Ellington

Ever since I can remember, summer signified something magical, a limitless end of possibilities and plenty of time to explore them. At its onset, we explode with memories of neighborhood adventures, summer goals or projects we could never finish the rest of the year. A summer playlist, then, should reflect the essence of summer: positive, carefree, sometimes lazy, nostalgic and limitless. My perfect playlist is filled with desultory '80s college rock, breezy retro pop and a few recent hits that have the kind of affirmative and explorative power so perfectly linked to summer.

• "Schizophrenia," by Sonic Youth

• "Freak Scene," by Dinosaur Jr.

• "Eraser," by No Age

• "Just Like Honey," by Jesus and Mary Chain

• "Lights Out," by Santogold

• "Changes," by David Bowie

• "All my Friends," by LCD Soundsystem

• "Antichrist Television Blues," by Arcade Fire

• "Ceremony," by New Order

• "Out in the Street," by The Who

• "Stereo," by Pavement