Summer always feels like it’s owed to me — not like it’s a reward, but rather a lump sum payment for the debt that winter worked up. It’s taxing, that winter. If you work indoors all day, you could quite possibly go days at a time without seeing the sun and then Seasonal Affective Disorder (or, you know, SAD) kicks in and the world just seems like it’s blowing a freezing wind in your face at all hours of the day. I don’t envy those who live in subtropics because you don’t deserve summer. That’s right, you’re just a buncha jerks doing jerk things in the relatively warm air all year long. You take 65 degree evenings for granted whereas it’s a dream come true when the first evening hits where it you don’t have to put on another article of clothing to go outside.
What I’m getting at is that there’s an aura around summer that makes everything that much more special including the music you play. The song playing in the car with the windows down, or at the cookout, or late at night relaxing outside — summer is about freedom and these albums that are dropping soon are set to soundtrack any number of specific moments you may encounter during the next couple months. What song is going to define this summer?
For me, every summer can be loosely fit between the bookends of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” and Violent Femmes’ “American Music”, but maybe it’s time to shelve those records and find some new ones. Yeah?
-Jeremy D. Larson Content Director
Beyoncé – 4
We live in truly chaotic times. Pop music is dominated by the avant pop of Lady Gaga and the “I bet she’d be sticky if I touched her” trash pop of Ke$ha. But with all the queens vying for the crown, when Beyonce drops her fourth solo LP tomorrow, that game of thrones is all but over and done. While 2008′s I Am…Sasha Fierce brought the public booming radio hits, 4 offers up “minimalist” ballads and creations influenced by Teena Marie and Fela Kuti musicals. And with a rare cameo by Andre 3000, along with production and writing by Kanye West, No I.D., Babyface, and newcomer/OFWGKTA’s Frank Ocean, 4 has the power to be one of the most dominant records of Queen B’s entire career. How ya like that, Shakira? -Chris Coplan Release Date: June 28th via Columbia
“Girls (Run the World)”
Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital
Sex sells. I mean, for all you XY’s out there, sometimes summer often becomes about “hot chicks”. As you can see from the non-Best Buy version of the album art, Dan Boeckner, lead singer of Handsome Furs, knows the score. However, the actual music on the album is empirically less sexy. The industrial synths and anti-establishment lyricism may not prove to be the strongest of aphrodisiacs, but a Handsome Furs album is always ready to party. Couple that with Wolf Parade bandmate Spencer Krug’s solo album, and it’ll be like they never decided to go on an indefinite hiatus. Now that’s a sexy thought. -Jeremy D. Larson Release Date: June 28th via Sub Pop
There’s something to be said about stamina; no, not the little blue pill. For the past 16 years or so – since 1995, specifically – Incubus have been pummeling fans with their blend of loose funk rock and hard alternative jams. This July, the California quintet, still led by one Brandon Boyd, flex their muscles again with their seventh studio effort, If Not Now, When. Sure their fans from the early days have traded in their bongs for baby bottles, but everything evolves and Incubus have perfected their song writing craft. Boyd has once again entranced us with his infectious lyrics and melodies, while Mike Einziger’s guitar work is nothing short of seductive. So far, the album’s first single, “Adolescents”, is the perfect soundtrack to those long summer days and memorable nights. And if you don’t expect the hard rock anthems of yesteryear, you’ll instead find something warm and curious. Nothin’ wrong with that. -Daniel Torres Release Date July 12th via Epic Records
“Promises, Promises”
Cool Kids – When Fish Ride Bicycles
No matter how many mixtapes, features, singles and the like rappers dole out, people keep asking about the album. Chicago’s Sir Michael Rocks and Chuck Inglish, aka The Cool Kids, have been pestered about When Fish Ride Bicycles at least since their much-loved 2008 EP The Bake Sale. Finally, on July 12th, those questions will be answered. With production from Pharrell and Travis Barker, as well as appearances from Ghostface, Bun B, and more, the LP looks to justify all that hype. If there’s more of the same old school hip hop revival beats (and with a track called “Penny Hardaway”, it looks that way) and more of the Cool Kids brilliantly self-aware rhymes, this should outlive the summer biking and ride into best of the year conversations. -Adam Kivel Release Date: July 12th via Green Label Sound
“Swimsuits” (feat. Mayer Hawthorne)
Portugal. The Man - In The Mountain In The Cloud
Skeptics insist that releasing an album per year risks quality, that true creative genius can’t be brought to fruition that often. Well, haters gonna hate, and Portugal. the Man‘s heavily anticipated sixth album in as many years, In The Mountain In The Cloud, is due July 19th. Dangling the new material over fans’ heads through 30 second teaser videos on the band’s YouTube channel, releasing “Sleep Forever”, an extended two song music video (via IFC), and littering set lists with new tracks such as “Got It All This Can’t Be Living Now” and “Senseless” have furthered the hype – and rightly so. The band sounds more together and intense than ever — as John Gourley wails “You got it all til the revolution”, it’s pretty clear that the revolution is imminent. What it comes down to is this: when the guys that brought us “AKA M80 The Wolf”, “Lay Me Back Down”, and all of The Satanic Satanist are saying that this release will be their best, it’s time to expect greatness. -Caitlin Meyer Release Date: July 19th via Atlantic
“Got It All This Can’t Be Living Now”
Theophilus London – Timez Are Weird These Days
If James Bond and Kool Moe Dee could somehow have a child, that offspring would be Theophilus London. The Brooklyn MC/pseudo-singer may have only been on people’s radars for a short time, but he’s already culled an impressive Rolodex of friends courtesy of his February debut EP, Lovers Holiday, including Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara, Beyonce’s baby sister Solange Knowles, and TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek. Now, with his debut album Timez Are Weird These Days dropping July 19th, the genre-blending rapper has hit the big time with Warner Bros., imported some of those collabos onto the full-length, and is prepared to take the rap world by storm. Last name London, first name Bomb Diggity. – Chris Coplan Release Date: July 19th via Warner Brothers
“Last Name London”
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
In 2010, Swedish electronic soulsters Little Dragon went from Gothenburg’s best barely-kept secret to band-on-everyone’s-radar thanks to a collaboration and support slot with Gorillaz. This summer, the childhood friends will release their third album, Ritual Union, and continue performing mesmerizing live gigs, including sets at the Roskilde and Outside Lands Festivals. Little Dragon has been showcasing tracks from Ritual Union during their 2011 tour and on their American television debut on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Word on the street is the upcoming third album will bridge the gap between the R&B and jazz infused sound of their self-titled debut and the irresistible electro-pop of Machine Dreams. -Frank Mojica Release Date: July 26th via Peacefrog/EMI
“Ritual Union”
Moonface - Organ Music, Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped
With Wolf Parade on an indefinite hiatus, the temporarily defunct band has members turning to their solo projects, Spencer Krug included. Krug will be lending his vocals and instrumental work to his first full length, Organ Music not Vibraphone like I’d Hoped, under his moniker Moonface. If his Dreamland EP was any indication, this full length promises to feature Krug’s prominent yelps and tunes heavy on organs, or “random half-pop songs.” Fans will have a chance to check out Krug going solo when he takes Moonface on the road this summer. -Lauren Rearick Release Date: August 2nd via Jagjaguwar
If you heard the Horrors’ 2009 album, Primary Colors, you already know why Skying is a must-listen. Their last record was a breakthrough success, winning over critical adoration and picking up a Mercury prize nomination. Now, they’ve returned with a self-produced LP, a first for the band. The first single, “Still Life”, is awash in reverse synths that explode like fireworks for the chorus. Joseph Spurgeon’s sharp drumming cuts through the atmosphere and Faris Badwan’s vocals are smoother than ever. If you’re not convinced yet, give the song a listen. You quickly will be. -Joe Marvilli Release Date: August 9th via XL
“Still Life”
Game – The R.E.D. Album
In the ebb and flow of rap music, Game‘s fourth LP couldn’t come at a better time. Call it the natural rhythm of the genre or just the state of the world, but hip hop as a whole is in dire need of some good old fashioned gangsta rap. With the long-delayed effort finally dropping on August 23rd, the world will get its nickel-plated shot in the grill with an album that’s been in the final works since 2009. Reportedly featuring cameos from Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown, and Lupe Fiasco, along with production from Cool and Dre, The Neptunes, and a reunion with West Coast cohorts Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, The R.E.D. Album could more than make up for the delays with some of the most hard knock rhymes and bangin’ beats to hit the streets this summer. Hopefully. -Chris Coplan Release Date: August 23rd via Aftermath/Interscope
“Red Nation” (feat. Lil Wayne)
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Mirror Traffic
Stephen Malkmus had a lot to live up to post-Pavement. While his self-titled solo debut was a perfect collection of charismatically bizarre yet hooky tunes, the album was unfairly compared to the work of his former legendary act. Time has been kind over the years, with Malkmus and crack backing band The Jicks developing their own fan base over four excellent albums rife with spacey effects, classic rock musicianship, and the singer’s trademark wordplay and playfully macabre imagery. All of this makes Mirror Traffic something to look forward to, as evinced by first single “Senator.” It’s as close to political as SM is ever likely to get (the refrain barks “the senator wants a blowjob!”), and it perfectly marries Pavement’s experimental flourishes with The Jicks’ meaty jam band chops. -Dan Caffrey Release Date August 23rd via Matador Records
Based on Zach Condon’s oeuvre, the fact that he spent the winter in upstate New York recording the album, and perhaps by the cover art above for the first single “East Harlem”, you might think that Beirut‘s Rip Tide will be another lonely, wintery album. But no, it belongs smack dab on this list. “I write sad songs when it’s nice outside”, said Condon about the album. “I write warm and happy songs when I’m up to my neck in snow for three months.” The pep in the step of “East Harlem” is sunshine enough, but those string and horn arrangements brighten up the whole track. And when you include the other tracks at their live show, Beirut’s album will make the grass waver in the wind all summer long. -Jeremy D. Larson Release DateAugust 30th via Pompeii Records
“East Harlem”
Male Bonding – Endless Now
A year ago, Male Bonding were cutting their teeth on some opening slots for tours across the globe serving up rough punk gems. But then they dropped “Bones” — a six-minute race to the finish that stakes new claim in the long-since abandoned town of pop punk. The UK trio aren’t a nostalgia act, but for anyone with a soft spot for those early aught bands like Jimmy Eat World or Saves the Day, Male Bonding is sort of like the next logical step if those lyrics about high school don’t really cut as clean as they used to. -Jeremy D. Larson Release Date September 30th via Sub Pop
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You
For this legendary quartet of Californicators, there hasn’t been such a drastically publicized lineup change since Dave Navarro popped up on One Hot Minute — an album that saw major sonic landscaping, favoring relentlessly dark subject matter. I’m With You is slated to be guitarist Josh Klinghoffer’s studio debut with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, following the departure of experimental wailer John Frusciante, so the questions become: Will the new sound be too jarring? Will the Peppers remain a summertime rock staple? Will this be romanticized like By The Way, or reckless and lust-laden circa Mother’s Milk?
I bought the ’06 double-album, Stadium Arcadium, one summer late, but it was played on repeat for the better part of three months. Barring all band membership inquisitions (given Klinghoffer’s live performance history), I’m With You garners immense anticipation by virtue of West Coast bravado alone. -David Buchanan Release Date August 30th via Warner Bros.
