fat possum summer jam

Those who are in the know might tell you that I am obsessive when it comes to things I love. I feel compelled to dig up every little scrap of goodness I can find about whatever it is that I'm really into at that particular moment. It generally results in annoying people around me, but sometimes it has the benefit of educating me to the point where I can pass along cool stuff to others. In the case of Oxford, Mississippi's Fat Possum records, I think the latter to be true.

I find it amazing just how few people are aware that a label from Oxford is being recognized as arguably the best indie label this side of Sub Pop. They have certainly been on a winning streak the last couple of years, releasing album of the year contenders such as The Walkmen's Lisbon, to recent hotness like Unknown Mortal Orchestra. And whether or not they've meant to or not, they've developed a Fat Possum sound which is characterized by surf and garage elements and often very analog, purposefully stripped down production. This emergent style also makes the Fat Possum catalog perfectly suited to the sweltering summers we enjoy here in Mississippi.

So, obsessive as I am, I put together this little playlist of things you can currently buy that has a Fat Possum logo on the back. Some of it is brand new. Some of it is reissued. But all of it has a certain summery quality that I think you'll enjoy on your next trip to Dauphin Island.