SEPTEMBER 27 - L.A. road trip tunage

I spent about 12 hours in my car over the weekend, taking me back and forth from L.A.  I learned a few things along the way:

• My car is a bad ass.  She can get from L.A. to the Bay Area on one tank of gas.
• Ever since the Vegas trip, I’ve rediscovered my love of singing, particularly singing loudly in my car.
• Keeping my "no songs that beg for introspection" ban was a challenge, since it eliminates a lot of my favorite songs, and 'cause, well, I'm me.  But I can be triumphant.
• Many times this past weekend, my car was the most fun place to be in the world. 

Here’s some of the reasons I believe that was true:

Give Me the Night – George Benson

I knew the road trip was going to be good when this gem was first out the gate to come up on random out of 15,000+ songs.  I think I listened/sang along with/grooved to it at least 4x at the start.

Used Ta Be My Girl – The O’Jays

Once I relieved “Give Me the Night” from repeat, this was the next song up.  Well-played, random.

F*#You – Cee-lo Green

Who knew juxtaposing classic soul with lots of cussing would be so genius?  This song kills me.  I particularly love the background vocals.  (“Ain’t that some s#*!”)

Across the Field – Marching Band / Hang on Sloopy – The McCoys

I was missing this OSU game while I drove, so I was relying on family updates on the road.

Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars

To paraphrase JL, this songs reminds me that I love love.  I think that Bruno Mars kid is adorable; he just needs to (allegedly) lay off the coke.

Timebomb – Old 97’s

This one is great with the windows down, lungs at full throttle.  And I almost always follow it with 19, even though that one’s much less raucous.

Stickshifts and Safetybelts – CAKE

I don’t think I’ve ever driven on The 5 without cranking this song, singing Vince’s backing vocals, and bouncing up and down on the driver's seat like a small child.  It’s generally followed by "Comfort Eagle", "The Distance" (because I’m a road trip cliché,) and then a dozen more CAKE songs.

The entirety of “Antifogmatic” – The Punch Brothers

I’ve been listening to this album incessantly since July, and I am pretty sure that if I can continue to keep up with this blog, it will be my #1 album of the year if I force myself to make a list.  I'd already established that it was perfect for yard work.  And house cleaning.  And shower singing.  Apparently, it’s also perfect for road trips.  Best songs to sing loudly (besides all of them, save the instrumentals) with the windows down:  "Don’t Need No", "Rye Whiskey", and "Next to the Trash".

Selected songs - Ben Folds (Five)
He's a friggin' introspection landmine, so you have to tread carefully.  I stayed with a few solid singalongs, including "Army", "Kate", "Battle of Who Could Care Less", and "You Don't Know Me". 

Take It Easy on Me - Little River Band

This song is much cooler than you think it is, unless you already think it's cool.  In which case, you are correct. 

Find Your Love - Wheelchair Jimmy Drake
I’m more than just an option.  Hey, heeey, heeeeeeey.  

The Beautiful Ones / 7 / P Control - Prince

I was on a Prince kick as I got closer to L.A., which took me on a journey through the waters of Lake Minnetonka and to Prince tracks from The Hits and The Gold Experience.  I was briefly halted in accident-related traffic and caught some people in the car next to me dancing to “Gett Off” as it funneled from my speakers.  (I told you my car was the place to be.) 

Doin’ It – LL Cool J

Several years back, thanks to this song, I learned I was very proficient with an over-the-top, freaky-deaky, Brooklyn accent.  Not even my closest friends have witnessed the effect this song has on me, ‘cause it’s a fairly shocking transformation.  I got really into singing this one on the way back, so much so that I missed the freeway split (where 5 splits off to 99) and ended up in Bakersfield.  Oops.

The Wiz – Soundtrack

I was singing "You Can’t Win" on the way (shout-out, DF) but thanks to Ed and Craig bringing "Ease on Down the Road" back to the forefront of my consciousness, it was a regular feature on the way back.  

Station Approach - Elbow
I kept my beardy crumpet at arm's length for most of the weekend, save a bellowing "Grounds for Divorce" as I departed L.A., but I did select this track as my house got closer. 

I'm exhausted by this now, so honorable mention to everything else that popped up on the I'm exhausted by this now, so honorable mention to everything else that popped up on the iPod river of dreams.  (For the record, "River of Dreams" did not.)