Five tracks to help you deal with riding Line 1
With visa issues being on everyone's lips, it's no shock that spirits seem to be a bit down this summer–mine included–so once again, I look to the experts for guidance on the local scene. While good music in this town is hard to find, when you do stumble upon homegrown artists, they deserve recognition; let's call it "Shanghai Summer Singles." Put 'em on your iPod while waiting in line at the P.S.B. cattle call or impress friends back home should you be denied a residence permit.

My pick first. You don't get a massive and tasteful following for nothing, and the half-local, half-foreign band Pharaoh deserves every bit of it. But, which of their unbelievably catchy (and easy to sing along to) tracks make my list? It has to be "Boogie to the Top," a song written by bassist Scott Hess when the band wanted to cover "Flashlight." Hess disagreed and put this together instead … and we're all glad for it.

The name Andy Best might not ring a bell, but as one of the few "whities" you'll consistently see at every Yuyintang gig, he gets next pick. "It's got to be 'Love You So' by the Crazy Mushroom Brigade," Best says. "They're hitting their stride now and watching them live shows how much of an anthem to fans this track is. People sing along and know all the words. They go crazy for it. Anthem songs at gigs remind me of good times at summer festivals."

Another fact about the local scene here is that occasionally you'll chance upon three hipster gals sporting good 80s fashion and some serious tattoos. Among this crew is Ciga who never purges her iPod of one Shanghainese crew, Muscle Snog. "I like their song 'Happy Dreamer on a Small Bed.' It's shoegaze-ish music with a post rock sound. Summers here can be annoying, but this track will calm anyone down."

Revered by some as the godfather of indie promotion, Archie Hamilton's pick stays firmly in that mellow haze as well with "The Flood" by Cold Fairyland. "This is an incredibly atmospheric piece," Hamilton explains. "It transports me to the empty plains of Xinjiang. It's not rock 'n roll, but it's by far the best musicianship that Shanghai offers." I should also mention that live music guru Abe Deyo made a pick but couldn't be reached to comment on why, so I'll paraphrase: "Hi, I'm Abe Deyo. I like 'Synth Love' by I-Go. Thank you." So get to downloading. Mixed tapes = guaranteed sex.

Aric S. Queen