Summer’s Almost Here Playlist by Iman Lababedi

Now, I’m gonna tell you something you don’t know: I don’t always write in real time. I write and sometimes I’ll hold it for a day in draft form in case I get busy or something, there is always new stuff to post. So I left home early to go to the Girls concert, figuring I’d hang out in the park for awhile and I got chased back home from the “poison rose” cold. Left me dreaming of summer..

1. Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra – The rule of thumb is Sinatra’s reprise years in the sixties was his last great period even though a lot of it was remakes of the Great Sinatra songbook, esoteria and cutesy pop songs like “Somethin’ Stupid”. Here is an exception: a memory song of a summer love gone like the wind.

2. The Last Days Of Summer – Steve Soto And The Twisted Hearts – Soto is a rock journeyman who woulda shoulda coulda didn’t. Another perfect pop confection handing hooks to hooks to hooks and you’ve never heard it: “sha-la-la-la-la”

3. Summer clothes – Animal Collective – A rarity, an Animal collective song that doesn’t have me throwing up in my mouth. Too processed for its own good but the song is so strong it withstands their arty prancing about.

4. Summer’s Kiss – The Afghan Wigs – Wow, from 1996… has it been that long? simmers to a roar as a piece of proto-grunge.

5. Constructive Summer – The Hold Steady – I’ll never understand why it took till the 21st century for rock bands to mine what Springsteen created.

6. Summer Waltz – Spider Bags – Timeless accordion based waltz but the sorta band that makes you wonder what it takes to break big in America.

7. Celebrated Summer – Husker Du – The sweat and heat of LA hardcore like a melodic blast from yesterday

8. Satin Summer Nights – Paul Simon – A lost Simon masterpiece from the Capeman Doo Wop dreamin’ in Spanish Harlem.

9. Summertime – Girls – The Beach Boys with a buzz saw

10. All Summer Longs (Vocals) – The Beach Boys – Really great to hear those harmonies up close.

11. Summerland – Everclear – Now that Helen is over Art being an uncomminative prick in interview, we can all agree he could really write a song when he wanted to.

12. Indian Summer Sky – U2 – OMG, completely forget these guys we’ren’t always the arrogant fuck faces they are now. If I didn’t know it was U2 and just heard this track off The Unforgettable Fire I would be freakin’ out over that bass and the lead singers deeply felt vocals…

OK -I’m off to Webster Hall…

Summer’s Almost Here Playlist by Iman Lababedi

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