The magnetic fields and memories of cough syrup.

On the YouTube page for the 1994 non-hit “Strange Powers” by the Magnetic Fields, the first of 99 comments simply says, “This song will always remind me of abusing cough medicine.”

Now, it’s a fool’s game to pick one random poster’s internet comment to capture the essence of catchy, nostalgic tunes that gave rise to the term “song of the summer,” but if you put a gun to my head, I’d probably go with the cough-medicine line.

These songs come in two varieties. One is a jam that soundtracks a shit-ton of people falling in and out of love during months when we wear T-shirts and flip-flops. “You’re All I Need” by Method Man and Mary J. Blige is a solid example of this. Is it a good... Read More