Road Trip Music
June 20, 2006
What a great summer topic!
My friend Casey sent out a MySpace bulletin requesting recommendations for road trip music. Here's what I responded with. What are your thoughts?
I'm going to reference albums.
Rolling Stone a few years ago recommended various road trip albums. Two of my favourites were on the list:
REM's Document
Mary J Blige's No More Drama
Various songs from either one work.
Now, it somewhat depends on where you are driving. Through the hills of NW Arkansas or similar places, I really like Nickel Creek's self-titled album. In various parts of the South I listen to Emmylou Harris' Red Dirt Girl or Lucinda Williams' Car Wheels (a GREAT road trip album btw). I have lots of Texas musicians I listen to, particularly when driving in Texas. You can't go wrong with the Old 97's, particularly the album Too Far to Care.
If you are going to a particular city, it is good to listen to their local music (like say, Bright Eyes for Kansas City or Outkast for Atlanta).
Now, then, I always love a little Rufus Wainwright. If you are in a really mellow mood, then Beck's Sea Change.
That's probably enough information.
Saying KC/Bright Eyes is like saying Old 97's/St. Louis. Bright Eyes is from the Omaha area.
You don't want people to think you're from Denver do you?
Posted by: marty | June 20, 2006 at 10:01 PM
Good call on the REM, and good call on Bright Eyes. And hey...what's wrong with Denver? :-)
Lately, my driving music has been Janis Joplin. But I'm a bit of a wierdo.
Posted by: Trav | June 21, 2006 at 06:56 AM
On my trips to OKC, which aren't really roads trips, but rather excursions, I listen to dance (electronic) music on the way up and drag ballads on the way back. However, if I get to feeling sleepy (which is sometimes the case since I go back at such late hours) I will throw the dance music back in.
If I'm going on a really long road trip, I take alot of Beethoven, Mannheim Steamroller, and Rufus Wainright. Yeah, I know, my musical preferences are all over the board.
Posted by: Jim | June 23, 2006 at 09:33 PM