The Six CD’s You Meet on a Road Trip
Posted By startswithanx on December 28, 2009
**I spent a week and one day in my hometown, the WVC, over Christmas. As I expected, a few stories arose from my stay, which I plan to share with you in upcoming posts. Until then, I give you a post I thought of while driving the six hours it takes to get from my casa to Clair’s. Here I give you the six CD’s that made that road trip fly by:
1. Dixie Chicks “Taking the Long Way” Surprised? Don’t be. I don’t claim to be a country-western expert, but there are a few gems from this genre that never disappoint. These bitches being no exception. I thought I loved the Dixie Chicks before the whole anti-Bush tirade so you can imagine how I felt AFTER they pulled out their balls and hung them over the fire pit that is an audience almost made entirely of right-wingers. This is the album that came after that whole mess. Three words: Ay, ay, ay.
2. Mary J. Blige “My Life” I loved Mary for years like she was part of my family. I talked about her — and still do, more out of habit now — on a first-name basis. I got personally offended when someone spoke ill of her and I was like a greedy kid with a new Barbie when she blew up as an artist. I did NOT want to share. This is the album that turned me into one of THOSE fans. And, I’m not ashamed, either. Homegirl made heartache feel good. She didn’t make it go away. She made the heartache itself feel good. She understood me — and every other dumb bitch who came after me. Heartache doesn’t appeal to me anymore, but this album ALWAYS will.
3. Norah Jones “Come Away with Me” Wait, wait. Before you roll your eyes and ask when I’m gonna list the Indigo Girls, listen to the why. This album is delicious, yes, but it’s more about the memories it conjures for me. When I hear the first note of the first song I’m immediately taken to the kitchen of my first apartment in Evanston, Wyoming. I left a $30,000 dead-end job at Discover Card for an $8/hour job in a town that made me realize where the term “wide open spaces” came from. It wasn’t the way I pictured it in my idealistic head, but independence, no matter how it’s painted, is lovely. And that’s what I felt in Evanston as I washed my starter set of dishes with the sun shining through the sliding glass door that the 21-year-old kid downstairs would sneak through to visit me when I came home to unwind from my first journalism job while listening to Norah Jones.
4. Bob Marley “Legend” Need I explain? These are the kind of songs that will make a party full of rockers, hipsters, hip-hop heads, skaters and goth-lovers stop wondering what they’re all doing in the same room together and start singing. Loudly. Bob Marley brings the people together, yo. I think a few of my fellow road warriors read my lips through the window and started singing “I wanna love you, and treat you right” along with me.
5. Serena’s mix CD “Caramelo y Mas” Serena, I have a confession to make. Either I accidentally stole (yes, I just wrote that) this mix CD from you or I never listened to it when you gave it to me. Shame on me for either, but it made listening to it for the first time that much sweeter. What a pleasant surprise this compilation of Mexican classics turned out to be for Penny and I. Tu Solo Tu, Cielito Lindo, Mexico Lindo y Querido, Los Laureles — every one of them had me pounding my brown chest and turning the volume up a couple more notches. That way Penny wouldn’t realize my Espanol sucks ass.
6. Sublime “Sublime” I would’ve preferred “40 ounces to Freedom” but I haven’t had the opportunity to accidentally steal that one from Serena in the past couple years so I take what I can get. Look, Bradley Nowell was born on February 22 and we all know that anyone with this birthday is certain to be good peeps. But, the fact he incorporates Lou Dog in any song he possibly can really won over Penny, who jammed out in the back seat of the Honda Accord (if you consider what she’s doing in that picture jamming out). And, any song that uses the word “hyna” more than once, is a classic in my book.
**No, not a single hip-hop CD made the cut this time, which is very odd for me, but Jake made up for that on the trip home. Dead Prez, Skrapz and Jay-Z’s “Black Album” rocked me to sleep. I was on the passenger’s side this time. Oh, and normally I pop in Sheryl Crow’s “Leaving Las Vegas” as I leave town cuz, ya know, I’m leaving Las Vegas, but that tradition also got the axe.
Alright, time to share YOUR favorite road trip CD’s with me. I wanna know which ones you have to listen to and WHY.
That dixie chicks album wasn’t bad. Didn’t mind it that much. At times, I think I was even jamming to it. Ps, it’s spelled skrapz and dead prez.
Jake, wow, calling me out on my blog. Guess I know how you feel now. Ha!
No, really, thanks for the correction. I fixed it.
Funny you mention Dixie Chicks. I always listen to Fly on my trips to my moms. The song Cowboy Take Me Away reminds me of this cowboy I dated, actually the first boy I dated. Also Jay Z and Linkin Park (the CD they did together) I can belt that one at the top of my lungs, pretty much every song!
My Life is mos def a classic. Enter the 36 Chambers by Wu-Tang. 40 OZ to Freedom-Sublime. Otis Redding-Everthing he has made! and whatever mix tape cd of mine that suits because i have a plethora. and Caramelo y Mas is on me middle sis, that one i actually gave you!
i love Belinda Carlise runaway horses…. (i know way “old School”) it is the album that my family and i would listen too while driving to Zions National Park when i was younger. i also love it because i know all the words to the songs
Chili Peppers – Californication is a great driving cd (not sure why it’s not a great regular cd, but something about being in the car with that playing makes it a must have)
I also want to make sure I read that right and Jake in fact said he was rocking out to Dixie Chicks?? Wow, just when ya think you know someone!!
On the way to wherever I’m going I listen to The Miseducation of Lauren Hill and sing as loud as I can. That CD is perfection and can do no wrong. I’ll also bust out some Journey. On the way home I have to listen to Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony because I’m bittersweet about going home from any vacation. Lately I’ve been busting out the Glee soundtracks (1 & 2) whch the Brazilian cannot stand.
p.s. How FREAKIN’ CUTE is Penny!
Since I’m usually traveling with Chris we alternate every 5-6 songs. His selections usually consist of something from the dirty south where mine range from Fiona, Mary, to Etta James.
I’m so old and so lame but . . . I can’t resist James Taylor’s greatest hits. It’s the CD we played on our honeymoon road trip, so when I hear any of those songs, nostalgia gets the best of me. Then I bone Mr. Mom.
Hey Mayberry, I’m also a huge fan of JT’s greatest hits. No shame in that.
I kind of hate driving and avoid it whenever possible. Also, if you can believe it, I still have only a tape player in my car. Which means many, many old mix tapes.
And by the way, I just realized that this coming child is projected to arrive on your birthday. I’d be very surprised if he actually DID, but that’s what the doctors tell me. Maybe I should just name him after you. Considering we still can’t find a name we like, I think “X” would be as good as anything.
BMuttz, I’ll have you know that that Dixie Chicks album was produced by Rick Rubin — the same dude who produced Californication! … Oh shit, son! How ya like ‘dem apples?
Mayberry, anytime I hear James Taylor’s name I’m reminded of the time Serena challenged me to name one song from the artist she’d never heard of and was convinced I’d never heard of, either. I named “Mexico” and then she further challenged me to sing it. All I could remember was “Ohhhhh Mexico,” which couldn’t seem more made up. She called bullshit and refused to believe me until the parents could prove otherwise. … OK, maybe that story’s only hilarious for Serena and I.
Kristin, your comment showed up after I hit “submit” on my last one. SHUT UP! Well, you know what that means? Your baby is CERTAIN to be good peeps. Fabulous peeps at that. X is an awesome name for the little guy. Love it!!!
First off, I am glad to know that yet another thing we can check off our list of why we will be girls for life is that we could take a road trip with the same kind of playlist. Although I may have to axe Dixie Chicks but since I trust your judgment in the other categories, I’ll give the ladies a chance. Plus I LOVE that Earl Had to Die song. Sublime 40 oz. to Freedom has been my #1 road trip c.d. for as long as I can remember. Kings of Leon (obv) and any JT…you know me
Dem apples are a bit sour….not happy to find out that news. But I guess everything he produces does turn to gold.
James Taylor’s Greatest Hits is a great call. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd best Greatest Hits of all time. Tom Petty is up there and same with Cat Stevens. Alice in Chains unplugged is another great road head, er road trip, cd.
Yes, Rick Rubin’s the shit and the documentary about the way “Taking the Long Way” came together is pretty amazing, too.
Hmmm, Greatest Hits albums. I’m quite fond of Van Morrison, Otis Redding, Brenton Wood, KRS-One and Loretta Lynn.
Man, I need to go on another road trip.
I find that I rarely listen to music that way. I listen to one album, over and over and over again, until I’m over it. It typically doesn’t make another appearance for several years. Sublime, though.. yes sublime… ALWAYS a classic, and always welcome.
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