Summer playlists are not going to fill themselves. But who has the time to roam record shops old school, flipping through bins of shiny new vinyl? For better or worse, those days are gone. On the flip side, now you can shop from the comfort of your very own coffee perch. So let’s get this batch of 21 new-ish songs out there and see what grabs you.

The band’s presser describes “Daisy” as a perfect ‘flower pop singalong’ for your summer soundtrack and I’d have to agree.  I admit I’m a bit late to the Beauty scene as this song and their debut LP I’d Do Almost Anything For You came out last year. But I think you’ll agree it deserves another seasonal spin. Another band I’m catching up on is Walter Mitty and his Makeshift Orchestra. “My Scratched CD of a Brain” is acoustic-guitar-light and pop-frothy with a toy piano in the mix somewhere, a winning combo in my book. My final 2025 resurrected single is from The Toxhards. The band give you fair warning with “Get Creative! Or Get Radicalized!” what with the free hand with exclamation marks. The song is big and bold and definitely going somewhere in an operatic Queen sort of way. Then there’s the allure of Rural France. This is light jangle with maximum impact. “Thirty-Seven Forever” is guitar pop goodness with a summer swing. Ace 1960s genre channeler Rad Venture pays tribute to the uber cool “Patsy Kensit” with predicable style. Slick and stylish modish pop.

Now for something a bit out there from the ever reliable Ricky Rochelle. “Beetles On High” starts a bit pop-punky only to sashay into full-on Mersey-pop mode in the chorus. If Abba had had a bit more rock and roll in their pop DNA they might have sounded like Fascinations Grand Chorus on “Chroma Eyes.” The hooks here have a got a bit more bite. Tony Molina softens up his trademark guitar pop on the smooth “Somewhere There’s a Feather.” These are folk rock harmonies with just the right dollop of electric guitar. Montreal’s Private Lives up the punk quotient on “Television Faces.” It’s there in the staccato rhythm guitar shots, the loose bass lines, and in-your-face vocals. It’s really the total package. By contrast, for a full-on trip back to mid-1975 check out the debut single “Love and Heartbreak in High School” from Plastic Family. It’s got the flavour of a Big Star-meets-Wings synthesis.

When he’s not hanging with his Stranger Things buds TV’s Finn Wolfhard knocks out some pretty hooky old school rock and roll tunes. “I’ll Let You Finish” is a teaser new tune from his soon-to-be-released second album, and it oozes a new wave Stones vibe. In the guise of Chrome Agnon DW Dunphy goes new wave for real with “Ion You,” just one of 15 fabulous tracks from the fundraiser LP Back In Time – Lost Hits of the 80’s Vol. 2. The Brazilian brothers behind Banda AL9 apply their unique talents to The Ramones signature tune “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend” with predictably poppy results. What a reinvention! We have more Montreal with Taxi Girls and like Private Lives they take pop to the very edge, rocking things a bit raw on “Say It.” But the hooks are undeniably there. By contrast, Glasgow’s Fast Camels are in no hurry. “All I Want” features languid, whammy-barred electric-guitar lead-lines and a tune that advances with a shuffle-like march.

On Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island you can find the former municipality of Sydney and very pleasant band named Company House. You won’t get much more spacey pop-pleasant than “Far Away” from the band’s self-titled debut album. Now give this new single “The Girl I Know”  from Peter Freebairn and tell me if it doesn’t have a seductively slow-building set of hooks. The guitar melody is so Neil Finn in its efficient simplicity while the vocal takes you over a hooky summit with the last line of the chorus. This should be major hit-single material if radio ever meant anything. Now off the Padua, Italy for a band with a distinctive aura surrounding both their compositions and performance. On “Ghost” snüff dial in some dynamic guitar work along with vocals that keep us on the edge of our seats. It sounds indie and old school at the same time. From the cover of Toronto’s The Get Alongs upcoming LP Second to None the vibe is pretty psychedelic. Ok, early release single “Sunday Afternoon” is pretty psych rock too but never at the expense of the melody. I love the grinding lead guitar line opening Radio Days new single “Flying High.” The rocking rhythm guitars are never far in the background here though the vocals really define what is rollicking about this tune.

Wrapping up this summer singles shopping fest is Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Favourite Girl. It was so hard to pick just one song from the band’s cracking self-titled debut LP. The title track has all the anguish and subtle hooks we’d expect from this self-described ‘femme forward’ act. Hit single radio stuff for sure. But “Not Going Back” gives off just a hint of Americana before kicking into some fine poppy rock. Why choose? Enjoy them both.

Was shopping for singles ever this much of a breeze? I don’t think so. Now you can save the dropping for the dance floor. And remember, these 21 tunes are just one blast of what these artists have to offer for your summer song playlist. You can keep the shopping going, hyperlink style.