The Playlist That Would Have Been

Originally published 03/05/2014.

By: Hannah Strumwasser

On Friday I took a somewhat spontaneous road trip to L.A. with my good friend DJ Mollcatz. Ok, she’s not actually a DJ, but if she was, that would definitely be her DJ name. We managed not to die on the way down (OMG SoCal’s first rainstorm!) and we got to know the beautiful landscape of the 5 quite well.

The drive back took FOREVER. Forever. So long. Forever.

Due to the spontaneity of the trip (and the fact that I am constantly unprepared for almost every aspect of my life), I didn’t have a chance to throw together a playlist. All we had was the radio. In case you were wondering, there are A LOT of Mariachi radio stations in the Central Valley. I missed KDVS.

So here it is! If I had had a chance to put together a playlist for the road trip, this is what it would have looked like:

The Playlist That Would Have Been. 

Side A (Davis to L.A.)

1. Warm Water by Banks from Warm Water
2. Tennis Court by Lorde from Pure Heroine
3. Mirasama Sky by Baths from Obsidian
4. When I Grow Up by First Aid Kit from Ghost Town
5. Sorry Ms. Jackson by Outkast from Stankonia
6. Let’s Go by Matt & Kim from Lightning
7. Drunk In Love by Beyoncé from Beyoncé
8. You Are the Sunshine of My Life by Stevie Wonder from Number Ones
9. On Your Way by Alabama Shakes from Boys & Girls
10. Sun in Your Eyes by Grizzly Bear from Shields
11. I Go Away by MNDR from Feed Me Diamonds
12. Bloodflood by Alt-J
13. Los Angeles, I’m Yours by The Decemberists from Hey Majesty

Side B (L.A. to Davis) 

1. Go Home by Lucius from Widerwoman
2. Stay Awake by London Grammar from If You Want
3. Breakers by Local Natives from Hummingbird
4. Forever by Haim from Forever E.P.
5. We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus from Bangerz
6. You Can’t Hurry Love by The Supremes from Sequins & Smiles
7. Carbon Monoxide by Regina Spektor from Soviet Kitsch
8. 405 by Death Cab For Cutie from We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes
9. Fiery Crash by Andrew Bird from Armchair Apocrypha
10. Cool Desert by iji from Cool Desert
11. Nothing & Nowhere by Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton from Your Back