This is it, folks for Summer Fridays 2010. The weather is already full-on Fall, though it’s not actually Autumn until the 21. Autumn is my favorite time of year in NY anyway. Enjoy this last one, think it turned out pretty good. (Especially after redoing it last minute today, which is why this is up so late.) I might do a monthly mix, so maybe look forward to that. Hope you enjoyed these . I had fun making them. Just think this is the last time you’ll have to read this phrase till next year: NO SHUFFLING.
Tracklist:
- Parlovr – Hell/Heaven
- Reading Rainbow – Wasting Time
- Animals That Swim – New Boots
- Casino Music – The Beat Goes On
- Talk Talk – Life is What You Make It
- The Crayon Fields – All the Pleasures of the World (Dan Block Remix)
- The Special AKA – What I Like Most About You is Your Girlfriend
- The Drums – Me and the Moon
- The Mighty Lemon Drops – Out of Hand
- Translations – The M.O.
- North Highlands – Steady Steady
- Edwyn Collins – Come Tomorrow, Come Today
- Aberfeldy – Mean Ol Misery
- Lancelot Link & The Evolution Revolution – Sha-La Love You
- The Balancing Act – She Doesn’t Work Here Anymore
- Butterglory – She’s Got the Akshun
- Superchunk – Hot Tubes
- The Trilobites – I Can’t Wait for Summer to End
Liner notes after the jump.
Parlovr – Hell/Heaven
Lead track from this Montreal trio’s new EP has been a live staple for over a year, and is my favorite song from their set. New EP also better captures the band’s energy on record that their 2008 debut.
Reading Rainbow – Wasting Time
Highly underrated Philly duo. Such good voices, such catchy songs. Really good live too. This from their new album on HoZac which is due out in November.
Animals That Swim – New Boots
There’s rumors that the Most Underrated Band of All TIme might be putting out some new music, their first since 2001’s Happiness from a Distant Star. Until then, dig on one of my favorites from their debut, Workshy. Every song a story.
Casino Music – The Beat Goes On
Weird French new wave band, I have this on a Ze Records compilation. It does kind of have that 1980 New York vibe. Singer sounds oddly like Dan Behar, don’t you think?
Talk Talk – Life is What You Make It
My favorite Talk Talk single. This was a hit even in the US, which is kind of amazing given that the song is just a four-minute groove without a chorus, really. You only hear about their ambient records these days, but they put out some great singles during the mid-’80s.
The Crayon Fields – All the Pleasures of the World (Dan Block Remix)
The Crayon Fields were the first song on the first Summer Fridays mix of 2010 and here’s a cool remix which is available on a new download-only EP via their bandcamp site. While it’s still basically the same song, it’s now a little less baroque and a little more new wave.
The Special AKA – What I Like Most About You is Your Girlfriend
One of my favorite song titles of all time. This is the album Jerry Dammers made after Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Neville Staple left the Specials to form Fun Boy Three. Adding onetime Bodysnatchers singer Rhoda Dakar (who sang on the Specials harrowing single “The Boiler”) and Stan Campbell, the Special AKA explored Dammers new love of African music. “Free Nelson Mandela” was a hit, and even got played on Friday Night Videos. This is my favorite song from it though.
The Drums – Me and the Moon
There was kind of a Drums backlash after everyone falling in love with them last year but, dang it, their debut album is really really good. Is this the best song on it? Maybe.
The Mighty Lemon Drops – Out of Hand
Sort of forgotten about now, I feel, but Mighty Lemon Drops were pretty popular in the late ’80s on college and commercial alternative radio stations. Why yes, they do kind of sound like Echo & the Bunnymen. (“Angels & Devils” comes to mind.) They’ve heard that before. But that doesn’t stop them from being good.
Translations – The M.O.
I know almost nothing about this Brooklyn band but I love this free download single of which this is the b-side. It’s definitely in that Flying Nun/Guided by Voices school of indie rock.
North Highlands – Steady Steady
These Brooklynites are busy finishing up their debut album and have shared this from the sessions. I always worry when you know a song first from hearing it live and wonder if they’re gonna screw it up in the studio. They didn’t.
Edwyn Collins – Come Tomorrow, Come Today
Co-written with Johnny Marr, this is maybe the most Edwyn Collins-y song on his new album, Losing Sleep, which is just terrific. Marr’s style is close to Edwyn’s in a lot of ways, and the arrangement is just great.
Aberfeldy – Mean Ol Misery
New album from Edinburgh’s Aberfeldy splits the difference between the folk simplicity of their debut and the new wave of their second. They’re definitely more charming as the former. Wish they would come back to America.
Lancelot Link & The Evolution Revolution – Sha-La Love You
Not only is Lancelot Link an ace secret agent (secret chimp, actually) but he also fronts his own awesome pop band.
The Balancing Act – She Doesn’t Work Here Anymore
The Balancing Act’s debut is one of my favorite lost gems of the ’80s, weird folk, very charming. For their second album, the record label thought it would be a good idea to get Gang of Four’s Andy Gill to produce the followup and make it sound all “‘modern.”
Butterglory – She’s Got the Akshun
Mid-’90s Merge akshun with some Butterglory aka The Pastells of the South. Seriously, this could be none more Pastels. But it is awesome.
Superchunk – Hot Tubes
Early ’10s Merge akshun sounds like early ’90s Merge akshun, but with better microphones. Superchunk’s new album is seriously good, they are not phoning it in. This is deep Side Two territory, quality remains.
The Trilobites – I Can’t Wait for Summer to End
Aussie band from the late ’80s, sounds a little like The Jam, right? Surprised I haven’t used this one before.
As rumoured, there are two new Animals that Swim songs out soon: http://animalsthatswim.wordpress.com/