OutTraveler.FM: Thanksgiving Blues

Story and Playlist by Olga Bas

Tinsel ornaments are overtaking store displays, snow clouds threaten, and there's a distinct chill in the air. It's that time again: Thanksgiving is on our doorstep and family time looms ahead at the end of the long highway haul. So as you're driving to that gathering of close relatives with little to be cheery about, listen to our latest playlist! Uplifting and soothing, our 10 picks will help you beat that long weekend slump.

1. Sigur Rós - Hoppípolla
Although you won't understand a single word (it's Icelandic mixed in with some gibberish), you can't help but be uplifted. With gay singer Jónsi's falsetto and the crescendo of its orchestral majesty, the track puts a smile firmly in place. You'll set off for your great holiday adventure with the image of a green Iceland dancing in your head.

2. XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)
A bit of glam, punk, and rock, it's an ode to a comic book character with a title we all can relate to. It's a definite contender to keep you awake at the wheel in the early morning hours.

3. Cansei de Ser Sexy - Alcohol
A product of Brazil, this electro-rock outfit (with singer Lovefoxxx usually sporting outrageously colored leotards) knows how to party. And when they're "tired of being sexy" (perhaps from too much turkey, perhaps too much alcohol), as their band name translates, they think up clever songs like this one.

4. Soft Cell - Where Did Our Love Go
Mostly known for "Tainted Love," Soft Cell has a few others up their sleeve, though you wouldn't know it. Gay man of many talents Marc Almond, one-half of the synth duo, also wrote a mid-life crisis travel book, In Search of the Pleasure Palace, that was published in 2004.

5. Rufus Wainwright - Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk
From Wainwright's second album, written in the Chelsea Hotel in New York, this song is less operatic than usual. But then, taking its subject matter into account, melodrama would have been out of place. A gay icon, Rufus must be in for a quiet holiday.

More after the jump!

6. Visage - Fade to Grey

As you cruise down the grey road, take a listen to this; it's as if the 80s were shrunk down to a four-minute sound bite. Flamboyant outfits from gay frontman, Steve Strange, cold keyboards and French backup singers aside, this track makes nostalgia an art form. Perfect for when you're stuck in a traffic jam.

7. Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone
One of the recent Swedish imports, Lykke Li's smoky voice is sure to soothe. And with a lively beat, it's a great song to dance around to in your car seat. Just don't forget to keep off the horn.

8. Robbie Williams - Lola (Kinks cover)

Everyone's heard the original, but here's the less-known version by the British pop-superstar Robbie Williams recorded for Radio 1. Thirty-eight years later and the song's still a hit. So don't be shy, sing along.

9. Patrick Wolf - Pumpkin Soup

Before he found the man of his dreams and before his glitter stage, Patrick Wolf was far more down-to-earth and this track from his first EP is woodsy and homey. And so there's something to look forward to, it's tasty, too!

10. Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway

Robinson also famously wrote "Glad to be Gay" (that is, until he married a woman). Still, that doesn't detract from the anthemic status of "Motorway." What better way to cruise down the road than with a great mix popped in the car stereo?