A Summer MMMMixtape

Less talk. More Action. And before these 27 tracks are no longer relevant, I'd like to give you my favorite songs for this summer, and a little sumpin' sumpin' about each.

Cheers!

Merman

PS. Promise, no more 3 month hiatuses.

Post Acid - Wavves: From their upcoming album King of the Beach, a song that's much more fun than it's name implies. Recommended to blast for the 1st 30 minutes of a road trip to the beach.

Rill Rill - Sleigh Bells: This song is so fun, and good luck getting it out of your head. It's sticky and sweet with kick, and even better in a great set of headphones.

Younger Us. - Japandroids: The first time I read a "low-fi post-beach surfer-alt rock" review I wanted to puke. C'mon guys. This song screams nostalgia, and it makes perfect sense that Mark Hoppus is obsessed with this band. They are the perfect cure for the discord between a nostalgic heart and a cynical opinion.

The Only One - Manchester Orchestra: Off the 2009 album Mean Everything to Nothing, it was the song that tipped me in favor of Andy Hull & Co. It kicks ass while taking your hand and teaching you to dance.

Surrounded by your friends - Hooray for earth: Some songs can capture the way your friends can give equal parts comfort and joy. I couldn't think of a less gay word than joy, 'cause that's just what it is. Times when you you realize that your with your chosen family, that's what this is.

Sometimes I don't need to believe in anything - Teenage Fanclub: TF never gets old, and their music doesn't either. Thanks to Nick Hornby I have a very biased opinion, but this track is so fresh and so clean, it's hard, yet unavoidable, to believe they are the veteran pop rock de facto.

What part of forever - Cee Lo Green: Yeah, whatever. I know, it's on the Twilight Soundtrack. And you know why? Because the song is great, and so is that soundtrack. But I also know it's one half of Gnarls Barkley, and that's okay with me. Yeah, I said it. Perfect for writing love letters when you've forgotten how to channel the 16 year old heartsick in you.

Moves - The New Pornographers: Epic chorus + catchy, syncopated beats+ major key tonality + incredible talent and chemsitry + a dash of pretension = hate to love it, but you totally do.

On Melancholy Hill - Gorillaz: Hands down, one of the best albums this summer. Looking back, I think the Gorillaz will be a perfect zeigeist to what music means in our generation, whether you like it or not, they really fucking got it.

Pow Pow - LCD Soundsystem: I can't get enough of LCD's new album This is Happening; flawless. And this song in particular is the example of perfect delivery. The only way this could get better is if William Shatner decided to do guest vocals. Incredible.

Teenage Color (Russ Chimes Remix) - College: And sometimes you just need to put on something with a good beat. Straighten up! Look Sharp!

The High Road - Broken Bells: Love to hate them, because they'll never touch the Shins. It ain't bad though, folks. This single ain't bad at all. It certainly won't marsh your mellow, anyway.

Sinister Kid - The Black keys: Absolutely, without a doubt the sexiest song on Brothers. Actually, it might just be the sexiest song of the summer. Every song on their new album is incredibly soulful and well thought out; and this one really makes me want to get to know Dan Auerbach a little bit better...in the dark.

Tell 'Em - Sleigh Bells: There are a couple of artist on the summer list I'll repeat, sleigh bells being one of them. And again, good headphones are required, or it gets a little fuzzy. Anyway, this one will wake you the fuck up, but do it ever so cheerfully.

The Suburbs - Arcade Fire: At first, I didn't like it, until I caught myself singing it over and over until I had to listened to it again. And then, just like that, the lyrics caught me;I was sucked into the Arcade Fire Fanwagon.

This is Real - Best Coast: Any cuter and you'd need a bib. Bethany Cosentin has been described as noise-pop and space-drone, but really, she understands the space between the noise, and that's where she sinks into you. Great B-side to 'When I'm with you'.

Right Ahead, Young Sailor! - Right Away Great Captain!: A side project of Andy Hull from Manchester Orchestra, but only recently discovered by me. The acoustic folk-pop is quite a departure, but isn't that what side projects are for? Great for lounging in the park by the water.

The Girl - City and Colour: I'm a sap for the lyrics, end of story.


Older - Band of Horses: Although I liked their first 2 albums much better than Infinite Arms, there are 2 tracks that tug at the heartstrings like BoH used to. This being one of them, and the other (my favorite) at the end. It seems like the fans said "Hey, Band of Horses, this is what we like" and they delivered, but too eagerly, too succinctly. Sometimes I think you've got to make us work for it, make us really listen. Don't give it all to us up front, you know. Cross the legs a bit, I like my lady with a little bit of mystery. 'Older' and 'Blue Beard' aren't as eager as the rest of the album.

Signs (MMMathis Remix) - Bloc Party: Kick the track, change the beat, repeat.

When We were young (breakbot remix) - Sneaky Sound System: Great beat. Love it for the evenings when you're not sure if you want to go to the bar or not. It's begging to be remixed.

Dance Yrself Clean - LCD Soundsystem: The first time I heard this song I was floored. Awesome minute after minute, it's the longest song you'll never get sick of.

Next Girl - The Black Keys: One of my other favorite tracks of the new Brothers album. Sometimes bands write lryics for the music, and sometimes they write the music for the lyrics. And sometimes, the truth is so thick and deep, so saturated with sweat and tears, that both word and song come from the same place in the heart. I don't think you could have one without the other in this song. They really hit home with this one.

Many Shades of Black - The Raconteurs: After the remorse and pain has settled in a less than perfect situation, all your left with is your lessons to teach. And if I've ever heard a lesson with fervor and sarcasm, with every kind of shit, and the kind of shit you can live with, it's this.

White Blank Page - Mumford & Sons: I feel like I'm personally in love with each member of Mumford & Sons. The first time I heard them was in my favorite Irish bar, Sweet Afton, in Astoria. Stu, the bartender/co-owner, was sitting with his Nut Brown Ale in the corner, looking faintly at the lights singing along "...I really fucked it up this time/and it was your heart on the line...". Goosebumps. The second time was at Bonnaroo, andI saw the same faint expression painted in the lead singers eyes, it was in the air, it was in the lyrics being screamed back. This group of gentlemen laid their heart out on their bows, and we've picked up every ache.

Blue Beard - Band of Horses: The other song that isn't an eager girl on Infinite arms, and my personal favorite. Give it a shot, it's not as catchy as some of the other manufactered songs on the album, but once you get to the chorus, you'll remember how you felt falling in love at a Halloween school dance.

To Build a Home - Cinematic Orchestra: If you don't slip into a contemplative, quiet calm while listening to this, I'm really not sure what would make you. This reminds me of an Ohio river sunset on a Sunday, the way you feel between homes. The way you feel when you're not sure what is home, but you feel it calling somewhere deep down.

Meant to play start to finish, I hope you like it as much as I did. You can tell me what you think if you want. Happy Summer my little music geeks.

Want one? Just ask :)