D.C.’s synth-rock Broke Royals are composed of Philip Basnight and Colin Cross, who have only been playing music together since 2014 but are already gearing up to release their second EP, The Luxury Of Time Pt. II, on August 7. Give a listen to Basnight’s summer-themed MAGNET Mix Tape.
Duke Dumont “I Got U”
Certain songs seem to vanish during the cold winter months only to reemerge twice as strong again in the summer. This is just that kind of song. From the first hit of those Caribbean-style synth stabs, this song just floats along like a summer breeze. It’s perfect for lying out on the beach or sitting at your desk pretending you were on vacation. Even better, it’s a dance song about monogamy, which makes it quite the rarity. The GoPro video is a fun summer montage. Video
The Very Best “Yoshua Alikuti”
One of my all-time favorite summer jamz. This song comes from the Very Bests’ album MTMTMK, which is an abbreviation for “More To Malawi Than Madonna’s Kids.” These guys are reckless innovators who wanted to show the world their home country, Malawi, was not just the place where Madonna’s children were born. The result is euphoric and proves that the groove is a universal language. Video
Jamie xx “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
Jamie xx mentioned recently in an interview that he had a number of rappers contribute verses for this song and ended up splicing together his favorite verses from only two rappers: Young Thug and Popcaan. Young Thug is at the epicenter of atonal hip-hop in 2015, while Popcaan is a well-respected, but widely overlooked, dancehall prince. Leave it to Jamie xx to bring the two together in perfect harmony. This song is further proof that Jamie can’t be pinned to a genre but he can combine elements better than any of his peers. Video
LCD Soundsystem “North American Scum”
LCD Soundsystem is one of my favorite bands of all time, so I try to work them into as many playlists as possible. This song perfect for a summer day that has you feeling restless and hot. It’s aggravated and sardonic but, ultimately, goofy and made for dancing—like James Murphy. Video
Paul Simon “You Can Call Me Al”
This song is certified summer BBQ gold. Everyone loves this song and it’s usually been too long since they’ve heard it. The only thing as good as the song is the video, which features a youthful Chevy Chase. Lyrically, I always felt like this song was Paul Simon attempting his best irreverent, Highway 61-era, Bob Dylan impression. Cartoonish lyrics with incredible instrumentation, this one speaks to every generation. Video
Gert Wilden & Orchestra “Blues Party”
I found this song scanning through a blues/jazz comp. Old compilation records are usually a dead end, devoid of much worth unearthing. However, when you do find that lost gem, it’s such a source of joy. In part, because you’ve found a great new song, but also because it’s like discovering buried treasure. This feels like a summer house party, and it’s proof that crate digging pays off. Video
Girls “Lust For Life”
There is so much about this song that had been done before. For starters, Girls cribbed an Iggy Pop song title and played some simple surf rock. Yet, despite all that, “Lust For Life” feels so fresh and new. Lead singer Christopher Owens comes across as such a bizarre, yet enticing, personality—androgynous and melodramatic, almost like a San Francisco version of Prince. What’s not to love? Video
