The indie music summer playlist

What captures the summer feeling more than a song called “Hot 97 Summer Jam” off an album called “Teenage Retirement”? There is a warm pop-punk sound to Chumped but a lot of wistfulness to the lyrics. It’s a song of romantic yearning. As Anika Pyle sings, “I would wait for you all summer long.”

In this song, Molly Rankin talks about sailing on the Atlantic, and somehow that’s what “Archie, Marry Me” feels like. From the bird chirps at the beginning right into that beautiful opening guitar riff, there’s almost something relaxing about it, and it’s also an absolutely beautiful song. The cheerful tone certainly helps as well. Who doesn’t want a nice love song in the summer?

There were a couple of good choices for a Pavement song for a summer playlist, and we didn’t want to double-up on any artists. While “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” has "summer" right in the title, “Gold Soundz” is the song with the summer vibe. It definitely soundtracks sitting by a pool better than “Summer Babe,” though both songs are outstanding.

Summer is a time for music festivals, so why not include “Festival Song” in your playlist? Of course, Rosenstock’s song is a somewhat sardonic take on the whole festival thing, with a knowing wink to it. The DIY punk-rocker does a good job of threading the needle, creating a fun, catchy song that has its cake and eats it too.

If you grew up in a certain era, any pop-punk song is going to give you that summer feeling. Alas, a lot of those bands you listened to as a teenager don’t hold up. Charly Bliss changed its sound a bit for its recent (very good) album “Young Enough,” but its debut album “Guppy” could soundtrack a summer in and of itself. The song that name-drops Dairy Queen is the one we’re going with, though.

There’s nothing inherently “summer-y” about “Scene Sick,” but it still fits. When the song makes a turn and picks up the energy — and as the singer declares that she just wants to dance — you’re going to want to dance too. Perhaps in your backyard.

Peach Kelli Pop is a lo-fi garage rock project from Canadian musician Allie Hanlon. She may be from the Great White North, but basically every Peach Kelli Pop song has a summer feel to it. Well, maybe not “Halloween Mask.” The one we’re going with, though, is “Princess Castle 1987.”

On any playlist, you want a mix of sounds and vibes. You’ve got some chiller, more laid-back songs and some tunes with energy and punch to them. The latter is what Bleached brings and can be heard in "For the Feel." In particular, its older songs have a real punk flavor with what feels like a Southern California sound. What city feels more like summer than L.A.?

Summer isn’t always perfect. Take, for example, the song that broke Courtney Barnett in the United States for most people. Barnett is great at telling a story through her lyrics, and “Avant Gardener” is no different. In this song, Barnett gardens during a heat wave, has an asthma attack and decides she should have just stayed inside. It’s funny, catchy and will soothe your soul when the temperatures get just a little too hot.

Did we include this song just because it’s called “Brainfreeze” and that reminded up of eating too much ice cream in the summer? Sure, but it still fits. It has a rollicking energy to it that feels perfect for a summer drive. Just take it slow with that ice cream.

"On the Lips" is another song that deals with romance in a wistful fashion, which feels like it goes hand in hand with summer. Frankie Cosmos songs are deceptively complex given how simple, but great, they tend to sound. Frontwoman Greta Kline sings about seeing somebody on the subway, wishing they would kiss her, but then it doesn’t happen. Although, being on the subway in the summer is maybe not the greatest memory.

Much like Charly Bliss’ “Guppy,” all of Lisa Prank’s “Adult Teen” could soundtrack your summer. Some of the songs are about breakups and hard relationship stuff, which maybe isn’t great for a fun summer soundtrack. “Luv is Dumb,” though, is a perfect little slice of pop punk.

New Zealand’s The Beths have a great, warm pop-punk sound. The fact they have a song called “Lying in the Sun” is practically kismet. When you’re outside and this song comes up on your playlist, it’s going to feel just right.

Just listen to the guitar and the harmonizing vocals on this song. You could be in the middle of a Winnipeg winter and still get a feel of relaxing in a backyard or chilling in a pool. If you actually are in a pool, though, you will have found your nirvana while listening to “Honey Do.”

Whether with Waxahatchee or P.S. Eliot, Katie Crutchfield doesn’t tend to make songs that work for summer, content-wise. However, she, and her sister Allison, are immensely talented musicians who need to be on an indie music playlist. “Incoherent Love Songs” at least has a clap-along, singalong aspect to it, and it may get you dancing by the end.

Superchunk, a stalwart of the indie rock scene for decades, deserved a spot on this playlist. “Driveway to Driveway” probably feels more like summer, but it’s another somewhat sobering song about romance gone awry. Well, “Detroit Has a Skyline” does admittedly contain the lyric, “I had a crush, nothing works out.” However, it also has a ton of energy and a propulsive drive to it, so it feels like a good choice.

We wanted to include Japanese Breakfast’s stellar cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries, but it felt a little bit off to have a cover on this playlist. Fortunately, “Everybody Wants to Love You” still fits in well thanks to its combination of prettiness and energy. That being said, given the lyrical content of this song, you may want to avoid playing this one at any family cookouts.

The shambling sound of this quartet of ladies from Spain has a tremendous lo-fi vibe that really worms its way into your brain. They have several songs that fit in with a summer playlist, but why not go with the one named after San Diego? It’s perpetually sunny and warm there, which is what you want from summer.

You may get the joke of this song from the title. If you don’t, give it a listen and you should. Tacocat does an impressive job of making “Crimson Wave” work as a surf song while, you know, hitting the joke of the double entendre. It’s a funny song, but if you couldn’t make out the lyrics and just heard the instrumentation, you’d still think it fit on a summer playlist.

The album cover for the album that “Our Love Will Always Remain” comes from featuring a woman on the beach in sunglasses. That gives you a sense of The Aquadolls' sound right there. It has a great warm feel, some harmonizing vocals and some of that positive love aspect to it that’s ideal for a summer playlist.

Lindsey Jordan is an artist you want to keep an eye on. The 20-year-old has already released a stellar album in 2018’s “Lush.” Her laid-back sound is good for a relaxing, chill summer day, but “Golden Dream” is our choice. That just feels like a summer-y title, and the sound definitely works.

Let’s slow it down a bit as we get toward the end of the playlist. There is a very relaxed vibe to “Vacation,” with the soft vocals and tender guitar sound. Summer is a time for vacations, of course, but there is also a vibe that feels right for winding the night down. Maybe wait until the sun is going down before hitting this part of the playlist.

We’re going to start to get a little more lo-fi and drop the energy a notch to close out the playlist. Hey, even a great summer night has to end. Colleen Green mostly makes fuzzed-out indie rock built around her guitar work and a drum machine, but she has a catchy sound. Her music is simple, but it grabs you, and there is usually enough warmth in it for summer.

Here’s our second New Zealand artist on the playlist. Apparently Kiwis know how to make that summer feel come alive in music. Amelia Murray, aka Fazerdaze, started out as a bedroom pop artist who released her first full album a couple of years ago. "Lucky Girl" is the best song from the album and a great introduction to her as a musician. Or just a great song to listen to this summer.

And now we close things out with a classic indie pop song from the late, great Rilo Kiley. (Everybody in the band is still alive. They just broke up.) “With Arms Outstretched” is a soaring, uplifting song, but it’s not too heavy and energetic to end the night. It’s pretty and simple, but also beautiful. You will end the night feeling good. Then you can start the playlist up again the next weekend.