Recently [David Stillman](http://stilldavid.com) asked me to provide him with an 4GB iPod Nano worth of music for a drive from Chico, CA to Boulder, CO. Normally I love a challenge such as this, but this wasn't just a road trip; this was him moving to Boulder. We were all sad to see him go, but happy that he's embarking on an exciting new chapter in his life that includes lot of snowboarding and making little killer robots.
I wanted to provide him with music that was good for the road, especially I-80, but also new or at least new to him. I also knew that I didn't really have the time to do a song-by-song playlist, so I loaded him up with whole albums. In fact, I put together the whole list after one of our weekly poker nights. I know I could have done a better job, but as with most things it was better to get him something than nothing at all.
[The Afghan Whigs](http://www.last.fm/music/Afghan+Whigs) -- [Gentlemen](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OGLR3S?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001OGLR3S) was originally released in 1993. This was a bit before David was probably into music, let alone what was considered "alternative" at that time. Looking back it's hard to see how this classification came to be. Wait, [no it isn't](http://www.billboard.com/#/charts/hot-100?chartDate=1993-09-14).
[Ash](http://www.last.fm/music/Ash) -- [Trailer & 1997](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ON6MIA?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002ON6MIA) are also considered "alternative" but come on...1977 was named for the release of Star Wars. They might be the best rock band you've never heard of. Unless you have, in which case they're still really good.
[The Avalanches](http://www.last.fm/music/The+Avalanches) -- [Since I Left You](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001O01JXM?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001O01JXM). I have a thing for beepy music, what can I say. So does David. Hence this selection. I had to laugh at how they are described on Last.fm though, "[plunderphonics](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plunderphonics)" sounds hilarious.
[Bill Hicks](http://www.last.fm/music/Bill+Hicks) -- Arizona Bay, Dangerous, Rant In E-Minor, and Relentless. If you know me, you know I love Bill Hicks and clearly I think everyone else should as well.
[Bis](http://www.last.fm/music/Bis) -- Return To Central (apparently this is now out of print, please see your local used music store for purchase)
> Aggressively primitative and defiantly childish, the Bis claimed to be at the forefront of "the Teen-C Revolution," which apparently translated as young adults wishing they were still in elementary school.
[Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QKGMDS?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000QKGMDS)
I think that's all that really needs to be said.
[Bomb The Bass](http://www.last.fm/music/Bomb+the+Bass) -- Clear (also not available for mp3 purchase). I probably only needed to include _Bug Powder Dust_ as the rest is pretty mellow, but know this was a road trip that would take David through some of the emptiest areas of the country I felt that including the entire album would still be worth it.
[Boy Kill Boy](http://www.last.fm/music/Boy+Kill+Boy) -- [Civilian](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W04QYO?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000W04QYO). Last.fm says "British indie-rock". I say brit-pop. It's my blog, so I win. It was included mainly because I figured David hadn't heard them before. They never really "made it" in America.
[Bran Van 3000](http://www.last.fm/music/Bran+Van+3000) -- [Glee](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TS622I?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000TS622I). I find this hard to classify, which is exactly why I thought David would like it.
[Curve](http://www.last.fm/music/Curve) -- [Dopplegänger](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000DR75?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000DR75) (also unavailable for digital purchase). Way, way, way before Garbage there was Curve. Guitars, heavy pseudo-industrial beats, and a dead sexy vocalist (Toni Halliday, who you might have heard on The Killers Christmas single [A Great Big Sled](http://www.last.fm/music/The+Killers/_/A+Great+Big+Sled+%28Feat.+Toni+Halliday%29)).
[The Damage Manual](http://www.last.fm/music/The+Damage+Manual) -- [1](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XQRCH0?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000XQRCH0). I consider _Blame and Demand_ to be one of the best driving songs **ever**. Even if you don't like "industrial" music, give this a shot.
[Death In Vegas](http://www.last.fm/music/Death+in+Vegas) -- [Dead Elvis](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BN6LPC?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002BN6LPC) is classic late-90's "big beat". You've probably heard their hit single _Dirt_.
[DJ Shadow](http://www.last.fm/music/DJ+Shadow) -- [In Tune And On Time](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000294RHG?ie=UTF8&tag=pberrywebedit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000294RHG). It's not that I didn't think David didn't have any DJ Shadow, but maybe he didn't have this live concert. It's amazing stuff.
[Drum Club](http://www.last.fm/music/Drum+Club) Drums Are Dangerous (out of print). More 90's beepy music from Europe. Ah, the good old days...
_Stay tuned for parts [2](https://blog.patandkat.com/2010/02/still-driving-part-2/) and [3](https://blog.patandkat.com/2010/02/still-driving-part-3/) as we travel down the alphabet._
