The Sublime Sounds of Summer

You know it is summer when people begin to trade in jeans and sweaters for bath suits and flip-flops and weekend trips to the beach become more frequent than putting in overtime at work. The coming of summer also brings with it the need to rummage through old CDs in hopes of finding some good, classic summer tunes to make it through those long road trips to the coast – “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama, “The Boys of Summer” by Don Henley, maybe even Will Smith’s “Summertime”. But nothing marks summer more than the smooth, laidback sounds of reggae and ska. Bob Marley and UB40 top the list, but Dub Reggae band Sublime, especially with their single “Doin’ Time,” epitomize the true, lazy days of summer with their lyrics reminiscent of late-night gatherings with friends and the hardships of love, youth, and life.

footed by: paulh09

Although Sublime’s original front man Bradley Nowell passed away in 1996, “Doin’ Time” was released in 1997 as a loose cover of George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” The original “doin’ time” lyric was later changed and rerecorded by the band’s producer Michael Happoldt to “summertime” in order to keep with Gershwin’s version. The lyrics depict a man’s hurt after being cheated on by his girlfriend, and the song – like many other of Sublime’s music – is considered to be lounge with a strong reggae and punk-ska feel. Although such somber lyrics, the song’s laidback vibe with its hip-hop-infused beats – especially with the main chorus line “summertime and the livin’s easy” – makes for a great summer tune that never grows old.

“Doin’ Time” – along with many other Sublime tunes including “What I Got,” “Santeria,” and “Badfish” – are great tracks to have playing in the background at beach or pool parties on those hot, lazy days that make up most of July and August. With such a strong, bass-driven sound with some rather psychedelic guitar solos and sporadic drum transitions, Sublime seems to be the perfect band to listen to while laying out in the hot summer sun. Once played, such reggae-infused beats always brings back memories of the beach, sizzling sidewalks, and fun, crazy nights spent with friends.

Check out for Sublime this summer while they tour with their new front man Rome.

Summertime