The last I heard from New York’s The Drums was last year’s breezy single “Let’s Go Surfing.”  In the time between then and now, the band has released an EP entitled Summertime!, and have been hard at work on their full length debut.  The self-titled album is set to be released on June 7th in the UK – and I would assume June 8th in the US, but I can’t seem to find anything to support that assumption.

The band offered up “It Will All End In Tears” from their impending debut on their website, and while it’s more in the vein of Real Estate than what I had heard previously, it’s excellent nonetheless.  Check The Drums’ MySpace for extensive tour dates, and for options to pre-order – if you live in the UK.

The Drums – It Will All End In Tears (mp3) from the forthcoming The Drums

I’m in a summery mood, which is apropos since Memorial Day is the unofficial start to the season.  My girlfriend and I forged our way south into the Finger Lakes yesterday to Watkins Glen State Park and made our way through the gorge, then stopped at a couple of wineries on the way back through.  I hope everyone’s long weekend is progressing nicely.

Today’s installment of this project features a couple of songs that are reminiscent of warmer weather for me.  They came up during our drive yesterday, and both find themselves on my list today.  Unfamiliar with what’s going on here?  Get yourself up to speed over here.

115. Josh Rouse – Nothing Gives Me Pleasure (mp3) from Under Cold Blue Stars (3:16) [Time Remaining: 472:34]

There was a point, right around 22, when I was big into the whole singer/songwriter thing; guys with nine letters in their first and last names are generally most accessible (John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Elton John, Billy Joel…), and Josh Rouse was one of my favorites.  I’ve since grown weary of the sensitivity – or perhaps more jaded – but Mr. Rouse’s easy soul still comes around to calm me down every so often.  Take this song out for a drive; it can’t miss.

116. Girls – Lust For Life (mp3) from Album (2:25) [Time Remaining: 470:09]

I think this is, to this point, the most recent song to make this list.  Despite the downer subject matter, it’s a perfect pop song; quick and longing, it sounds like how the wind blowing through your hair feels.  It’s sunburned and weary from drinking outside.  After this, I no longer need a summer jam each year. I have a song for every summer.

In some sense, this is a post intended to grab hits, but we also have an opinion, and won’t just put the track up without some analysis; everyone’s talking about the new Kanye song, which got released yesterday, and sent the blogs into a frenzy.  ”Power” is from Kanye’s new album – Good Ass Job – which will be released in September.  It samples from prog rock stalwarts King Crimson, and it’s pretty impressive.

From where Kanye is at this point in his career, there isn’t much else for him to prove musically.  I like that he’s not content to release tracks that have the same sounds as before, even if his lyrics can get repetitive.  As an artist, there are few like him, and “Power” demonstrates that well.

Lyrically, Kanye is still himself: egotistical, standoffish, and a little bit destructive.  After lauding how fucking awesome he is for the first three minutes of the track, he spends the last minute or so imagining killing himself by throwing himself out of a window.  Kanye might be misunderstood by everyone else in the entire world – at least he sets it up that way – but everyone already knows him:

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” – Lord Acton

Kanye West – Power (feat. Dwele) (mp3) from the forthcoming Good Ass Job