Road Trip

As I prepare for a short vacation in San Diego one of the most important things is to select CDs for the drive. I am low-tech when it comes to music and I still buy CDs to play at home and in the car. There are so many elements to consider when packing road trip music: location, time, mood, weather, etc. Of course, your idea of what music goes with all of these elements will be different than mine, but this may help you pack your own road trip music.

Beginning of the trip: This is the most exciting part of the drive for me, so I need upbeat music to go with the upbeat mood. My top picks for the beginning of the road trip are:

• AC/DC’s Back in Black – The first track’s tolling bell is not only a great way to introduce a relief pitcher, it is a thrilling way to start a vacation.
• Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown – Rock operas make for good road music!
• Dropkick Murphys’ Sing Loud, Sing Proud – Unfortunately for my poor husband, I am singing along, loud and proud.
• Metallica’s Metallica – Lars Ulrich can sure play the drums and keeps me excited at least until I-8. 

Middle of the trip: As we drive the long stretch of I-8, the scenery evokes many different emotions. The excitement of turning off I-10 requires more upbeat music, but as we approach Wellton, I think of the Yuma 14, the people who died crossing the desert in 2001. The sand dunes west of Yuma require something a little surreal. I feel the need for something gritty around El Centro. Here are my picks for this part of the trip:

• White Stripes’ Icky Thump – “Why don't you kick yourself out. You're an immigrant too”
• Muse’s Black Holes and Revelations – Many different strange themes in this album.
• Johnny Cash’s American IV: The Man Comes Around – Is there anything more surreal than Johnny Cash singing a Depeche Mode song?
• X’s Los Angeles – Fits the bill for “something gritty.”

As we enter the Cleveland National Forest, I start to feel like we are almost there. There are trees and lakes, and we will see the ocean soon. Happy music is a must for this part of the trip!

• B-52s’ Cosmic Thing - Kitschy, campy, fun!
• Cake’s Fashion Nugget includes the song “Stickshifts and Safetybelts," a happy little song about cars and driving.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication – because we are in California and so close to the beach!

The drive home is not as exciting. Leaving the ocean brings on a feeling of sadness mixed with an impatience to get home. Much of the drive is after the sun goes down, so my music list for the ride home is much more subdued.

• Chieftains’ Long Black Veil – So much to love about this album, but especially Sinead O’Connnor singing "Foggy Dew" and Rolling Stones performing “Rock Road to Dublin.”
• Pink Floyd’s Animals – Concept albums, like rock operas, are great for the road.
• U2’s Joshua Tree - A must for any peaceful drive through the desert.
• John Doe’s Meet John Doe – The track “Dyin’ to Get Home” sums up how I feel at this point.

Happy travels,
~Sandy