Sounds of summer

Regardless of whether you plan to spend your summer at the beach or behind the counter of some minimum-wage job, music can make or break the months of May through August. For the next three weeks, Decibel will bring you the Daily Orange staff's top picks for best summer albums, concerts and songs. In part one, we predict the best in summer album releases. So, listen up.

Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the GooGrux King (June 2, 2009) "Big Whiskey," DMB's first studio album since 2005, was in the early stages of production when founding member and saxophonist LeRoi Moore died suddenly in an all-terrain-vehicle accident last summer. Having only heard four tracks before his untimely death, Moore had told band mate Dave Matthews "This is going to be the best one." - Peter Slavish, pslavish@syr.edu

Dr. Dre - Detox (summer 2009) Originally scheduled for a 2004 release, Dr. Dre's first album since 2001's "2001" will finally be released this summer. His first two albums are considered classics and this album is filled with special guests like Jay-Z and Nas, so there's no reason why the long overdue "Detox" will disappoint fans. - Darren Bleckner, drbleckn@syr.edu

The Dead Weather - Horehound (June 9, 2009) Jack White's latest super-group consists of singer Alison Mosshart (The Kills), bassist Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) guitarist Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age), and White on the drums. With this lineup, "Horehound" can't go wrong. - Eric Vilas-Boas, epvilasb@syr.edu

Eminem - Relapse (May 19, 2009) Much has occurred in Eminem's personal life in the five-year hiatus since his last release, including the death of his best friend and another divorce from his ex-wife Kim. Eminem doesn't sugarcoat anything in his lyrical content, so these biographical developments promise more brutal honesty on "Relapse." - Jose Martinez, jlmart06@syr.edu

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (May 15, 2009) The guys of Green Day have never been afraid to call it like they see it, and May's "21st Century Breakdown" should be no different. 2004's American Idiot was said to have been a sell-out from the more classic Nimrod (1997) and Dookie (1994). However, when the new album "comes around," it will surely sell concert tickets and merchandise without a problem. - Samantha Morgenstern, smorgens@syr.edu

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimist (May 26, 2009) After its critically acclaimed sophomore release "Yellow House" Grizzly Bear brings back its springtime sound with "Veckatimest," named after a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts. Critics, bloggers and leaks suggest that it's likely to be one of the best albums of the summer, if not the year. - Tuan Le, tqle@syr.edu

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon (summer 2009) Kid Cudi is not the cliché hip-hop artist. While he raps, he also sings and blends genres diverse enough to catch the eye of the great Kanye West. With West's help, Cudi's freshman effort "Man on the Moon" has become one of the most highly anticipated albums of the summer. - Jose Martinez, jlmart06@syr.edu

Lil Wayne - Rebirth (April 7, 2009) On his seventh album, Lil Wayne shifts his sound to make a rock debut. Featuring artists like Fall Out Boy and Lenny Kravitz, Weezy's new album promises to be as discussed this summer as Kanye West's "808s and Heartbreak" was last November. - Eric Vilas-Boas, epvilasb@syr.edu

OK Go - Help Is On the Way (August 2009) OK Go's third full-length album, "Help is On the Way," has two very tough acts to follow. Who can forget "You're So Damn Hot" from OK Go's 2002 debut? Or the choreographed treadmill routine from 2005's "Here it Goes Again" music video? The band has been "Invincible" thus far - hopefully its sound is still charming. - Samantha Morgenstern, smorgens@syr.edu

Passion Pit - Manners (May 19, 2009) It's easy to hold a grudge against Passion Pit for canceling its appearance at the Westcott with Ra Ra Riot. But only half-way through "Sleepyhead," the addicting electro-pop single that made the Boston band the next big thing to wear tight sweaters, that grudge disappears entirely. "Manners" is too fantastic to be anything less than a daily summer soundtrack. - Mary Cappabianca, mgcappab@syr.edu

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (May 26, 2009) Rising from the ashes three years after 2006's "It's Never Been Like That," these French indie rock stars appeared on Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago. In late May, Phoenix will officially return with its fourth LP, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix," a playful, pop-y album that's perfect for the summer. - Tuan Le, tqle@syr.edu

Regina Spektor - Far (June 30, 2009) Regina Spektor's 2006 album "Begin to Hope" enchanted the world with its touching lyrics, soaring piano melodies and sweet Russian charm. Hopefully Spektor's time in the spotlight hasn't ruined her songwriting prowess, so that we can pick our summer love, breakup song from "Far." - Mary Cappabianca, mgcappab@syr.edu

Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major (June 23, 2009) Third Eye Blind has made itself well-known since its 1997 smash hit "Jumper." The bulk of its new album, "Ursa Major," premiered at the South by Southwest festival last month; festival-goers reported that the new materials fits the band's alternative style and will satisfy Third Eye Blind fans everywhere. - Jennifer Littman, jmlittma@syr.edu

Wale - Attention: Deficit (summer 2009) D.C. rap sensation Wale is set to release his debut album, "Attention: Deficit," this June. "Attention Deficit" will be released and produced under Mark Ronson's Allido Records; the first single, "Chillin featuring Lady Gaga," is already available online. - Peter Slavish, pslavish@syr.edu

Wilco - Untitled (late June 2009) Wilco's untitled seventh album, due out in June, will have a more country feel than the live rock experience of 2007's "Sky Blue Sky." Recorded in New Zealand, the album will contain Jeff Tweedy's somber lyrics, some studio experimentation and a duet with Feist. - Darren Bleckner, drbleckn@syr.edu