Here are some summer songs to chronicle the warm night on my back deck as I contemplate blogging, creating, and living under the bright sun.

Grandaddy: Summer Here Kids

Grandaddy’s take on summer is an understandable bristling against the commercialism of the boardwalks and beach spots, compelling us to stay at home and listen to our favorite records. OK, I can see that, to a point, but I do want to get out there with like-minded celebrators. While I’m home, though, it’s not a bad idea to put on some records…

Pedro The Lion: Indian Summer

Moving gently from the cyncial starting point, we begin with Pedro The Lion’s nod to “ultra-violet rays” spreading over a bleak, commercial suburbia bloated with “corporate cum.” The announcement that “it will never rain again” is classic indie-rock sardonicism. Well, whatever, I can’t really deny the truthfulness herein. But I’m still in search of some light-hearted fun…

Belle & Sebastian: I Know Where The Summer Goes

Stuart Murdoch takes us into lighter territory, if not altogether fun, but he helps us reconcile the humid, laconic wistfulness with the unspoken hopes of triumph. “The boy came from nowhere to steal the hearts from lassies in the lavvies of the club tonight.” What could be a more satisfying Cinderella story than that?

Throwing Muses: Summer St.

Let me state right off that, as usual, I’m not entirely sure what Kristin Hersh is on about here, but the feeling is right. In the haze of summer, the body is lonesome, and yet not. This, I think, is a song of solitary, gentle hope. I will take the exhortation to “drink to the sun” literally.

Animal Collective: Summertime Clothes

Ah, this is getting closer. Sweat everywhere. Mosquitos too, probably. And then the call of a summer girl. “I want to walk around with you.” Yes, let’s.

The Beach Boys: All Summer Long

Could I have ended this post with any other song? Absolutely not. It starts and ends with Brian Wilson’s majestic celebration.