Perhaps in this day and age, the more appropriate term for this would be a "summer iPod playlist" instead of a "mixtape," just further proving how far we've come over the last four years.
Whatever you want to call it, this mix is especially for the Class of 2007, the only remaining class at Tufts who may have ever created a real mixtape using actual cassettes. In your honor, the Daily has assembled these seven (or 07, if you will) songs for your mixing pleasure.
Included are some songs that you may have missed if you've been sweating over your honors thesis, or, more likely, if you've just awoken from a senior slack-induced bender. The selections are the freshest picks from spring with enough staying power to stick in your head for the next few months.
Modest Mouse, "Florida"
No mix would be nearly trendy enough without appearances by Modest Mouse and The Shins, so why not resolve the issue in one fell swoop? James Mercer's guest appearance makes the usually dark sounds of Modest Mouse fairly bright and polished enough for summer. It's danceable, it's catchy, and it's about travel, so you can't go wrong. Enjoy Modest Mouse while you still can, because the elitists who still cling to the band of yesteryear might just murder them if they put out anything as poppy as "Dashboard" ever again.
Tim Armstrong, "Hold On"
For many, summer is that special time of the year where we put our differences aside and reunite in our rediscovered love of ska/reggae music. This release by the frontman for Rancid is a surefire winner for this crowd, as word of it will likely spread via hordes of teenagers cruising around your neighborhood blasting it with the windows down. But beware; if it's not already, this song will be stuck in your head until you're out of grad school.
The Academy Is..., "LAX to O'Hare"
Again, the title of this song is mildly appropriate for summer vacation. And if you can stomach Tim Armstrong all year round, you're probably also into The Academy Is... . As far as their style is concerned - which is somewhere between emo and pop punk - this guilty pleasure is far more rockin' than most. And with support from emo king Fall Out Boy, the band is becoming just hot enough for summer.
Brother Ali, "Daylight"
This gem is probably Brother Ali's happiest, brightest song to date, and it is undoubtedly worthy of the only hip-hop slot on this mix. Don't get me wrong, it has a solid beat and some great rhymes, but with such poppy choruses and instrumental backings, you could imagine it being covered by Kelly Clarkson. Face it, all great summer jams manage to strike this same balance.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, "Weapon of Choice"
If you are the type who spends your summer standing on a street corner in your shades looking tough, this song is your soundtrack. It's got energy, but it's too cool to be upfront about it; the song is energetic on its own time. I'll come right out and say it: this is the best, coolest song the band has recorded to date. It's quite a feat to be laid back and tear the roof down in the same song. If you like straight-up, semi-retro, driving rock and roll (and who doesn't?), you will undoubtedly want to hear a lot of BRMC this summer.
The White Stripes, "Icky Thump"
If you rob any banks or blow up any buildings in the coming months, this song better be ready to go in your getaway car. Who would have thought that the two-piece famous for "Fell in Love with a Girl" could be so heavy and badass? The darkness in this track overshadows the uselessness of Meg White (who still hasn't bothered to learn how to play the drums), so we have reason to hope that the rest of the album is as strong as this single. There's a pretty catchy hook, but it's surrounded by gritty, lo-fi goodness. Indulge your devilish side this summer and rediscover The White Stripes.
The Flaming Lips, "The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How To Be In Love"
For most of you, the summer is more about big blockbuster movies than music, or really any thing else at all. To resolve this, here's a laidback song that is perfect for lying on your back and watching the clouds go by. And guess what! It's about Spider-Man! Though the song's title may have just revealed the entire plot, if you don't see that movie anyway this summer, you're not American. Really, if the Flaming Lips like "Spider-Man" enough to record a song for the soundtrack, you know it's worth seeing.
