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It’s Monday again, and that means another “Monday Mixer”. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you can read about what we have going on, and listen to Monday Mixer #1 here. Basically, a bunch of my favorite blogs are all submitting one song to create some awesome playlists.
With this second iteration of the Monday Mixer begins themed playlists. Today we have “driving music”. If you have any playlists you’d love to see us build, just comment below, and maybe we’ll make it happen.
On a personal note, I think the songs people submitted for the theme are quite interesting. Some I love (or were even already posted on metrojolt!), some I really dislike. A few tracks are extremely calm and relaxing and others are pure energy. What song would you have chosen?
Some of my favorite driving songs (and with the amount of long roadtrips I take, I consider myself somewhat a connoisseur haha) are the ones that I can turn up real loud, wind the windows down, and lose my voice in–to the point I might not be able to speak the next day. It’s best when you’re making a fool of yourself in front of other drivers and not having a care in the world.
Not only is this one of my favorites songs from one of my favorite albums of 2010, but it’s my first pick for beats to bump in the car. Bonobo’s “Kiara” is a well crafted blend of trip hop sounds with a heavy kick that bleeds hip-hop. Once the weathers gets a little warmer, pop this in the deck and make sure the windows are down – shit can get heavenly.
Night Time – Xx (Audio Thread remix)
When it comes to driving songs rather than a soundtrack for cruising highways in a convertible Dodge Charger I tend to look for a song which can stretch the eyelids open on the 15 minute hurtle to work along the North Essex coastal lanes at 8am. Audio Thread has done this rather well with a remix of what was already a pretty awesome clear-headed number. But by adding some tidy drums and clutch pounding bass he keeps things nicely in the red. This combined with the fact I have to wear a shirt and tie for work makes any morning commute feel like a suave masterpiece.
Green Eyed Love – Mayor Hawthorne (Classixx Remix)
Will introduced to Mayer early on into his career and I can’t say I
was an early believer. However, over time Mayer won me over, releasing
a slew of hits that I could play in any setting. Green Eyed love is
one of the same. Something for the car, or to start off the night.
Hope you enjoy.
Nowheres Nigh – Parts and Labor
You know when you’ve been in the car too long, and you get that very hazy sense of sameness to everything, as though the passage of time doesn’t really mean anything? And how sometimes when you’ve been driving for hours, it’s easy to forget that there’s a destination at all, that there’s any world other than the endless road? That’s what this song is about.
The Script – I, Envision (Breakeven Cover)
From Toronto, Canada all the way to the West Coast, I, Envision is definitely a band worthy of a soft listen on those long road trips out of town. But hey, those out of towner’s don’t have to be dull. Rest your seat back, relax, and put on some I, Envision for a calm and clean listen. Here’s a Canadian duo who knows the true definition of soft rock and crisp acoustics.
When people think of “driving” playlists or mixes, most of the time they lean toward either easy-listening, or something much thicker and heavier. As for me, I’m with the latter. I automatically think of fast-paced beats, head-banging, and sing-along-as-loud-as-possible jams that go hand in hand with the overall excitement of summer road-trips and just cruising with friends. One certain song that comes to mind is the second song off of Such Gold’s EP Pedestals, titled “Sycamore.” Fast and to the point, Such Gold convey a gritty, passionate pop-punk sound. With vicious verses and a huge sing-along chorus, this is one song I always reach for when I just want to have a true rock-out session and just unleash in the car.
The track “1988″ is an emotional roller coaster that’s guided by the melodies of UK producer Youandewan. A friend described this song to me as “timeless music” and I could not agree more. I will think this song is just as beautiful in 10 years as I do today. As each layer builds upon the others I become even more enthralled while still managing to keep my body moving with the steady pulse of the beat.
Tom Waits – Diamonds on my Windshield
When I heard the theme was driving music, one song instantly sprang to mind. The Heart of Saturday Night is one of my favourite albums ever, and Diamonds on my Windshield is arguably my favourite song from the album. While it is a very simple song, featuring just double bass, vocals, and understated drums, it’s the quality of these individual parts that makes it what it is. An incredible walking bassline throughout the track, beautifully sensitive drums, and lyrics that emulate the stream of consciousness one experiences when travelling long distances, and emulate it with beautiful prose.
Russ Chimes, one of London’s rising electronica stars, has said about his music, “Above the desk in my studio there’s a picture of an 80’s Porsche 911. When I’m writing I always think, ‘Would this track sound good while I’m driving that car?’ And that’s how I audition every track that I make!” His track Tertre Rouge, off this fall’s Midnight Club EP manifests those sentiments. After all, what could be a better driving song than one named after a racecar?
As Far As I Can See – Phantogram
This song really embodies the perfect driving song for me. Whenever it comes on I feel like I’m crusin down I-5 on a warm sunny day, with all the windows down. Phantogram, and this song in particular, has a very hypnotizing effect. This is much like driving, or bathing in the sun for long periods of time.
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