All Together Now: Summer Jams

When temperatures soar, pump up the volume.

by Clint Hawkeye

As the summer season kicks into full swing, it’s primetime for the music industry — from concerts to new releases. And, it all hinges on the hope that maybe, just maybe, that smash hit will emerge. Everyone will be humming it, hearing it in cars, singing it in showers. Eventually, that tune may even take home a bunch of Grammys.

Buzz-worthy Divas

Two females sure to duke it out this summer: Kelly Clarkson and Mandy Moore. Here’s the lowdown. Nowadays, Kelly appeals mostly to older kids, those in their early teens. Kelly was the original “American Idol,” and because of this, she has legions of fans that stick by her — even after she's moved into a harder-rock phase.

Is this bad? Not necessarily. Her songs tend to have catchy choruses. And although you may feel the slight sting of embarrassment humming them at the local pool, the fact that you are doing so is essentially the magic of Kelly Clarkson. Her music is quite infectious. If you ever had a Janis fixation, the bit of rebel and sass to Clarkson will sound familiar. It's that notion of female empowerment her lyrics perpetuate. "My December" was released at the end of June.

On the flipside, Mandy Moore is much more wholesome. You might recognize her from her film work (she tends to make a lot of romantic fluff movies) which seems to overshadow her singing work somewhat. Her music has been greeted with much of the same fanfare as her films: Blah.

That said, there’s a reason that studios and the industry keep her around: She resonates with pre-teen girls quite easily. Mandy tends to focus on the foibles of boys and the sourness of relationships in a way that isn’t too abrasive or detrimental to a pre-teen. Soundwise, her voice typically matches the carefully-constructed pop beats that sometimes mirror contemporary R&B sounds. You won’t be whistling these ditties at the pool. But, all in all, Moore isn’t that jaded. So, her music is safe for grandkid ears. "Wild Hope" was released at the end of June.

Summer Concert Lineup

Summer is the biggest concert season. And for the last six years, there’s one tour that has been successful nationwide in attracting grandkids of all ages. Yes, we’re talking about American Idols Live. It’s the arena mega-tour that rounds up the 12 American Idol finalists and puts them on the road.

This tour is booming. If you want to join your grandkids, and they don’t have a ticket for you (or themselves!) you’ll probably have to shell out a pretty penny. Search Stubhub for legal ways to purchase tickets to sold-out shows. Tickets there, though, will be priced above face-value. And while each state has its own law on “scalping,” most of these laws can't be enforced over the Internet. As a result, the laws are quickly fading into obscurity.

Starting in early August, mega-teen/tween sensation Justin Timberlake will be scooting around the country for another round of singing, dancing, and multimedia experiences. More dates could still be added, but expect major city stops (Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York) along with a few stops in smaller towns (Duluth, Ga.; Memphis, Tenn.; Sacramento, Calif.; Tacoma, Wash.). Although Timberlake's material can be somewhat risqué at times, the sensory overload your grandkids will be experiencing is sure to cancel out anything he’s saying.

Get Your Golden Groove on This Summer, Too:

The White Stripes: "Icky Thump" Revive your inner Led Zeppelin with the decade’s most-talented rock act. Forget Nickelback, this guy/girl duo is the real deal.

Feist: "The Reminder" Get in touch with your inner Joni Mitchell, with Canadian singer-songwriter Leslie Feist’s sophomore release. These tunes set the perfect ambience for a summer-evening dinner party.

Wilco: "Sky Blue Sky" Soft-rock comparisons be damned! Wilco maintains the lyrical complexity they’ve always had. Sure, maybe lead singer Jeff Tweedy has mellowed a bit, but this collection still has potential-classic written all over it.

Miranda Lambert: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" Honky-tonk rock never sounded so good, especially coming from someone younger than 25. Fans of Emmy Lou Harris, Oh Brother Where Art Thou?, and Merle Haggard will appreciate Lambert’s brashness. This is a country album for people who swear they hate country.