As the season heats up, you’re going to need some cool tunes. Metro has
your fix. What you need to buy and why:
Arctic Monkeys
‘Suck It and See’
(Domino Records) June 7
Who: U.K.-based pop rockers with a smart, punk edge.
What: The Monkeys survive the aftermath of the ’00s back-to-the-garage movement with an album that has more pomp and stomp and ’70s heavy rock shtick — but always with that sly, wry Arctic afternote.
Why buy: To contemplate the metaphorical implications of titles such as the Soundgardenesque “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair.” Heavy.
Neil Young
‘International Harvester: A Treasure’
(Reprise Records) June 14
Who: The man who rivals Dylan for world’s biggest road-hog title.
What: These live cuts date from a time when Young pissed off corporations (including his then-label) and went rogue, touring in 1984 and 1985 with this stellar country combo.
Why buy: Completist alert: Whether on CD, limited edition vinyl or the deluxe CD/Blu-ray package, “A Treasure” includes five previously unreleased songs.
Pitbull
‘Planet Pit’
(J-Records ) June 21
Who: Miami rapper Armando Christian Perez nails vice-like rhymes into hit singles. You’ve heard him on tracks from T-Pain and the latest from Jennifer Lopez.
What: Pitbull’s team on his sixth album reads like a block party A-list: Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer join in on the first single, “Give Me Everything.” T-Pain and Sean Paul add their two cents’ worth later. Everyone hugs.
Vanessa Carlton
‘Rabbits On The Run’
(Razor and Tie) June 21
Who: The girl behind the beautiful piano pop hit “A Thousand Miles.”
What: No overbearing over-souling; Carlton delivers her grrl-pop straight, candidly exploring the twists and simple turns of fate that any girl of any age can relate to.
Why buy: Sweet, easy-listening, non-bubblegum pop with lovely arrangements. Chill time.
Queen
‘News of the World,’ ‘Jazz,’ ‘The Game,’ ‘Flash Gordon,’ ‘Hot Space’
(Hollywood Records) June 28
Who: The band that put the wham bam in glam celebrates its 40th anniversary.
What: Following the winter reissues of Queen’s early ’70s gems, round two re-ups world-dominating records from 1977 to ’82.
Why buy: To top out the volume and crank “We Are The Champions,” “We Will Rock You” and oddball hit “Fat Bottomed Girls.”
The Deer Tracks
‘The Archer Trilogy Pt. 2’
(The Control Group) July 5
Who: Stylish, Swedish boy-girl duo, David Lehnberg and Elin Lindfors make moody electronic pop.
What: Part one was a teasing EP’s worth of spiraling folky electronic dream pop; this goes full-length before another EP, also due this summer, bookends the project. Possible electronic pop opera to follow?
Why buy: To cement the stereotype that all Scandinavians are smart and stylish. We’re just jealous.
