It’s never too early to start planning. OK, maybe it’s a little early. But still, you won’t regret beginning a little bit early to craft a musical experience for your ride to and from Cornell for Thanksgiving Break. Car rides are perfect for breaking out your favorite songs, the ones you’ve listened to a million times and to which you know every word. But they’re also great for getting to know some less familiar tunes. If you want to mix it up a little bit, here are some of my favorites that I’ve found work especially well for cruising down the long roads to and from Ithaca. Whether you take my suggestions or not, I encourage you to craft your CDs or iPod playlist as soon as possible — try including both songs you know and love as well as others into which you want to dive deeper. (The same general idea applies to plane rides, but probably not the following specific music suggestions.)

During my last drive back to Cornell after Fall Break, I discovered the beauty of Bruce Springsteen for the car. Go with the classic album Born To Run, and be sure to put the track of the same name on your CDs or playlist at least twice. This song just makes the trees, the roads and the other cars all go by faster. “Thunder Road” from the same album is another great track for passing the time. Try these out, and if you agree that they are car-ride worthy, also take some selections from Bruce’s The Rising. I recommend “Countin’ On a Miracle” and “Mary’s Place.”

My next recommendation is Paul Simon. If “Graceland, “African Skies” and “I Know What I Know” doesn’t make you actually look forward to your drive, just find someone else to drive for you and take a nap. You’re not worth it. Although if the person you find to drive for you is any better than you, they will be blasting Paul and you may have a difficult time taking a nap. While Graceland is undoubtedly the most upbeat, feel-good of the albums, don’t hesitate to take some selections from One Trick Pony and You’re The One as well.

If you want to try something a little more pop and a little more indie at the same time, check out the Scottish group Belle and Sebastian. You may be slightly familiar with them because two of their tracks, “Piazza, New York Catcher” and “Expectations” were used in the soundtrack for the hit film, Juno. Now, Belle and Sebastian’s feel-good harmonies are sure to keep you calm and composed in the car, specifically if you’re stuck in traffic — their songs are the perfect way to stay relaxed yet alert. If you’ve never experienced the beauty of their whimsically-named tunes (e.g. “I’m a Cuckoo,” “Nice Day for a Sulk” and “Funny Little Frog”), start with the album Dear Catastrophe Waitress. If you like what you hear and want more of Belle and Sebastian’s folksy, alternative sound for your next car ride, check out The Boy with the Arab Strap and their very first album, Tigermilk.

My next suggestion may appear a little surprising, but be patient; I have my reasons. I would highly recommend Bob Marley for your drive. Yes, I know it may be a little out of season for the king of ska and reggae, but I urge you that there’s no better way to shorten a long drive than to pretend you’re in Jamaica or the Caribbean. Whether you choose Bob with or without the Wailers, classics like “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright, “One Love” and “No Woman, No Cry” are sure to make you feel as though you’re cruising through the glorious heat of summer rather than the foreboding cold that serves as a constant reminder that December finals are just around the corner.

If you were at the OAR concert last year and were smart enough to get there to see the opener, then you are at least a little bit familiar with my next recommendation: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Originally from Vermont, Grace Potter blends soul and blues in a way that somehow comes out just slightly reminiscent of country, but in a good way, I promise. Be sure to include “Ah Mary,” “Stop the Bus” and “Big White Gate,” from This is Somewhere. If you are seduced by Grace’s beautiful, throaty voice as you should be, also fill your CDs or playlist with the slower, yet just as fun tracks from Nothing But the Water such as “Treat Me Right” and “Some Kind of Ride.” Nobody says “American road trip” better than Grace.

Now, for my personal favorite for the car and anywhere else: The New Pornographers. The New Pornographers are my one true love and hopefully they will be yours too. It’s really difficult for me to pick certain New Pornographer songs that are better than others, so you should know that the following songs are simply the best for the car (all of The New Pornographers’ tracks are the best in general): “The Laws Have Changed,” “These Are the Fables,” “Ballad of a Comeback Kid,” “The Electric Version” and the entire album of Challengers. Challengers is a beautiful collection of heart-wrenching and original melodies. If you didn’t catch the group at the State Theater in 2008 when the album was featured, I beg you to make it a priority for your Thanksgiving trip. Feel free to put tracks such as “Go Places” and “Challengers” that showcase singer Neko Case’s gorgeous vocals on repeat, so that by the end of the car ride, you can belt them out right with her. In fact, it would be completely acceptable if you just ignored everything you read prior to this and listened to The New Pornographers for the entire ride. Just kidding. Well, sort of. I may just have a little bit of a thing for Neko.