What to vibe while you drive — soundtracks to listen to on the road

Writing and photos by Tyler Campbell

Martin and sound engineer Sam Okell re-mixed the collection with additional unissued tracks, as well as unused additions to the existing records. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” has an additional three minutes of Billy Preston’s edited-out organ solo from the original version. “Something,” is given new life with a restored piano track from George Harrison. If you are a fan of The Beatles, this is the perfect record to begin your day. It will help the rest of your day come together.

The New Pornographers – In the Morse Code of Brake Lights

The New Pornographers eighth studio album is one of my personal favorites on this list. I have already started a few days with this record. It’s an album full of melodic cuts that are easy to sing along to. The album is written mostly by A.C. Newman and has uplifting vibes from the very beginning. This makes for a perfect start of a new day.

Driving to and from school every day can get repetitive. Large cities like Houston are known to have an overwhelming number of vehicles on the road at any given time. This leads to accidents and traffic jams, which can make your commute intolerable. For students that live off-campus, this is a part of a daily struggle. Some of us have to drive for up to two hours to get to class on time. For those who live on campus, the battle is walking from your dorm to your classes. Whatever your situation may be, music can be a great way to pass the time and get your day started right. There are several ways to listen to music. Most students listen through streaming services like Apple, Tidal, and Spotify. CDs are still around somewhere, and if you’re like me, then you love listening to music on vinyl. Listening to music can help to make your commute more endurable. Here are a few records that you should consider listening to on your daily commutes.

The Beatles – Abbey Road [50th Anniversary]

On September 26th, 1969, The Beatles released the album Abbey Road. 50 years later, producer Giles

Tegan & Sara – Hey, I’m Just Like You

Tegan and Sara Quin went back to high school with this album. They had a large number of unrecorded songs that they thought it time to work on. These are the earliest tracks ever written by the pair. The sisters strategically tore down and stitched up their old material to make it new and fresh. What may be a trip down memory lane for the duo can be great for a road trip to class for their fans.

Bodega – Shiny New Model

This is by far the shortest record of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t pack a punch. It is unlikely that you will make it all the way to school with this album alone, but it won’t hurt to throw it in the mix. This sleek album is the musical equivalent to your neighborhood convenience store. Try something new on your next commute and give it a listen.

John Coltrane – Blue World

This jazz record is nicely paired with your morning cup of joe. This is another album full of unissued material that was begging to be used. If you are a fan of jazz music, you are sure to enjoy this one. The beautiful saxophones will have you feeling at peace and fully able to tackle the future challenges of the day.

“Morning is wonderful. Its only drawback is that it comes at such an inconvenient time of the day,” Glen Cook. Music can help you to start your day on a much more positive note. These tracks are sure to put you on the right track.

Albums to look out for

• B ob Dylan – The Bootleg Series, Vol. 15: Travelin’ Thru

• Jimmy Eat World – Surviving

• Ringo Starr – What’s My Name

• Kanye West – Jesus Is King

• Green Day – Father of All…