☆ExComm’s 2024 Summer Playlist☆

A few of the newest members of KCSB’s Executive Committee bring you some wonderful tunes to spin while walking on the beach, gathered around a campfire, swimming in a pool, or any other activity suited for a hot summer’s day.

PARKERS’S RECS 

• “Not Like I Was Doing Anything” by The Cat’s Miaow

The Cat’s Miaow is a quintessential twee-pop band, featuring a light and breezy guitar, soft percussion, and weightless vocals. While some summer days are jam-packed with fun activities, others involve sitting around and doing a whole lot of nothing. This song is a perfect soundtrack for those days, “It’s not like I was doing anything.” 

• “Catamaran” by Candy Claws

Across their discography, Candy Claws has consistently produced distorted, lo-fi pop music that creates perfect images of natural settings. “Catamaran” is no different, transporting the listener to the coastline with lyrics describing crashing waves, sea-creatures, and sunlight.

• “Breather” by Chapterhouse

The opening of “Breather” draws me in everytime. When the quiet electric hum gives way to bright, jumping guitars and energetic drumbeat, I’m filled with nostalgia for all the warm days I’ve spent with my friends. Even though I discovered this song only a couple weeks ago, it’s been my soundtrack for speeding over to a friend’s house or driving out to the beach with a car full of people. 

• “Why?” by Mid-Air Thief

Mid-Air Thief creates an incredibly psychedelic and fascinating sonic landscape with this song, mixing angelic vocals with gentle guitars and explosions of beeps and boops. I’m reminded of walking through a meadow and hearing the chirps and buzzes of little birds and insects.

MAYA’S RECS

• “Dedicated” by The Amps

Started as a side project while The Breeders was on hiatus, The Amps’ one and only release “Pacer” centers on lo-fi alt rock with tempo and energy shifts sure to keep listeners on their toes. The sharp guitar tone against Deal’s laid back vocals is perfect for a beach drive with dark shades to exude maximum coolness.

• “Who Are You” by Skull Cult

The light, electronic video game-esque sound effects against a vicious guitar tone and vocal distortion calls back to the time when doing absolutely nothing was our main priority during summer. It reminds me of skateboarding around the Venice boardwalk with friends, hands sticky from melted popsicles and slushies.

• “Chauffeur de taxi groove” by Soon E Mc

Soon E Mc is an important player in pioneering the French hip-hop scene of the 80s. He’s one of the founding members of the Posse 501, a collective of rappers, DJs, and composers fronting the graffiti and dancing centered scene of the time. The slow and slick bass line carries the tone of the song, providing a clean feel sure to keep listeners cool all summer.

• “Onion” by Shannon & The Clams

Shannon and the Clams is a band known for introducing vintage sounds with a contemporary twist, incorporating elements of doo-wop, psychedlic, and surf rock. These influences materialize in “Onion,” a song driven by its surf rock ethos with a grittier texture on vocals. The upbeat tempo and energetic delivery create an infectious rhythm, with the word “onion” becoming the focal point of the hypnotic chanting. Its a perfect summer song – “Onion” overloads listeners with its sense of nostalgia for a time many haven’t actually experienced.

• “Old Stuff, New Glass” by The Orielles

The driving guitar line of this song, paired with the tambourine rhythm, creates an upbeat and energetic groove. The fuzzy vocals of Esme Dee Hand-Halford contribute to this lively atmosphere, with the song’s infectious energy sure to get summer listeners tapping their feet. The song’s lively atmosphere and energetic listening create the perfect summer anthem.

AVERY’S RECS

• “Dallas” by Silver Jews

Summer is the time when I travel home to visit Texas, so this Silver Jews song is always on repeat. There’s a bunch of references to places I frequented in high school, so maybe if you aren’t from around Dallas it isn’t your perfect summer song… but I think everyone can universally appreciate David Berman’s voice on such a catchy and funny tune. I do still love hearing “cruisin’ down Commerce, killing time in the blazing sun” when it’s foggy and 70 degrees in Isla Vista.

“Life is Good Blues” by Laura Veirs

Throughout this entire album (July Flame), Veirs’s lyrics make me think of warm nights admiring fireflies, huddled around a campfire. Hearing the insanely talented finger-picking skills combined with one of my favorite voices in current folk music always makes me emotional.

• “Women Without Whiskey” by Drive-By Truckers

I learned about this song after Wednesday did their rendition of it. My favorite activity recently has been listening to this song while driving down the 154 during sunset. I am so heartbroken that I missed Drive-By Truckers’ performance in Ventura in June (yes I checked the setlist, yes they played this song…).

• “I’m on Fire” by Electrelane

Electrelane always has crazy inventive instrumentals (à la Stereolab), so it makes sense that they would be able to put a new spin on the classic Bruce Springsteen song. I always get too addicted to dad rock during summertime, so turning to this cover on occasion makes me feel a bit cooler.

ISABELLE’S RECS

• “It’s Days Like This That Make Me Wish The Summer Would Last Forever” by Everyone Asked About You

This bubbly, effervescent track by American emo band Everyone Asked About You is my personal summer anthem: as soon as rhythmic snapping and twinkly synths start, it feels like I am transported to an 85 degree day biking down to the beach. The title speaks for itself: “It’s Days Like This That Make Me Wish The Summer Lasted Forever.” 

• “Dire, Dire Docks” by Jacques Rocque

If you’ve been looking for a twinkly, math rock-y emo anthem to cry/scream/feel to this summer, look no further. This song (yes, it’s named after the Mario song), is off Jacques Rocque’s first ep (released 2011), and after an 11 year hiatus, Jacques Rocque is back together! What better way to celebrate this band’s return than by deep-diving into their discography?

• “Pessimism Goes To Work” by Eldritch Anisette

The recent resurgence of 90’s emo bands getting back together has hit Eldritch Anisette, and thank god that it did. This female-fronted band provides just the right combination of emotional songwriting, catchy bass riffs and energetic guitar, and I am looking forward to the projects that this band will be working on in the future!

• “Puke’s Diner” by THICK

“Puke’s Diner,” sounds, to me, in short, like the quintessential Santa Barbara summer. The opening lines of this song set the scene: “I’ll grab my bike, you grab your board // Let’s take a ride down to the shore.” The grungy, riot grrrl-esque sound that THICK has in this song combined with the gradual crescendo and eventual breakdown makes this song sound like the perfect summer night.

• “Some Things Last a Long Time” by Beach House

This is a song for those long, summer days where you can’t seem to find anything to do. Beach House’s cover of Daniel Johnston’s classic is flowy, echoey, and moving. The staccato chiming of the tambourine punctuating the soft instrumentals only adds to the vibe. The next time that you find yourself bored on the couch on yet another summer evening, put this song on and dance around — maybe music is the cure to summer boredom.

EMMA’S RECS 

• “Strawberry jam” by Perro Manteca

Perro Manteca’s “Strawberry Jam” is my perfect addition to a summer playlist, capturing the essence of suburban summer and the complexities of high school relationships almost too well. Diego Goldfrank’s combined with Kelly K’s production create an ideal track for driving with the windows down.

• “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1″ by The Flaming Lips

Before I ever discovered The Flaming Lips, I knew Yoshimi through a camp counselor who would sing this song to us every night before bed. At around 10 years old, Yoshimi was an inspiration to me, and she remains even more so now. This song brings back memories of starry nights in Maine and serves as a reminder that life is a battle worth fighting.

• “Paces” by feeble little horse

The beginning of this song sounds like the release of tension I feel at the start of summer, gradually leading to pure delight. Its ethereal soundscape evokes a sense of calm and reflection, creating the perfect track for sitting around a firepit and catching up with old friends.

DANI’S RECS

• “How Can I Get Out?” by Sadurn 

Featured in A24’s recent film, “I Saw The TV Glow”, How Can I Get Out is a slow, long, song about yearning for someone who might not return the feeling. Or at least, that’s how I interpret it. I associate this song with summer due to the slidey guitar that feels like the bleeding heat in the air, making you sweat even in indecision.

• “But the Regrets Are Killing Me” by American Football

American Football, the staple midwest emo band made a song that has it all. Unconventional time signatures, sparkly guitar lines, and whiny vocals, what’s not to love! With the summer time, many of us are likely returning to our hometowns, and with that comes a wave of, sometimes unwanted memories. The feeling of regret is a tough one to grapple with, but ultimately it proves to our growth in our sense of self. American Football created a beautiful composition that I’ll never regret putting on repeat

• “Pecado” by Caetano Veloso

Director Luca Guadagnino released one of my favorite movies of all time in late April of this year. Challengers, a love triangle/tennis film has a score filled to the brim with techno electronica beats that elevate the viewing experience to another level. However, later in the film we are subverted by this absolutely gorgeous, slower, bossa nova groove with soft heartfelt vocals. The bass tone in this song stays imprinted in my brain, and similar to my appreciation of the slide guitar in How Can I Get Out by Sadurn, I feel the heat of the sun slow my thoughts right through my headphones.

• “Lucifer” by A.G. Cook

As you might know, Charli XCX’s new album, BRAT, has created a hive mind of electropop fans. A.G. Cook, the producer of BRAT, had released his own album Britpop. I’ve been listening to this specific song, Lucifer, nonstop the past few days. I thought that it gave a very similar vibe to BRAT, and just moments ago I double checked that Charlie is in fact a vocalist on this song. I wasn’t too surprised, as the vocals have her exact energy, but I was shocked to see the other vocalist is Addison Rae??? And now I’m learning that Addison Rae has a very successful music career??? Clearly I’m out of the loop, but if you’ve also been swept up in BRAT summer, make sure to check this track out, as well as A.G. Cooks extended discography.