Unique background music for driving around adult workshop attendees?

September 14, 2015 1:15 PM

For my new job, I collect attendees at the hotel and bring them to the office, then bring them back at the end of the day. I do this every month for a week - in total, 4-5 hours on the road. So far I've been playing Andy Fink's Corporate Report cd, but I would like some more variety. Please recommend equally particular albums that would go in the background of a jovial van ride. Maybe some instrumental 70s rock, or a really solid dub album?
posted by rebent to Grab Bag (11 answers total)

Tycho's Awake is sort of Boards of Canada on Wellbutrin, so that'd probably work. You could also try Kruder & Dorfmeister's DJ Kicks mix set (e.g.), which is more upbeat than The K&D Sessions (more d&b-style beats) but still has that fun, chill, swanky feel.
posted by en forme de poire at 3:04 PM on September 14, 2015

Oh, Ratatat is probably a good choice (unique, instrumental, upbeat, good driving music), but I'm not sure what album would be best of theirs.
posted by en forme de poire at 3:08 PM on September 14, 2015

For upbeat instrumental, I like the flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook (example from you tube). I sometimes play his cds while my students work, and they don't hate it. :)
posted by rakaidan at 5:01 PM on September 14, 2015

This is absolutely not instrumentals 70s rock, or dub, but my go-to albums for an upbeat yet definitely not-polarizing soundtrack for that sort of situation are:
- Django Reinhardt
- Ethiopiques 4 (or pretty much anything by Mulatu Astatqé)
- Budos Band
posted by desuetude at 5:52 PM on September 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you want the 80s filtered through a more modern sensibility, you may like Com Truise.

I love Boards of Canada, and would recommend anything of theirs, particularly Music Has the Right to Children.
posted by O9scar at 6:03 PM on September 14, 2015

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Are We Not Men? We Are Diva!

Musically tight yet subversive versions of 80's diva ballads. It's surprising and guaranteed to bring smiles. Their cover of Paula Abdul's Straight Up is genius fun.
posted by jbenben at 7:40 PM on September 14, 2015

Medeski Martin and Wood are great for driving, for example Shack Man.
posted by usonian at 9:01 PM on September 14, 2015

Perhaps some Vitamin String Quartet. They cover popular songs, and some are pretty amusing.
posted by demiurge at 11:58 PM on September 14, 2015

Any and all of the Verve Remixed CDs.
posted by jbickers at 4:47 AM on September 15, 2015

You need some Scandinavian space disco.

Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too, Smalhans, Real Life Is No Cool (w/Christabelle)
Todd Terje - It's Album Time

Seconding Boards of Canada or Tycho. Also try: Tennyson, Broke For Free.
posted by pianoblack at 9:40 AM on September 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

This is totally out of left-field, I know, but years ago I recorded just the audio portion of the movie Heathers onto tape and played it during an extended car ride with some people from work, and everyone loved it. Like, we got to our destination with 10 minutes to go and everyone voted that we take a short tour of the area so they could finish hearing it.

It might not float your boat, and even if it does, Heathers might not be 'appropriate' content (ie, "Fuck me gently with a chainsaw!").

Crossroads - not that thing with Britney Spears - might be another good choice
posted by doctor tough love at 10:12 PM on September 15, 2015