V.A. Summer Punk Crush

So on Volume One of the Summer Punk series (see HERE), we argued that the pop-punk underground better exemplifies the sounds of summer than any auto-tuned-dance-drek. As usual, I've tilted my section towards bands who admire the Ramones but I've tried to keep it mixed up a bit. Now let us continue to celebrate the forthcoming season with simple-n-loud guitars, sing-along hooks and cleverly-dumb lyrics!

(Band link = homepage, song link = YouTube) 

1.  D.I.  -  Surfin' Anarchy
This re-write of Chuck Berry's original, released as a single in 1989, is one of the highlights of these Fullerton punks' storied career.
 
2.  Excessories  -  Summer
A nice track form this aughts-era LA, female-fronted power-pop-punk band.

3.  Zero Boys  -  Beach Blanket Boi-Oi-Oi      
While the second album from these Indianapolis' hardcore legends fell rather flat, it starts with a rush in the form of this track.

4.  Screeching Weasel  -  First Day of Summer
I've discussed the shame and the glory of Weasel ad nauseum (see HERE) but the songs remain.

5.  Sloppy Seconds  -  I Can't Slow Down
Some diss the second Sloppy Seconds album, Knock Yer Block Off, for it's more rock sound but song-wise and lyric-wise I say it's this Indianapolis junk-rock band's best.

6.  Lemonaids  -  Summer Crush On You
A new and very fun Ramones-core band from Glasgow, Scotland who not only got a track on this volume but got a bit of their cover art pinched for it as well.

7.  Superchunk  -   Cruel Summer
Chapel Hill's Superchunk have re-emerged as the ripping band we remember and not as the intriguing, if meandering ensemble they became over the last decade. For proof, check this brand-new cover of this Bananarma song, which is the B-side of their new single, This Summer.

8.  The Breakup Society - The Summer of Jocelyn May
Phoenix power-poppers with a great track from their highly unappreciated album, James at 35.

9.  Surfin' Lungs  -  Pray for Sun
London's longest-running surf-punk band, The Surfin' Lung, keep the endless summer dream alive.

10. Even in Blackouts  -  Summer Comes
Chicagoan (and ex-Screeching Weasel memeber) Jughead spent the auights playing with this acoutstic pop-punk band who I fancy sound like a cross between Tilt and Blood on the Saddle.

11. New Bomb Turks   -  Summer Romance
Sure NBT leader Eric Davidson now calls their sound  'gunk-punk' but back in the early nineties these four guys from Columbus, Ohio had the punk underground by the throat.

12. Radio Birdman  -  Aloha Steve and Danno
Finally some Australian representation! Here, we've grabbed one of the poppier songs from the usually pummeling repertoire of this ultra-influential group.

13. White Wires  -  Summer Girl
According to Ottawa power-pop-punks, White Wires, summer girls are 'young and free' and don't listen to their parents or think about when they're gonna die.

14. Regal Beagle (ft. Joe Queer)  -   Summertime
Pretty straight-up pop-punk here with the bonus of producer Joe Queer adding his voice to this already pretty Queers-y track by this LA band.

15. Ramones  -  California Sun (live, 1978)
Since I've tagged NYC's  the Ramones as the progenitors of this so-called summer-punk thing, they needed a track like "Summer Sun" on here.

16. Helen Love  -  Long Hot Summer
The UK's Helen Love, who's dedicated her career to a twee obsession with the Ramones, ought to be a a mere curiosity but her song-writing chops belie her fan-girl-ness

17. The Last  -  Every Summer Day
Great late seventies LA surf-punk from a band who should've toured with the Barracudas.

Whew that take a lot of time indoors, while I should have been outside!
I hope you have a thought on the selection - (favourites, surprises, new-to-you things etc.) to put in the COMMENTS section!!
After all, I now have enough material for four more volumes - so if you want MORE let  us know!!!

Summer Punk Re-Up!

(image borrowed from here)

Well by now radio stations are pumping out slick dance-pop nominees for the "song of the summer" (The Offspring being the most egregious entry of 2012) but for me the literal-minded pop-punk underground offers the real sounds of the summer. The songs here are from all over the last three decades and focus on the classical definition of pop-punk: 'bands who really like the Ramones', as opposed to the mainstream definition of; 'bands who really like Blink 182' (NTTAWWT). This coulda been a box set, so if you feel slighted your time to contribute to volume two is coming up soon.

The Apers - "Almost Summer"
Screeching Weasel loving Dutch boys who really know how much a pop songs needs to be both catchy and an expression of painful longing.


The Undertones - "Here Comes the Summer"
Northern Ireland's pop-punk masters shoulda had a monster hit with this one.

Ronnie Mayor - "Can't Wait Till the Summer Comes"
Late seventies UK power-pop is a totally part of the pop-punk continuum.

The Parasites - "First Day of Summer"
One of the best songs from probably the finest album of Dave Parasite's lengthy career.

Ramones - "Rockaway Beach"
You knew THE defining band of pop-punk had to make the list, even if they don't have a song with summer in the title.

The Fastbacks - "In the Summer"
Kurt Bloch remains one of of the most neglected song-writers of his generation and this song is one of my favourites of his.

Surfin' Lungs/Shock Treatment - "Tell 'Em I'm Surfin'"
UK surf legends recorded the vocals while Spanish punk band Shock Treatment recorded the instruments for this little E.P. from 1997.

Hüsker Dü - "Celebrated Summer"
A band who influenced almost every subsequent pop-punk band, without ever playing by any of the genres ultra-stringent rules.

The Barracudas - "Summer Fun"
I love every nano-second of this song by these original UK Beach-punks.

The Kung Fu Monkeys - "Summer School" (almost)
From the twee side of pop-punk comes this fun New York band who've been around forever.

The Ataris - "The Boys of Summer"
Okay just to piss a few people off, one song from the post-Blink school of pop-punk*, showing off one of the tricks that unites the two schools - amping up cheesy pop hits.
*though one could well argue the band had paid their dues earlier on.

Chixdiggit - "Brunette Summer"
It's Chixdiggt, nothing more need be said.

The Queers - "The Sun Always Shines Around You"
Lookout Records called their Queers 'Best Of' compilation, Summer Hits becuase that summery feeling pervades a lot of thier best songs.

Funbug - "Summer Girl" (almost)
"She thinks she's Californian but she comes from Birmingham" - great pop-punk always manages to mask recording limitations with speed, cleverness and hooks.

Ben Weasel - "Summer's Always Gone Too Soon" (alternate Weasel summer song)
Following the debacle at SxSW, it kinda looks like Ben's going through an identity crisis as he tries to decide where his belligerent persona ends and Mr. Ben Foster the man begins. Whatever the result of his troubles, let's hope Ben re-emerges because he's one of the best lyricists this genre has ever produced.

So tell us what you make of the songs on the list and what songs you think might make it on to a Volume Two. (If you wanna put the whole thing on your music-listening device, visit that section for further assiatnce)