Unless you're stationed on the West Coast or way up north, chances are you've experienced the oppressive heat wave cutting across the country. And unless you're a total beach bum or some sort of masochist, chances are you're sitting at home in front of an oscillating fan or at some sweetly air-conditioned workplace just waiting for summer to pass. Regrettably, reports are coming in that the temperature's going to hover above the 30s straight through the weekend.
So, chill out as best you can, put your feet up on your favourite stool, grab a cold one and crank some tunes indoors. Here are just a few musical suggestions you may want to avoid or crank to get through the next few days.
Top Songs to Skip During a Heat Wave:
3. The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun"
It's a rock'n'roll staple, for sure, but if your AC is on the fritz, or you're lacking a sunbrella for your walk to the mailbox, the George Harrison-penned classic is just too chipper to deal with at present. The sun's been coming up every morning, shining down mercilessly on us no matter what we do. It's inescapable! True, a song called "Here Come the Clouds" would prove to be a major downer, but with our Slip 'n Slide in the shop, we're practically praying for something to set off god's sprinkler.
2. Best Coast "Summer Mood"
Last year, beach pop princess Bethany Cosentino had us in the palm of her hand as we swooned along to every sun-soaked, sad-sack missive of hers. Things are different now, and we're too sweaty to even consider strolling through the sand with our loved ones. "There's something about the summer that makes me moody," she coos on the cut. Yeah, it's called heatstroke. We're cranky too.
1. Cults "Go Outside"
Any other time of year, Brooklyn-based Cults' signature tune would be a welcome addition to any playlist, but the thought of venturing out of the apartment right now just boils our blood. Sure, at some point in the day, you've got to grab something to eat, because lord knows it's too hot in the kitchen. But mere seconds after strolling out of the DQ with an already-melting Oreo Blizzard in hand, you'll be considering Madeline Follin's cutesy beckon call a summery siren's trick.
Top Songs to Spin During a Heat Wave:
3. Magnetic Fields "I Don't Believe in the Sun"
In case we haven't hammered it in yet, it's brutally hot out there. Realistically, there's not much we can actually do about it save slathering up our bodies in sticky sunscreen or avoiding the whole outdoors scene altogether, but Stephin Merritt's broken-heart ballad has us believing in the power of positive thinking. Flipping his intention completely, we'll shut our eyes, already masked in cheap sunglasses, and wish the sun away. That is, until the rainfall actually hits. Then we'll be cursing how many beach days we skipped out on this summer. It's human nature, really.
2. The Rolling Stones "Paint It Black"
Following the maxim of "out of sight, out of mind," why not follow in the footsteps of Mick and Keef and just block out the outside world entirely. Coat your windows with a fresh can of Ebony Behr, put up the blackout curtains and just sit and listen to this '60s classic. The sun will surely stop shining in, but don't blame us when rickets sets in.
1. Fucked Up "I Hate Summer"
Considering Toronto's expecting to reach 37 degrees come Thursday, hometown hardcore kids Fucked Up have plenty to complain about. Damian Abraham's furiously shouted ode to all things winter, from sporting a kick-ass sweater and winter mitts combo to actually getting more than a few hours of dark to cool off in, proves that not everyone want to break out the pool noodles and short-shorts. Have some decency and put some damn clothes on, okay?
So, chill out as best you can, put your feet up on your favourite stool, grab a cold one and crank some tunes indoors. Here are just a few musical suggestions you may want to avoid or crank to get through the next few days.
Top Songs to Skip During a Heat Wave:
3. The Beatles "Here Comes the Sun"
It's a rock'n'roll staple, for sure, but if your AC is on the fritz, or you're lacking a sunbrella for your walk to the mailbox, the George Harrison-penned classic is just too chipper to deal with at present. The sun's been coming up every morning, shining down mercilessly on us no matter what we do. It's inescapable! True, a song called "Here Come the Clouds" would prove to be a major downer, but with our Slip 'n Slide in the shop, we're practically praying for something to set off god's sprinkler.
2. Best Coast "Summer Mood"
Last year, beach pop princess Bethany Cosentino had us in the palm of her hand as we swooned along to every sun-soaked, sad-sack missive of hers. Things are different now, and we're too sweaty to even consider strolling through the sand with our loved ones. "There's something about the summer that makes me moody," she coos on the cut. Yeah, it's called heatstroke. We're cranky too.
1. Cults "Go Outside"
Any other time of year, Brooklyn-based Cults' signature tune would be a welcome addition to any playlist, but the thought of venturing out of the apartment right now just boils our blood. Sure, at some point in the day, you've got to grab something to eat, because lord knows it's too hot in the kitchen. But mere seconds after strolling out of the DQ with an already-melting Oreo Blizzard in hand, you'll be considering Madeline Follin's cutesy beckon call a summery siren's trick.
Go Outside, by Cults from Boing Boing on Vimeo.
Top Songs to Spin During a Heat Wave:
3. Magnetic Fields "I Don't Believe in the Sun"
In case we haven't hammered it in yet, it's brutally hot out there. Realistically, there's not much we can actually do about it save slathering up our bodies in sticky sunscreen or avoiding the whole outdoors scene altogether, but Stephin Merritt's broken-heart ballad has us believing in the power of positive thinking. Flipping his intention completely, we'll shut our eyes, already masked in cheap sunglasses, and wish the sun away. That is, until the rainfall actually hits. Then we'll be cursing how many beach days we skipped out on this summer. It's human nature, really.
2. The Rolling Stones "Paint It Black"
Following the maxim of "out of sight, out of mind," why not follow in the footsteps of Mick and Keef and just block out the outside world entirely. Coat your windows with a fresh can of Ebony Behr, put up the blackout curtains and just sit and listen to this '60s classic. The sun will surely stop shining in, but don't blame us when rickets sets in.
1. Fucked Up "I Hate Summer"
Considering Toronto's expecting to reach 37 degrees come Thursday, hometown hardcore kids Fucked Up have plenty to complain about. Damian Abraham's furiously shouted ode to all things winter, from sporting a kick-ass sweater and winter mitts combo to actually getting more than a few hours of dark to cool off in, proves that not everyone want to break out the pool noodles and short-shorts. Have some decency and put some damn clothes on, okay?
