Friday, July 17, 2009

Summer Tunes

Summer always has a been a time for fun and relaxation. There is a feel and vibe, but there is also a sound. It is not necessarily a genre or style of music, although some lend themselves more easily than others. The sound conjures that feel or vibe.

As a kid, I distinctly remember my dad playing his records more frequently in the summer and it was the one season when Christmas albums were cut from the rotation. The Beach Boys and Rolling Stones will ever conjure thoughts of the sun glistening off of the pool water, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the feeling of not having to do anything but relax.

Now that I am an adult with my own house and family, I am crafting that summer sound for my household. Hopefully my kids will carry the same summer feelings attached to our summer soundtrack as I have to the soundtrack from my youth. Here are some of the frequent summer tunes of our household...

Obviously the Beach Boys and Stones are worked in. I prefer Hot Rocks and Good Vibrations.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - any of the John Frusciante records (By The Way has a fantastic vibe with gorgeous melodies)
The Dandy Warhols - any
Toots and the Maytals - True Love
Chris Isaak - Baja Sessions
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - Hit and Run Holiday
Red House Painters - Ocean Beach
Josh Rouse - Nashville
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors
U2 - Achtung Baby
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela
The Cure - Mixed Up / Standing On A Beach
Garden State and 50 First Dates soundtracks

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