For my fortnightly hole I will alternate between (1) a “classic” album, not in the absolute sense, but from my own personal listening canon. It might be more well-known, but it will be the kind of pick everyone should listen to. And (2), to a more off the radar pick, usually something that is new to me that I have been listening to. This week is my classic pick.
Something I am endlessly interested in is the fact that (1) music is the only artform you can still fully experience while engaging in a multitude of other activities and (2) that some music actually sounds better while engaging in certain activities, or is even specially suited for certain activites.
The most obvious case of this is that dance music is suited to, and sounds better while, dancing. However, there are endless other subtelties to this. There are many things that make, say, Swordfishtrombones great midnight listening. Thus, in honour of the fact that I will be driving a stretch this weekend, I thought I ought to introduce you all to the greatest driving/road-trip band in existence: Modest Mouse.
Modest Mouse make the quintessential driving music. But not for those short trips to the supermarket or to the gym, but for those trips spanning two, three hours and beyond. Those trips where you hunker down and have no reasonable expectation of when it will end, when you get comfortable for the endless road ahead.
However, they are also one of the greatest indie rock bands ever, regardless of whether you are driving or not. They perfectly mix catchy, melodic, and progressive songwriting, with that hard-edged, angular, indie-rock sound, capping it all off with a satisfying sprinkle of dynamics. Unlike other bands of this style that get a little tiresome after a while, they are a band I always come back to.
On top of all this, they have made at least three classic albums. This meant I struggled to pick out just one to recommend here, given their consistency. However, I settled on this one, not because it is my personsal favourite (though it comes very close), but because it showcases some of their best tendencies while at the same time being very accesible.
If you want more and liked the more melodic, less noisy songs, try out Good News For People Who Love Bad News, then The Moon and Antarctica. If you liked the slightly more noisy, longer tracks, try out This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About then The Lonesome Crowded West. The latter two are my personal favourites, and the pinnacle of long-sunny-afternoon road trip music.
- Rowan
Recommended Songs: Interstate 8, Workin’ on Leavin’ the Livin’
Listen: Spotify, YouTube, Bandcamp
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