PICK OF THE WEEK: “Girl in Love” by the Smith + Westerns

For my first pick of the week, I have to go with a song that also gets my pick for song of the summer. The honor goes to the Smith Westerns’ lo-fi glam wonder “Girl in Love.” While most of you will be packing away the shorts, sandals, and twitchy dance jams for more contemplative autumnal selections, my recent move to Los Angeles means I’ll be blasting this one for months to come.

With fuzzed-out guitars and lyrics about love, girls, and girls in love, this Chicago-based garage band has created the perfect complement to a night of brown bagging cheap beers on the beach. You’ll even be excused if Cullen Olmori’s voice makes you wonder if Marc Bolan has risen from the grave and moved to the American Midwest. So if you’re not ready to put away the sunblock, throw “Girl In Love” on and for at least three minutes you’ll be transported back to sweating your ass off in Fourth of July traffic.

—DJ Eclair