What makes for a solid summer song? It’s an ontological discussion scholars far more astute and nerdy than us have debated since time immemorial, or at least since 1981. And what even defines a song as indie? Yikes that’s a fun one. Honestly though, stop thinking so hard. It’s summer now, and so it is time to get loose, and decide which indie banger to canonize as the representative soundtrack for your summer of looseness and bad decisions. Because it’s important to have a trigger to recall them later in life, in awkward situations, when you least expect it. And maybe that’s what really defines a good summer song: A song capable of bottling up this year’s mood, and then make your kids feel weird when you play it for them in dewy eyed reminiscence years later. Choose it wisely — you’re stuck with it forever. No pressure! Fun forever! Now, let’s do it together. Like a family.
Here’s how it’s gonna work: Name your top candidate(s) in the comments, and once a few prospective contenders have emerged, we’ll make an official shortlist (next week) and vote on it like Obama. It’s democracy in action! A democracy in which Gotye is absolutely exiled.
There will be only one winner, but there are a lot of worthy contenders. To get you started, consider these:
- The Walkmen – “Heaven“
- Azealia Banks – “Jumanji“
- Beach House – “Lazuli“
- El-P – “The Full Retard“
- Icona Pop – “I Love It“
- Animal Collective – “Honeycomb“
- Death Grips – “I’ve Seen Footage“
- Passion Pit – “I’ll Be Alright“
- Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built“
- Superchunk – “This Summer“
- Tanlines – “All Of Me“
- Twin Shadow – “Five Seconds“
- Yeasayer – “Henrietta“
Does M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls” qualify if it came out in Q1? Maybe, maybe not. Does Usher’s “Climax” qualify because it is so good but also how is that possibly indie? Good point. Although his recent cover of last year’s winner suggests he’s campaigning. Shrewd dude.
Anyway — democracy. Write in your vote. Do it for summer, do it for forever. Let’s go!
POLL: Vote For The Indie Song Of The Summer 2012
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Beach House.
Passion Pit or Danny Brown. Grown Up is one of the best songs of the year. Just Sayin
agreed. Danny Brown in a route! Grown up destroys the other hip hop tracks on this list
steal my sunshine
I think this list could use about 20% more murder ballads. Cause isn’t that what summer is?
Shit, that can be interpreted as a “Pumped Up Kicks” reference. You all should probably downvote me for that.
Beach Holiday by Fort Lean. very surfer vibe duuude
Best Coast : the only place
Niki & The Dove-Love To The Test
If we’re still collecting votes, mine would be Tanlines “All of Me” or Twin Shadow’s “Five Seconds.”
I love “Lazuli,” “The Full Retard,” and “Heaven,” but come on that Superchunk song is the clear winner. It’s just so darn good and summer-y.
There’s still 6 months till Australian summer, but Jonathon Boulet – This Song Is Called Ragged has it wrapped up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un4fv5bjpRk
Japandriods -Younger or House that heaven built
Beach House – Lazuli or Myth
Walkmen- Heartbreaker
Killer Mike – Southern Fried or Big Beast
Maybe something from Santigold, though I havent listened to the whole thing yet
Best Coast if you live in Cali/ are obsessed with it
I could see 212 coming back- technically its the song’s first summer
Eh, El-P. Gotta support Brooklyn.
Walkmen-Heaven
also, “Song For Leigh” by the Walkmen, “Lazuli” by Beach House, and “Sleeping Ute” by Grizzly Bear.
My vote’s for “The House That Heaven Built”. Agree that “Flutes” and “Millions” should be up there too.
“Evil Sway” from Japandroids would be my vote from that album. I’d also like to throw King Tuff into the mix, either “Anthem” or “Bad Thing”.
Allo Darlin’ – Capricornia
The House that Heaven Built – Japandroids
Motion Sickness – Hot Chip
Pyramids- Frank Ocean
Straight Up – Future (not really indie but this song is so dope and he is signed to the same major label as Death Grips and you included them sooo)
House that Heaven Built or Honeycomb or Jumanji from that list but where’s Hot Chip? How did they pick I’ve Seen Footage by Death Grips over Hacker?
AND WHERE IS DIRTY PROJECTORS ON THIS LIST???
I mean (not even counting Dance for You) Gun Has No Trigger is the ultimate jam!
A beat tighter than a noose under brain-melting alt-chick harmonies with D-Long’s signature warble cutting through sound-waves like an echoing knife. In a parallel universe where I decide everything this would be the next James Bond theme and the indie song of the summer 2012.
Come on, even in the indie category, a “song of the summer” has to be at least a little bit catchy. I think the Tanlines song is really the only one on this list that could fit the bill. (though my personal song of the summer is “Take a Walk” — way better and more summer-anthemy than the second Passion Pit single …).
shannon, i agree on take a walk being better than “i’ll be alright”, unfortunately nobody else does. also, you want catchy? that icona pop song is the catchiest thing ever.
you’re right, that “I Love It” song is pretty catchy … personally, though, I find it a bit too repetitive/empty/dance-y/Euro-trash, lol. I know, I’m hard to please. :P Definitely, though, “Take a Walk” is uber-catchy, but with some depth and resonance, gives me chills … surprised that more people don’t like it. I heard it on the radio for the first time the other day though, so I think it actually might still end up getting pretty huge this summer.
P.S. Disparate Youth by Santigold is also strangely absent from this list.
I think The Keepers by Santigold deserves a spot
Major Lazer- Get Free
Hot Chip- Flutes
Tanlines- All of Me
Japandroids most def. I’d add “Hey Jane” by Spiritualized, “Candy” by The Men, and the new Grizzly Bear song “Sleeping Ute.”
Japandroids!
Another track that hasn’t been getting much love (another album in fact) is THEESatisfaction’s QueenS.
That screams summer to me.
Or “Danse Caribe” by Andrew Bird. Any of those.
Has anyone mentioned Japandroids yet?
Twin Shadows – Five Seconds
Hot Chip – Flutes
Ab-Soul – Mixed Emotions
Big K.R.I.T. – My Sub (Pt. 2 The Jackin)
Beach House – Wishes
Freddie Gibbs – Thuggin’ (Not new for summer but it’s awesome)
Kendrick Lamar ft. Dr. Dre – The Recipe
John Talabot – When The Past Was Present
Going off some of my starred tracks on spotify and a few mentions I saw in the comments, so much great music.
Kishi Bashi- Bright Whites
That song is like summer in song form
Danny Brown.
This is the summer of the revival of gangster rap. A$AP & Schoolboy Q.
I’m not even a big rap guy, but it’s FUCKING HAPPENING. Kendrick Lamar.
Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”, song of the year.
DIIV- How Long Have You Known
Joey Bada$$ – “World Domination”
Super captain obvious says:
Best Coast – The Only Place
Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre – “The Recipe” HANDS DOWN
Donnytilla – B’s on my D
Twin Shadow – 5 Seconds !
it’s summer pop perfection.
Umm – Chief Keef’s “I Don’t Like”
According to the internet, his first line is, “A fuck nigga, that’s that shit I don’t like,” but I’m still convinced it’s actually “A fart, nigga, that’s that shit I don’t like,” which is something everyone can get behind, no matter the time of year.
Edward Sharpe “That’s What’s Up”
Dave Patten “Echo” check it out: http://youtu.be/YSBrI6i-NwA
That Twin Shadow joint is amazing!
BIG BEAST
LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends. EVERY Summer.
Trails and Ways – Nunca http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDr1hZUhoDc
Walk The Moon’s “Anna Sun”. No need to explain – just listen.
Fang Island – “Sisterly” should be in the mix
I have to vote in the comments? Heaven – The Walkmen
Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Build” FTW!!!!!!!!!!
Twin Shadow – “Five Seconds”
There’s no reason that “Call Me Maybe” isn’t on here….
I don’t care if it’s not indie.
“Call Me Maybe”- Carly Rae Jepsen
“2″- Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland
“Riviera”- Shadow Shadow
Major Lazer – Get Free
Surely Myth is better than Lazuli? Anyway, if I have to stick to the list above I’m taking Death Grips.
I know that I’ve already voted, and it’s really late in the game, but I wanted to also throw Diplo’s “Set It Off” into the mix. Great song, and who couldn’t appreciate the name “Laserdisk Sex Party”?
Oops, I meant “Lazerdisk Party Sex”. Sorry guys.
Twin Shadow ‘Slow’ should be here…
hey man we are talking bout shit from 2012, get with it.
“Up On The Ride” by Guillemots just discovered this band in May. If that’s not summer i don’t know what is.
Craft Spells – Warmth
what about azealiza banks liquerice!
But I don’t think any album will have the spark, intensity, and whoa’s and oh’s that Celebration Rock has. The whole thing is as much a masterpiece just as is stilling on your fav bar patio have a jug of mojitos or a frosty pint of beer with your shades strapped tight to your head and the sun burning down.
Yea Vancouver go Japandroids!
One more:
Scissor Sisters – Shady Love
It has to be “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons at this point. I don’t like any of Stereogum’s suggestions, except for “All Of Me” by Tanlines, which is a terrific song. I know it’s not indie, but Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” will probably by the true Song of the Summer this year.
Myth by Beach House for sunrise
Take a Walk by Passion Pit for a long afternoon
Bright Laterns by The Tallest Man on Earth for twilight
That’s my summer, anyway.
A tip of the hat from me towards Twin Shadow and ‘Five Seconds’.
japandroids or twin shadow <3
Lana Del Rey’s “This is What Makes Us Girls”. Yeah, I went there.
Ok Cupid by Kitty Pryde also should be a contender.
hey jude – the beatles. even though it was Q1.
Icona Pop – I Love It
Tanlines – All of Me
Myth by Beach House for sunrise
Take a Walk by Passion Pit for long afternoons
Bright Laterns by The Tallest Man on Earth for twilight
That’s my summer anyway.
Summertime is Coming by Julian Plenti. Zones by Wintersleep. Motion Sickness by Hot Chip.
CocoRosie – We Are On Fire
Santigold – Look at these Hoes
Of Monsters and Men – Mountain Sound
DIIV- “Doused”
Crocodiles- “My Surfing Lucifer”
hey jude by the beatles, even if it was Q1.
Peaking Lights – Beautiful Son
Grimes – “Oblivion”. I don’t care if it’s >6 months old now, it still rules.
Tanlines- Green Grass
Cloud Nothings- Stay Useless
Passion Pit- Take a Walk
Foxygen- Make It Known
Japandroids- Younger Us
The Wooden Sky- When We Were Young
Animal Collective- Honeycomb
I love El-P and Death Grips but I definetly don’t think they classify as ‘Summer Indie’
Beach House – “Other People”, Lower Dens – “Brains”, Bear in Heaven – “Reflection of You”
I’ve been listening to Brandon Flowers… So I personally say “Crossfire”… but i would like to add that “The
Temper Trap” new album will be my top summer Listen =D
Phoenix – 1901
a little old bro
1902
Grizzly Bear – Sleeping Ute. And please, no Icona Pop. I would honestly love to be informed as to why everyone is enjoying that song?
What?? no dEUS? Check my BEL20 & Top 50: http://moviesandmusic.tumblr.com/
GRIMES
Tanlines, Suckers and Dent May will all be soundtracking my summer
Agreed. Dent May should be getting way more love. “Do Things” is a terrific summer album.
Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built“ – last summer should have won with YOUNGER US, but House that Heaven Built should take it this yr.
Five Seconds gets my vote! I was on shrooms in the park and we ran into these douche bags that kept screaming “Five Seconds! Play it!” So I played it and thus ruined it. Oh nevermind.
After considering some great songs that are mentioned quite a lot in this board I will go ahead and cast my vote for Beach House – Lazuii
Beach House
Walkmen
Japandroids
Beach House-Lazuli
DIIV (f/k/a Dive) – How Long Have You Known?
Icona Pop – “I Love It“
I’m writing in iamamiwhoami’s “Play”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJBC8L3pG_Y
or Kill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTnH3zs8wRo
Friends – A Thing Like This
Anything and everything by Beach House will always be my go-to summer music..So. Lazuli, times a million.
King Tuff for sure. I’ll say “Bad Thing” because thats the single, but that whole album screams summer.
Icona Pop, Twin Shadow, Yeasayer from the ones you listed.
alt-J, “Fitzpleasure”
Poolside, “Slow Down”
GRiZ, “You Got to Change”
Peaking Lights, “Beautiful Son”
Trails & Ways, “Nunca”
Blood Diamonds & Grimes, “Phone Sex”
Kill Paris, “I Do Love You”
Summer Heart, “I Wanna Go”
AlunaGeorge, “Just a Touch”
Cloud Nothings, “Stay Useless”
Xylos, “Summerlong”
Blue Boats, “Summers Down”
Joey Bada$$ “Survival Tactics”
Danny Brown “Grown Up”
Shadows On Stars “Whiskey & Cigarettes”
Also, “Float” by KO KO is the most perfect summer song. Best use of whistling in a pop song since “Young Folks”.
japandddroids. oops sorry, too many summers where i was forced to read about wavvves has taken its toll.
We should all pump these shits like they do in the future.
Another vote for Passion Pit’s I’ll be alright, pure summer on that track!
Allo Darlin’ – Europe
yeasayer
+
metric- youth without you, friends- i’m his girl, the lumineers- ho hey