Songs so good that you’ll miss your stop.
Milena Tallarico, Contributor
A Back To School Playlist for Commute. With school returning for the fall, commuters are scrambling to select the most suitable tracks to get them through the ride to campus. The perfect playlist must be able to combat the boredom of travel and capture the emotions preceding the day. With these criteria in mind, I’ve compiled a list of five essential songs for your listening enjoyment: “Jesus Or Harrison Ford” by Hana Bryanne This morning lullaby begins with soft vocals and stripped back guitar strumming, replicating the calm joy of slipping into your secured subway seat for the long ride. As the chorus hits, Bryanne is joined by instrumental staples of the country genre — a banjo and a pedal steel guitar — easing the listener into the excitement of the day. Her tongue-in-cheek lyrics shine in the bridge as she details affirmations suited to young adulthood: “I pay my bills on time / I keep my head down / I drink expensive wine.” “Bike Dream” by Bells Larsen “You wake up late, you feel your heart begin to work,” Larsen opens, accompanied by steady drums and guitar behind his vocals. This up-tempo beat is sure to wake you up if you’re still groggy from the early morning. The low cadence of Larsen’s voice vibrates throughout the song like the hum of subway tracks, inspiring a sense of urgency for the day ahead. “Everyone I’ve Never Met” by Leith Ross This track is required listening in the act of peoplewatching. Ross muses on the desire to connect with the people around them while struggling with anxiety and discomfort in everyday interactions. They also remark on the irony of connection in the digital age: “I kissed a girl from the internet / And her lips were cold / But I don’t talk to people anymore.” Even with such pensive lyrics, Ross’ sing-song vocals end the track on an optimistic note. “Anything You Want” by Eliza McLamb This 2000s-style, dreamy pop tune provides the perfect soundtrack to the opening credits of your day. The chugging instrumental and soft vocals are joined in each chorus with powerful harmonies that build into a scream during the ending post-chorus. McLamb specializes in the kind of introspective lyrics that prompt those wistful, window-staring moments: “I’m a hard person to unravel / I’m an endless ball of yarn / I’m a labyrinth in the dark.” “My City” by Better Oblivion Community Center This duet serves as an ode to cities, stories and the memories they hold. The contrast between Phoebe Bridgers’ light vocals layered with Conor Oberst’s raspy tone creates a vast sonic atmosphere throughout the song. The listener is reminded of the wide range of possibilities of life in the city: “All this freedom just freaks me out.” Each of these songs offers a unique angle at approaching the anticipated unknown while maintaining a catchy beat and compelling vocals. The next time you’re unsure what to stream during your commute, make sure to tune in to this playlist!
Photo Credit: Milena Tallarico
