Bend News

Life Without Good Music Is No Life At All

Five Must-Have Albums For A Summer Road Trip

By Joseph Friedrichs, 6-13-08

Don't get haggard, it's only music.

Despite the feelings of oppression that come from filling the gas tank this summer, there’s one constant inside the vehicle that makes road trips worthwhile: music.

With the average price for a gallon of gas in the West soaring above $4, choice music becomes a necessary while perusing the open road. And because we all know how unreliable radio stations are these days, please make sure to acquire the following five albums to accompany your summer travels.

And feel free to thank us later. We know you will.

1. Paul Simon - Graceland

There you are, blasting down some all-but deserted highway. High peaks line both side of the valley you’re roaming. The sun is out. It’s hot. All four windows are down. This is a perfect time to toss in Graceland. Perfect.

The way the camera follows us in slow mo / The way we look to a song / The way we look to a distant constellation that is dying in a corner of the sky.

Ready to hit the road yet? Of course you are.

2. The Velvet Underground & Nico - Andy Warhol

This is the album that comes in handy during city traffic on some bustling Interstate while moving at top speed. Feel free to keep “Run Run Run” on repeat. Play it louder each time.

Other tracks such as “I’m Waiting For The Man” and “Venus In Furs” are perfect for life on the road. And when the road turns dark and the night sky cusps the peaks, you can’t go wrong with “Heroin.”

3. Neil Young - Harvest Moon

We agree Neil Young’s most underrated song is “Natural Beauty.” The 10 minute live recording featured on Harvest Moon ranks in the top two or three songs to here while driving at night. The others on that list likely being Bob Dylan’s “Visions of Johanna” and David Gray’s “Sail Away.”

Not to say Harvest Moon can only be enjoyed while traveling at night. Crank up the banjo friendly “Old King” featuring James Taylor or “From Hank To Hendrix” and watch the odometer crank along.

4. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas: Music From The Motion Picture [SOUNDTRACK]

Variety is an absolute necessity on the road. That’s why it’s always a fine notion to include a mixed album on your journey. This classic mix features songs such as “Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again” by Bob Dylan, “Viva Las Vegas” by the Dead Kennedys and “One Toke Over The Line” by Brewer & Shipley.

Toss in the fact that the album is dedicated to Hunter S. Thompson’s journey into the heart of the American Dream, and Fear And Loathing is an absolute must for a road trip.

5. Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic

Featuring songs such as “American Car” and “White Lexus” it’s no wonder that Haughty Melodic cracks our top five. Blending perfect amounts of upbeat melodies to help the foot go heavy on the gas pedal and calmer tracks to keep you from being constantly pulled over by the law, Doughty’s best album to date makes for a fine road companion.

Perhaps the best feature of this album is that it can be left in the CD player and repeated several times through before it comes anything close to obnoxious. And any CD that can bust up 160 miles of road in one session is a must have.

So there you have it folks. We know gas prices are high. We know that work is demanding overtime and that summer can be as stressful as it is blissful. Then again, we only get one go-round in this circus called life, so we hope to see you out there. 

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