might be a bit saccharine for most people, but just going to offer icona pop’s “girlfriend” – that thing feels like it was engineered to be a ‘song of the summer’.

aside #1 – first streamed the new washed out track at my office yesterday and thought “meh”. listened to it today in a park in dc’s currently gorgeous (if a bit humid) weather and am liking it much much better. maybe i’m giving it the benefit of the doubt seeing as “feel it all around” is my song of the summer for every summer since 2009.

aside #2 – does anyone tend to listen to real estate more often as the weather warms? have been giving ‘ ‘days’ a spin almost every day of late.

Like the Walkmen, I consider the National to be just consumate professionals. When they go into the studio, you know they’re going to deliver quality output (and, kind of like this evaluation alludes to, music that is very much “their own” and not particularly swayed by the prevailing winds of the current microgrenres). Not sure who else I’d put in the leagues of these two – definitely Spoon, Grizzly Bear, Arcade Fire, maybe Vampire Weekend given the first few (read: dozen) spins of Modern Vampires.

Anyways, great read – really enjoying this album, “I Need My Girl” probably my favorite track of the bunch.

i really enjoyed their debut – “easy water” and “thankful” were two great tracks. loving both the new songs too, looking forward to the new lp.

with you there michael_, would like to see some space to discuss four – and definitely hear some influences from that time period you mention. though my reaction was a little less favorable, “kettling” and “coliseum” reminding me a bit of incubus for whatever reason (could be wrong with that association, it’s been a while since high school). that said, kele and co still make some pretty awesome “pretty” music – “real talk” and “day four” being the standouts for me.