Music for a non-sucky spring break

Spring break is the best -- a time where you can get wild, completely relax, and above all else, get the hell out of Indiana. When preparing for spring break, there are some obvious necessities. Sunscreen, money, condoms and cameras are a given. But what about music? I was surprised to find that many people don't take music with them on spring break. So this year, I put some thought into the music that would really make your spring break. \nFinding a perfect soundtrack for your spring break is not a difficult task. For starters, simply rummage through your CDs and pick out your top five or 10. Try to have variety in your choices and pick music for all different types of occasions...you want to be prepared for anything. \nThink about what kinds of things you'll be doing. If you're basking in the sunshine, you'll want some music to help you relax, something light, like some Ben Harper or maybe Enya if you're going the meditation route. When you're getting ready to go out, you want something that will charge you up for a night of crazy times. I recommend something along the lines of a little Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction or perhaps Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" (you can't go wrong with that song). I think you see where I am headed. \nOf course, you could always just trust your friends' music taste, but I don't recommend it. There's always that one person that wants to hear Eminem over and over and over, or the one who holds a special place for Michael Bolton in their heart. In this scenario, a 15-hour long car ride with such music could quickly turn into torture, cause some fights and set your whole spring break off on a bad spin. I know what you're thinking...my friends are the coolest, that could never happen to me...but think about it, how well do you really know the music tastes of your buds? Do yourself a favor and sneak a peak at their CDs before you leave, what you find might just blow your mind. \nSo how do you deal with a bad music situation? The radio is always an option. Sometimes you can catch a good song or two amid the static, but driving through Kentucky and Tennessee promises at least some country-music-only zones, which are never, never fun.\nLastly, you could always wait and see what the people at MTV have in store for you. It never fails, every year there is a spring break anthem. You know, the song that plays everywhere, the one you can't escape no matter how hard you try. I have to give them some props, there have been some memorable anthems in the past. Years ago, there was the "Ed Lover Dance," which was good. I also remember songs such as "Let Me Clear My Throat," which was jammin' for like a week. Then there are those terrible songs that you hate from the first time you hear it. A couple years ago the anthem was Sisqo's "Thong Song." Trust me kids, nothing makes you want to rip your hair out more than hearing a song that you can't stand over and over and over again. Don't let this happen to you, come prepared with your own music. You'll thank me later. \nFor the benefit of the cause, I've compiled a list of a few CDs that you can't go wrong with. If you can't find anything to satisfy your music needs, try one of these, they are all fabulous. \nSublime, Sublime \nThis album rocks, it's excellent, especially if you're going somewhere warm. Songs like "What I Got" and "Summertime" are perfect for cruising around or just lounging by the pool. They're a bunch of fun, rockin' songs that are catchy and fun with a little reggae feel. \nOutKast, Stankonia \nDre and Big Boi rock, this album was one of the best put out last year, and it recently won a Grammy. It's smooth sometimes, crazy at others and pretty much just kick ass in general. Stankonia is perfect for charging you up on the final moments of a long car ride, and just puts you in a partying mentality. \nThe Smashing Pumpkins, Rotten Apples \nThis is a two-disc set of the Pumpkins' greatest hits. The first disc is all the songs you know and love, the second is their rarities and b-sides. You've got some slow ballads, some rocking, guitar-driven cuts and some songs that have never before been released. If you're looking for something to keep you up on your turn behind the wheel, pop this in.\nClassic Rock album of your choice\nAlways a charming edition to your collection, you've got to love some vintage rock from the '60s and '70s. I recommend the Beatles' White Album, Jimi Hendrix's Are you Experienced? or Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. If you're looking for some beach music, you can't go wrong with the Beach Boys. If you want something with a harder edge, try some Zeppelin or Sex Pistols. \nThis music doesn't say, "Let's go pimp on some hoes down at the club," but it definitely says something: Open your ears and your mind.