10 Songs That Will Get You Through This Summer.

Forget the Billboard charts. Here are 10 songs that you absolutely should burn onto a CD (old-school music fans rejoice!) or throw onto your iPod's newest playlist.

1. Synthetica - Metric : "I'll keep the life that I've got..." How many times do you find yourself content with life? This song actually makes you want to like your life. Great for those days when you're peddling off to that summer job you hate.

2. Dig A Hole - William Beckett : Find a better guitar-wuilding crooner this side of the Mississippi River? Doubtful. Unless you consider Justin Nozuka. Either way, this song is perfect for those late night trips to Wawa or a trek through the park.

3. Money (Let It Go) - TakingBackSunday : And just when you think summer's all about being happy-go-lucky and making memories, you have a completely shit day and are ready to do nothing but scream at the top of your lungs. This is your anthem.



Bloc Party will release their fourth studio
album, 4, later this month.



4. Day Four - Bloc Party : Tranquil and melodic, this is the perfect jam to wake up and start your day to. Just in time for the countdown to the fall, and the band's upcoming album, Four (Aug. 21).

5. Constant Conversations - Passion Pit : Talk about mood music, this is perfect for those nights where you're up all night, thinking and just wishing your brain would turn off.

6. Sharp Practice - Circa Survive : Cigarette breaks, coffe breaks, breaks of all kinds. This track has just enough momentum to free your mind from the task at hand while preparing you for going back to it.

7. Slave to Substance - Suicide Silence : Permission to take out all your pent up aggression in the form of an impromptu moshpit in your living room? Granted.

8. Youth Knows No Pain - Lykke Li : This song is perfect for a walking on the beach, no worries and slightly bored kind of day.

9. Thinkin' Bout You - Frank Ocean : Thought we'd let you off the hook with no love songs? Come on. It's the time of hookups, flings and budding romances. This is for all you romantics out there, to play in the background while you lip-lock your summer crush.

10. How They Want Me To Be - Best Coast: When your day (or night) is done, slip into your pj's, bust out your favorite snack and relax with this little ditty.

Now Playing: Various Artists on The Best Summer of Your Life Music Mix As Given to you above.

--J

Reveling in Royalty.

If you’ve been busy living under a rock or so absorbed by all things punk that you’ve forgotten that other genres existed, this is that once in a blue moon break from the norm.

Childish Gambino, better known as “actor, writer, rapper” Donald Glover (or “Troy” from Community) has released some killer tracks in the past, most notably “Do Ya Like” for which he sampled Adele’s “Melt My Heart To Stone” to create a moody, sexy hip-hop track, “Bonfire” and “Heartbeat” (for which he has been nominated for his first VMA Award). 

After signing to Glassnote and releasing his label debut, CAMP (which is his 3^rd full-length album, if you don’t count all the mixtapes and EPs prior to its release), Gambino had some downtime between writing for various TV programs, touring all through last spring and summer and production and studio engineering engagements he’s involved in.

To say he’s busy is an understatement but not nearly as much as doubting his ability to serve up a dope album, which is actually what I did in my review of CAMP last fall.

(Please note: I have since learned from my mistake.)

After hearing “Unnecessary” (featuring ScHoolboy Q and Ab-Soul), for the first time late in spring, I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of Gambino dropping another mixtape on July 4^th. It’s so far away from the nerdy hipster rapper we grew accustomed to through Poindexter, Culdesac and EP.

But once I got ROYALTY in my possession, I didn’t listen to anything else.

CG manages to create a seamless record filled with all the characteristics we praise him for: no auto-tune, conscious lyrics, excellent song features from music industry veterans (Beck, Bun-B, Ghostface Killah, RZA) and rookies alike (Chance the Rapper, Danny Brown, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul).

CG’s flow is harder and less prone to awkward structures.

But don’t fret: the metaphors are still as obscure, culturally relevant and introspective as his previous works.

The samples and instrumentals transcend everything else the industry is producing these days, easily solidifying Glover as one of the best producers of his generation.

Even fellow awkward comedian Tina Fey’s guest spot on album closer, “Real Estate” isn’t out of place (or anything less than hilarious).

Basically, with songs ranging from mellow (“Make It Go Right”, “Silk Pillow”) to introspective (“We Ain’t Them”, “Black Faces”) to summer car ride anthems (“One Up”, “Toxic”) will pacify any music listener.

Now Playing: Royalty | Childish Gambino

Recommendations: "Make It Go Right" feat. Kilo Kush | "Silk Pillow" feat. Beck | "Shoulda Known" 

For more on Glover’s music, go to Childish Gambino Lyrics where you can find download links for nearly all his albums, follow Donald on Twitter, or keep an eye on his personal website/blog.

--J