Has anyone been feeling a particular lack of sweet summer tunes this season? Quite a letdown after I spent months last year with Miracle Fortress‘ “Five Roses” on repeat, and 2006 was a tie with Phoenix’s “It’s Never Been Like That” and “Puzzles Like You” by Mojave 3. Maybe it’s just me living in relative isolation from pop music and hipster culture, but I’m not feeling any particular surge of interest toward one artist.
Since it’s not looking like I’m going to find my summer musical blockbuster analogous to The Dark Knight, I’ve taken to sampling artists fervently and settling quickly one a decent song or two. It’s not the love affair I would like, but it’s a love-’em-and-leave-’em world sometimes. Here’s a few decent tracks:
She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
I hemmed and hawed about this track back when it was available as a live video, and I finally decided I like it. You got me, Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Well, M. Ward had me at End of Amnesia….
Hilotrons - Emergency Street [Happymatic, 2008]
I find this album is a bit hollow and fluffy (as Nigel would say from So You Think You Can Dance, “like cotton candy: sweet, but no substance”), but this track is slick. Yes, I quoted SYTYCD. And yes, I just used the acronym. Wanna fight?
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Buriedfed
Now, this CD with the extended moniker holds some potential for me. Soulful, dense, unique, lovely. Check his myspace.
Madrid - Reply (to Everyone) [Madrid EP, 2008]
Madrid have been described as a cross between Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Kraftwerk. Wonderful musical offspring.
Veda Hille - Luckyluck [This Riot Life, 2008]
This year’s Canadian answer to St. Vincent (although Veda’s been around for a while).
So, I issue a challenge to any readers/fellow contributors: do YOU have an album for summer 2008?
Comments:
7 Comments so far...
after consulting urban dictionary, i am still unsure if that is the proper use of buck.
Comment by Daniel on 31-07-08Bahaha! Touché Sal, touché.
(Psst, it’s a quote from SYTYCD re: crumping).
I see. It’s clear I only watch family channel.
Comment by Daniel on 31-07-08Does the soundtrack to the Dark Knight count?
Anyway, the only thing that comes close for me is MGMT. Not released this summer, but getting a lot of airplay.
Comment by Kevin on 31-07-08Anything by Hans Zimmer counts! Good call on MGMT. And by all means, pre-summer releases are totally legit. It takes a while to get close with music sometimes.
Comment by BriD on 31-07-08wphvl6abnw2d83ss
Comment by Fonda Ratliff on 12-11-08Leave a comment
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this is kinda buck.
Comment by Sal on 30-07-08