Best Walking Music

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Having to do a lot of walking in the city means that I always have my walkman on me. What's the best music to get you from A to B?

For me, there are several categories. First, there's the "walking with a mission, stay outta my way": Le Tigre's "Decepticon", the Clash's "Janie Jones" and Modest Mouse's "Dark Center of the Universe".

Then, there's the "it's a beautiful day to walk bouncily, look at clouds and grin like a fool": "Who Loves The Sun", "Here Comes The Sun", the Raincoats' "Lola" and "Brown-Eyed Girl".

Finally, there's the "I'm gonna totally zone out now and let my feet do the walking": 'Loveless', Grandaddy's "So You'll Aim Towards the Sky", Richie Hawtin, "Baby's On Fire" and the first VU.

What about you?

― alex in montreal, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Weird, Alex -- during the past couple months, I've had precisely that experience with the Le Tigre and Modest Mouse tracks you mentioned. I'd add to the bouncy end the Cardigans' "Rise and Shine" and, for slower strolling, The Pastel's "The Viaduct"; the new American Analog Set for short walks in the morning; and Stereolab's "Metronomic Underground" for boppy purposeful striding.

― Nitsuh, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Folk Implosion's "Natural One", discovered totally by accidently, but it's good stamping music.

― Jeff, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The previous Tricky album, Mission Accomplished. It did make me feel paranoid, looking over my shoulder all the time.

― nathalie, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Walk" by Pantera!

― Kodanshi, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My god, it's a beautiful day
to just sit and enjoy blue skies
and all the brothers in the street gettin high
Give thanks for your life because yo - things will change
Ghetto people suffering will soon inherit the game...

Yo every gun man has to have a soft spot
Every thug nigga has gotta have some heart
It's these things that I hold to be true
so I don't have to pray that they won't blast you.

G Walkin, by the Kardinal. Walking around my neighborhood it all comes together, it feels perfect. The tempo is right for a slow bounce to the train, the narrator like an understanding omniscience, he sees what I see in advance, and he knows what comes later. Or at least he hopes he does.

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Death Cab For Cutie, either release - and in the rain...

― Jason, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the aislers set's latest cd, "last match"

― dan rukas, Saturday, 11 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"You Know You Got Soul" is perfect

― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 12 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My best walk through the street of SF were to Boredoms Super Ae. I felt like the Supreme King of the World. A benevolent monarch, though.

― Mark, Sunday, 12 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If it's raining, the Hi Scores EP by Boards of Canada is very nice.

In the wintertime, I used to walk down on the beach with Dots and Loops on my Discman.

I've also had some nice times with Spool's self-titled album on New Dog, as well as things like the Circle 2-CD set on ECM with Anthony Braxton and company. At that, a lot of more straight-ahead jazz albums work very well, especially good and "high-energy" live recordings with lots of faster songs; Claudio Roditi's Milestones album has been good company for the 20-minute walk to Staples.

― Phil, Monday, 13 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

walking on a mission - jonathon richman & the modern lovers, version 1 - "I'm gonna walk up your street".

waling on a beautiful day - jonathon richman & the modern lovers, version 3 (or so) - "When I'm walking".

walking zoned out - Sadly, no Jonathon Richman songs spring to mind, so I'd probably use something like "Lay back in the sun" by Spiritualized, which will lead me to lie down in a park after a while, which is not a bad thing, really.

― pauls00, Monday, 13 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've never walked wearing headphones because then I feel like I'm hiding.

School bus music, on the other hand, I understand. Go to sleep days: Bach organ stuff or Belle and Sebastian. Wake up and get some enjoyment in before getting to school days: In Flames, first VU, Iggy Pop, or the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack.

― Lyra, Monday, 13 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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