By Sadie Tresnit

I’ve realized lately that spring is a very temporal thing for me. This certainly isn’t the first seasonal playlist I’ve written for the blog and I’m sure it won’t be the last. I love listening to all of these songs year-round, but I’ve found that they particularly fit the sunny weather and bursts of flowers we’ve had in town lately. If you’re looking for a soundtrack to a sunny day walk through your neighborhood — you’re in the right place. Here’s to spring and all of its wonderful blossoming exuberance!

Honey - Marine Girls

When I first heard this song during the spring of my freshman year at UO, I fell in love instantly. The album “Beach Party” is on the list of Kurt Cobain's fifty favorites. The minimal instrumentation and somewhat unpolished vocals (by pre-Everything But The Girl Tracey Thorn!) might not be to everyone’s taste, but I love the quiet, laid-back energy. Somehow, the song sounds fresh and clean, two qualities I strongly associate with spring.

Blow Spring Breeze - Kim Jung Mi

One look at this album cover will tell you it’s the perfect soundtrack to your spring season. This was another freshman-year discovery for me, and although I can’t understand the Korean lyrics here, I’m obsessed with her voice. The song sounds like a mild spring day, and I can’t get enough.

Pink India - Stephen Malkmus

This is one of my absolute favorites to listen to when I’m walking around town the second it’s above 60° and the sun is out. It sets a nice pace for ambling aimlessly without a care in the world. I also appreciate that the lyrics tell a story rather than just repeating.

Wakin on a Pretty Day - Kurt Vile

I’m convinced that if you find a comfortable spot in the grass and listen to this one on a sunny day, you’ll reach a higher level of existence. You know the days when it feels like everything in the world is right? This song is that feeling.

#9 Dream - John Lennon

To me, this song sounds like drifting through a sunshiny day in a mellow haze. The first time I heard it, I honestly thought it was a George Harrison song. It falls outside the sound I typically associate with Lennon, but as I’ve listened to it more, I can definitely tell it’s him. The song’s dreamy, sublime sound has accompanied me through many a spring picnic in the park.

What Is Life - George Harrison

People who know me know I’m obsessed with George Harrison, and this song is a great example of why. Has anything ever sounded better? It’s on my list of all-time favorites for a reason, and I especially like listening to it when the weather starts to warm up. I spend a fair amount of time walking through the cemetery on campus, and because the music video contains a graveyard shot, “What Is Life” is usually my soundtrack for that activity.

Que Pena (Ele Já Não Gosta Mais de Mim) - Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso

Although it’s seen a resurgence in popularity (at least among cool people), Brazilian music is still entirely underrated here in the US. I play it on my show (8-10 AM on Thursdays) pretty regularly in hopes of exposing people to something new, and Gal Costa and Caetano Veloso are some of my absolute favorite musicians to spin. This song captures some of that laid-back magic and always puts me in a good mood.

May Queen - Liz Phair

The title speaks for itself here, of course, but “May Queen” goes above and beyond in its springiness. I like to listen to this album when I’m going to bed at the end of a nice day (and the rest of the time too), and at the end, this one always sends me off to sleep in a peaceful mood. Not to get corny, but it really does sound like running through a field of flowers with your arms outstretched.

Candyfloss - Wilco

As you might be able to tell by this point in the playlist, my spring music tends to be pretty jubilant. This song is no exception to that. I’ve loved Wilco for as long as I can remember, but the “Summerteeth” album, in particular, has been huge for me in college. I still remember the day I bought the CD and discovered the “hidden tracks” at the end. “Candyfloss” was my favorite. I got to the point of learning how to play it on guitar and everything, and it’s still one of my top choices in the spring season.

Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) - Edison Lighthouse

My friends tell me this song allegedly blew up on TikTok, but I wouldn’t know about that. Regardless, I loved it the first time I ever heard it, and it’s had a spot in my spring rotation ever since. It’s so easy to be happy when the sun is out, and this track really sets the mood.

Hey There Little Insect - Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers

I can never choose a favorite Jonathan Richman song. The man is a living legend. I was lucky enough to go to one of his Portland shows last summer, and I managed to make my way up front. Few things in this life compare to Jonathan Richman looking down at you while singing “That Summer Feeling.” While he didn’t play this song at that show, he was his usual insanely charming self. “Hey There Little Insect” does a fantastic job of showcasing his whimsical personality. One of the first I ever played on my show!

Season Cycle - XTC

My parents played this album, “Skylarking,” all the time when I was growing up, but I didn’t know the album name until I was in college. I remember stumbling across it on Spotify one day and realizing that I knew all of these songs by heart. Often compared to work by the Beach Boys, “Season Cycle” embodies the ‘60s sound with a slightly more modern twist.

Starry Eyes - The Records

I can’t fully explain why, but as soon as spring starts, I turn to power pop. This is one of my favorite tracks in the genre when I’m looking for something fast-paced and exciting.

Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

I listened to this one a lot as a freshman because it was my last spring as a teenager. Now that I’m a “real” adult, I find that it still captivates me with a little bit of that rebellious teen spirit. I can’t count the days I’ve started playing this one the second I escaped from a dark classroom into a sunny afternoon. It sounds like having all the time in the world.

Glad Girls - Guided By Voices

My perennial favorites! I listened to Guided By Voices more than any other band last year, and those listening habits absolutely show up on my show. I won’t claim for a second that I wasn’t deeply influenced by my parents’ music taste, so when I say I’ve been a lifelong GBV fan, I mean it! This song captures the gladness I associate with spring (duh) and reminds me why I love the band so much. Happy listening!