What The Kids (Are Into)

Throwaway Style by The Exploding Hearts

One of my biggest rock n’ roll regrets is not going out to the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on July 17, 2003 to see the The Exploding Hearts. This concert turned out to be the band’s last show as three of the four members were killed in a car accident on their way back to Portland a few days later. The Exploding Hearts put out one fine record, Guitar Romantic, an album that reminds me of a better (infinitely more listenable) version of Green Day’s Kerplunk. The track above is a demo version of “Throwaway Style,” one of the catchiest songs on their one and only album. The Exploding Hearts weren’t reinventing the wheel with their sound, but their take on power pop punk was one of the finest I’d ever heard. I wish I’d seen them in concert that night and, more importantly, I wish their van had never overturned.

Seven / Twelve by Desimal

Kicking off our summer well with a blissed out, evocative sound - Desimal digs deep into his vaults and lays down a nostalgic, hip-hop oriented track to prepare us for the long warm days ahead. A subtle use of conversational samples busies the mind just perfectly so, providing a snug but not claustrophobic atmosphere. While the slaps to the cymbals, and the murky synths that flutter through the composition furnish an “at-home” / “backyard soiree” in your own mind. Stream more of this versatile artists work via Soundcloud.

Lights Out by Santigold (a.k.a. The Artist Formerly Known as Santogold)

This one of those songs that sound breezy and summery, but if you read the lyrics you realize there’s something quite dark going on in here - this breezy song seems to be about a hostage situation gone wrong. So crack open a Bud Light Lime and contemplate the death of innocents this summer season!

Lights out
Shoot up the station
TV’s dead, where is there to run
Watch everybody come undone
Lights out

We’ll make it easy
We’ll make it fun
Won’t let them see now
How they have won
Still I wait another round

Darlin’
Don’t got to worry, you’re locked in tight
Darlin’
No don’t you worry turn out the light

Wiped out
No concentration
They got us baskin’ in a storm
I watch it as it loses form
Wiped out

They could see me
That’s what I want
A casualty but I am upfront
And I know what it’s about

Lights out
Shoot up the station
TV’s dead, where is there to run
Watch everybody come undone
Lights out

We’ll make it easy
We’ll make it fun
Won’t let them see now
How they have won
Still I wait another round

Darlin’
Don’t got to worry, you’re locked in tight
Darlin’
No don’t you worry turn out the light

I’m still shaking my head
The one you can’t account for
I keep just one step ahead
There’s no place to run

Darlin’
Don’t got to worry, you’re locked in tight
Darlin’
No don’t you worry turn out the light

Darlin’
Don’t got to worry, you’re locked in tight
Darlin’
No don’t you worry turn out the light

LDN (Mix Tape Version) by Lily Allen

This song reminds me of summer, specifically the summer of 2006 when I was a young man, full of hope and optimism. I have no idea how I came across this version of LDN. I think I randomly downloaded it from a music blog and it popped up on my iPod (remember those internet-less MP3 players?) as I was running from the YMCA back to my apartment in San Francisco. The contrast of Allen’s sarcastic lyrics and her sweet vocals was a breath of fresh air at a time when I was listening to a heavy dose of moody indie rock (e.g., Bloc Party, Death Cab for Cutie).  Welcome back summer, 6 full years after having discovered this song.