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Summer in Chicago is the most festive time of the year. Granted, we're probably just happy not to be buried under three layers of clothes to keep warm, but Chicago is a city that really shines during the small amount of warmth we have each year. Street festivals, outdoor music festivals and lazy afternoons spent on the beach are a norm for this time of the year. If you have a rooftop or a deck, chances are you're hosting a party or two at some point in the season. Below are around two hours of music to keep your party going late into a long summer night.

Santogold, Julian Casablancas and N.E.R.D. – My Drive Thru This track was a collaboration for Converse, and is free to download on Converse's website. It's possibly the best thing Converse has done since introducing their classic hi-tops.

A Tribe Called Quest – Award Tour, Beck – Tropicalia, Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina and The Flaming Lips – Buggin' (Remix).

Fountains of Wayne – It Must Be Summer I may never forgive Fountains of Wayne for their MILF anthem Stacy's Mom, but I can't help loving this sugar coated summer anthem.

Peter, Bjorn, and John – Young Folks, Modest Mouse – Float On and White Rabbits – The Plot.

Headlights – TV - For the record, if you'd like to see this song live, the Headlights have a show July 5th at the Empty Bottle.

Death Cab for Cutie – Crooked Teeth, Beirut – Postcards from Italy, Broken Social Scene – 7/4 (Shoreline), Lupe Fiasco – Kick, Push, Lily Allen – Nan You're A Window Shopper and M.I.A. – Paper Planes (DFA Remix).

Cool Kids – Black Mags - Check out the Cool Kids brand new EP The Bake Sale out on Chicago label Chocolate Industries.

Girl Talk – Friday Night and Bad Brains – Pay to Cum.

The Go! Team – The Power Is On - One of my favorite summer festival memories was seeing The Go! Team perform with a stage full of kids they brought up from the community swimming pool next to the Pitchfork Music Festival grounds.

!!! – Dear Can and Hot Chip – Boy From School.

Michael Jackson – Rock With You - He owned a pet monkey, married Elvis's daughter and may have a thing for young boys, but boy could this guy deliver a damn good pop song.

Jenks Lenkman - A Sweet Summer's Night On Hammer Hill, Ryan Adams – To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High), Pavement – Unfair and Sloan – If It Feels Good Do It.

The Black Keys – When The Lights Go Out - If a 90 degree late night July heat wave had a theme song, it would be this song.

The Hold Steady – Southtown Girls

The Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight Tonight - Try not to get sentimental when listening to this song in Chicago while Billy gives a shout-out to, "The city by the lake." Cliché as it is, this is how you should feel when listening to really great music with really great people, so this is a perfect track to end a great night.