With summer on our doorstep, it's pretty safe to say that you'll be hearing a lot of stereos blasting the soundtrack of the season for the next few months. Well, you're in luck. The Eagle is here to give you advice on some of the best summer songs to make your time away from AU a little bit more rewarding.
- NEAL FERSKO
1. "Summertime," the Sundays. How could you not love the thought of frolicking around the park holding hands when it's warm out?
2. "Island in the Sun," Weezer. This video came equipped with monkeys and puppies. Come on!
3. "Tarzan and Jane," Aqua. For those with a taste for the hot climate of the jungle.
4. "Saint Simon," the Shins. For driving with the windows and sunroof open.
5. "Last Goodbye," Jeff Buckley. For ending those short-lived summer romances.
6. "Blister in the Sun," the Violent Femmes. When you're gearing up for a long night you won't remember.
-REBECCA ARMENDARIZ
1. "I Fought The Law," the Clash. The perfect ode to elevated levels of delinquency that summer often brings.
2. "Summer Babe (Winter Version)," Pavement. Can I be Stephen Malkmus' summer babe? Please?
3. "Burning Too," Fugazi. AU is located just minutes from where all of this brilliance was created. And yet, many students are ignorant of the entire Dischord community. This track from "13 Songs" is a personal favorite and belongs on any summertime rock-out mix.
4. "Float On," Modest Mouse. Three words: underwear dance party.
5. "Close to Me," the Cure. Reasonable people can differ over whether to go with the new- or old-school (complete with clapping) version. Regardless of your preference, give this song a listen. It's a beautiful track and has some of Robert Smith's best vocals ever. It's summer romance in a nutshell.
6. "Holiday," Weezer. There's a lot of Weezer hype these days, from the Blue Album Special Edition to the DVD to the recording sessions for album five. Crank up this nostalgic track from the gods of nerd rock.
7. "Debaser," the Pixies. Hey, guess what! The Pixies reunited and are going on tour ... to Canada. If you can't go see them, be like me and spend all summer moping over this intro track off "Doolittle."
8. "Bad," Michael Jackson. Foreshadowing?
-SARAH REED
1. "Ape Man," the Kinks. An escapist song about leaving the city and being one with the jungle. The Kinks in reggae mode always have you tapping your toes.
2. "Surf Rider," the Lively Ones. Quentin Tarantino fans will recognize this tune as the song played in the last scene of "Pulp Fiction." It's simple but catchy.
3. "California Sun," the Ramones. Of all the Ramones' covers, this one fits their image the best. They take a mediocre early-'60s pop anthem and add hard riffs and an unmistakable swagger.
4. "Summertime," Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Late-'80s Will Smith might seem like a nostalgic choice for some people, but the song is unmistakably original. Good music for cruising around the neighborhood.
5. "Surfer Girl," the Beach Boys. Thanks to about 80 years of lackluster touring, the Beach Boys never get their due as harmonic innovators. This is one of their best ballads before the album "Pet Sounds."
6. "Matilda," Harry Belafonte. You just can't have a summer without at least a little calypso music. If you can track down the live 10-minute version online, you'll be in good shape through August.
7. "Summertime Blues," Eddie Cochran. The original summertime rock 'n' roll song. The Who have performed worthwhile live versions of it as well.
8. "Ghost Riders in the Sky," Dick Dale and the Deltones. Dale is known worldwide as "The King of Surf Guitar." In certain places, his electric version of this bluegrass standard rivals anything Hendrix.
9. "Moonlight Mile," the Rolling Stones. An elegant song about the open road and the friends by your side. Listen to this one at night
10. "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," Louis Armstrong. A song so sweet it drips molasses. Can't have a summer without good New Orleans jazz.
-NEAL FERSKO
