Last month was a big month. I finally passed my driving test at the ripe age of 34. It wasn’t for lack of trying (though I do tell everyone that because I live in a city and don’t need a car). My innate desire for driving in bus lanes was an issue on more than one occasion times when taking my test in the UK. But, I passed the significantly more straightforward US test (it was under 10 minutes!). And straight away I’m thinking about road trips. The freedom that driving might give me. Don’t worry. I haven’t gone full car brain. I’m still a lycraclad cyclist at heart. But I also have these those romantic notions of driving around fuelled by nostalgia-filled memories of riding shotgun in my mate’s car as a teen. So I thought I’d put down my list of songs I’m excited to chuck on as I endanger everyone else on the road.
Bloc Party – The Prayer
Well this is going to be covered soon in the podcast but I have a very soft spot for Bloc Party Their second album came out the beginning of 2007 in my final year at home before heading out to Uni. And it quickly become the sound track to countless aimless drives around our hometown.
Daft Punk – Da Funk
To be honest it’s not just this song. This whole album rocks. It’s one of my favourites. And driving around at night with this blasting is just perfection.
Fleetwood Mac – The Chain
If you watched Formula One at any point, then this would need no explanation. This song soundtracks the coverage of this sport. And It’s also a great in its own right, with that extended bass solo.
Wiz Khalifa – See You Again ft. Charlie Puth
Yes it’s a song dedicated to someone dying in a car crash. But it’s also the soundtrack to the stupid car movie franchise that my friends and I love. It’s one of the first songs put on all our road trips.
Paramore – This Is Why
We’ve covered this album on the podcast. It poppy and raucous. A perfect singalong for when no one has to listen to my out of tune warblings.
Gary Numan – Cars
I had to throW this in as it both thematically fits and is a great song. Those propulsive and weird weird synths combined with the deadpan delivery. And though it’s telling a tale of the isolation, if I drive with a passenger I can be oblivious to this dystopia.
Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Yes its corny. But I love living where i do and driving round the neighborhood celebrating it in the stupidest way possible.
U.S. Girls – So Typically Now
This is a current favourite. The new U.S. Girls album is so easy to listen to. It’s hooky and humorous. And ‘So Typically Now’ is the pop gem at the center of it all.
CAKE – The Distance
I love CAKE. And I’m not talking about the food. This song meanders gently with that spoken singing, then kicks up a gear when the guitar kicks in.
Kraftwerk – Autobahn
Well I’m going to fully embrace the lack of cohesion in my playlist and chuck on the fathers of electronic music. It’s weird and unsettling. But I’m going to be having “fun fun fun on the Autobahn”.
Words by Matt Paul
Picky Bastards 