The Bad Decisions Playlist is a novel centered around and infused with music: its vital importance, the challenge of creating it, the way it can somehow be carnal and deeply human and yet also transcendent and sacred. The way a song can define and illuminate an instant in your life, guide and direct you, like the protagonist Austin says at a pivotal moment in the book:

…and it’s like the song is showing me the way, the song is saying, now, the moment is now, don’t wait…

So it made sense that a book with music at its heart should have an accompanying playlist. The songs on it are there either because they or the artist are mentioned in the book – or just because I like them and they inspired me while I was writing. I hope you like them, too.*

* I reserve the right to alter the list at any time entirely based on my mood.

“Alison” Elvis Costello

The song that sets the book in motion, the song the protagonist sings – well, attempts to sing – to a girl named Alison and gets clubbed over the head with his mandolin for his efforts. And, of course, a great song by a fantastic songwriter.

“Down Down the Deep River” Okkervil River

Okkervil River put out a coming-of-age concept album called The Silver Gymnasium, and I love both the sense of place that it has and the way it captures the mystery and magic and difficulty of being a teenager.

“Kiss Me on the Bus” The Replacements

I grew up in Minneapolis, and you can’t have a playlist for a novel that’s about music and is set in Minneapolis without including some Replacements. And it’s such a good song.

“Cut Your Hair” Pavement

A great song about the music scene and about changing yourself in an attempt to change someone else.

“B a noBody” SOAK

“C’mon, c’mon, be just like me / c’mon, c’mon, be a nobody…”

Another song that feels like a perfect snapshot of being a teenager. The longing and vulnerability in Bridie Monds-Watson’s voice…it crushes me, this song.

“Caroline” Paul Brill

A simple, beautiful song by the very talented Paul Brill, who I’m proud to call a friend.

“Filthy Luck” Beach Slang

The opening lyric would definitely resonate with Austin, the protagonist of Bad Decisions Playlist: “I’m a slave / to always f*cking up…”

“Trampoline” Joe Henry

A great song for a difficult talk late at night at a bar, which is how it appears in the book.

“The Book of Love” Magnetic Fields

Beautiful. A group of us (led by Paul Brill, whose song “Caroline” is on this list), sang this for friends at their wedding. HI JEFF AND JANE!

“Fireflies” Rhett Miller and Rachel Yamagata

Big fan of Rhett Miller’s songwriting and lyrics, both as a independent artist and as the lead singer of the Old 97s. Love the sad, almost languid back and forth duet in this song. It’s also the song that inspires Austin to see what it’s like to lay down on some train tracks, an activity I do not recommend.

“All For Swinging You Around” The New Pornographers

I listened to the New Pornographers a lot while writing this book. Particularly fond of Neko Case’s voice.

“The Mortician’s Daughter” Freedy Johnston

Used to go see Freedy play a lot in small venues in NYC waaay back. A haunting, nostalgic song, a song about remembering a love from long ago.

“Starfishin’” Amy Correia

Amy Correia is just a fantastic singer-songwriter and should be massively famous. Another person I used to go see perform in NYC way back, and each time it felt special.

“Should I Stay of Should I Go” The Clash

Austin mentions that he started studying Spanish because a girl wanted to know what the Clash were saying in the background of this song – inspired by a similar decision made by a friend of mine in high school.

“Cobwebs” Ryan Adams

Don’t know. Just like the song.

“I am trying to break your heart” Wilco

“I want to hold you in the bible black pre-dawn…”

“Manhattan” Cat Power

Many of the songs on this playlist are about Austin’s dream destination, New York. Something about the dreamlike nature of this song stays with me.

“Secret Meeting” The National

Definitely going through a National phase while I was writing Bad Decisions.

“Hallelujah” Jeff Buckley

This song has been completely overused in all sorts of TV shows and movies and blah blah blah and GUESS WHAT IT’S STILL A GREAT SONG, particularly Jeff Buckley’s rendition.

“Blind River Boy” Amy Correia

Another beautiful song from Amy Correia – actually about the immensely talented Jeff Buckley, and how he died young, drowning in the Wolf River in Memphis. A song Austin and his father Shane sing together while sitting near their own river.

“Wish the Worst” The Old 97s

The perfect pathetic drunken breakup song. Don’t drink alcohol, kids!

No, seriously, don’t drink alcohol, kids.

“Cannibal Resource” Dirty Projectors

Had a chance to see them live at the Troubadour in LA and it was such an incredible show, something that stuck with me when I was trying to capture the way music – particularly live music – can be a transcendent, sacred experience.

“Too Much” Sufjan Stevens

Speaking of transcendent…I often think Sufjan Stevens’ songs are like being lost in an angel’s fugue state. Another Sufjan song makes a key appearance in the book.

“Stay Young” Okkervil River

Another Okkervil River selection. Nails that desperate desire to hang on to being a teenager while knowing you have to move on.

“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” The Rolling Stones

That guitar riff tho…

“Time After Time” Cyndi Lauper

Think this is a cheesy, overplayed song? Guess what: it’s also a really well-constructed, well-written song, a song for falling in love for the first time, and that’s the role it plays in the book. I make zero apologies for including it.

“Ciervos” Astro

Astro is a band from Chile, and this feels like it emerged directly from a teenage dream. “Y que pasa si corro con los ojos cerrados” (and what would happen if I run with my eyes closed)…

“Marching Bands of Manhattan” Death Cab for Cutie

Another NYC song.

“Makes No Sense At All” Hüsker Dü

Again, can’t have a playlist for a music novel set in Minnesota without Hüsker Dü, and I have certain friends who would never forgive me if I didn’t add one. HI FRED AND JOE.

“10,000 Emerald Pools” Børns

This song is the experience of falling and being in love and I can’t stop listening to it.

“1952 Vincent Black Lightning” Richard Thompson

A girl, a motorcycle, bad decisions. Plus Richard Thompson’s guitar playing.

“Waitress” Hop Along

HER VOICE.

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” Chris Thile and Michael Daves

The book begins and ends with a mandolin, so here’s a selection featuring my mandolin hero, Chris Thile.