SUMMER VARIETIES FROM A FEW YEARS BACK

First, have a sweep of some solid rockers perfect for relaxing on a summer day:

Balancer – The Age is a Gift, Conor Oberst – Hundreds of Ways, Darlia – Candyman, Drenge – Backwaters, Eden Mulholland – Cry, Cry, Cry, Emiliana Torrini – Jungle Drum Kate Tempest – The Beigeness, Mac DeMarco – Treat Her Better, Marmozets – Captivate You, Matthew and the Atlas – Into Gold, Andrew Bird – Plasticities, Bear Hands – Giants, Royal Blood – Out of the Black

Now a couple songs to fall asleep to on a summer evening:

Evening Hymns – Cabin in the Burn, Nils Petter Molvaer – Song of Sand

Now let’s take a break and listen to a sound from radio’s distant past with an aircheck of WODA in Patterson, New Jersey from 1922.

All right, time to get up and moving again:

Evelyn Thomas - High Energy, Stephen Alexander Band – Trailer Park blues, Superfood – TV, Drunken Monkey – The Dream Logic

Now let’s slow it down with The Civil Wars – Poison and Wine, although you might want to slow dance to this one by yourself.

Now let’s take a comedy break with The Altar Call’s Greatest Hits and Weird Al’s “Word Crimes.”

All right, back to the summer rockers:

Alvvays – Archie, Marry Me, Chancius – A Piece of You Wherever I Go, Continental – 1000 Miles

David Lindley – Quarter of a Man: So many people are just like the guy in the song.

Arlene Paculan – I’m Worth It: Great lyrics.

Now some more songs to fall asleep, or just relax to in the summer:

Mum – Eternity is the Wait Between Breaths, Teen Daze – Ice on the Windowsill (be thankful there’s none on yours this time of year), The Innocence Mission – Bright as Yellow, K.S. Rhoads – River of Suffering, Slow Club – You, Earth or Ash

Now let’s increase the tempo a bit with Parlour Hawk – Home.

Now let’s take another comedy break with Paul and Storm – Me Make Fire.

Time for some hippy-era British folk music:

The Amazing Blondel – Pavan, Pearls Before Swine – Another Time, Pete Dello and Friends – There’s Nothing That I Can Do for You, Principal Edward’s Magic Theatre – Enigmatic Insomniac Machine, Pussy – Come Back June, Rainbow Ffolly – She’s All Right, Raw Material – Time and Illusion

Pepper Rabbit – Older Brother: This song reminds me of talking with my roommates-or even sneaking down the hall to other students’ rooms to talk late at night at the school for the blind. It’s also quite evocative in general.

Petra – Prayer: Such resonant lyrics.

Ralfe Band – Cold Chicago Morning: I can just picture somebody walking down the street with their earbuds in swinging their arms in time to this song.

Now I’m going to return to my teenage years via 2014 with a triple shot of Rancid:

Collision Course, Blood Clot, Time Bomb

Now for a sweep of pre-Trump-era songs with a political or social bent:

Three Minute Shower, Harper Song Canadian Lies, Harperman, Captain Stephen Harper and the Good Ship Hypocrite, Heave Steve, Hurricane Katrena Hurricane Song, Rafi – I Want My Canada Back, Stealin’ All My Dreams, The Bruce Jenner Song, Tim Minchin- The Pope Song (warning, very fowl language)

Chris Tomlin – Even So Come: We so need to do what this song says.

Now for a news break:

Exposed! Mark Flynn was Right Occult Labyrinth in the Baptist Church, Quantum Computing and Catastrophic Consequences are Closer Than Realized, Dopey Thief Arrested After Complaining To Police For Featuring On Wanted Poster,

First Place Blue Jays Pennant Race Song: Wish we could sing this song now.

Now, because like you need a reason, here’s the theme from Freakazoid.

Let’s keep that feeling going with a comedy break:

Weird Scared Little Guys – Come to Australia,

Steve and Vicki Cook – I Will Glory in My Redeemer: It is truly all about Him and the relationship we have restored to us.

Anastasia – I’ll Overcome Someday: We all will.

The Lutheran Quartet – Jesus Priceless Treasure: Can’t beat the old hymns.

Neville Peter - Nothing Between: Amen, that’s all I can say.

Ray Stevens – The Global Warming Song: Ray’s still got it, or at least still had it eight years ago

And now a double shot of Corb Lund:

Washed Up Rock Star Factory Blues, Run This Town

And now some more summer rockers:

Fort Lean – Cut to the Chase, Hollands – Great White Shark, Auditorium – My Grandfather Could Make the World Dance, Find The Others – We Stared at the World, Grounders – Bloor Street and Pressure, Red Morris – Lady Rose, Star Tropics – Summer Rain, Swaying Wires - Nowhere

Let’s take another comedy break:

GOP Prime Time Rap Battle, Jim Keyes – Warner Wonderland

We’re gonna slow it down now. Such a beautiful song. This is Angharad Drake – Swing.

We’re goin’ country for a couple songs:

Johnny Reid – Today I’m Gonna Try To Change the World, Guy Clark – LA Freeway

Now another set of summer rock tunes:

July Talk – The Garden, Little Green Cars – Easier Day, Chelan – Pretend We Live Forever

Al Di Meola – Mediterranean Sundance: A Mediterranean vacation in your own backyard.

And to get you up and moving again Nebraska – Vicarious Disco.

Now once again for something completely different:

McDonald’s Clean It Training Video Featuring A Fake Michael Jackson

Honeytree – Pioneer: True lyrics and a beautiful voice: what more do you need?

And staying with the Christian theme, have some Christian psychedelic music with The Belljar - Lost and Found.