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Diamond Rugs
Editor’s Note: When it comes to Jon Wolf, there is no such thing as a simple list. And for that, we love him. Read Part 1.
The Real Music of the Summer of 2012, Part 2
June 29, 2012
by Jon Wolf
Favorite Albums For Summer ’12
Japandroids Celebration Rock
(Album of the summer, no question)
The Smashing Pumpkins Oceania
(Calling this band The Smashing Pumpkins is like calling Axl Rose’s current backing band Guns & Roses, but it’s a great album, it sounds the way you want it to sound, I just wish Billy would shut the hell up and make more good music.)
Best Coast The Only Place
(This entire album sounds like those commercials for California)
Mystery Jets Radlands
(A bit of a throw back, bouncy and harmless, but they’re still really good at it)
Matt Skiba and The Sekrets Babylon
(Alkaline Trio lead singer, great sound if you dig Gaslight Anthem, who I really feel dropped the ball not releasing their album in the summer)
Favorite New Rock For Summer ’12
Fast Romantics – “Funeral Song”
(This song is apparently off an album that will not be released until 2013, but it’s an exuberant song about death from a New Pornographers producer, yes, please)
King Tuff – “Wild Desire”
(Love the name, love the song, someone sign him to Stiff Records circa 1977)
Diamond Rugs – “Gimme A Beer”
(It’s called “Gimme a Beer”, and he has a horrible voice, what’s not to like?)
Diamond Rugs – “Gimme A Beer” – Live in Atlanta from Partisan Records on Vimeo.
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. – “Daylight Robbery”
(Despite their monopoly, Japandroids left a few “woo-ooh’s” and hand claps for the other guys)
The Hives – “Take Back the Toys”
(Still got it, and I don’t care if there is zero musical progression displayed in this song: Hives, Killers, Franz, you have my permission to do the same shit as long as you want.)
Summer Folk(s)
Fallon Cush – “Honey Honey”
(These guys like The Jayhawks even more than I do)
The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
(They made some Microsoft money off this one [good for them] and it’s had some staying power.)
Wintersleep – “Nothing Is Anything (Without You)”
(Love the stutter-step tempo)
Mahoney & The Moment – “If You Only Asked Me To”
(Totally crushing on her voice, but the song holds up on it’s own.)
Father John Misty – “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sing”s
(WWJD? Sing a sweet ass song, that’s what he’d do.)
Most Anticipated Albums For The Rest Of The Summer
The Darkness Hot Cakes
(Gimmie a “D”! Gimmie an “Arkness”! What’s that spell?)
Free Energy Love Sign
(Oh My God somebody please play Thin Lizzy’s “Jailbreak” and complete the best segue ever!)
Fang Island Major
(Fang Island is banned from ever touring with Japandroids for fear of too many high fiving-related deaths)
Ben Folds Five
(A “necessary” reunion, not really (the other two guys in the band would beg to differ), but their sound is a welcome nostalgia bomb)
Dave Matthews
(Yeah, yeah, hate away, but I always look forward to his new stuff regardless of the inevitable disappointment that follows)
Best Covers Of The Summer
The Record Company – “So What’ Cha Want” (Beastie Boys cover)
(This song technically sucks because it was only played due to the passing of Adam Yauch, but a respectable tribute performance.)
Streetlight Manifesto – “Such Great Heights” (The Postal Service cover)
(This was released at the end of 2011, but I’m just hearing it now, also, I think I miss ska)
Motion City Soundtrack – “Wait So Long” (Trampled By Turtles cover)
(Bluegrass filtered through emo, it works)
The Elwins feat. Luke Lalonde – “Countdown” (Beyoncé cover)
(This song taught my 2-year-old daughter to count backwards, which apparently makes her a genius in her age group, thanks B!)
Ingrid Michaelson -” Somebody That I Used to Know” (Gotye cover)
(I’m happy for Goyte, and fun./The Format for that matter, for their crazy amount of exposure this year, the songs may now be ubiquitous radio pap, but at least it went to people who deserved it)
Best Accompaniment By A Fifth-Grade Public School Chorus
Walk The Moon feat. PS22 Chorus – “I Can Lift A Car” (live)
(A hotly contested category this year, but these guys eeked out the win)
Perennial Best Song Of The Summer
Jason Anderson – “July 4, 2004″
(It just is)
Listen to it, as you see fit, here.
Editor’s Note: Jon Wolf couldn’t stay away from the Mixtape game. He provides mixtapes that rock your socks off on a semi-regular basis.
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