Posts tagged ‘summer songs 09’
Summer, where art thou? pt. 5-7
okay okay okay
so I’ve been M.I.A. for the last couple days and dropped the ball on my countdown-of-sorts of summer jams. My bad. Work and life got in the way, you know how it goes. But now I’m back and ready to finish what I started. Ironically, in a weeks’ time I’ve gone from “Oh summer, where art thou?” to “Summer, it’s time to GTFO. Fo’ real.”
#5 Clarky Cat – “Decide”
Alright, I have a weakness for synthesizers and electro, new wave pop sounds. It’s like crack for my ears. However, I can only name about five bands whose electro, new wave synth-fueled sounds I actually enjoy. One of these bands is Clarky Cat.
If you like (A) sharp guitar riffs, (B) catchy lyrics, (C) crazy, spaztic laser sounds, (D) beats you can dance to, then “Decide” is perfect for you. Seriously. SERIOUSLY.
DOWNLOAD “Decide”
LISTEN to more Clarky Cat on myspace. They’re no longer together (major bummer!), but their songs are still gold.
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#6 Steve Damstra – “Workin’ Under the Sun”
If you’re cool and you know what’s up, the name Steve Damstra should ring a bell. As the bassist for Whirlwind Heat, you might expect his solo material to be loud, crazy, noise/punk, but boy would you be wrong. Damstra’s music is a lot more mellow, very happy-go-lucky guitar pop. His voice is sweet and there’s something about it that reminds me of Rilo Kiley’s Blake Sennett. Which, by the way, is a good thing. “Workin’ Under the Sun” is a sweet and catchy little song about learning to live and it features whistling! You gotta love a song that incorporates a fun whistle-a-long!
DOWNLOAD “Workin’ Under the Sun”
For more of Damstra’s solo work, check out his myspace which has links to download both his albums for FREE. Who doesn’t love free stuff?? Especially free music?! Free GOOD music?!
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#7 MC Migraine Head – “Secret Master Plan”
What better way to end this summer jamz countdown than with a fun, silly, catchy, hand-clap-having rap song? Yep, that’s right: RAP. MC Migraine Head is the lo-fi alter ego of Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s Phil Dickey. If you thought it was impossible to love SSLYBY or Phil anymore than you do now, just wait till you’ve heard this.
DOWNLOAD “Secret Master Plan”
If you’ve never given SSLYBY a chance, (a) shame on you (b) listen to MC Migraine Head (c) listen to SSLYBY now (d) how could you not love a band who makes good music AND knows how to have a fun time? Seriously, come on!
I highly encourage you to visit MC Migraine Head’s myspace and listen to “Bitches in Holand”. Talk about fucking priceless!
Summer, where art thou? pt. 4
#4 Noah and the Whale – “5 Years Time”
After its official release last year, Noah and the Whale’s “5 Years Time” was deemed “song of the summer” by almost every blogger, magazine editor, and festival go-er with the ability to hear. Such a title came with good reason, it’s simply the kind of song that radiates sunshine and rainbows and bunnies and unicorns and pretty much every other symbolic figure of happiness. It really is impossible to not love this song or the video.
So for this installment of “My Favorite Summer Songs” or whatever it is I’m calling this seven day song giveaway (rhyme!), I give you one of my favorite versions of “5 Years Time” from a radio session. It’s slowed down a bit and features horns, tambourine, and an added verse of The Drifters‘ “Sweets for my Sweet”. It’s good times.
DOWNLOAD “5 Years Time (Sweets for my sweet)”
Summer, where art thou? pt. 3
#3 Jeffrey Lewis – “Sal’s Pizza”
If you know about Jeffrey Lewis, you already love him. It’s impossible not to, really. If you’ve never heard of Jeffrey Lewis, don’t worry that’s about to change. You’re welcome.
“Sal’s Pizza” may only be two minutes long, but the harmonica-driven song about Jeff’s favorite NYC pizza joint will make you crack a smile and undoubtedly get stuck in your head. His overdramatic reaction to Sal’s hiking up prices is, well, priceless.
DOWNLOAD “Sal’s Pizza”
Summer, where art thou? pt. 2
#2 Asleep in the Sea – “Dance On”
This song comes from Asleep in the Sea’s Yay! O.K. Yeah? EP, which I pretty much played on repeat for most of 2006. “Dance On” has one of the best opening lines of any song ever (That kid can be a violent son of a bitch/ Hey man, I’m sorry to hear that) and features the playful harmonizing between Owen and Tom that made Asleep in the Sea just so damn good. Plus, hand claps! You can never go wrong with hand claps.
DOWNLOAD “Dance On”
It’s such a shame Asleep in the Sea had to come to an end, but that’s how the story goes with so many good bands isn’t it? At least they left us with two EP’s and an album we can listen to forever, all of which I strongly recommend you seek out because they will improve the quality of your life. Trust me.
Summer, where art thou?
It’s practically August and all we’ve had here in the Midwest is a slew of crazy thunderstorms. While I’m appreciative of this crazy weather, especially when I’m lying in bed at night and flashes of lighting illuminate my room and help reassure that there’s no psycho killer hiding in my closet, I can’t help but point out to anyone willing to listen how it just doesn’t feel like summer.Where are the sunny days? The cool breezes? The dairy queen dipped cones?
If I can’t get the weather to remind me of summer, at least I still have feel-good summer tunes. One a day for a week. Let’s roll.
#1 Thos Henley – “Summer on the Thames”
Hand claps, banjo, and love. If that’s not a recipe for a great pop song, I don’t know what is.
Download “Summer on the Thames” (demo)
You can take a gander over to Thos Henley’s (aka Tom Henley aka ex-Rival Joustas frontman) official myspace to listen to a spruced up, equally great single version of the song. If memory serves right, there used to be a pretty fantastic video for the song, but YouTube seems to have eaten it. Bummer.
