Now that July is finally upon us, we can safely say that summer is full swing. With summer comes the songs of summer and WSUM is here to guide you in your summer listening. Our DJs are here to tell you what they've on their headphones and in their heads all summer.
Antipop – A-Side/B-Side
“Future Warrior” by Palms – Released in summer 2013, I've only gotten around to this one. Consisting of the Deftones' Chino Moreno and ex-Isis members, Palms' sound is heavy on the shoegaze and post-metal elements. Because of this, the song features washes of effects and heavy guitars. To me there's just something about the wall of sound that reminds me of a perfect summer day being followed by an afternoon storm.
“Ain't it Fun” by Paramore – Another 2013 release, I guess some songs just take a while to kick in. This song is just so much fun. Punk-flavored funk-pop is in effect here, with Hayley's beautiful vocals and a gang-chorus thrown in for good effect. I am tempted to go see them live at Summerfest.
“High Road” by Mastodon – Never not Mastodon. Mastodon released Once More Around the Sun this month and I am very excited to tear around Madison on my bike with it as a soundtrack. When I bike, I like to go fast and feel powerful and not many bands are better at evoking that feeling than Mastodon.
“Fancy” by Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – This is on the list because I cannot get enough of the chorus. I'm ambivalent towards the rest of the song, but when “I'm so fancy/You already know” hits, I'm all in. I think it's summer credentials are confirmed by the fact that Reds second basemen Brandon Phillips uses it as one of his 4 at-bat songs.
“Old White Lincoln” by The Gaslight Anthem – Just a song that exudes nostalgia for bygone times, especially warm summer nights. Slightly melancholic, but mostly wistful, I'd classify this more as a “post-summer” song, but that's not gonna stop me from listening to it over and over (like I normally do anyway).
“We Are Explorers” by Cut Copy – This whole album is full of upbeat, eclectic, danceable songs and their show at the Majestic last fall was unbelievable. I dig this track in particular, but this is definitely a summer album for me!
“A Summer in Ohio” from The Last Five Years original Broadway cast recording – I'm a huge musical nerd from Ohio, who spends as much summertime in Madison as possible, so this song really hits home for me.
“Doin' Time” by Sublime. This song is the epitome of summer to me. It's so groovy.
When I'm riding my bike, I like to listen to a lot of weird, fast, short songs, so to round out my summer list are “Pan y Cafe” by Xenia Rubinos and “Ack Ack Ack Ack” by Urinals.
“Touch Me I'm Going to Scream, Pt.2” by My Morning Jacket – Jim James has an amazing voice and lyrics, and the song is very emotional and variable.
“Lo Borro” by Aaron Issues and Nathan M Godfrey – This song features fast rhythmic spanish guitar and soulful English and Spanish lyrics.
“Brighter Than Gold” by The Cat Empire – This band is super diverse and Brighter Than Gold is a good representation of some of their music. It has multiple build-ups, horn sections, lyrics, some tribal-like singing, and a climax that makes you want to dance. The band is often categorized as a mix of Jazz and Ska.
Petey – The Study Lounge
Summer time means travelling and hanging out with friends that I've known for years. These songs set a nice chill mood for dancing, driving or long conversations that go deep into the night.
“One More Time” by The French Kicks
“Drinking in LA” by Bran Van 3000
“If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't on the Dance Floor)” by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
“Check My Heart” by The Pastels
“Good as New” by Vacationer
Casey Hutchison – The Daily Soup, WSUM News & Wisdom
“Bridges” by Broods – I can't stop listening to Broods' self-titled first album. They're an indie pop brother and sister duo, and share a producer (Joel Little) and a similar sound with fellow New Zealander Lorde. “Bridges” has done really well on the charts in Australia and New Zealand, and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a hit here too.
“Traum” by Cro – This is the newest single from Germany's most popular rapper/popstar/panda-mask-wearer, from his June album Melodie. It's bouncy, cheerful, and absolutely impossible to listen to just once.
“Harlem” by New Politics – New Politics are experts at dance-rock with choruses that will stay stuck in your head for weeks, and the first single from their 2013 album A Bad Girl in Harlem is no exception. This is a song that makes you want to go out and have spectacular adventures with your friends.
“Argentina (Parts I, II, III)” by Tokyo Police Club – Given that nearly all of Tokyo Police Club's songs to date have been less than three minutes long, their decision to write a nine-minute epic for their new album Forcefield was a bit of a surprise. Somehow, though, “Argentina” manages to maintain its energy throughout the whole song, without any lull in its clever lyrics or simple-yet-catchy guitar lines.
“Cheap Sunglasses” by RAC feat. Matthew Koma – One of the highlights of RAC's first studio album, Strangers. Although the group usually sticks to remixes, this song shows that they're clearly excellent songwriters as well. Add Matthew Koma's super-polished vocals, and you have a song perfect for a summer drive with the volume up and the windows down.
Jon_Danger – The Danger Zone
“Do it Again” by Royksopp & Robyn – Norwegian EDM act Royksopp and Swedish recording star Robyn come together in what I can only describe as the Chocolate and Peanut butter of Scandanavian dance pop. Catchy tune! Listen? I would do it again.
“Jealous (I Ain't With It)” by Chromeo – Chromeo is back! It has been like a decade since their first amazing album She's in Control. This dance-funk track will have you grooving like it is 2004 again.
“Satisfy” by NERO – I absolutely loved 2011's Welcome Reality. This single just gets me even more excited for their new album. This lead single is more of the same haunting female folks and hard electronic beats that just rocks my socks. More Nero soon please!
“She is Young, She is Beautiful, She is Next” by Pertubator – OK, if you haven't heard of Perturbator you are missing out. Like 80's synth music? Listen to this absolutely terrifying track of his new album, preferably while driving in the rain very fast.
Grandma Cyd – Heavy Petting Zoo
“In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” by Rosemary Clooney – A great hand-clappy tune to kick off your swingin' summer party
“Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer” by Nat King Cole – It just screams “church picnic,” doesn't it?
“Ole Buttermilk Sky” by Bing Crosby – So cute, and it sweeps you up into the story. You'll find yourself singing along with Bing in no time.
“Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra – Because of course.
“Unforgettable” by Johnny Hartman – Everybody associates this song with Nat, but no, give this one a shot. In fact, spend all your summer rainy days with Johnny Hartman. You won't regret it.
“Wonder (Ft. The Kite String Tangle)” by Adventure Club – A friend told me to listen to this song and I've been playing it ever since. It's one of those songs you'll want to have in your windows-down-top-down-cruising-down-the-road playlist.
“Hey Mami” by Sylvan Esso – Did you ever think a song about catcalling could be catchy and be your summer jam? No? Listen to this one. Yes? Still listen to this one. I've definitely overplayed this song this summer and I won't stop anytime soon. This is a jam for days. (Heads up, the band will be playing at The Frequency in September).
“Jika” by Mi Casa – This song was released in 2013 but I just discovered it this summer and it is that good stuff. The deep house vibes oozing out of this song are timeless. You can't help but groove to the sounds of this South African band.
“So Good To Me” by Chris Malinchak – Also released in 2013, this song just makes you happy. I'm serious; it WILL bring happiness to your life. Listen to it and smile for it is summer.
“Say My Name (Cyril Hahn Remix)” by Destiny's Child – Remember the original song? The original was released in 1999 before Beyoncé officially became the Queen B. The Swiss born Cyril Hahn cooked up an even better remix when he released this in 2012. Am I allowed to say this remix topped the original?
Kayla Kush – U DUB
“Collect the Trophy” by 10ft Ganja Plant on Skycatcher – 10ft Ganja Plant is a great band to listen to while hanging on the porch. This song is my favorite from their newest album, Skycatcher. The lyrics are great, and the melody is really catchy and fun to sing along to.
“Mile High” by The Movement on Side by Side – This song is about “the first day of summer.” The lyrics are easygoing—they talk about having enough whiskey and weed while enjoying the sunshine. I picked this album up after seeing The Movement at Cali Roots Fest at the end of May—the perfect way to kick off the summer!
“Feeling Alright” by Rebelution on Courage to Grow – This is a more mellow song, but it's simply about soaking up music relaxation, my favorite summer activity.
“What Will Be Will Be” by The Green on The Green – I picked up this album after seeing The Green at Cali Roots Fest. The Green is from Hawaii and they bring an island vibe to their sound. Descriptions of nature blend perfectly with the irie vibrations this song puts out.
“Turn Around” by Iration on Time Bomb – Iration's music is the perfect backdrop to a summer party outdoors. This entire album is gold, and right now I'm stuck on this song in particular.
“Woodland Creature” by The Hussy – It is Madison-grown iconoclastic grunge/punk at its finest and fuzzed out!
“Summer Babe – Winter Version” by Pavement – This perennial from the indie rock gods, Pavement, sounds just as tinny and poorly mixed as it did in 1989 – chicken soup for the slacker's soul.
“Diane” by Husker Du – Here's another throw-back that takes advantage of Bob Mould's razorish guitar and Grant Hart's emotive vocals to marry the worlds of hardcore and heart-on-sleeve balladry.
“I Heard That Lonesome Whistle” by Hank Williams – Long before his son would become the champion dunce of party-country, Hank Williams sang his guts out in true bluesman fashion, and this classic deserves the attention of modern listeners for its near-perfect rendering of the desolation of that great man's soul.
“Damaged Man” – Fire Retarded – Another Madison favorite that takes the simplicity of the 12-bar blues and runs it back a million miles an hour, making you want to punch through a mirror like the cover art of the Black Flag classic, Damaged (coincidence?).
Alyx Vesey – Feminist Music Geek Presents…
“Only Now” by Warsaw Afrobeat Orchestra – Funk is a global property. Ubiquity Records released this Poland-based collective's first single late last year. But the muggy horns and insistent vocals are perfect for a season that insists that you grab an inner tube and eat sno-cones with your friends.
“Brooklyn Baby” by Lana Del Rey – Her jazz collection's rare and her pool is on the roof, obvi.
“Now That School Is Through” by Cindy & the Playmates – Cindy & the Playmates' minor single came out roughly the same time as Alice Cooper's “School's Out,” serving as proof that teenage ennui is beyond genre. In the chorus to this obscure kiddy soul classic, leader Cindy Redd's back-up singers Wanda Cunningham and Manesbia Pierce chime “No more pencils flying, no more teachers crying.” This song takes you back to homeroom, seconds before the bell rang and you lept from your desk in search of the nearest block party.
“Don Ah” by OOIOO – Japan's premiere noise band return from extended hiatus with Gamel, their seventh full-length album. The album's opening track showcases two compositional elements. “Don Ah” pairs lead singer (and former Boredoms drummer) Yoshimi's peerless vocal improvisations with impromptu passages on the metallophone, a key percussive instrument in gamelan–a centuries-old genre endemic to Asia's Pacific Rim. While that may sound esoteric, this charging ten-minute slice of psychedelia is exhilarating. This track demands to lead off your next road trip mix.
“Tiger Girls” by Jammerz – This was the band I managed for the June session of Girls Rock Camp Madison. On paper, this song reads like “Rock Lobster” (huge compliment, B-52's 4 lyfe). But this raucous ode to musical animals stomping through fictional cities is its own ten-armed, ten-legged bellowing beast. You can hear their sound from Shan Diego to Boo Nork.
Wiigy – Wiigy's Audio Dreamsicle, The Artscast, Wisconsin Student Radio Players
“Slip and Slide” by Samuel L Cool J – One of the better celebrity name play-offs and certainly one of the best summer jams I've heard in a while. The song (from an old school influenced LA/Phoenix group) just oozes the feeling of a carefree summer day with your friends on the beach or near a grill.
“Avant Gardener” by Courtney Barnett – This song has been playing constantly on my record player. Witty lyrics play over swirling guitars in a sound reminiscent of that hazy, humid summer heat that can be overpowering at times. Also, her Australian accent just seeps out a feeling of being in a warm climate.
“Southern Sun” by Boy & Bear – Okay, I think Australian music just encapsulates how I feel about summer. But this song in particular is one of those summer road trip jams. I just imagine the wind wiping through an open car window as this 2013 release plays.
“Tio Sam” by Aurelio – From one of the more overlooked Sub Pop artists, Aurelio's 2011 release of excellent Garifuna songs provide a great soundtrack to a summer afternoon as you dance away into the twilight.
“A Hundred Dead and Loving Souls” by Chicano Batman – I've been raving about this song to my friends recently and stand by my opinion of Chicano Batman being in the top five band names I've ever heard. This song brings so much Mexicali heat that you'll need a cool beverage and your sunhat to cool down.
Robb Otics – TRILL, EMP Summer Sessions
“Astronauts ft. Slug” by Grieves – Released in Spring 2014, this song's just so catchy and combines the efforts of two heavyweights of the Rhymesayers label based out of the Twin Cities. It also touches on the loss of imagination that occurs when growing up with great imagery. I have pictures flying through my mind every time I hear this song.
“Sun & Moon” by Above & Beyond – Released in 2011, it's just a beautiful song! This trio formed in 2000 and are currently sitting at 17 in DJ Magazine's Top 100 DJ's in 2013 poll. This song matches vocals dripping in reverb with beautiful melody and great sound engineering resulting in an unforgettable trance track.
“Give It Up For Me” by Sydney Blu – Released in 2008, this track broke Beatport's sales record! It's a great dance track that has been on repeat on my playlists.
“Bang (Tiesto Bootleg)” by 3lau – This was released April 2014. First off, it samples the Bloodhound Gang which is great because I've listened to their music for a while. Second, it was bootlegged by Tiesto, one of the best music producers/DJs in the world. This combination leaves you with a killer party song.
Erik Kramer – The Painting Box, Go To Bed After This Show
“Brasil Pandeiro” by Novos Baianos – Wonderfully cheery Brazilian tropicalia from the early 70s it bring perfect summertime feelings and is very appropriate this summer with the whole World Cup phenomenon.
“En Gallop” by Joanna Newsom – Milk Eyed Mender is one album I have had on repeat every summer since high school. This song perfectly encapsulates the slow, meandering, comfortable boredom that is unique to summer for me.
“Upon Reflection” by Heron – Heron is a critically under-looked UK folk group from the late 60s that recorded most of their music out in the downs of West Sussex because they felt their music didn't sound right in the studio. This track is just one of many from these guys that has that easygoing, pastoral sound that I love this time of year.
“Round And Round” by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti – A definite summer night jam. One hazy afternoon a couple summers ago I was out in Colorado with some friends at a mountain home and someone put this song on, and in a captivating moment of serendipity and extravagance one of my friends descended the staircase in an elegant white bathrobe just as the “HOLD ON I'M CAAAALLING” section came on. It was too beautiful.
“In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry – It's really the perfect song for relaxing and knocking back a couple Bud Light® Straw-Ber-Ritas.
Andrew Schneider – Verb the Noun, Live@WSUM
“Maggots at the Party” by Combichrist – For some reason, I've been exploring the subgenre of aggrotech quite a bit this summer, and this is the song that really got me into the genre. Combichrist is a band that combines pounding industrial beats with heavy guitars and distorted vocals, but this song manages to take those seemingly disparate elements and combine them into something you'd hear on the dancefloor at a cyberpunk club.
“Kira Kira Killer” by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – As my fans should know by now, I'm a huge sucker for J-pop, and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is, in my humble opinion, the finest J-pop singer on the scene right now. She combines the brightly colored imagery of the kawaisa and decora fashion subcultures with some of the finest pop melodies and production courtesy of Yasutaka Nakata. This track is a cut off of her upcoming third LP, Pikapika Fantasian, and it's a banger.
“3:34 AM – Kickpuncher III: The Final Kickening” by The Fight Night – Yeah, yeah, I know. I should hate pop punk, but there's something so summery about the genre that, as soon as the weather gets warm, I'm blasting pop punk in my car like a 16-year-old who just got their driver's license. The Fight Night plays an aggressive style of pop punk commonly called “easycore”, and this song is about getting into a street fight at 3 AM. That plus the Community reference in the title should be all I have to say to sell you on this track.
“WETTER THAN TSUNAMi” by RiFF RAFF – I only need to quote one lyric from this song to prove that it's amazing: “In the kitchen cookin' cookies, but I'm not your damn granny.”
“Constant Headache” by Joyce Manor – This is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my entire life. Everything you could possibly want in a song is in here: love, loss, sadness, anger, emotion, and the rest. And to think it all comes in at only three minutes. Do yourself a favor and listen to this song. Then listen to it several more times until it never leaves your ears.
Listen to our summer jams playlist here!
