Summer is upon us once again, meaning it's about time to sleep in, catch some rays, find a job (maybe) and catch up on the latest music. Though the Daily can't help with most of these goals, we've put together this mix tape to serve as a soundtrack for summer 2008. Check it out and you'll find that these songs are just about as bright and cheerful as a J.P. Licks ice cream cone or 60-degree-plus weather. But don't just take our word for it: Click here to hear for yourself!
Every Avenue - "Days of the Old"
As mentioned in the Daily's review of these newcomers' first CD, this is the essential summer track. David Ryan and his bandmates sing about sitting on the hood of a car while counting stars, making out until the sun goes down and going back to the beach every day. Who doesn't love chilling out at the beach and spending time with a summer love? The harmonizing and musicianship in this song surpasses anything done by a new artist in the pop-punk genre, and they might have created a new summer anthem.
Fall Out Boy featuring John Mayer - "Beat It"
Wait, even Fall Out Boy is doing songs that "feature" other artists? These are strange times indeed. Although it may be a rehashing of Michael Jackson's classic, it still has the feel-good (or, well, feel-bad) vibe that made the original so successful. Patrick Stump's surprisingly good vocals push this track to the limits of awesome, and the guitar solo by John Mayer just makes it orgasmic. It's loud, fast, insanely catchy and easy for even the tone-deaf to sing along to. What more do you need for a sing-along?
Gnarls Barkley - "Going On"
If you need a song to make you feel better about moving on from college, look no further. Not only is this the most upbeat song from the duo's latest album, but the lyrics are ever-so-relevant: "This is the start of a journey/ And my mind is already gone/ And though there are other unknowns/ Somehow this doesn't concern me." Talk about inspiration. Maybe they should have gotten Cee-Lo to speak at Commencement.
Tokyo Police Club - "In a Cave"
It's really amazing how this band could create such a happy, upbeat song about sitting alone in a cave. It's simple and catchy and easy to listen to over and over again. So if you're spending your summer in some sort of cave-like office building, this song will no doubt serve as your anthem. If not, it still deserves some heavy rotation.
Vampire Weekend - "Mansard Roof"
After their debut self-titled album was released at the beginning of this year, these Colombia University alums have been on heavy rotation, even making a stop on Saturday Night Live. "Mansard Roof" is the band's first music video, and its sound is relaxing and exciting. Imagine lying out on a sailboat with these guys jamming in the background; this pure college pop goodness is perfect for easy summer listening.
Death Cab for Cutie - "I Will Possess Your Heart"
This new single off of the upcoming "Narrow Stairs" proves to be a step in the right direction for Death Cab for Cutie. This song is over eight minutes long; foreboding guitar, light drum kit, ambient noises and piano round out the first four and a half minutes until Ben Gibbard chimes in with his cutesy, soothing lyrics. The song sounds like a summer traveling theme song, so if you are thinking of road tripping across the States, this might be something enjoyable to listen to on the ride there.
Metro Station - "Seventeen Forever"
Even though the college crowd is a bit old to be "Seventeen Forever," the message of the song still applies: "We won't be 17 [or 21] forever/ And we could get away with this tonight." The self-titled debut of this Australian synth-pop group may have come out back in October, but it's still waiting to explode here in the States, and with so many "live-for-the-moment" style singles, it's a sure thing for any pair of summer-love youngsters who are, as the song goes, "one mistake from being together."
The Roots - "Get Busy"
It wouldn't be a summer mix tape without the year's hottest track thus far. Whether you're a longtime Roots fan or haven't yet been able to sift through their enormous collection, there's no doubt you'll be running to the dance floor when you hear this at the clubs. If that's not your kind of thing, you can use the lyrics to motivate you to study. So have a productive summer - get busy, yo.
The Cab - "One of Those Nights"
If Maroon 5 and Blink 182 mated, you would get The Cab. A band that promises to be the future of white-boy soul-rock, The Cab is only starting to see success. With the release of its debut album, "Whisper War," the band declares its dominance over the soulful-yet-catchy chorus department. Perfect for leaving the club, the chorus admits, "I'm a mess/ But you're worse." A cameo from Panic at the Disco's Brandon Urie is the icing on the cake. And let's face it - the summer holds many, many opportunities to declare "it was just 'one of those nights.'"
