Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Albums To Take A Road Trip By


In this age of instant gratification and short attention spans, one can easily forget what a great experience listening to a great album back to back can be. I am not immune to the phenomenon of the “iPod Shuffle”, and it certainly serves it’s purpose. Since my commute to work is only about 24 minutes I don’t have the luxury of absorbing an album in it’s entirety…unless it’s the Ramones, of course.
There’s something to be said, however, for the continuity of an entire album and getting lost in it’s concept; and there’s no better way to do this than on a long road trip.
Although I myself haven’t been on a long road trip for a while, I can still remember the albums I discovered while on some of those treks.
The time of day, the weather and the geography can make a big difference in the lasting impact of listening to a record while away from home. Road trips are ideal for discovering new stuff. You’re stuck in the car (or plane, or train, etc) and it has your full attention, the scenery implanting indelible memories tying the place and the time to the music. It’s a wonderfully personal experience, and if you happen to be traveling with another like minded individual it can bond you in ways that’ll never leave your memory banks.

What albums have you discovered while on a road trip, or do you like the mixed tape plan of action? Let’s hear it.

3 comments:

Holly A Hughes said...

Try Dave Alvin's King of California -- The Zombies As & Bs -- or Elvis Costello's Brutal Youth. I like albums that mix a little melancholy and existential yearning in between the put-the-pedal-to-the-metal numbers.

Holly A Hughes said...

Or the Strokes' First Impressions of Earth. Or that Vampire Weekend one. That is, if you've got teenagers in the car who aren't ready yet for existential yearning.

Uncle E said...

I dunno Holly, couldn't get into First Impressions Of Earth. LOVED the debut though...