Playlist: Chuck Westmoreland picks plucky tunes for mowing grass to

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The smell of fresh cut grass is both itchy, allergy-inducing trauma (its my eyes’ worst enemy) and an incredibly satisfying aroma. When the weather hits that right combo of early-summer blaze and late-spring coolness, you know it’s time to break out the hard-to-crank push mower or the high falutin riding tractor. There is a certain joy that can be wrought through cutting your own grass; many take pride in it, in fact. Just like my father. Our yard growing up was a lush landscape of deep green shrubbery, rainbow-bursting flower spreads and sweet lilac fumes. We were the envy of the neighborhood. Of course, having the perfect playlist while you labor over the taunting green stalks makes the payoff even better. That’s where Americana troubadour Chuck Westmoreland comes in.

Today, he shares of playlist of tunes, including one of his own and essential cuts from Steve Earle, John Prine, Run the Jewels and Frank Ocean, among others. You’ll be sweating up a storm from not only the sun’s intense brow-beating but because you’ll probably be jamming your face off, too. No shame in it, either.

Westmoreland drops his second solo album, Long Winter Rodeo, June 1.

Below, Westmoreland walks us through his sunny, cut-off blue-jean mow-that-lawn-dude picks.

“Sharp Rocks” by Chuck Westmoreland

This is the first song off my new record and is great for staring at tall grass.

“Someday” by Steve Earle

The perfect song for pulling on the cord 10 or 11 times trying to get the mower to crank up and fucking up your elbow. Also, good when you somehow instantly get a blister on your hand.

“Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements

This one’s great when you’ve gotta turn the lawnmower on its side and poke at it with a stick because its all jammed up. It also pairs great with the song before it. I’ve been pretending that ‘Guitar Town’ and ‘Pleased to Meet Me’ are the same album lately.

“1-800 Suicide” by Gravediggaz

Nice song to be playing when all of a sudden there are hella bees everywhere.

“Hello in There” by John Prine

When you run outta gas and have to drive to the gas station, it would be great if John Prine could be with you. Just sitting on your tailgate smiling while you fill up the gas can.

“Lie, Cheat, Steal” by Run The Jewels

Gotta have this one going in the headphones when you take a bathroom break and track all the grass in the house.

“Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield

I’ve thought about it a lot, and I’m pretty sure this is the best song ever. It’s also a wonderful song to listen to when you’re wondering why the fuck you’re wearing white shoes.

“Looking for the Magic” by Dwight Twilley Band

This track grooves extra hard when you’re whacked out on allergy meds.

“I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” by Richard and Linda Thompson

This one’s great when you’re trying to figure out how all the tennis balls got in your lawn when you don’t play tennis and your dog’s old and doesn’t really fuck around with tennis balls anymore.

“White Ferrari” by Frank Ocean

The perfect song when you’re sitting in a chair in the middle of your freshly cut lawn watching the sun go down and starting to get a little loopy after mixing allergy meds and whiskey.

Photo Credit: Peter Carlson

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