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# Summer tunes
- URL: https://justinowings.com/summer-tunes/
- Published: 2008-06-18T17:25:23.000Z
- Updated: 2025-03-06T16:46:19.000Z
- Author: Justin Owings
- Tags: articles

During the summer of 2007 there were a few albums that got more than their fair share of playing time. These albums ended up being theme music for last summer, and I have no doubt that listening to them going forward will evoke strong memories of the summer of 2007\. Here they are in no particular order:

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/20/9f/209fd0c9-331a-4ece-b2e3-5a0a6cafb76d/content/images/2025/03/3158ph6mpzl-_sl160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006L16N8?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0006L16N8&ref=justinowings.com)

[Coldplay — X&Y](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006L16N8?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0006L16N8&ref=justinowings.com): An uncle, of all people, turned me onto this album. I have mixed feelings about Coldplay. They've put out some enjoyable songs like *Clocks* and maybe *Yellow*, but all-in-all, most of their previous efforts have left me disappointed. That is, until X&Y. There is a veritable quadruplet of songs on this album that are fantastic. Start at *Fix You*, then *Talk*, skip *X&Y* to get to the radio-hit *Speed of Sound* only to round it out with *A Message*.

I have no idea why the crammed the mediocre song *X&Y* in the midst of this fantastic quadruplet of songs, but they did. Oh well. And don't get me wrong, there are a couple other songs on the album that are "classic Coldplay" in the sense that they are less-than-stellar music. But the awesomeness of the aforemetioned four songs makes up for it. Unfortunately, I fully expect Coldplay to never repeat this confluence of solid music-making.

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/20/9f/209fd0c9-331a-4ece-b2e3-5a0a6cafb76d/content/images/2025/03/31t1ye51egl-_sl160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000089CJI?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000089CJI&ref=justinowings.com)

[The Postal Service — Give Up](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000089CJI?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000089CJI&ref=justinowings.com): This album came out awhile ago (Early 2003 to be specific). And I was first introduced to it by my friend Larry after he did a solo cover of "Such Great Heights" and sent me his recording. That was in 2004\. It took me three years to follow-up and listen to the album. *Give Up* is incredible music from the beats and lyrics of *Such Great Heights* to the provactive imagery of *Clark Gable* or *We will become silhouettes* or *Recycled air*. Even if you don't care for [Ben Gibbard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben%5FGibbard?ref=justinowings.com)'s other band (*Death Cab for Cutie*), there's a great chance you'll still like *The Postal Service*. My only gripe with *Give Up* is that its too short. Alas, some damn fine music. I'm keeping my ears open for a repeat album.

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/20/9f/209fd0c9-331a-4ece-b2e3-5a0a6cafb76d/content/images/2025/03/61beobnoyvl-_sl160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009HLDFU?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0009HLDFU&ref=justinowings.com)

[Foo Fighters — In Your Honor](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009HLDFU?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0009HLDFU&ref=justinowings.com): I only list *In Your Honor* while admitting that I caught up on the entire *Foo Fighters* discography last summer. Perhaps not unlike *The Postal Service*, it just took me awhile to be "ready" for *Foo Fighters*. Alas, the two-disc set of *In Your Honor* is fantastic music, and I particularly enjoyed Dave Grohl's more-or-less solo, acoustic album (i.e. *Miracle* or *On the mend*). It's akin to *Beck*'s departure from his normal motif in [Sea Change](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006F7S4?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00006F7S4&ref=justinowings.com) (Another one worth checking out whether you like Beck's other stuff or not).

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/20/9f/209fd0c9-331a-4ece-b2e3-5a0a6cafb76d/content/images/2025/03/51-d2rgytul-_sl160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NJL4TY?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000NJL4TY&ref=justinowings.com)

[Peter, Bjorn & John — Writer's Block](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NJL4TY?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000NJL4TY&ref=justinowings.com): I picked up this album after hearing *Young Folks* on some internet radio station. *Writer's Block* is just a fun, indie rock album. It's not genius, but if you're looking for something slightly different than the mainstream and want an enjoyable album, its worth checking out.

[![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/20/9f/209fd0c9-331a-4ece-b2e3-5a0a6cafb76d/content/images/2025/03/51gjr8jpw7l-_sl160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FVQYYK?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FVQYYK&ref=justinowings.com)

[Muse — Black Holes and Revelations](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FVQYYK?ie=UTF8&tag=justinowings-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000FVQYYK&ref=justinowings.com): *Muse* is a bit different, but I found this album to be great workout/biking music. It's loud, rocking, and some of the lyrics are thought-provoking, if not typically and predictably anti-Bush (yawn). Nonetheless, the album's namesake song *Starlight*, which includes the lyric "black holes and revelations", is fun, weird and enjoyable. *Supermassive Black Hole* is another different, funkily enjoyable tune. This album is completely associated with biking around Ansley and Piedmont Park.

### A request

Now that summer 2008 is fully-on, I'm looking for some new music — good tunes that ultimately end up as my 2008 theme music, forever associated with whatever this summer brings. So if you have any albums you think I might enjoy, please comment below.