I see this time and time again: people getting sucked into what their favorite radio stations are pushing on them. They may be catchy tunes, but sometimes you just get stuck listening to the same thing repeatedly. Summer is a time to relax and to try something new, especially with all that free time you now have. Here are some new songs worth checking out.

“”Sink into Me”” by Taking Back Sunday

This song has been stuck in my head for the past two weeks and I still love it. The lyrics may be a little misleading; “”Sink into me”” is not a reference to all the Twilight hype (Sorry, it’s way better). The song is vibrant in its rhythm, which is appropriate considering the band just released their new album, New Again. “”Sink into Me”” is upbeat, fun, and a good song to rock out to in your car.

“”Sweetness”” by Jimmy Eat World

When I’m not listening to this song on my mp3 player, I keep catching it on the radio. From its funky, melodic runs of “”whoa”” in the chorus to its infectious beat, it’s difficult to resist the urge to sing along. These Mesa, Ariz. natives wrote “”Sweetness”” to deal with the pain of one-sided love. The only thing left to ask is: are you listening? Sweetness.

“”Lights Out”” by Santigold

This song has already been featured in this year’s blockbuster, “”I Love You Man,”” as well as in a remix on a Bud Light Lime commercial. I really like this song because it is very lighthearted; the short rocky notes of the electric guitars, coupled with Santigold’s floating voice, give it a carefree feeling. Santigold has this warped, psychedelic-like sound about her that’s different yet somewhat familiar to The Cars and M.I.A. You can experience her music for yourself at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday.

“”Take My Hand”” by The Cab

The Cab is this amazing, up-and-coming band from Las Vegas, Nev. They have a wide variety of influences such as The Beach Boys, *NSYNC, Lionel Richie, and the King of Pop, yet maintain their own soulful pop-rock sound. All of the band’s songs skillfully showcase their talents in an enjoyable way, making it difficult to choose only one for this playlist. I’ve seen this quintet several times: their love of music pulsates through the venue with each lyric and guitar stroke. Check out The Cab at Club Congress on Thursday.

“”Pachuca Sunrise”” by Minus the Bear

A friend introduced me to this song and I just fell in love with its sound. Beginning with the faint electric guitars that tremble in pitch like a steel guitar, to the stronger, shortened notes in the chorus, this song creates a laidback feeling that reminds me of summers spent lying by the pool and soaking up the sun. Their soft voices, as well as the song overall, reminds me of Death Cab for Cutie’s “”Crooked Teeth.””