It’s Not Summer Without Sublime

Now that it is mid-July and we are officially in the thick of summer, I started to really think about what type of music has been unofficially becoming the sound track to my summer 2021. If you are confused on what I mean by that, allow me to dig a bit deeper into my listening habits.  As a music lover, I am constantly listening to music that includes a mix of old favorites and new finds. But something I have enjoyed keeping track of is how the newer discoveries during certain seasons or times in my life can actually bring me back to that time or place later on. So when thinking of my listening habits this summer, I started to realize that no matter what, I always end up including Sublime in my rotation of summer songs.

Now I am fully aware that listening to Sublime during the summer isn’t some random hot take that no one has ever done before, trust me, that isn’t the point here. However, I want to talk about the complete opposite; how no matter what, a summer isn’t complete without a bit of Sublime thrown into the mix.

Although Sublime had a short run with their career due to the death of the lead vocalist and guitar player, Bradley Nowell, they still made a major impact in the music world. With the span of the band only being 1988 to 1996, Sublime ended up becoming a huge contributor to the coastal atmosphere not only throughout North America, but specifically Southern California. And while I did not go to college in California, I did attend a college on the Texas coast, which naturally lead me to become a Sublime fan. Of course I had known who Sublime was before college, mainly because of their iconic sun logo from the 40oz. to Freedom album. However, my experience in a coastal town during my “coming of age” years while listening to them was a huge contributor to my overall music taste.

I know that it would be easy to say that my continuous love for Sublime during the summer is purely based around the nostalgia of my college years on the coast, but I know that isn’t the case. One of the main reasons I believe this is because I think that Sublime allowed themselves to be the perfect mix of rock, punk rock, reggae, hip-hop, and ska. All of these genres alone are wonderful genres for summer and spending time with friends, but to be able to perfectly encompass all of those genres is an impressive feat. I also have noticed that Sublime usually gets categorized as just a reggae band, but their range far exceeds that of most reggae bands. I too, am a fan of reggae, but I will admit that it is a very “time and place” type of genre, whereas Sublime doesn’t seem to fit into that same category. Something else unique to Sublime in the terms of reggae is how reggae is usually attributed to stoner culture and although Sublime is as well, they also have the ability to transcend that stereotype. To add to that aspect, I really appreciate how many different types of people react to Sublime being played. Many times I have been at various locations such as bars, beaches, pools, house parties, car rides, etc. and every time someone puts on Sublime, pretty much every person starts feeling the vibe and enjoying the music together. During my time as a bartender, I would always get a kick out of all the customers in the bar singing along together to “Santeria” despite the crowd being a mix of bikers, frat/sorority people, older people, beach bums, country folk, or any other random type of individuals all being sucked into the effect of Sublime. I honestly don’t think I could say that about any other reggae band.

Another thing I have noticed that really sets them apart from other popular summer time music is how well their music can compliment so many different types of settings or vibes. For example, majority of beach or pool party music is very upbeat and made to kind of hype you up. And while Sublime definitely fits into that category, their music also pairs well with a relaxing evening at home, a good road trip, sitting around a campfire, and so many other scenarios that other types of summer music simply cannot say the same. That trait in and of itself makes for the exact type of music you want to have on any of your playlists.

photo from sublimelbc.com

So that brings me back to my main point of how no summer is complete without Sublime in the music rotation. No matter what new music I have been digging into or what activities I am doing each summer, I always find myself going back to choosing Sublime for so many summer moments. Their music is the epitome of spending time outside with friends, relaxing by the water, going on trips, and enjoying life all while being appreciated by all ages.  Hell, even just talking about listening to Sublime puts me in a good mood and gives me that “down for anything” feeling. I am sure I am not alone in this and I would love to hear what your go-to summer music is.

Also, if you are looking for some new summer time music to help elevate your summer experience, I have put together the perfect playlist on my Spotify titled “Take It Easy” so definitely check that out.

Thanks for reading!