A few weeks ago, NPR asked us to come up with a list of definitive Noise Pop (the genre) songs for their website, NPR.org. It was a tall order and a fascinating challenge for us, and of course, we eagerly accepted. With tunes from the early '70s to modern songs released just a few months ago on our radar, we studiously dove into the decades to find the top 100. We sorted them chronologically in order to to show the evolution of the sound. The full list will post on NPR later this month, but for now we've assembled a teaser podcast episode that chronicles the genre's migration over the past 4 decades. Enjoy this sampler platter and stay tuned for the announcement of the full list coming soon.

Tracklist:

1. "Rock & Roll” – The Velvet Underground, Loaded (1970)
2. "Radio Free Europe" – R.E.M, Murmur (1981)
3. "Makes No Sense At All" – Husker Du, Flip Your Wig (1985)
4. "Bastards of Young" – The Replacements, Tim (1985)
5. "Freak Scene" – Dinosaur Jr., Bug (1988)
6. "Gigantic" – Pixies, Surfer Rosa (1988)
7. "Barnaby Hardly Working" – Yo La Tengo, Fakebook (1989)
8. "Shine On Sweet Jesus" – The Flaming Lips, In A Priest Driven Ambulance (1990)
9. "Only Shallow" – My Bloody Valentine, Loveless (1991)
10. "Three Years Ago Today" – Built To Spill, Ultimate Alternative Wavers (1992)
11. "Summer Babe (Winter Version)" – Pavement, Slanted & Enchanted (1992)
12. "Web In Front" – Archers of Loaf, Icky Mettle (1993)
13. "Natural One" – Folk Implosion, Kids OST (1994)
14. "Seven" – Sunny Day Real Estate, Diary (1994)
15 "Rebound" – Sebadoh, Bakesale (1995)
16. "Heart Cooks Brain" – Modest Mouse, The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
17. "Holland, 1945" – Neutral Milk Hotel, Aeroplane Over The Sea (1998)
18. "You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)" – The White Stripes, De Stijl (2000)
19. "Fever Dreaming" – No Age, Everything In Between (2004)
20. "The Rat" – The Walkmen, Bows + Arrows (2004)
21. "Queen of Hearts" – Fucked Up, David Comes To Life (2011)
22. "Open Your Heart" – The Men, Open Your Heart (2012)

It's May, and while spring isn't technically over for another month or so, it's fair to say the search for the elusive song of the summer can officially begin. It might be a little too early to make the call, but Dawson thinks he's found a contender for that coveted title. Later this summer you can expect an episode that exclusively tackles this topic, but for now you can consider this a teaser. And either way, if these ten songs are any indication of the summer to come, you're going to like the sound of it. Enjoy this mix of 10 new songs you need to hear now...

Tracklist:

1. “Get Got” -- Death Grips, The Money Store
2. “How Do I Know“ -- Here We Go Magic, A Different Ship
3. “Down the Lane” -- Royal Headache, Down the Lane
4.  “Obedear” -- Purity Ring, Shrines
5. “Hook You Up”  -- Sylver Tongue, Creatures 
6. “Pretend You Love” -- Sonny and the Sunsets, Longtime Companion
7. “(Into the) Atmosphere” -- Dusted, Total Dust  
8. “Reverse Inverted” -- Torche, Harmonicraft
9. “Doused” -- DIIV, Oshin
10. “F.T.F.” -- Trust, TRST