Music Monday 5.14.07

When I think of "summer music" I think of three different places where we regularly experience summer music (I'm leaving off road trips, maybe for another post).  The first is at home on a lazy afternoon, which demands music that is a bit restrained, slowed down, encouraging you to stay lazy in a porch swing. The second is at a backyard barbecue where you want something solid and fun in the background.  This one could be "beach music" too, I suppose.  The third is cruising around town, soundtracked by cranked-up music pumping through your car speakers as you roll with your homeys, windows down, around the Tasty Freeze.  Here's some of my favorite music for lazy afternoons, grilling with friends, or cruising around town.

LAZY

Husky Rescue: Country Falls

This is their 2005 release, which is a perfect companion on a hot summer day.  There's a 2007 I haven't heard yet, though what they have online sounds great.  Whatever, just pick it up and sip some tea for crying out loud.  It's really, really good stuff.

Don't miss: "Summertime Cowboy," "City Lights," and "Rainbow Flows"

Ray Lamontagne: Trouble or Till the Sun Turns Black

This guy's music is just incredible to me.  So simple, so easy, so emotional. Look also for iTunes exclusives and stuff on YouTube.  I'm linked to this duet with Damien Rice before, which is tremendous.

Don't miss: "Barfly," "Shelter," and "Burn"

A few other bands or artists for lazy afternoons: Amos Lee, Sparklehorse, Mountain Goats, Midlake, Josh Rouse, Espers, Eluvium, Jose Gonzalez.

GRILLING & FUN

New Pornographers: Electric Version, Twin Cinema

Super fun music that makes you want to dance, play, and sing-along. 

Our family video should be evidence enough: Sing Me Spanish Techno. It takes a lot of guts to put that video out there, so be nice. :)

Don't miss: "Use It," "The Laws Have Changed," "Sing Me Spanish Techno," and "Twin Cinema"

Peter, Bjorn & John: Writer's Block

Catchy songs, lots of whistling.  Trust me when I say the kids will join in.   I really enjoy the beats.  Foot-tapping deliciocity.

Don't miss: "Young Folks," "Amsterdam," "Objects of My Affection"

A few other bands or artists for grilling and fun: The Shins, Phoenix, Mat Kearney, Loney Dear, The Go! Team.

CRUISING

LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver

Hard to beat this music for loud, bass-thumping, toe-tapping, get the lead out goodness.  The lyrics and vocals are often quirky and interesting.  The music is really great. 

Don't miss: "North American Scum," "Time to Get Away," and "Sound of Silver"

Other bands or artists for cruising: Spoon, Linkin Park, Fujiya & Miyagi, Blonde Redhead.

What are your summer music selections?

Comments

[aaron arledge]

for grilling and fun nothing beats
Rebirth Brass Band

[The Hosh]

Great choices! Here are a couple of ones I would add:

Lazy - Rocky Votolato, The Album Leaf

Grilling - Cold War Kids, Kings of Leon

Cruising - Jimmy Eat World (classic, never gets hold, you can always scream/sing it); I loved your addition of Blonde Redhead and Spoon here. Linkin Park though? Really?

[Van Edwards]

Steve,
Serious question here. As a pastor, does the name "New Pornographers" not bother you? I'll admit that I've enjoyed the New Pornographers music that I've heard. I like Neko Case and A.C. Newman. However, because of their name, I simply cannot buy or download their music. I realize there's nothing pornographic about them. But I have the same problem with Jesus and Mary Chain and others.
Just curious.

Thanks,
Van

[chris w]

How many years ago did Trouble come out? I've listened to that album more times than I can count, and still, with every listen I find something new in those songs. The arrangments are deceptively simple and belie the depth of the content. Great album.

For some reason I can't figure out, I still haven't picked up the "new" one, which is no longer new. My birthday's comin' up. It'll be on my list.

[Steve McCoy]

Van, no. I know why that's their name and it doesn't bother me. It has nothing to do with pornography or newer pornography. It's actually taken from a reference made by a preacher.

[Joe Thorn]

Cultural exegesis Van. :)
Jimmy Swaggart called music "the new pornography."
link

[Van Edwards]

Interesting.
Thanks.

[michael mcminn]

As always Steve love your thoughts and selections on music.

For me:
Lazy - Damien Jurado, Over the Rhine
Grillin' - Starflyer 59, Fountains of Wayne
Cruisin' - Neon Horse, The Rapture

[Steve McCoy]

Thanks Michael. I considered OtR for "lazy," but they feel more cozy than lazy to me. And cozy is not a summer feel for me. Maybe that's just because OtR is what my wife and I listened to a lot this winter as we cozied-up to one another. :)

[Dan Barnett]

Cruising and Wake up: Skillet-Comatose

Lazy: Selah-Bless the Broken Road

Grilling: N'Sync-No Strings Attached(Just Kidding on that one)
I know mine don't fit with a lot of these, but Aaron Shust-One Day for just hearing something uplifting
My favorite right now is definitely the entire "Comatose" album by Skillet.

[Dan Barnett]

By the way, doesn't Ray Lamontagne kinda remind you of Brister? :-)

[Laura Beth O'Nan]

The new Wilco album came out today, and I will most definitley be listening to it all summer long. My husband and I plugged in the earphones and listened to the Wilco's "Blue Sky Blue" tonight. It was much more mellow than I expected, and had some AMAZING guitar parts thanks to Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline.

[Steve McCoy]

Dan, hate most of your music, but the nsync line was funny. :) And yes, RL does look a bit like Brister.

Laura, I'm SOOOO looking forward to getting Wilco. Read a bunch of reviews on it this week and I'm pumped. I was just thinking I probably shouldn't have posted summer music without listening to Wilco first, but the world isn't a perfect place. :)

[Brent]

I highly recommend the new Wilco. As with most of their releases, it takes some unexpected turns but that's what keeps them so interesting, right? I'd also highly recommend the new Jeremy Casella album Recovery.

[Dan Barnett]

As long as we can agree on Wierd Al we're cool.

[Laura Beth O'Nan]

Steve, you may want to go to Pitchfork and download a video of some strange happening at The 930 (Sojourn Community Church) last week. California Guitar Trio did a show there, and closed the show with a cameo performance of Bonnie Prince Billy (Will Oldham) singing Freebird. Yeah...

[Steve McCoy]

Thanks Laura Beth. Nice. I only found audio, though.

[Laura Beth O'Nan]

Oops... I meant to say audio.

[Steve McCoy]

Just really glad to get The 930 on Pitchfork. Awesome.