Screenshot: Kali Uchis, The Smoking Popes, Atmosphere, Kacey Musgraves/YouTube
Just as there are Christmas carols and songs of the summer, there’s “Oh, it’s finally nice out today” music. These are the albums you listen to on the days you first notice the trees budding, when you decide to take those ten extra minutes to walk around at lunch, when the jacket you bring with you in the morning is too hot for 1 PM. We all have them, and here, 10 A.V. Club staffers pick ten of ours.
Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg and Wilco
California Stars
My way into this album was its most famous track, “California Stars,” which brings to mind al fresco dinner parties under cafe lights on warm evenings. I think I’ve put it on every summer playlist I’ve ever made. It took me longer to appreciate the beauty of Mermaid Avenue as a complete work, but it’s the perfect album to put on in the background when you want to create a mood that’s airy and welcoming. It’s filled with terrific, folk-rock tunes featuring lyrics written decades earlier by Woody Guthrie set to music by Bragg and Wilco. From contemplative acoustic tracks like “At My Window Sad And Lonely” and “Birds And Ships” (featuring the sweet voice of Natalie Merchant) to the bouncy funk of “Hoodoo Voodoo” its jangly guitars, saloon piano, and breezy beats make you want to fling open the doors and let the light in. [Cindy White]
There’s only one:Featuring such bangers, if not actual hits, as “Whatareya?”, “The Parable Of Glenn McGrath’s Haircut”, “Thunderbirds Are Coming Out”, and, of course, the seminal “A Hard-Earned Thirst Needs A Big Cold Beer, But I Drink To Get Pissed”.
Came here to post that….”Age of the Sun” by The Sunshine Fix is my warm weather go-to…heck, it’s got a song titled “Mr. Summer Day” which is just the perfect pop song (catchy, great fun lyrics, awesome harmonies). The album has at least three others that could be called that, too. “Buh baah baaaah”This album has become a little bittersweet since Bill Doss passed so young, so it sometimes makes me cry a bit when I listen in the evening on headphones, but the album overall is just such a joyous celebration of life and love and, yes, great weather…also awesome to blast in the car with the windows down and the sun shining.I encourage anyone who enjoys psych-pop, Beatles, XTC, sunshine-pop, etc. (and, of course, Olivia Tremor Control, as Bill was one of the main guys in that group) to give it a listen, you won’t regret it.
Def or The Future History EP that starts with “buh baah baaah” 😀
Also worth separating out which songs on the last Apples albums are Doss songs or at least sang by Doss. Previously Schneider’s wife wrote and sang or just sang a few songs an album, then after he and his wife split Doss started being more involved it looks like. They co-wrote “Can you feel it?” and on the last album Doss co-wrote Wings Away (I thought he wrote No Vacation but maybe not). Anyway, Doss was clearly gone too soon, Green Imagination should have got more press. The first Circulatory System album (other OTC William) is also great.
Came here to say: 1. It’s higher than 75 degrees, check.2. Lead my dog Harleen to the car, drive 2 miles, park, check.3. Get out to the beach, let her off lease, check.4. Cue up Solar Power.5. Walk, throw a ball, reflect, marvel at how great Stoned at the Nail Salon is.I love her. A friend rode an elevator with Lorde last year and confirmed that she smells amazing.
This. When it starts to feel like it’s the brink of summer, I constantly crank the Beach Boys for approximately 4 weeks before putting them away til next year. No particular album or tracks, just scrolling through my favourites, which there are many, and remembering discovering them in my late youth. Summer perfection, despite being totally obvious
Almost any B-52s album would have been a terrific choice, but there is just something so bubbly and vibrant about their last album Funplex that it always appears in my car USB rotation when warm weather rolls around.
Springtime music I dig, Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend album; I also find Cake to be a fun springtime band. Liz Phair’s wcse is a great spring album, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising.
Anything that I can roll down the window and listen to while I’m driving. One of my favorite go-to albums is “Moving Pictures” by Rush. I love that album. “Red Barchetta” in particular is a great song for summer driving. “Wind…in my hair…shifting and drifting…mechanical music… adrenaline surge!!”. Not Rush, but “Band On The Run” is another great summer driving song (and some of McCartney’s best work!).
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There’s only one:Featuring such bangers, if not actual hits, as “Whatareya?”, “The Parable Of Glenn McGrath’s Haircut”, “Thunderbirds Are Coming Out”, and, of course, the seminal “A Hard-Earned Thirst Needs A Big Cold Beer, But I Drink To Get Pissed”.
I was thinking Spoon also, but the “Cherry Bomb” song came to mind…I also like Elephant 6 when the weather turns, Sunshine Fix or Apples in Stereo
Came here to post that….”Age of the Sun” by The Sunshine Fix is my warm weather go-to…heck, it’s got a song titled “Mr. Summer Day” which is just the perfect pop song (catchy, great fun lyrics, awesome harmonies). The album has at least three others that could be called that, too. “Buh baah baaaah”This album has become a little bittersweet since Bill Doss passed so young, so it sometimes makes me cry a bit when I listen in the evening on headphones, but the album overall is just such a joyous celebration of life and love and, yes, great weather…also awesome to blast in the car with the windows down and the sun shining.I encourage anyone who enjoys psych-pop, Beatles, XTC, sunshine-pop, etc. (and, of course, Olivia Tremor Control, as Bill was one of the main guys in that group) to give it a listen, you won’t regret it.
Def or The Future History EP that starts with “buh baah baaah” 😀
Also worth separating out which songs on the last Apples albums are Doss songs or at least sang by Doss. Previously Schneider’s wife wrote and sang or just sang a few songs an album, then after he and his wife split Doss started being more involved it looks like. They co-wrote “Can you feel it?” and on the last album Doss co-wrote Wings Away (I thought he wrote No Vacation but maybe not). Anyway, Doss was clearly gone too soon, Green Imagination should have got more press. The first Circulatory System album (other OTC William) is also great.
Mine is the entire oeuvre of the Cocteau Twins. Something about ethereal pop screams spring to me.
Everyone stop lying and admit that you all listen to “I’m Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves.
First thing for me. That or the Beatles’ “Good Day Sunshine”.Mind you, it’s been a pretty mild winter where I live, but it’s nice to have longer days.
There should be no shame in that.
If High Fidelity Jack Black approves then I don’t think anyone has anything to be embarrassed about with that one.
It’s his dancing that sells it.
Can’t fake that enthusiasm!
Dammit. Now I have to go punch some drywall to feel manly again.
Definition by Destruction – The Suicide Machines
Now that’s a name I haven’t heard since I saw Streetlight Manifesto on tour…
Came here to say: 1. It’s higher than 75 degrees, check.2. Lead my dog Harleen to the car, drive 2 miles, park, check.3. Get out to the beach, let her off lease, check.4. Cue up Solar Power.5. Walk, throw a ball, reflect, marvel at how great Stoned at the Nail Salon is.I love her. A friend rode an elevator with Lorde last year and confirmed that she smells amazing.
Not an album but a song:
This. When it starts to feel like it’s the brink of summer, I constantly crank the Beach Boys for approximately 4 weeks before putting them away til next year. No particular album or tracks, just scrolling through my favourites, which there are many, and remembering discovering them in my late youth. Summer perfection, despite being totally obvious
For me, either of the last two Waxahatchee albums are the absolute perfect “driving down a sunny country road” records.
The Rolling Stones’ “Some Girls” is an album I absolutely crave when I think about summertime.
Van Halen — 1984Specifically “Panama”.Although Fresh Prince’s “summertime” kinda hits the nostalgia bullseye.
For a number of years in the late 90s/early 00s it was Sublime’s self-titled album. I haven’t listened to that in decades now though.
“I don’t practice Santaria”I still think that album slaps
“Morning Dance” by Spyro Gyra.
An entire “summer” album just sounds….weird , but for a single song .this a almost a bit too on the nose , but not quite:
Almost any B-52s album would have been a terrific choice, but there is just something so bubbly and vibrant about their last album Funplex that it always appears in my car USB rotation when warm weather rolls around.
Springtime music I dig, Matthew Sweet’s Girlfriend album; I also find Cake to be a fun springtime band. Liz Phair’s wcse is a great spring album, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising.
Anything that I can roll down the window and listen to while I’m driving. One of my favorite go-to albums is “Moving Pictures” by Rush. I love that album. “Red Barchetta” in particular is a great song for summer driving. “Wind…in my hair…shifting and drifting…mechanical music… adrenaline surge!!”. Not Rush, but “Band On The Run” is another great summer driving song (and some of McCartney’s best work!).