The wait is over! Summer is finally here! Before you go out in the sun and have some fun, you’ll definitely want to stock up on the right music. Whether you’re chilling by the beach, throwing a killer party, or heading off to your next road trip, here are a few fresh jams to add into your iPod that’ll surely enhance your summer experience:
Katy Perry (feat. Snoop Dogg) – “California Girls”
This one’s a no-brainer. Pop queen Katy Perry’s latest single just screams summer smash: you’ve got palm trees, bikinis, daisy dukes, and Snoop Dogg putting down a slick rhyme. What's not to love about this song?
Sleigh Bells – “Rill Rill”
The Brooklyn boy/girl duo Sleigh Bells is generating some serious buzz with their debut, Treats, which combines sugary pop hooks and massively loud rhythms. Embedded within an album full of fierce sonic explosions, “Rill Rill” is like a refreshing breeze with its chill tempo, sweetly sedative vocals and soaring use of an old-school soul sample.
Surfer Blood – “Floating Vibes”
With a band name like Surfer Blood, one can only assume that surfer rock and beach music must be part of the equation. But, Surfer Blood’s Astro Coast is so much more than that. The album is packed with lots of punch, and “Floating Vibes” is just one of its many shimmering tracks.
She & Him – “In the Sun”
When Zooey Deschannel isn’t lighting up the silver screen, she’s impressing listeners everywhere with her wonderful and luminous indie pop tunes. Veiling hopeless longing with a sunny melody and aw-shucks attitude, “In the Sun” is likely to turn that frown upside down under any circumstances and will probably keep you smiling all summer long.
The Morning Benders – “Excuses”
Pitchfork shined the spotlight on this Berkeley quartet, giving them a glowing review for their sophomore album, Big Echo. In a perfect encapsulation: “…[Excuses] rubs the sleep out of its eyes with a single electric guitar surfing over a sea of hazy, twinkling piano keys, before an acoustic guitar figure bursts wide open like a summer sunrise.”
La Roux – “Bulletproof”
Who would’ve ever thought that a Ginger with a side faux hawk could create such a catchy song? As you much as you might want to escape it, this is one of those songs that’ll get stuck in your head for days on end.
Freelance Whales – “Kilojoules”
From the Brooklyn subway to South by Southwest, Freelance Whales are drawing crowds everywhere with their charmingly quirky sound and unique amalgam of instruments. As the title indicates, this gem of a track is about body heat, but it’s not exactly what you might think.
Janelle Monáe (feat. Big Boi) – “Tightrope”
Falling somewhere between a female version of Andre 3000 and James Brown, Janelle Monáe is making a name for herself with her electrifying stage presence and mad style. “Tightrope” is a funky soulful jam, with handclaps aplenty and colored by some smooth rapping from the other half of the eclectic duo of Outkast.
Travie McCoy (feat. Bruno Mars) – “Billionaire”
Enlisting the help of rising superstar songwriter/producer Bruno Mars, the Gym Class Hero gone solo must’ve known he had a summer hit on his hands way before it was even released. With its laid-back vibe and breezy, reggae-tinged hook, “Billionaire” is an essential sing-a-long made for the sunshine.
LCD Soundsystem – “Dance Yrself Clean”
Logging up close to about 9 minutes, “Dance Yrself Clean” is an epic emotional excursion of pure sonic bliss. It’ll have you laughing, crying, and dancing all at the same time.
Other songs to include:
Tokyo Police Club – “Bambi”
Minus the Bear – “Summer Angel”
B.o.B. (feat. Lupe Fiasco) – “Past My Shades”
Rogue Wave – “Good Morning (The Future)”
Broken Bells – “The Ghost Inside”
Band of Horses – “Laredo”
Jónsi – “Go Do”
Neon Trees – “Animal”
Gorillaz – “Stylo”
Drake – “Find Your Love”
