Since i'm about to drive from Austin to Los Angeles, I thought i'd start with a post about my current favorite jams to listen to while driving. Generally on long trips I like to go with relatively chill music that goes well with my surroundings. Last summer I visited a friend on an organic farm in Willits on my way to Mendocino. Knowing I was about to drive through some of the most beautiful, primeval forests around, she gave me "Silver Seed" by Thamusemeant. A 4-piece out of New Mexico, they play some fabulous freaky folk. As someone who cannot bear jam bands, but still loves a well played folk song - this album stayed in the cd changer all the way back to Hell A.
I also like to have some kind of reggae to space out to on any lengthy drive. Serge Gainsbourg put out 2 great reggae albums in the 70's. My current favorite is "Aux Armes et Caetera". This album was recently reissued with some great extra dub versions by my Parisian friend Bruno Blum.
Lastly, you can't go wrong with some tried and true English rock with a little psychedelic edge. "Suburban Light" by The Clientele and "Road to Rouen" by Supergrass are my current standbys. Plus, if you buy the Clientele record on vinyl, Merge Records gives it to you as a free download. I wish all record companies did this.
