Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
Digg
Tell us what you think!Send a letter to the editor about this or any other article in The Maine Campus.
It’s the end of the semester, and summer is finally upon us. Of course, with the coming of summertime, we also see the arrival of summer blockbusters (X-Men, The Matrix and Charlie’s Angel’s sequels) and best of all, summer music. Seeing as this is my last column before we break for the summer (and well, I graduate!), I thought it would be a cool idea to share my favorite summertime music selections.
Bran Van 3000 – “Glee”: A perfectly eclectic album from this obscure Canadian musical collective. Maybe you remember the semi-hit “Drinking in L.A.” from a few years back? If you haven’t heard them before, I suggest you check this disc out. It features a cover of “Cum on Feel the Noize” that is worth the price of the CD alone. It’s a cool mix of club, rap, techno and pop, perfect for cruising on a summer afternoon.
Bruce Springsteen – “Nebraska”: The single most discouraging album known to man, and the perfect soundtrack to a hazy summer night. Basically, this is suicidal campfire music, but it’s depressing in a good way. The songs ooze with brutal, honest social commentary, and it brilliantly captures Bruce’s emotions as he journeyed through the heartland of America. Great tracks include “Atlantic City,” “Mansion on the Hill” and “Reason to Believe.”
10 Foot Pole – “Unleashed”: Sure, I could have picked virtually any pop-punk band going today, and they would pretty much provide a bevy of great summer tunes. However, this disc from 1997 captured one of So-Cal’s most underrated bands in its prime. Vocalist Dennis Jagged and company sound like a pop-punk version of emo legends Sunny Day Real Estate while maintaining that Pennywise-influenced skate-punk sound. Check out “A.D.D.” and “Fiction.”
Various Artists – “That’s My Jam: Blazin’ Block Party”: For the casual hip-hop fan, this CD has it all. It features recent cuts from Blu Cantrell and Outkast, classics from Positive K, Us3 and Montell Jordan, and forgotten gems from Mad Lion, Whodini and Rob Base.
There is no rhyme or reason to this compilation, as it plays pretty much like a mixed tape. I would have included “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison, but hey, there is a lot of great stuff here. “Summertime” and “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” make the purchase worth it.
