Photo by Aubrey Arenas

Hi! The semester is about to begin and all I can really think about is how September is this pretty little lull between the summer and the fall. I spent most of my summer listening to dreamy songs that perfectly complement the sways of a hammock. So, I think it is only fitting that I dedicate this week’s mixtape to the songs that have constantly been on the “Recently Played” playlist of my iPod this past summer. Enjoy friends.

1. The Velvet Underground – “Pale Blue Eyes” (Fan Site)
It’s simple, pretty, and so damn sad. And while I kind of want to say that Adventureland has ruined the song for me, Lou Reed’s genius trumps Kristen Stewart’s terrible acting any day.

2. Death Cab for Cutie – “Photobooth” (Official Website and Myspace Page)
This was my first Death Cab song and it has always remained my favourite. The innocence and naivete found in the lyrics always fills my mind with grainy images of past summers that never really existed. For anyone who wants the perfect song to end the summer, look no further.

3. Coconut Records – “Wires”(Official Website and Myspace Page)
Oh Jason Schwartzman (of Max Fischer infamy), you can do no wrong in my books. Like Coconut’s previous efforts, the sophomore album Davy has the same feel good vibe that’s reminiscent of the Beach Boys. “Wires” is one song that I particularly could not get enough.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Hysteric” (Official Website and Myspace Page)
While I kind of long for those days when Karen O would sing blunt lyrics like “As a Fuck son, you sucked” (“Bang”), I do quite enjoy her softer side. In the YYYs latest album, the gentler side of Miss O is more apparent than ever, it probably has to do with maturity and wisdom. Nonetheless, “Hysteric” has won me over with its minimalist lyrics and end whistling. It’s the “Maps” of It’s Blitz! a.k.a. the pretty love song and the gem of the album.

5. Spiritualized – “Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space” (Official Website and Myspace Page)
The title says it all; it’s hard to not feel like you’re floating in space when listening to this song. Not only are there multiple voices layered on top of one another, the voices all sing grand confessions of romantic gestures. It’s a lullaby about falling in love and enchanting promises.

6. The Smiths – “Unlovable” (Fan Site)
Like every song by the Smiths, Morrissey is self-deprecating. However, in “Unlovable” it’s got a nice, upbeat melody. I find it a little funny that despite the danceable sway that one can find in the instrumentals, Moz is singing about how he “wears black on the outside because black is how [he] feels on the inside”. On another note, the song that follows this track on Louder Than Bombs is “Asleep”, which is perhaps the most depressing song ever.

7. LCD Soundsystem – “New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down” (Official Website and Myspace Page)
I often have these epic fantasies about living in New York, so to even imagine NYC being a bummer is nearly impossible. Although the honesty found in these lyrics that point out the flaws of America’s pride and joy may create a little disillusionment, it does make for a lovely song.

If you would like to submit a playlist, please email (pub@theboar.ca) a list of 7-10 songs with 3-5 sentences of description for each song. Also add a brief introduction about yourself such as your program and musical interests. Please write a subject line in the email indicating that it’s a playlist and please do not use .docx formatting for Word documents.