Busy, busy work week for me. I think I've got my summer mix done; I just need to cut one or two tracks and sequence it. But I haven't had time for that yet, and my new "hip hop for my 8-year-old daughter" project is taking a lot of my listening time. What is that human instinct that makes us add more projects when we're already swamped?

One track that sure as heck is going to make the cut for my summer mix is "Dirt" by WU LYF. I caught the video on pitchfork (mostly just listened to it) and really, really dug it. Tribal drums, electric organ drones, and post-comprehensible barked vocals. It reminds me a lot of the good songs on the first and third Animal Collective albums. But where the "other" tracks on the Animal Collective albums were noisy and impenetrable, I find that the other tracks by Wu LYF err in the other direction: it sounds like mid-90's shoegaze, but with those same guttural vocals. The results on 90% of the album are disappointing, but the mix on this one song is just perfect, and I hope to hear more songs like that on any future releases. Give it a listen.

If you search for the video, it flashes they lyrics above B&W images of riots. Avoid it, and imagine your own lyrics. I've got "No matter what they said, Ja Rule is not your friend"* at 2:20.

*Probably because he "F--- you crazy, then [he's] gone."[1]

Now spit yr wicked randomness.

For the past 7 or so summers, I've pieced together a mix CD for my wife and our sisters that's my attempt at, well, a Summer mix for that summer. I try to put together a pop collection of stuff I think is good and will be popular with all of us. (And I try to keep the lyrics kid-friendly.) I generally stick to broadly-defined "Pop," but that has included everything from Bonnie 'Prince' Billy to Buju Banton, White Stripes to Kanye West, Justin Timberlake to Zola Jesus, Taylor Swift to Sleigh Bells, and Grizzly Bear to Gang Gang Dance.

I'm just putting my thoughts together for this year (mix usually ready for the 4th of July), but here's what I've got so far:
EMA "Milkman"
Hooray for Earth "No Love"
Nicki Minaj "Super Bass"
Eric Copeland "Puerto Rican"
JKR70 presents Clay Hughes "The Love I Gave Ya"
I'm also thinking of maybe some Current 93, Fovea Hex, Andy Stott, and Gang Gang Dance, but that's already way too much weird for a year's worth of summers. I'm going to look into Adele (I haven't heard anything other than that she's HUGE), and maybe find good summer songs of the new Thurston Moore and Low LPs, but I'm very short on actual pop. I tried listening to about 15 minutes of KDWB and whatever became of B96, but that was difficult and those songs stunk.

So, you got any suggestions of upcoming new things that would be good? (I can especially use some help finding my obligatory country single.) Thanks much!