First off, let me start this post by saying I enjoyed Arctic Monkeys’ latest release, Suck It And See. I wouldn’t go as far to say that it was their best album, but it had a nice sound to it and I enjoyed “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair”, “Library Pictures”, and “Black Treacle” the most. I think The Monkeys first started to really change things up stylistically with 2009’s Humbug, and while I prefer Humbug to SIAS, I still recommend giving their new album a listen. :) Like always, our favorite Sheffield boys produce a great music effort.
My 1-10 rating: 7 out of 10
Other songs to check out: “Reckless Serenade”, “Love is a Laserquest”, “All My Own Stunts”
Now, for the real reason behind this post. I’ve been doing conditioning for cross country these past few weeks, and it has been HOT. Heck, even when I’m not running, it’s hot. I’ve turned on the fan, now drank plenty of water, and even had some ice cream to try and cool off, but I know by now that music is the ultimate way to make me feel better. So I’ve scoured the Internet and my own personal song collections to make a satisfying summer mix of 30 songs that includes classic rock, contemporary alternative/indie stuff, and—yes—even one or two pop and country songs. Don’t knock it until you try it though, and once you listen, you may start to feel cool as a cucumber despite the sizzling heat, especially on those long and boring road trips. Enjoy!
Note: Though a lot of them are about summer, there are also songs I threw in there because they’re upbeat and fun, or chill and laid-back.
1. “Dusk and Summer” –Dashboard Confessional
2. “A-Punk”—Vampire Weekend
3. “Summer of ‘98”—The Secret Handshake
4. “California”—Phantom Planet
5. “Summer Nights”—Van Halen
6. “Holiday”—Green Day
7. “Walkin’ on Sunshine”—Katrina and the Waves
8. “Ocean Avenue”—Yellowcard
9. “Summertime”—Kenny Chesney
10. “Summer Nights”—Rascal Flatts
11. “Soak up the Sun”—Sheryl Crow
12. “I Can Talk”—Two Door Cinema Club
13. “End Love”—OK Go
14. “Florida”—Modest Mouse
15. “No, Not Now”—Hot Hot Heat
16. “Wine in the Afternoon”—Franz Ferdinand
17. “Bambi”—Tokyo Police Club
18. “Teddy Picker”—Arctic Monkeys
19. “Summertime Blues”—The Who
20. “Summer Skin”—Death Cab For Cutie
21. “Dani California”—Red Hot Chili Peppers
22. “Sunny Afternoon”—The Kinks
23. “Horchata”—Vampire Weekend
24. “Lovers In Japan”—Coldplay
25. “The Great Escape”—Boys Like Girls
26. “Summer Angel" — Minus the Bear
27. “The Beach”—All Time Low
28. “Summer Love”—Justin Timberlake
29. “Hey Ya!”—Outkast
30. “Rebellion (Lies)”—Arcade Fire
So sorry I couldn't compile all the songs into an online playlist like my winter playlist, but I had too many songs to work with this time. Hopefully all can be found online so you can make your own mix yourself!
