Playlist

There's so much more to places than can possibly be conveyed through anecdotes, or photos, or pretentious, grandiose philosophizing.  There's the ineffable feel of a place, and a moment.  This is a collection of songs that I've come to associate with particular places and experiences.

Cut Copy- "Need You Now"

Riding the train from Berlin to Prague, the rolling build of this song mirroring the movement of the train, and the rising feeling that this is the start of a great adventure.

Serge Gainsbourg- "Chanson de Prévert"

Wandering the streets of Montmarte and Mouffetard, and getting nostalgic for the days when I thought I could actually speak French.

Shout Out Louds- "Normandie"

Taking the train through southern France towards the Italian border, looking out at the beautiful beaches and coastline, the sun dancing in the trees.

Bright Eyes- "Another Traveling Song"

On the plane from Italy back to London, unsure of what I'll be doing for the next three weeks. Perfect traveling song.

"I'm not surprised, but so never feel quite prepared": this line sums up my life, basically.

Feist- "Mushaboom"

Driving through northern Scotland, on unmarked highways, passing by small houses tucked away in the gorse- and heather-mottled hills, miles from anything else...

"How man acres, how much life, tucked in the woods and out of sight? Talk to the neighbors and tip my cap on a little road barely on the map..."

Neutral Milk Hotel- "Holland, 1945"

Reading the diary of Anne Frank, and making new connections with an album that has been once of my favorites since I was 17.

Pulp- "Common People"

Heard this playing at a megaclub in Barcelona, and the lyric "'Cause everybody hates a tourist," seemed pointedly apropos.