Bright Beginnings

Music
New classics for summer in New England

We earned this summer. Though spring has not been unkind, let us recall this past winter and the desperate wishes we made while digging out of several feet of snow. We pleaded for the sun’s warmth and vitamin D, for hot sand under our bare feet and the chance for adventure. Now we’re set to fulfill our potential, invigorated by the early morning’s warm rays and unfettered by layers of clothing. The optimistic sounds of the new season rise out of our open car windows, screen doors, and beaches as they coalesce in cloudless skies. Here are 12 new classic albums to celebrate summer in New England.

For the season’s quintessential barbecue:
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, “Piñata” 

The secret to great barbecue is brining and a great sauce, but to make an indelible mark this summer, we also need friends, cold drinks, and a boombox. Whether it is on sand, grass, or a patio, cooking food over an open flame is one of few ways we carry on our most primitive human traditions. Fearless laughs, dancing, and gluttony are the hallmarks of success during this quintessentially American summer ritual.

On “Piñata,” Freddie Gibbs brings the lyrical heat over legendary producer Madlib’s West Coast funk and soul beats. Every bit the update to Dre’s opus “The Chronic,” Gibbs’ melodic but hard-edged gangster tales and Madlib’s new-school g-funk will have arms and drinks raised up high.

Suitable Replacements:
Gaslight Anthem, “The ‘59 Sound” — You can’t replace Bruce Springsteen on the coveted BBQ playlist, but the “59 Sound” recalls its confessional energy and then some.
The Maytals, “Never Grow Old” — With The Skatalites backing them up, The Maytals bridged the ska and reggae sound with chill gospel choruses ripe for sing-alongs.

For summer road trips:
Free Energy, “Stuck on Nothing” 

From the moment we turn the key in the ignition, we’re overtaken with the exhilaration of the open road and its endless possibilities. The painstaking creation of the journey’s soundtrack is as important as the maps application on our phones. Whether to inspire us or keep our eyes open, music is a true traveling companion. Together, we’re ready for the prospect that anything can happen. And it will.

“We’re breaking out this time! Making out with the wind!” These are the first lines from Free Energy’s stadium rock and roll classic, “Stuck on Nothing.” An infectious ode to the Detroit Rock City era, its positivity is perfect for the road, turning your trip into the greatest escape.

Suitable Replacements:
Japandroids, “Celebration Rock” — The guitar-driven anthems of Brian King live up to the hype when you need to be worked into a sweaty frenzy at 2 a.m.
Speedy Ortiz, “Foil Deer” — Sadie Dupuis’ witty and complex slacker rock tunes have enough technical riffage and meaning to keep a carload of people engrossed for days.

For the impromptu dance party:
Girl Talk, “Feed the Animals”

When weather can’t hold us back, the dance party can happen anywhere and anytime. Rest assured, the desire will strike, whether at a beach bonfire or at an after-after-party in a downtown apartment. We must be vigilant and ready for the occasion with albums that can DJ the party for us, keeping energy up and rugs cut for hours.

Gregg Gillis, a.k.a. Girl Talk, has your back. On “Feed the Animals,” he’s curated hip-hop’s best-known bars and choruses, mashed up with an unexpected collection of hits that define American music history. No genre or decade is safe on this rollercoaster ride of hand-claps, sing-alongs, and guaranteed exhaustion.

Suitable Replacements:  
DJs Z-Trip and Radar, “Live at the Future Primitive Soundsession Vol. 2” — Hailed as one of the best live mixes of all time, essential hip-hop classics are cut up on the turntables.
The Bug, “London Zoo” — In a powerful overhaul of the dancehall genre, Kevin Martin will keep you bouncing to glitchy, bass-heavy beats and grimy verses.

For camping: 
Galaxie 500, “On Fire”

When the sight of bustling civilization becomes a burden, we head to the quiet, open spaces of the wilderness for relaxation and camaraderie. The sojourn leads us back to basics: a simpler life without the pressures of careers or walls. Here we’re inspired to see and step where no other human has before. We can imagine brief glimpses of life on the frontier, even if the latest technology is never really that far away.

We can get lost in the vastness of Galaxie 500’s dreamy, psych-tinged masterpiece, “On Fire.” The slowcore pioneers’ simple but scintillating sound is steeped in reverb and topped with the underappreciated quiver of Dean Wareham’s falsetto and cracking vocals. The result is loose and atmospheric indie rock that fits perfectly behind conversation around the fire or on a contemplative solo hike.

Suitable Replacements:   
Youth Lagoon, “The Year of Hibernation” — The sun-drenched bedroom pop of Trevor Powers is sure to enkindle a boundless spirit of nostalgia.
Woods, “At Echo Lake” — Lo-fi psych-pop whose jam sessions could never replace the Grateful Dead, but complement them.