That chick up there has the right idea.  Nothing says summer like sun, sand, surf, and a big ass yellow boom box.  Regardless of what your personal summer staples may be, it’s hard to deny that music plays a key role in almost any warm weather activity.  Whether it’s a BBQ, a jog along the lakefront, a house party, a street festival, or just a relaxing day at the beach, the right tunes can make or break your day.  Summer almost inherently calls for fun, catchy tunes with a beat that sticks in your head; the best example of that probably being “Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John.  If that song had dropped in the dead of winter no one would have given it a second thought, but hearing it in the sunshine with the mercury rising puts a whole different spin on things.

For me, remixes always play a major role in almost all of my summer playlists.  By nature they are fun and playful, and you can typically listen and enjoy without much pretense.  In a way they are almost like my guilty pleasure songs of summer.  They aren’t the tracks that I would typically listen to with a critical ear, and most times I wouldn’t even listen to them at all, but as a backdrop to solstice festivities they are absolute perfection.  As such, this week’s Radio Dick entry is a tribute to the remix.  All of these tracks will feel right at home on your warm weather playlist, so toss these gems on your iPod (or Zune, if you are into inferior electronics) and start enjoying the season.

Phoenix – “Lisztomania” (A Fight For Love + 25 Hours A Day Remix)

Grizzly Bear – “Two Weeks” (Fred Falke Extended Remix)

Animal Collective – “Summertime Clothes” (Dam-Funk Remix)

The Kills – “Cheap and Cheerful” (Fake Blood Remix)

White Lies – “Death” (Crystal Castles Remix)

Lykke Li + Kings of Leon – “Knocked Up” (Death to the Throne Remix)

Patrick Wolf – “Who Will” (Buffetlibre Remix)

Friendly Fires – “Skeleton Boy” (Grum Remix)

The Presets – “Kicking and Screaming” (Short Circuit Remix)

Go buy all of these artists @ Insound!