It’s officially summer! Summer is great. But what makes it awesome isn’t baseball or margaritas or grilling out — it’s because music is everywhere. Summer is a season with a soundtrack, and it includes everything from reggae to classic rock. Don’t let the variety of music fool you: Every song has good vibes in common. After tedious research, including blasting various albums from car speakers, out of apartment windows and poolside, we at Buzzbin have compiled the most complete (and awesome) list of summer albums, ever. What Makes a Great Summer Album?  Have the editors answer this. Will’s answer: A great album makes getting drinking alone less pathetic. Weezer, “Weezer” (The Blue Album) Best Anthem Album Weezer’s freshman album, originally released in 1994, created an in-unison singalong for the country. The Blue Album, as it became known, set the standard for ’90s alternative rock with singles like “Undone (The Sweater Song,” “Say it Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly.” Many mix tapes and (for those who had CD burners) CDs bumped with Weezer’s addictive, punk-inspired style. Play this album at parties to get everybody reminiscing about their portable CD players. Sublime, “Sublime” Best Chillin’ Album Anybody who considers themselves part of the counter-culture worships Sublime like some African fertility god. Although Sublime is the unofficial band of pot smokers, the thing that gave Sublime a huge following was the band’s unique collection of ska-, funk- and reggae-influenced tracks. Singles on Sublime include “Garden Grove,” “What I Got,” “Santeria” and “Pawn Shop.” Spin this record to inspire some chemically induced flashbacks. Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Californication” Best Road Trip Album “Californication” marked the return of Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, after a hiatus that included copious amounts of heroin and cocaine. The band’s most commercially successful album to date, “Californication” catapulted the Chili Peppers from a slightly obscure rock band to rock legends overnight. Singles include “Californication,” “Other Side” and “Scar Tissue.” This is a great album to blast during a long road trip. Jack Johnson, “On and On” Best Beach Album Jack Johnson is the personification of summer. Hell, the guy grew up on the Hawaiian islands; if anybody knows how to write a summer album, it’s him. “On and On” is Johnson at his best: laid-back, easy going and lyrically impressive. Song like “Taylor,” “Holes to Heaven” and “Rodeo Clowns” add a perfect underscore to any beach (or pool) vacation without the cheese of Jimmy Buffet. Lynrd Skynrd, “Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd” Best Drinking Album Duh. Having a beer in summer without Lynrd Skynrd is like a sensual massage without the happy ending — it’s just not satisfying. Skynrd is the beer drinkers’ choice of background music, and for a good reason: Skynrd can get your grandmother rowdy. This is the album to have, with songs like “Simple Man,” “Freebird” and “Tuesday’s Gone.” Nobody can deny the epic build in Freebird. Nobody. The Beach Boys, “Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of the Beach Boys” Best Throwback Album Don’t send us hate mail. No single Beach Boy album was great enough on its own to warrant a mention, so we picked a “best of” album. So what? Who cares? Everybody loves The Beach Boys, especially The Muppets. The Beach Boys are summer because they sing the classic, feel-good songs we all loved as kids, including “I Get Around,” “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Kokomo.” Crank this baby to 11 in your little deuce coup. Lisa Hannigan, “Sea Sew” Best Coffeehouse Summer Lisa Hannigan is Jack Johnson with long, beautiful hair. A newcomer to the solo scene, Hannigan previously toured with soft rocker Damien Rice. Her laid-back, whimsical style brings an air of summer to any coffeehouse or yoga studio. “Sea Sew” is Hannigan’s beachy album, with singles like “Ocean and a Rock,” “Splishy Splashy” and “Sea Song.” Pop this album in if reading and sipping iced coffee is on your agenda during a hot summer day. Noah & The Whale, “Noah & The Whale” Best Summer Album You’ve Never Heard Indie rock and summertime go together like Michael Bay and explosions — without summer, indie rock would never make money. Noah & The Whale’s album is packed with catchy, feel-good songs, with nary a depressing track on the disc. It’s peppy, playful and picnic-worthy. Notable songs include “Two Atoms and a Molecule” and “Five Years Time.” Pull out this album to surprise your friends with how in touch you are. AC/DC, “Back in Black” Best Album to Officially Begin Summer Everybody has fantasies about walking into a crowded party with “Back in Black” blasting over the six-foot cabinet speakers. The song is all about slow-motion, badass entrances. Obviously it’s an appropriate album to kick off the summer months. As with Lynrd Skynrd, this album is about pumping up the crowd. In fact, the Vikings used this album to pump them up before invading Europe. Check out “Back in Black,” “Hells Bells” and “You Shook Me all Night Long.” The Summer Mix Tape, “Various/Best Summer Album Ever” What makes summer special is the memories we create during the hottest months of the year. Everybody has their own soundtrack — why not compile your own? Start with a song that reminds you of your first summer love, and then pick a song that reminds you of your closest pals and so on. Before you know it, you’ll have yourself a totally awesome summer playlist that will accentuate your own personal summer experiences.