Since it’s officially (been) summer (for over a month now) it’s also officially time for another seasonal playlist. For those who haven’t been keeping track at home every season I make a playlist that epitomizes the feeling inspired by that time of year. This summer list starts off much like the spring one did: with light, airy, toe-tapping tunes. These lead into some songs that are dancier, and a few that are pretty damned party before (relatively) cooling down.

1. Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time

“5 Years Time” is one of the most upbeat songs I’ve heard in a long time, and is a sweet beginning to this summertime mix. Myk says this band is basically one big Wes Anderson soundtrack, and he’s right. If the band’s Web site doesn’t channel Life Aquatic… well, maybe you should see the movie again.

2. Throw Me the Statue - About to Walk

This Seattle four-piece (where you at on this, Tom?) have been making a bit of noise in the blogosphere with their Maritime (and by extension Promise Ring) inspired indie-pop. Light and catchy in all the right ways.

3. Sporto Kantes - Whistle.

In a just world, this song would be this summer’s version of Peter, Bjorn and John’s Young Folks. Whistle driven pop that is immediately infectious.

4. Au Revoir Simone - Night Majestic

Three ladies that make me less antsy to leave Williamsburg, the current hipster capital of New York. Indie synth-pop never sounded so sweet.

5. Mates of State - Help Help

A husband and wife duo that have specialized in earnest, unpretentiously fun piano/drum tracks for years and don’t let up with this track from their latest album, Re-Arrange Us. “Help Help” is one of the more energetic from this release, which boasts a cleaner, more polished sound that their previous work.

6. Tilly and the Wall - Dust Me Off

This Omaha indie-rock five-piece made their name on exuberant folk songs, but the new album, O has them exploring a more diverse path, including this flirtation with playful surf-rock. It amazingly enough is one of the very few vocoder-accompanied songs that I actually like.

7. The Blow - Parentheses

Cutesy beats and hand claps accompany slightly off-kilter vocals singing frankly quite adorable lyrics. What’s more summer than that?

8. Tegan and Sara - The Con

The Con was one of the best pieces of indie-pop to come out in 2007, and this title track from the pair of Canadian twin sisters is still a staple of indie-rock dance parties a year after the album dropped. Acoustic guitar never mixed so well with synths and a snare/high-hat groove.

9. Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

This bit of French electro-pop was one of the “it” songs of 2007. Justice was played at just about every club in New York to hipster-packed dance floors, and to a degree still is.

10. Cansei de Ser Sexy - This Month Day 10

Brazilian electro-clash from a group whose name literally means “Tired of Being Sexy.” Though the song might be about being rude, the beats show this group is hardly done with sexy.

11. Girl Talk - Hands in the Air

Girl Talk has always been a bit of a fun novelty, sampling myriad songs to create interesting new pieces. Feed the Animals, the new album released earlier this year, surpasses all previous ones in continuity and sheer party vibe mixing hip-hop, dance, and rock to create one of the funnest albums of the summer.

12. The Coup - We Are the Ones

The Coup are quite a delicious rarity in hip-hop these days using party/club beats to back smart, socially conscious lyrics. I’d certainly get down if I heard this at the club.

13. Salt-n-Pepa - Push It

The oldie of this list, but certainly still a goodie. I’m not sure what’s better, the song or the matching outfits in the video.

14. Santogold - Lights Out

Santi White has blown up quite a bit since I first saw her last year in McCarren Park. This alum of the Spank Rock crew has done well for herself, including landing two songs (including this one) in the new Bud Light Lime ad campaign. It’s one of the sweetest, easiest tracks from the record. In my head it’s about surviving a zombie attack, but that’s probably just wishful thinking.

15. MGMT - Kids

MGMT have been one of the biggest deals of the past year and this anthemic bit of electro-clash from last year’s Oracular Spectacular is gearing up to be one of my defining songs of this summer.

© Eric Atienza 2008 for Listen In. Some rights reserved.

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