Building the Ultimate Summer Playlist: "Trouble Hunters" by Astronautalis

Music often defines my summers. There's really nothing like hanging out with friends, driving around, or going to the beach as one signature song plays. And when you hear that song months or even years later, it takes you right back.

It happens every summer: Rihanna's "Umbrella," Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie," and even the goddamned Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?" They take over the radio, and it's what you hear everywhere you go. But it's not always what

It's entirely subjective, and it's really more about capturing the moment--pure escapism--rather than finding a deep meaning connected to the music. Last summer, Cobra Starship's "Guilty Pleasure" and 3oh!3's "Don't Trust Me" dominated me and my friends' aimless romps around Long Island. The sentimentalism of Paramore's "Franklin" (pre-"Misery Business") and the declaration of perpetual youth in Brand New's "Soco Amaretto Lime" marks the summer I graduated high school (2007). And the infectious music of The Hush Sound and Death Cab for Cutie was the obsession of 2006.

This year, I've already got my ears tuned for those songs I'll be playing on repeat once finals are over and I am once again free from schoolwork. And there's already one song that's got me anticipating those summer nights. "Trouble Hunters" by Astronautalis is just the kind of catchy tune I'm inclined to listen to while just hanging around with some friends. It's what I'll be listening to as I wreak mild, innocen havoc this summer. And check out the music video--it's clear he doesn't take himself too seriously, and it's just fun to watch. Don't be surprised if I dress up as a vampire at least once this summer recreating this video.

The Inauguration Post: Are You Listening?

To Whom It May Concern:

Deja entendu.
It's French for "already heard," and it's also the title of Brand New's brilliant second album released back in 2003. And it's a term that can still be applied to a lot of the music out there today.

Doesn't it seem like Nickelback has released and scored hits with songs that all sound the same? From their first big American hit ("How You Remind Me") to their 2008 release ("Gotta Be Somebody"), the band hasn't showed much maturity--even though the lead singer looks like he's pushing 60 and sounds like he's been downing whiskey longer than he's had that hairstyle and goatee.

Though pop music has some saving grace, you can pretty much group all of those "pop-tartlets" together--I'm looking at you, Miley Cyrus (actually, I'd rather not). None of those young pop stars are putting out music with longevity; they're just releasing organized noise that impressionable tweens are gonna waste their money on could make money. Vanessa Hudgens, I only have one word for you, even though it really should be two: "Sneakernight."

I can still respect and enjoy the music of artists like Pink and Kelly Clarkson. And even though Lady Gaga sounds like she's having a seizure in her hits "Just-just-just-just Dance" or "Po-po-poker Face," at least she's doing something different that sets her apart from the crowd. And I have to admit that she does what she does pretty well.

I was pleased to hear Jason Mraz's catchy-as-hell "I'm Yours" finally start to get some airplay last spring/summer. A demo of the song had been floating around and had been a fan favorite for years, so it was great that it finally made it out there. It was a great single. Mraz is a gifted and skillful artist with a lot of variety that deserved to top the charts. Maybe his (creepy?) habit of eating mostly raw foods and avocados are the secret to success many of us are missing.

But this blog will not be about them. This will probably be the last time that you'll recognize a lot of the bands and artists that I'll be writing about. Because truth is, there's a lot of great music out there that's not reaching a lot of people. And I suspect that if the radio wasn't so densely-filled with throw-away music, and if people can just be exposed to some alternatives to the Pussycat Dolls (they destroyed that awesome Slumdog Millionaire song), Jesse McCartney (he's been 12 years old for ten years now), and Nickelback (if we build a fence along the Canadian border, will they stop bothering us?), a lot more of these talented and unknown musicians will succeed in reaching a wider audience.

It's quitting time for now. But I'll be back soon enough with my first post about one unsigned band, a prime example of what this blog is all about, that has single-handedly taken over my iPod.