5-album criteria

The AV Club's Steven Hyden evaluates artists who have released 5 consecutive great albums.

Great start, especially with the National shoutout; I'd also include the Clientele, from The Violet Hour to Minotaur

July Playlist

So, the plan is to do one of these each month.

I'm not sure that there's anything overarching that makes these songs "summer songs"--a label that can evoke joy, excitement, or nostalgia depending on the context. More just that its a group of songs I've been listening to quite a bit lately. Though: one thing I did notice is that many of these songs fulfill similar roles on the albums that they originally appear on--either the 2nd or 3rd songs on the record, or the 2nd or 3rd to last songs (with a few exceptions, notably the 1st and last tracks). Most are momentum holders.

Which makes sense: to idealize certain times of the year is to focus on their big events or transitional qualities. The new year, snow melting, leaves changing and autumn. Even if, say, the color changes of autumn might take an entire month, we often enjoy the leaves as indicators: things that are tangible and trackable. It's about the milestones. July, however, is a month to be appreciated for its own stubborn stagnation. The best ones just stay put, sunny and hot.

And thats what I like about these songs. However much I might appreciate "Can You Get to That," I like it even more because it bridges the gap on Maggot Brain from the psych-jam of the title track, and the impossibly catchy centerpiece "Hit it and Quit it." And while "Spaceboy" is a touching track in any context, It's placement between the triumphant "Mayonaise" and guitar climax "Silverfuck" on Siamese Dream underscores Billy Corgan's sincerity in a way no one song could on its own.

None of this is too different from what makes the middle of summer so special: a time of blissful suspension, where, under the best of circumstances, you forget the exact contours of the whole that you're operating within. Enjoy, and happy july.

Download here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?d4z6k85ustinsts

Tracklist:

Born in the U.S.A- Bruce Springsteen

Young Boy- Clipse

Stay Don't Go- Spoon

Spacious Skies- Invincible

Polar Opposites- Modest Mouse

Spaceboy- The Smashing Pumpkins

I Am The Resurrection- The Stone Roses

Can You Get to That- Funkadelic

Big Girl- Ghostface Killah

There Is a Light that Never Goes Out- The Smiths

Go With the Flow- MF Doom

Houses in Motion- Talking Heads

I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)- The Temptations

Boys You Won't Remember- The Wrens

NYC-25- The Olivia Tremor Control

More Pusha

In a relatively recent interview, ex-Clipse rapper Pusha T predicts a new album released this November.

Beyond his collaborations with Kanye West, my only experience with Pusha until recently was 2006’s infectiously dystopic Hell Hath No Fury, which created one of the most unique album universes of any release in recent memory. However, after picking up Clipse’s more sporadic but still suburb first album Lord Willin’, I couldn’t be more excited to hear what Pusha is doing next. Clipse has proved to be one of the most versatile rap groups of the decade—their funky party tracks and cautionary coke tales ask each ask to be taken seriously for what they are. Check out some of their best work below:

And what has Clipse’s other half, Malice, been up to? Writing a novel, apparently.