What’s Your Road, Man?

An ode to the season of heat…the ultimate road trippin’ summer set playlist loaded with lots of oldies and some new goodies, perfect for parties or long rides on the open highway…

Load up the iPod, gather your friends, get out the map, throw caution and inhibitions into the wind…Jack Kerouac would be so proud.

Safe travels to you and yours this holiday weekend – happy road trippin’.

Where Is My Mind by Pixies (It would really be very un-summer-vibe-like to omit the Pixies…plus, this song’s a personal fave).

Rock & Roll by Eric Hutchinson (Why yes, Eric, I do want to rock and I do want to roll…and, guess what? I think I’m going to stay).

Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles (My favorite summer treat = homemade strawberry ice cream. And, well, The Beatles can be my background music any season).

Running Up That Hill by Placebo (I like the Placebo version better than the original Kate Bush one. It’s a saucy, haunting number my Pilates instructor likes to play…gotta work those bikini abs).

Oh My Sweet Carolina by Ryan Adams (Ryan Adams, the quintessential wanderer. This song is sweet, yet gritty, just the feeling one gets when cooped up for hours on end in a moving automobile).

You Said Something by PJ Harvey (A rooftop in Brooklyn is a great summer image, all that sweltering NYC heat).

Goddess On A Hiway by Mercury Rev (This is the perfect dreamy beach song).

Our Way To Fall by Yo La Tengo (Ditto – see Mercury Rev).

Jackson by Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash (June and Johnny were partners for life – a good road trip requires the perfect accomplice or two).

It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by REM (One of the best scenes in “Tommy Boy” is when Richard and Tommy are on the open road trying to remember the words to this little ditty. If memory serves, it’s before they hit the deer, but just after the car door gets ripped off).

Extreme Ways by Moby (Tis’ the season for the box office blockbuster – love this song at the end of all the Bourne movies).

Paradise Cove by Pete Yorn (This is on his just released album – I think we could all use a little cove called paradise right about now).

Directions by Josh Rouse (Seriously, guys – just ask…we’re more likely to judge you driving in circles rather than simply inquiring about where the eff you are).

Where It’s At by Beck (A decent pool party requires a decent DJ fully equipped with two turntables and a microphone).

Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters by Elton John (The scene in “Almost Famous” when this song plays embodies band life on the road. It’s the part where Penny Lane’s world crumbles with Quaaludes).

Omaha by Counting Crows (Somewhere in the middle of America – also, Counting Crows in general love to name drop places and streets – Raining in Baltimore, Sullivan Street, Los Angeles, Washington Square, just to name a few).

Glass Houses by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (My dream house is on the beach with floor to ceiling windows…also, this band is my latest obsession).

Surf Wax America by Weezer (Still trying to figure out how to accomplish taking a surfboard to work instead of a car).

Ocean Breathes Salty by Modest Mouse (There’s nothing better than the smell of ocean air).

Maggie May by Rod Stewart (I get the feeling this Maggie chick was just having the best time and could make a hell of a party entrance. I mean she’s confusing the womanizing Rod Stewart for God’s sake).

Hot Romance by Parlour Steps (Yes, yes it is a hot romance – such a good jam).

Get Myself Arrested by Gomez (Flashing lights in the rear view, never a good sign).

Cold Beverage by G. Love & Special Sauce (A never-ending supply of cold drinks is a must).

Dancing In The Street by David Bowie & Mick Jagger (Now, this is a party I want to be invited to – the Bowie/Jagger version is best).

Constellations by Jack Johnson (The poster boy for beach-living – well besides Mathew McConaughey and his bongos, of course…j.k. livin’).

Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival (Rain, it ruins everything).

Every Summer Has A Song by The Getaway People (True).

Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event (The most fun always happens after midnight).

Is This Love by Bob Marley & The Wailers (Summer is the time for lovin’ and Marley has a way of wringing the funk out of people).

The Royal We by Silversun Pickups (Newest album from this L.A. band released this spring…loaded with perfect summer tunes).

A Summer Wasting by Belle & Sebastian (I so miss the lazy days when the job pressures were to tell teenagers “one bounce on the diving board” and instead of a blackberry I had a whistle).

Use Somebody by Kings of Leon (I’m liking anything and everything by this band right now).

Creep by Radiohead (Here’s hoping for zero creep encounters during the journey).

Climbing The Wall by Stereophonics (Kelly Jones tan and in swim trunks, a nice thought).

You Don’t Know How It Feels by Tom Petty (This song will forever remind me of boating at the lake with friends).

Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys (Yes, it would be nice. The Beach Boys = the masters of the California vibe).

Paper Planes by M.I.A. (Here’s hoping your mode of transport isn’t actually made out of paper, nor will you hear gunshots in the background).

Santa Cruz by Pearl Jam (For A&B…the lyrics, I got the feeling I just can’t lose, pulling into Santa Cruz…I need the water to wash my soul, I need my loved ones to let me go).