On Friday we posted an Internet list of the last thirty years of Songs Of The Summer to shed some (sun)light on what makes a jam huge this time of year. Turns out many of you disagreed with that pop-leaning chronology, probably because this is an indie rock blog, so FAIR ENOUGH. Forget that. Let’s instead survey historical data more relevant in these parts and then pick an “Indie” SOTS.
As a lead up, here’s what I’ve come up with as a list of indie anthems from the past ten summers. It is based on release schedules, chart data, indieness, BBQ-appropriateness, and our memories of which tracks were ubiquitous at the time.
2001: The Strokes – “Last Nite”
2002: The White Stripes – “Fell In Love With A Girl”
2003: Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Date With The Night”
2004: The Killers – “Somebody Told Me”
2005: LCD Soundsystem – “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House”
2006: Gnarls Barkley – “Crazy”
2007: Justice – “D.A.N.C.E.”
2008: MGMT – “Electric Feel”
2009: Phoenix – “Lisztomania”
2010: LCD Soundsystem – “Drunk Girls”
2011:
That’s all science fact, but I’m also willing to accept Santigold’s “L.E.S. Artistes” for 2008.
Below are your five most nominated for 2011. Vote for your favorite by 6/29/11 and we’ll reveal the results before Independence Day.
Ices for everyone! (Better luck in the fall, Kreayshawn.)
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Eleanor Friedberger – My Mistakes
is good.
GO OUTSIDE IS SOOOOOOOOO 2010. GREAT SONG THO..
So is “Pumped Up Kicks” but sometimes these songs take a while to reach maximum exposure.
i agree with this sentiment. #nerd
Go Outside Can Be One Of The Best Song
agree. go outside was my 2010 summer song
You guys are sooooo much cooler than everyone else
I don’t think I will be playing any of these songs all summer…
Foster is the obvious choice here of the picks. Of course the ultimate prediction will turn out to be Kreayshawn’s Gucci Gucci
Like #yayarea!
All the previous summers had a good song surely we can find a better list of songs to chose from for this summer.
I will go with Sevendys – Please Don’t Eat Me I Love You
Hey! how about Cruel Summer 2011 ?
In the works
How about The Weeknd’s “House of Balloons” or Arctic Monkey’s “Suck it and See” or even Bon Iver’s “Beth/Rest” (cheesy, I know, but great for a drunken summer night)… but really, something from The Weeknd should be on here. That being said, I’m jazzed for the Washed Out release.
Oh, if we’re talking Indie Song of the Summer, easy–”Last Night At The Jetty.” Most likely song of the year as well.
Surfer’s Hymn, bro.
I love that one too, dude. The whole album is killer, really.
But I just connect with the lyrics on this one in such a personal way, and love the 12/8 time signature,, gorgeous vocal harmonies throughout and really odd guitar tone (can you believe that’s actually a guitar?!? It’s *not* some sort of processed electric piano, organ or synth like I thought it was initially–I watched video of him playing it on Governor’s Island and was shocked!).
Also, it’s funny you mention that song in reference to “Last Night At The Jetty” on this thread, because this was a comment I made after discussing “Last Night At The Jetty” on the first Song of the Summer thread:
‘“Surfer’s Hymn” is another particularly great summer tune.’
Up, Up, Up All the way. Can’t get it off repeat!
http://jammables.blogspot.com/
beautiful!
I think Toro Y Moi’s “Still Sound” or Love Inks “Blackeye” should be considered.
Dirty Beaches’ “True Blue” should be on here.
Yes please.
I would have said CULTS hands down but then i heard Battles. These (Aside from pumped up kicks) are so good!
Friendly Fires’ entire Pala album… Or just “Live Those Days Tonight.” Also Cut Copy’s Pharaohs & Pyramids
YES to Pharoahs & Pyramids
the rapture – how deep is your love.
“How Deep Is Your Love” will no doubt be my summer jam.
And Cults – “Go Outside” debuted and got everyone’s attention right before summer, it was on my summer playlist last year and definitely screamed summer. I could see why you’d put “Drunk Girls” — but didn’t it come out in like March or April? Before LCD’s Coachella performance? It was sort of old news by summer.
Also “1901″ was ’09 summer jam, track 2 ;P
totally agree. that sound is pure summer sex.
Battles. Ice Cream. #songofthesummer
Also, how did LCD beat out Wavves’ King of the Beach for song of the summer ’10?
because not everyone liked blink 182 rehashed for hipsters?
Blink 182 rehashed for hipsters?? Ridiculous. It’s just pop rock. Good pop rock as well. That’s it.
You heard it here first, folks: if it’s vaguely in the same style as a similar genre to the genre that the band blink-182 also happened to dabble in, then it’s blink-182.
AIR-TIGHT ARGUMENT IS NOW SEALED SHUT, YOU CAN ALL NOW GO BACK TO USING THE WORD HIPSTER TO DESCRIBE THINGS YOU DISLIKE WHILE REMAINING UNAWARE OF THE IRONY IN DOING SO.
Bink 182 thing aside, Wavves is pretty bad. Just one man’s opinion. Plus a bunch of other people’s too.
i wouldn’t call the connections vague. heard nathan’s singing style much? once this wavves thing comes to an end he should really consider fronting a blink 182 tribute band.
don’t be such a hipster, bro.
Drunk Girls is worst LCD Soundsystem song, ever. I don’t know why people pretend otherwise.
Absolutely. King of the Beach, song of Summer 2010. Battles for sure this year.
“Date with the night” over “Maps”? huh.
I think “Maps” was more 2004
fair enough.
Plus Maps isn’t really as much of a ‘summer song’, unless, of course, you spend your summers begging your ex to take you back.
now you know too much about me.
while we’re at it, I would say that Date with the Night, while a great song, is a little too gritty or harsh to be considered for a ‘summer song’. opinions.
I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that “Summertime Clothes” by Animal Collective wasn’t the summer song of its year
Yeah, I could see that. I think it was sort of old news by summer, but it had the single/video/Letterman around the right time
it wasn’t pervasive like the rest of this list was. not even close.
ideally, “Mindkilla”- by gang gang dance!!!!!
but, i will be voting.
Yeah, baby! Yeah!
Love that song. Such a great, criminally underrated band. (Well, maybe not underrated–but underappreciated?)
None of the above.
The Black Lips – New Direction is the ’11 summer song for my own ost.
LCD Soundsystem – “Drunk Girls”? That was the big song of last summer? I think not. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it, but it had no where near the widespread play and recognition of any of the other songs on that list. I would think it would be something like The Arcade Fire – The Suburbs, which was All over the place. That single came out in May of last year and took off.
And then this year, your song choices all seem wrong. I don’t know anyone who is kind of out of the musical loop talking about these songs, much like people did with Lisztomania, Electric Feel, Crazy or D.A.N.C.E… I think the song of the summer would probably be either “Tune-yards – Bizness”, which is taking off huge now and has the makings of a big fun summer song, “The Vaccines – All In White”, or Maybe even “Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand”. I know Duck Sauce has been huge with that song for like 6+ months now, but it is still going strong and has that perfect summer vibe, much like D.A.N.C.E
Thumbs up-ed the first five sentences of the first paragraph and first two sentences of the second paragraph.
I don’t think “The Suburbs” was the song of last summer. It’s a little boring to me; I can’t picture wiling out, cruising in a car or blasting it at a cookout. I would consider “Ready to Start” a much better choice from the Arcade Fire, and it seemed to take off much more like the other songs you mentioned.
But really, I would personally go with either “Swim” by Surfer Blood or “Diplomat’s Son” by Vampire Weekend for the song of summer 2010.
Friendly Ghosts-Harlem, even though it was 2010.
anywho, the washed out track is clearly superior to the rest on the poll
No complaints about MGMT for 2008 but I heard ‘Kids’ played in clubs about four times as much as I did ‘Electric Feel’ over that summer.
But “Electric Feel” is slightly more BBQ-friendly.
Well I’m from the north east of England so I barely know what a BBQ is. I imagine that while you were in the garden listening to Electric Feel I was sat in the corner of a pub listening to Kids.
wow i really love every song
I do believe that the song of the Summer in 2009 was ‘Surprise Hotel’ by Fool’s Gold.
The Fresh & Onlys – Peacock & Wing!
What about “Young Blood” by the Naked and Famous? I know it came out last year, but it seems like the song and the band are still slowly gaining traction here in the States. It definitely has a summer-time vibe to it, moreso than some of the other songs mentioned above I think.
For me it’s “I follow Rivers” by Lykke Li. But it REALLY is “Far Nearer,” by Jamie XX.
The strokes-under the cover of darkness
Because no one asked:
1980: Joy Division – “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
1981: R.E.M. – “Radio Free Europe”
1982: New Order – “Temptation”
1983: The Violent Femmes – “Blister in the Sun”
1984: The Replacements – “I Will Dare”
1985: The Jesus and Mary Chain – “Just Like Honey”
1986: The Smiths – “There is a Light That Never Goes Out”
1987: The Cure – “Just Like Heaven”
1988: Sonic Youth – “Teen Age Riot”
1989: Pixies – “Monkey Gone to Heaven”
1990: My Bloody Valentine – “Soon”
1991: Primal Scream – “Higher Than the Sun”
1992: Pavement – “Summer Babe”
1993: The Breeders – “Cannonball”
1994: Pavement – “Gold Soundz”
1995: Pulp – “Common People”
1996: Beck – “Where It’s At”
1997: Radiohead – “Paranoid Android”
1998: Neutral Milk Hotel – “Holland, 1945″
1999: Aphex Twin – “Windowlicker”
cool list, but what happened in the year 2000?
Toro y Moi – “New Beat”
Sorry guys, Gabe Hascall (formerly of the Impossibles / Slowreader ) has the indie summer jam covered:
http://soundcloud.com/meetmeinthesandbox/gabe-hascall-when-i-think
a really good collection, though my vote has to go with Cults. it may be old news but its sounds like summer distilled
I realize this was a couple of months ago, but I still vote for Machu Picchu!
i luv you guys!
If you’ve ever seen GIVERS live, I think this is an easy choice. At least for me (everyone has their own taste of course). Newly signed to Glassnote, home of Phoenix, Temper Trap and Mumford, they’re going to be the breakout indie hit.
My song of the summer is 100% Anna Sun by Walk the Moon – the song is pure happiness!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW7f54tVRmQ
astounding
Totally agree – perfect summer song… like vampire weekend + mgmt + passion pit (all 100% summer song bands).
great american novel – i believe in love! or maybe vaccines – wreckin’ bar
Wreckin Bar is a delicious appetizer at just over a minute long. If You Wanna is the mains.
I gave all of these songs a fair shake. Can we give it to “Lisztomania” again?
Since I had “Go Outside” as one of my summer songs last year, it’s DQ’ed for this year — so I’ll have to go with either “If You Wanna” by the Vaccines or Lonely Island’s “Jack Sparrow” .
Wowwww pick better songs.
Can’t You Tell – Vetiver!!! Listen to it!
Go Outside was more fall 2010, am I right? Still incredible, though. I would say You Know What I Mean for Cults.
correct
this is hard, considering foster, cults, and givers are all amazing and so absolutely summer. however, pumped up kicks was my anthem LAST summer [that's when it got the most airplay, yes?], so I have to give it to Givers. their performance on jimmy fallon was so deliciously summer.
also, I have to agree that walk the moon’s anna sun is like summer in a bottle. definitely going in my summer playlist.
I’m glad that some else feels like “Pumped Up Kicks” was last summer. I know they finally just released their album but that songs been overplayed by now.
How about shangri-la by Yacht, it’s breezy, uptempo and infectious?
w h o k i l l is still kinda ringing in my ears….
I have to say how much I am enjoying this thread full of people just talking about music they like: what a crazy idea! Already found some great new music from all the replies. I am not sure there is one song so far this summer that is defining the moment, I can’t think of one that is owning the summer, but there is still plenty of good music out there. The Highly Rec’d mixtape is a great resource if anyone is not receiving it, check it out:
http://highlyrecd.blogspot.com/
Call me biased because they’re from my hometown and friends of mine but I absolutely without a doubt love the GIVERS!
These are all good songs, but none of these five songs qualify as best summer song. Best summer song of 2011 is “California Sunrise” by Dirty Gold.
silly list. “ice cream” is the best song though.
summer song 2011 is of course going to be “surfer’s hymn”
“Marathon” by Tennis or anything by tUnE-yArDs.
For sure to the “California Sunrise” one… or “Carolina” by Girls. Awesome.
no toro y moi ? lame.
WHAT”S THE BIZZNESS YEAHHHHH?!
It has to be either Surfer’s Hymn or Bizness….but since you’re only giving us this list I guess I’ll reluctantly give it to Ice Cream.
**Peter, Bjorn & John – Second Chance**
i wish I had participated in the nomination process. the fact that this song is already being featured on beer commercials shouldn’t count against it.
2011: Now that I’m Real – Chad Valley
2010: Walk in the Park – Beach House
2009: Deadbeat Summer – Neon Indian
2010 for me was Dance Yrself Clean
Weekend by Smith Westerns
Agree times a million!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38EebZGTMKA
Was my last year’s song of the summer. Can recommend it for Americans and the like, that haven’t heard of them (they’ve been hyped to soaring heights in Denmark). The lyrics… the mood…. The song is obvious for beer, barbeque and beaches.
Mine just might be this, I am stuck on it:
http://gardensandvilla.bandcamp.com/album/cool-summer-records-limited-edition-7
Bibio – Take off Your Shirt
FM Belfast – I don’t want to sleep either
Bell X1 – Sugar High
Wu Lyf – Dirt
Saul Williams – Rocket
Forgot Bosco Delrey – Cool Out
Bag Raiders – Sunlight
Cut Copy – Where I’m Going
Re 2001-2010: I might be hopelessly old school (read: old), but that’s an awful lot of major labels for an indie list….
cults not bad for this summer
But what about theophilus London “flying overseas” or Toddla T – ‘Watch Me Dance’
typical Summer Songs for 2011 (a bit of Rock and hip hop)
theophilus ftw
I would have to go with rain tears by get people.
“My Girls” won 2009 by a long shot.
People should check out Ben Howard. Great songs for summer. Soon will not be independent as he has been signed with Island.
“Old Pine” by Ben Howard is becoming my favorite Indie Song of the Summer 2011. Very fitting lyrics for reminiscing about past summers. It starts out mellow but then kicks it up a few notches toward the end. Check out the gorgeous video of this stunning song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzzCthKw_C0
“Summer Eyes” by Tyler Lefebvre. ch-check it out…
http://soundcloud.com/tyler-lefebvre/summer-eyes
Still Sound by Toro y Moi. Most summer-y indie song of the year by far. I think it beats any of the songs on this list.
Totally – here in New Zealand it was my song of summer 2010/2011. Too soon for us to have a song of 2011/2012. Damn different hemisphere!
The other songs that saturated the hell out of the radio were Young Blood by the Naked and Famous, and then slightly earlier, Apple Pie Bed by Lawrence Arabia. Bad. Ass.
No way, what station was Toro y Moi played on in NZ?
Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” should be in there….Drunk girls? no way.
correct
Braids – Lemonade. Song was released in 2010 but the same is true of “Go Outside, “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Up Up Up.” Great debut album.
foster the people FTW
This is sort of a ridiculous idea for a list.
easily pumped up kicks
I was hoping more from Washed Out’s new release but from what I’ve heard, it’s more of the same – obvious samples of old tunes with little or nothingt interesting done to them besides some simple, predictable four-on-the-floor beat and cheap compression.
sorry for the accidental almost-double post!
I was hoping more from Washed Out’s new release but from what I’ve heard, it’s more of the same – obvious samples of old tunes with little or nothingt interesting done to them besides some simple, predictable four-on-the-floor beat and cheap compression. then he sings some boring melody over it and it sounds like every other song he did. usually no “B” parts to the song, just the same part over and over…it’s like Warheads candies; fun at first and then you realize it’s not that special and you’re over it.
If you’re not averse to ancient Judeo-Turkish proverb based indie summer jams, I would offer the following: http://youtu.be/p3cFMbyxOo8
The Killers have never been or never will be an indie band, Gnarls Barkley was a crossover hit and “Drunk Girls” was the worst LCD Soundsystem single released. Agree with the rest though. Neon Indian’s “Deadbeat Summer” (the album came out in the Fall of 2k9 so it took that long to really catch on) or The Drums “Let’s Go Surfing” would’ve been a much better choice IMO for 2010 . Also, I feel like Modest Mouse (“Float On”) and Cut Copy (“Hearts on Fire” or “Saturdays”) should be on there somewhere. So far nothing indie from 2k11 has risen to “Song of the Summer” status yet. Maybe Destroyer’s “Kaputt”?
1. Download all suggestions in these comments
2. Add to playlist
3. “Summer 2011 OST”
plage/crystal fighters!!!!!
Isn’t it too early to declare a song of the summer? Out of these choices, it would have to be Foster the People, but “Pumped Up Kicks” has been getting radio play in the mainstream for months now.
For this summer (and especially after seeing the reaction at Governor’s Ball), I would have to say that the song of the summer is/will be “Holidays” by Miami Horror or one of their other dance-track hits. I know the album came out in the States in November, but Miami Horror is still very unknown and I haven’t heard them yet on the radio, but i do see their following growing steadily.
best song of the summer: hitting play on ALL FIVE TRACKS AT ONCE obvs
GIVERS, GIVERS, GIVERS! They’re great!
Grouplove – Don’t Say Oh Well
If Lose It by Austra was on there, I’d vote for it. It’s got a good relaxing vibe- not very upbeat but still very nice. Go Outside is probably the best on the list, so I voted for that
Uh obviously Washed Out. It’s about time Ernest is getting more recognition! ;====D
2010 should have been; dom – burn bridges
while i think burn bridges is the better song, living in america is the quintessential summer jam imo.
Battles “Ice Cream,” Very Best’s “Super Mom,” and Patrick Wolf’s “The City.”
cults- oh my god
smith westerns- weekend (2010?)
wu lyf- we bros
toro y moi- still sound
dale earnhardt jr jr.- vocal chords
just a few that ill be jammin to driving around.
Please listen to my music & support an artist. Thank You. http://youtu.be/uIUFz8VxutY
My personal favorite: “Sing My Loves” Cave In
I like most of these songs :/
higher ground – rimar
kaputt – destroyer
in the water – beat connection
these songs were nice last summer too.
WU LYF -we bros.
For me its either Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers (Dave Sitek Remix) or Sleigh Bells – Rill Rill (Clique NewTrends Remix). Both make you want to dance. Now. Dance.
friendly fires’ entire album, Pala
the indie song of the summer is
You and I and the Screaming Trees by Manetti!
watch the supersummer video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxteNoBDu4Q
This record:
Pompeya – Tropical
http://poptimaforma.blogspot.com/2011/06/pompeya-tropical.html
An exotic surprise from Moscow! Seriously, it beats 95% of the records mentioned in tese comments above.
listen to: manetti!
this is the indie song for this summer!
http://vimeo.com/24564762