Summer Jams Series #2: Allo Darlin'

I feel like I'm always finding new reasons to bemoan the fact that I have yet to hear Allo Darlin's full length album. First my "Dreaming" 7" came in the mail, then I found a used copy of WIAIWYA's Bruce Springsteen tribute comp (Play Some Pool, Skip Some School, Act Real Cool) in a Half Price Books in Mayfield (of all places!) and their cover of "Atlantic City" blew my mind, then Elizabeth Darling agreed to write up some of her favorite songs for the summer jams series! Oh well, at least we're getting closer and closer to the albums June release on Fortuna Pop.

So, without any further griping from me, here are Elizabeth's summer jams!

Cassius Clay - The Wave Pictures (listen to a live version here)

This song sounds best in the summer. I don't really understand what it means, but I love it anyway. I really love the way it sounds. Simon Trought, who recorded our album and also this one by the Wave Pictures, plays guitar on this and he was really upset the band wouldn't let him fix all of his ropey playing. I kind of love it for that. Drums are great on this one too - go Jonny.

A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill - Jens Lekman (listen to a live version (recorded at Cleveland's own Beachland Ballroom!) here)

An obvious choice but how can you go past it. Reminds me so much of summer's past in Sweden. I still love love this song even though I've heard it about a million zillion times.

The Hott Chord is Struck - Still Flyin' (listen here)

Have been getting more and more into this band since we played a couple of shows with them at SXSW and had a blast dancing to them. We're playing another show with them in London in a few weeks and I can't wait. It just makes me so happy. It's exactly my kind of thing.

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Paul Simon (listen here)

A classic, but it doesn't get much better than this, does it?

Dancing - Standard Fare (listen here)

I love this band so much. We've become friends over the last 6 months or so, we play a lot of the same shows in England and we did at SXSW too. I think Emma's voice is so amazing. I love this song - it makes me so so so happy. It's a classic already. They're playing our album launch with us at the Lexington in June and I am so excited. I can't wait for the summer.

A few thoughts of my own! I had never heard The Wave Pictures before, but am really digging that song! The same thing goes for Still Flyin'. Listening to "Dancing" makes me extra excited to see Standard Fare at the Athens Popfest this summer.

If you like Elizabeth's list, I bet you'd like Allo Darlin' too! They currently have two singles ("Polaroid Song" and "Dreaming") available from Fortuna Pop and a forthcoming full length album. They'll be in the US next weekend for the NYC Popfest along with some other Fortuna Pop acts, including Tender Trap.

Allo Darlin' have both an official website and a MySpace. You can purchase records and mp3s via their official site, including an mp3 version of their now sold out "Henry Rollins Don't Dance" single.

(Previous SP posts about/mentioning Allo Darlin' can be found here.)

And Clevelanders, don't forget! Tonight is the West Side Food Not Bombs Benefit at Now That's Class! Drew will be there with Prisoners and I might show up too.

The summer jams series will be back next week with The Blanche Hudson Weekend!