Hot this summer

We got the best of the best for your wet, hot American summer, from your blockbuster films to new albums from indie darlings.

Movies

The Great Gatsby
Everyone, mark your calendars for May 10, because there’s no party like a Jay Gatsby party. Director Baz Luhrmann brings the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald  novel to life on the big screen. The film plays out the relationship of Midwesterner Nick Carraway and his neighbor, the mysterious and affluent Jay Gatsby, and all the people who become intermingled in this 1920s-based drama. The star cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. Besides all the beautiful people, the film has a banging soundtrack produced by Jay-Z, including songs from Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machine and Jay himself. Get your finest flapper attire ready, because this party is about to blow.

Iron Man 3
It’s a real shame to see as fresh a character as Tony Stark fall prey to the superhero rising-up-out-of-the-ashes-into-glory movie trope, a cliché used as recently as last summer’s “The Dark Knight Rises”. Here’s hoping that Robert Downey Jr. gets his fill of inflated self-satisfaction before Iron Man burns itself out completely.

Midnight’s Children
Though Salman Rushdie’s Booker prize and “Best of the Bookers”-winning novel of the same name has been regarded as unfilmable, the electric, science fiction epic “Cloud Atlas” last year seems to have set a precedent for attempting to break new entertainment ground. Whether the director Deepa Mehta, best known for her work in George Lucas’ TV series “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” is the woman for the job, however, begs scrutiny.

The Great Gatsby
Capping off this year’s most controversial novel adaptions, Baz Lurhmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” while hardly the most faithful adaptation to the great American classic, certainly cannot be faulted for lacking vision. Never before have the roaring 20’s seemed so like the volatile powder keg that would erupt in 1929 — though it remains doubtful that the teacher who will be reading essays on the influence of Jay-Z and Beyoncé in Scott Fitzgerald’s novel will be as keen on the film.

The Hangover, Part III
Maybe if Little Five hadn’t been this past week it would be a bit more difficult for you to imagine an indefinite hangover. How this series of increasingly unfortunate events has managed to stretch its way past four years remains one of the Great Questions of the Universe, and while this installment cannot really promise a new premise — how many ways are there to be hungover and confused? — fans of the series should look forward regardless. It’s a mystery how the film will attempt to trump its own ante now that transsexual sex and hard nudity have been exhausted.

Man of Steel
Superman is back. If the latest trailer is to be believed, this reimagining of Superman’s origin story is worth the retread. Zack Snyder, who helmed the hit-and-miss adaptations of “300” and “Watchmen,” brings his immaculate visual eye to the picture. Henry Cavill (“Immortals,” “The Tudors”) plays the titular man of steel Kal-El, who is living away from the spotlight. For reasons unknown, fellow Kryptonian General Zod (played by the disturbingly good Michael Shannon) is on a warpath to track down Kal-El on earth. Will Superman be able to stop the villain? Well, yeah, but it’s going to look better than ever.

Star Trek Into Darkness
Whether or not you’re obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch, the “Star Trek” sequel promises to reach new heights of action and melodrama. In the long-awaited follow-up to 2009’s “Star Trek” franchise reboot, Captain Kirk(Chris Pine) and his USS Enterprise crew are caught off guard by a series of attacks on earth. The crew goes on the hunt for a mysterious human responsible for the violence, John Harrison (Cumberbatch). J.J. Abrams, the newly appointed “Star Wars” director, returns for his second “Star Trek” movie to go grimmer than “Star Trek” has ever gone before.

Monsters University
I really don’t think it’s a coincidence Pixar decided to release “Monsters University” while I am in university. They knew my big kid façade was just that: a façade. It’s been far too long since Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan (Sully) have been on the silver screen back in 2001 with “Monsters Inc.” On June 21, “Monsters University” will premiere, chronicling the beginning of Mike and Sully’s friendship and how they overcame their differences to become the best friends we know and love today. Billy Crystal and John Goodman have returned to voice the green cyclops monster and purple furry giant, respectively. Everything good in the world is happening. So, thank you, Pixar, for continuously lengthening my childhood as far as it’s immaturely possible.

Frances Ha
Noah Baumbach is back with a film he wrote with star Greta Gerwig. Trailers suggest this would fit as a lovely companion piece to HBO’s “Girls,” detailing the ins and outs of being a twenty-something female in contemporary American society. Gerwig — always on the brink of stardom — is the sweeter, more awkward, blonde answer to quirky girl Zooey Deschanel.

The Bling Ring
Sofia Coppala, a true master of experimental film and storytelling, brings us into the true and seedy tale of Hollywood teens who robbed starlets like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan to attain fame. In the same vein as “Spring Breakers,” Emma Watson and her band of fabulous cronies will probably supply the most fun you’ll have all summer.

Man of Steel
Superman has never really been my favorite. I’m much more a Spiderman guy. But Zack Synder’s reboot appears to be taking a page from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Things look bleak for Superman/Clark Kent: daddy issues and internal struggle abound. Pair that with some killer action sequences, Amy Adam’s Lois Lane and a rugged beard, then we’re on board.
The Way, Way Back (opening July 5th) — Reuniting a few “Little Miss Sunshine” cast members and written by the Oscar-winning team behind “The Descendants,” this Sundance favorite looks to be indie breakout of the summer. Young love, a water park, unlikeable adults acting like teens. What’s not to adore?

Blue Jasmine
Woody Allen’s annual release looks like a potential return to form for the director. While audiences fawned over 2011’s “Midnight in Paris,” I was underwhelmed. Allen heads to San Francisco this year to chronicle the breakdown of an unhappy New York housewife. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett stars as said housewife.

Kick-Ass 2
The dog days of summer come to a close with this hardcore sequel. The self-made superheroes return with the addition of Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. While director Jeff Wadlow will have to strive to match the original in wit, the return of the foul-mouthed Hit Girl (played by the luminous Chloe Grace Moretz) is alone worth the price of admission.

Epic
“Epic” is brought to you by Blue Sky Studios and director Chris Wedge, who also brought you “Ice Age” and “Rio.”  Although it’s a comedy, its name suggests “Epic” shouldn’t be taken lightly. The movie tells the story of Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried), who finds her way into a secret forest civilization of miniscule people and talking animals. “Epic” looks as if it’s aiming to please children and parents alike. The kids will laugh at its slapstick humor, while adults will appreciate the stunning imagery. “Epic” might not be on par with Pixar masterpieces like “Wall-E” or “Up,” but it looks to be a step in the right direction.


The Lone Ranger
Disney, producer Gore Verbinski and eccentric actor Johnny Depp were all part of the team that brought you “Pirates of the Caribbean.” This time, they take to the old west. With “The Social Network” star Armie Hammer playing the titular character, “The Lone Ranger” looks to be another blockbuster hit for this winning team. Depp’s Tonto proves to be as memorable as his Captain Jack Sparrow, who should certainly be in the conversation for best movie character of the millennium. Since Disney is producing, “The Lone Ranger” will probably draw a PG-13 rating, so it will have universal appeal for kids, teens and parents alike.

Grown Ups 2
No.

Music

"ARTPOP" - Lady Gaga
Of course Gaga is releasing the comprehensive experience of “ARTPOP” this summer with an indeterminate date. Keeping her fans hungry for more, the next single is said to drop soon with the album coming out later in the summer. With Mother Monster delayed in the hospital right now, we’re unsure as to whether the album will be here in a timely manner, but the facts are these: 1. “ARTPOP” must always be in all caps. It’s just how it is. 2. Gaga is collaborating with Azealia Banks and Kendrick Lamar for this release. 3. The album will be released in two volumes and will feature a supplementary mobile app that enhances the “ARTPOP” experience to the fullest. Thank you, Gaga.

“Once I Was An Eagle" - Laura Marling
Laura Marling performs a new, unreleased song at every single show she plays, and “I Was An Eagle,” the title track of her upcoming album, may be one of the greatest lyrical compositions the indie folk pixie has written. Going a little more down the blues/rock ‘n’ roll road, her current singles “Where Can I Go?” and “Master Hunter” are fiercer, brassier and more instrumental than her past work. This album is guaranteed to be a change of pace.

“Trouble Will Find Me” - The National
The sixth album from this renowned rock ‘n’ roll indie band featured its first single “Demons,” which was nothing special for the band. Its soft-spoken nature and honest lyricism are two of the band’s best attributes, but we hope that the album delivers more than The National’s tender side.

“Random Access Memories” - Daft Punk
After achieving cult status with its 2010 TRON: Legacy soundtrack, electronic music duo Daft Punk is back and here to “Get Lucky.” Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, everyone’s favorite Parisian robots, have been making waves by promoting their new album “Random Access Memories” through Saturday Night Live commercials. Though the French duo hasn’t toured since 2007, they’re ready to prove how Daft Punk works it harder and makes it better. The two chrome-dome androids have selected Pharrell Williams as their new companion for the single “Get Lucky,” making him Daft Punk’s first vocal companion since Romanthony. Romanthony joined the group for 2001’s seminal album “Discovery,” which remains a dance club staple 12 years after the fact. And now we’re gonna celebrate…one more time.

“Crawling Up the Stairs” - Pure X
Pure X’s 2011 record “Pleasure”  is easily one of the best records of the last several years. It’s a stoned-and-drunk, summer-night porch record with catchy melodies buried under layers of deceptively simple guitar parts, bouncy basslines and basic drumming. “Crawling Up the Stairs” already looks to be different from “Pleasure.” The vocals are louder, the guitars are often strummy and straightforward, and the pedals are not as present. The basslines, however, still sound like Paul McCartney groovin away on “Rain.”  The effect is more evocative of a hungover trip to the lake on a bright hazy day than Pleasure’s dark and oppressively humid summer midnight.

“Monomania” - Deerhunter
Monomania, which is streaming now on NPR’s website, is disjointed and slapdash compared to the precisely considered flow of “Microcastle” and “Weird Era Continued”  or the thematic consistency of “Halcyon Digest.” It feels more like frontman Bradford Cox’s bedroom recording project Atlas Sound  than the full band of Deerhunter. The result is a bunch of poppy, catchy songs that sound like they were tossed together by old friends on some hot, beery afternoon. Whereas earlier Deerhunter albums could be slow and challenging, this one is pure jangly rock and roll. If you need an album to soundtrack your daytime summer escapades, this is the one.

“Twelve Reasons To Die” - Ghostface Killah
The Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to mess with. Ghostface Killah, one of the leading members of hip-hop’s enigmatic Wu-Tang Clan, is up to promising things as a solo artist in 2013. He dropped his 10th studio album, “Twelve Reasons to Die,” last Tuesday. The album is based on a comic book series of the same name. Currently, Killah is touring the United States with producer Adrian Younge and staying strong at the ripe young age of 42. Killah and Younge will be dropping by the Bluebird Nightclub on May 2, so local devotees of the Wu-Tang way of life have something to look forward to.

Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend
One of indie rock’s most celebrated and popular acts is back this May with a new set of quirky indie pop songs to soundtrack your summer. Despite already having two excellent albums under their belt, Modern Vampires has the potential to not only be Vampire Weekend’s best album, but also the potential to be the album of the year. Singles “Diane Young” and “Step” are two of the catchiest songs of 2013, and the latter’s heartfelt lyrics show a maturity that has been unseen in the band’s career to date.

…Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age
It’s been six years since the last Queens of the Stone Age album, so any fan excitement is well justified. However, there are plenty of added tidbits that make …Like Clockwork a must hear for any music fan. First, Dave Grohl (ex-Nirvana drummer, Foo Fighters frontman) will be playing drums with the band for the first time since 2002’s classic Songs for the Deaf. Add in special appearances by Elton John and the Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner, and you’ve got the most hotly anticipated hard rock album of the summer. In the meantime, let the lead single “My God is the Sun” melt your face off with its intensity.

The Gifted - Wale
Little 500’s Wale will release his second full-length album under the Maybach Music label this summer. There’s still no word on whether Wale’s anticipated collaboration with Jerry Seinfeld will make the cut, but people can expect MMG rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill to be present. The big question is whether Wale will continue down the road to hip-hop stardom by repeating the party anthem vibe of 2011’s Ambition, or return to thoughtful, socially conscious rhymes of his earlier work. If Wale’s 2013 mixtape, Falorin, is a sign of things to come, we can expect a lyrically recharged Wale this summer.

Born Sinner – J. Cole
J. Cole’s sophomore rap album has been littered with pushbacks and delays as his singles “Miss America” and “Power Trip” have failed to blow up like his breakthrough single “Work Out” did a few years ago. However, Born Sinner is a big record for J. Cole to prove his staying power in the industry, as a flop could wind up sending J. Cole’s career in the same direction as B.o.B. or Asher Roth. Sharing a release date with Wale will certainly spark some friendly competition between the two rappers, so don’t be surprised if J. Cole breaks the sophomore slump with a successful follow-up.

Soft Will – Smith Westerns
These Chicago indie rockers released one of 2011’s most underappreciated records with Dye It Blonde, and this summer they are set to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Equipped with blistering guitar work and lo-fi sensibilities, Smith Westerns are one of the genre’s best-kept secrets. The album’s lead single, “Varsity”, locked up a Best New Track from Pitchfork this spring, and the new songs that have shown up in band’s recent live gigs prove that the best songs may still be on the way.