If you’re like me, summertime can sometimes feel like nothing more than a three month, heat-filled, hurdle to get to Halloween. Up until a of couple years ago, summer was actually my least favorite season. But it wasn’t until last summer when I set out to create the ultimate summer playlist. The goal was to gather a collection of songs that felt authentic to my summer experience. I wanted songs that felt similar to the opening scene of “Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas,” or Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing.” So as the days continue getting hotter, I figured what better time than now to share some of my favorite summertime albums for you to listen to, and some of the scenes I see whilst listening to these records.
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Viagra Boys - Welfare Jazz (Deluxe)
If there’s one album that feels like a perfect example of the vibe I’m talking about, it’s “Welfare Jazz” by Viagra Boys. From the second the guitars come in on the opening track “Ain’t Nice,” to Sebastian Murphy and Amy Taylor’s (of Amyl And The Sniffers) cover of John Prine’s cover of “In Spite of Ourselves,” this record feels like the ultimate summer album. The best example of this would be the track “Girls & Boys,” which feels like getting drunk with your friends at Red Rocks with the August heat beating down on you. It’s chaotic, disorienting, and fun as all hell! -
The Cramps - A Date With Elvis
Similar to “Welfare Jazz,” The Cramps third studio album feels like a heat induced hallucinatory trip, but much less chaotic. Anytime the opening track “How Far Can Too Far Go” plays, I feel like I’m immediately transported to the desert, driving with the top down in a big red detroit-era convertible, letting the rays of sun wash over me. In other words this is the record that makes me feel the closest to the opening scene of “Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.”
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Gorillaz - Plastic Beach
Okay… this is where my playlist started to shift. As much as I love the “so hot I could pass out” music, I did try to balance my playlist with some music that reminded me of the ocean. Not necessarily “beachside, enjoying the waves” aquatic, but like deep in the ocean, riding in a submarine, types of music. This is where “Plastic Beach” by Gorillaz enters! One of my favorite summer songs of all time is on this record, and that's none other than “Superfast Jellyfish” (featuring Gruff Rhys and De La Soul). I can’t describe why this song is so immediately immersive for me, but, man, no other song can do it like this one. The chorus alone feels like swimming through a cartoon ocean filled with neon plants and fishes that were plucked out of a Pixar movie. An instant mood booster for me!
This summer playlist is always ever-evolving for me. This kind of music is the reason I’ve learned to enjoy the summertime a lot more in recent years! But this year, the playlist began to take on a different shape than last year’s; with much less chaotic desert aesthetics, and now more of a tropical, easy listening vibe (if you’ve seen me in the stores recently, you’ve maybe noticed I’ve swapped the overalls out for Hawaiian shirts). Once I’ve really homed in on that sound, maybe a follow up article will be needed for some “summer albums to listen to when wearing your Hawaiian shirt!” Spoiler alert: “Conchetta” by Connie Stevens will definitely be on that list.
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