By Joe Johnson (The Cascade/CIVL DJ) – Email
Print Edition: July 2, 2014
Host of Everything Indie in CIVL Radio and also The Cascade’s Business Manager, Joe Johnson focuses on creating an eclectic playlist. Here are five tracks that hold a special place for him and fit nicely with the summer months.
Weezer
“My Name is Jonas”
The first track on Weezer’s self-titled debut album, this album is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. While it came out in the mid ‘90s, it transcends time and stands up to modern hits, and even modern Weezer. It’s so outstanding that the band has returned to the album’s producer for their upcoming release that’ll be coming out some time later this year, or early next.
Joel Plaskett
“Our Place in the Sun”
Joel Plaskett has been one of Canada’s more prominent musicians. Five years ago he released the experimental album, Three. Plaskett had a fixation on threes, and this track fell on the third disc. Without sarcasm, and with lyrics like “I’m 33 and a third”, what a song this is. It’s got the slow, summery, alt-country twang. And it’s really just an amazing song to shape some chill summer memories.
I’m From Barcelona
“Get in Line”
I’m From Barcelona – “Get In Line” from Consequence of Sound on Vimeo.
Now here’s a band out of Sweden that’s extremely eclectic and certainly a necessity for the summer season. While they can be a little too saccharine at times, this band boasts 28 members, is incredibly pop-heavy, and is just generally upbeat and fun. It’s lead singer Emanuel Lundgren’s vocals that truly add the strength and weight to the sugary instrumentals and brings them home.
Gaslight Anthem
“Meet Me by the River’s Edge”
There is no contemporary rock band that can capture nostalgia and emotionally connect like Gaslight Anthem. While they have a new album, Get Hurt, slated for an August 19 release, I’ll always come back to this track as one of my favourites for its driven storytelling and hot, late summer atmosphere. Covering the story of a small town, and the yearning for escape and renewal, it’s highly reminiscent of Springsteen.
Phoenix
“Rome”
Phoenix and the track “Rome” mark my early ventures into indie music. It has a personal melancholic feeling when I listen to it because of that. The band has a number of other killer tracks such as “1901,” “Lisztomania,” and “Lasso,” but it’s “Rome” that is the actual cornerstone to this synthpop band. It maintains a content, easy listening, melody that is perfect for a calming summer day.
