Mixtape Mondays - Summer Driving Tunes

As a new feature to Around the Couch, we introduce to you Mixtape Mondays! On the first monday of every month, ATC will bring to you a sampling of songs. They may revolve around a theme or simply the tastes of one of our contributors. Regardless, enjoy!

This Month's Theme - Songs to listen to when hitting the open road!

August is the month of summer vacations and seeing what this big planet has to offer via the freedom of four wheels and gasoline. We feel these tunes help put your pedal to the metal and soak in the air of the drive.

Some of the rationale for some selections:

* "Teenage Riot" by Sonic Youth - The slow syrupy dripping intro of the song fits well as an introduction to the album "Daydream Nation" and to any summer drive playlist. The first lazy riffs are the perfect aural accompaniment to pulling off the driveway and the mounting energy of the song is complimentary to speeding through concrete

* "Factory" by Martha Wainwright - This was actually on a summer mix by Q magazine, and it has an oddly appropriate-for-summer feel.

* "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M. - There sort of has to be a song by them on there, and there may be a more appropriate one, but this is pretty sing-along-y and we didn't want to just pick "End of the World" based on Tommy Boy.

* "Drive Slow" by Kanye West - Appropriate easy summer feel for some cruising.

* "In a Daydream" by the Freddy Jones Band & "In God's Country" by U2 - Appropriately anthemic and grand when moving through the expanse of the west

* "Saturday Morning" by the Eels - The uptempo beat and optimistic and playful lyrics are just what you need to kick it up a gear and enjoy the ride.