Sure, summer is half over, but there are still 6 weeks or so until the beginning of September (although, honestly it's still summer to me until the weather changes; around here that could be until October). So, while summer lasts, here are 5 discs that you should be listening to this summer, whether it is a cookout or just hanging out on the deck or at the beach. I think all 5 of them are the kind of music you want to listen to in the summer - upbeat, sunny day kinda songs that just make you feel good...
1.) Discovery - LP
This is a band made up of one of the guys from Vampire Weekend (who I like) and Ra Ra Riot (a band I have only heard of, but never heard their music). It has a kind of new wave, synth pop sound to it, which of course is right up my alley, mixed with a little bit of R&B. Its an interesting combination (they even do a Jackson 5 cover). The songs are all short, 2-3 minutes like most good pop songs, so you can listen to the whole disc on a short drive - it is the perfect soundtrack for a sunny day of driving around town.
Favorite Songs:
"Orange Shirt", "Osaka Loop Line", "So Insane", "Swing Tree", "Carby", "It's Not My Fault (It's My Fault)".2.) Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors are a band that I had heard of for a few years but never had a chance to check out their music until now (they had a lot more CD's than I thought). They are an experimental rock band, which is really just a catch-all term for a band whose music doesn't quite fit into any particular genre (or bands that just make weird music). This band is a little of both. On this disc, the songs lean a little more towards pop, and the results are very enjoyable. Since the band hasn't completely shed their "experimental" sound, it might not be for everyone (especially since singer Dave Longstreth has an unusual voice). However, if you are a fan of bands that don't try and sound like every other band out there, you should dig this.
Favorite Songs:
"Canibal Resource", "The Bride", "Stillness is the Move", "Useful Chamber", "No Intention", "Remade Horizon".3.) Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/Light Years
I already talked about this disc in my "Top 10 CD's of 2009 (so far...)" post, so I am not really going to go on any further about it. Also, just because it is the only CD from that list to make it on to this one doesn't mean that I have changed my mind and now think it is better than the discs I ranked above it. It just means that this CD has some really catchy songs that I find myself listening to a lot this summer.
4.) We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls
This is the only real "rock" CD on this list (maybe music that is more pop-oriented just lends itself better to summertime...). These guys are from Scotland and this is their first disc, so I really don't know much about them (even their Wikipedia page is pretty sparse). They have a pretty straightforward indie rock sound for the most part, but there is something about the lead singer's Scottish accent that adds a little extra to their songs. There are songs on this disc that are both uptempo and low tempo, so it would be great for those later hour patio or deck gatherings. Plus, I think their name is cool...
Favorite Songs:
"It's Thunder and It's Lightning", "Ships With Holes Will Sink", "Roll Up Your Sleeves", 'Conductor", "This Is My House, This Is My Home", "Quiet Little Voices", "Moving Clocks Run Slow", "Short Bursts".
5.) Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
This is the only disc on this list that didn't come out this year - it is from 2008. This is another one of those bands that I had heard of, but didn't get around to getting my hands on the disc this year. Their sound is sort of like a modern take on disco - a lot of horns and disco-like bass lines along with vocals that sound like they came right out of Studio 54. A couple of the songs have guest vocals by Antony Hegarty of "Antony and the Johnsons". If you have ever heard their music, you know that Hegaty has one of the most unusual and, I'll say it, down right WEIRD singing voices I have ever heard. However, on the songs which he appears on this disc, his voice melds perfectly with the type of music and is almost like another instrument.
Favorite Songs:
"Hercules' Theme", "Athene", "Easy", "Time Will", "You Belong".
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