

Cults – Go Outside
This song feels like a warm, hazy summer day. It’s got sweet, laid-back vocals that seem to channel the essence of vintage 60s pop and a soft glockenspiel melody that stays on your brain for days. GvB and Pitchfork may have been all over Cults early in the year, but they’ve yet to reach the annoying over-buzzed status of Best Coast and Beach House and all those other bands with California-coast related names. They don’t have a myspace, but their 7″ ep is still available for download on bandcamp. Grab it here.

She & Him – Fools Rush In
Frank Sinatra, Etta James, Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, and even Bow Wow Wow have sung versions of the classic “Fools Rush In.” Most recently, She & Him took a stab at the number as part of Levi’s Pioneer Sessions, where artists were invited to “re-craft” classic songs that inspired their sound. My suggestion: Play this song to your summer love.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – Sink / Let It Sway
This is the song you blast in your car as you drive to the beach with the top down and the wind blowing through your hair. DO IT.

Summer Camp – Was It Worth It
So Summer is over and things aren’t going so well with your summer love. Maybe things have already ended? Maybe they’ve ended badly? No need to go searching for your copy of Jagged Little Pill because this is the song you need. Blast this song on your stereo (or iHome because we live in the 21st century) and sing along, slowly but surely releasing all that pent up frustration with your former flame all the while rocking back and forth to a catchy synth beat.

Sunderbans – We Only Can
This is pretty much your summer rock-out jam. Let’s say you get stuck in a wicked thunderstorm while driving home from a street fest, “We Only Can” will be there for you with the perfect build up to an alone-in-the-car-rocking-out session. Your fingers will be drumming along on the steering wheel as you chant “WE ONLY CAN BECAUSE WE CARE” and almost shed a tear because it tugs at just the right heartstring.

Violent Femmes – Kiss Off
It’s a classic. Every summer needs a classic. If you don’t like this song, there’s something wrong with you and I’m not sure there’s anything I can do to help. You’re on your own pal.

DOWNLOAD ALL 7 SONGS IN A .ZIP FILE HERE

The number of bands whose names begin with S was completely accidental.

July 13, 2010 at 7:12 pm Leave a comment