Three days a week, I take the A train from 175th street to West 4th street, then the F to York Street. This gets me to Dumbo, Brooklyn, and it takes roughly an hour. At the end of the day, I make my way back by the same route. Thus I spend roughly two hours per day completely underground and in the company of strangers.

Being averse to reading in moving vehicles, this is a rough sample of what I listen to on my iPod.

Best depressing album for dreary morning commutes when you feel like a lost little girl in the gray underbelly of a steel monster: White Chalk by PJ Harvey

I like to start with “When Under Ether,” which makes me feel like maybe I’m still asleep and just having a bad dream. When she cries “Oh God I miss you” over and over again in “The Piano,” I always manage to think of somebody.
A con is that you can’t always hear the songs well over the sound of the train.

On that note, more depressing songs for the subway (they fit the mood of the A train, trust):
“Beautiful the Freak” & “Girls Like You Don’t Go for Guys Like Me”- Big Phony
“Worms” - Beth Orton
“Superstar” - Sonic Youth. Yes I heard it in Juno, and yes I loved it.
“What’s a Girl to Do?” - Bat for Lashes
“C’mon Through” - Lasse Lindh
“Lullaby for the Lonely People” - Jihae

When you’re crushing on a cute boy but playing it coy:
“Do I Move You” - Nina Simone
“Le plus beau du quartier” & “Le Toi du Moi” - Carla Bruni
“Wait a Minute (Just a Touch)” - Estelle
“This is Not a Love Song” - Nouvelle Vague

When you’re ogling someone and not playing it coy:
“Hey Luv” - Mobb Deep ft. 112
“Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy” - Tata Young
“I Need a Boss” - Shareefa ft. Ludacris
“Seven X Eight” - Anjali
“Take it Off” - The Donnas
“Break You Off” & “The Seed” - The Roots

So hipster it hurts:
“One Week of Danger” - The Virgins
“We are all on Drugs” - Weezer
“On a Neck, On a Spit” - Grizzly Bear
“House Jam” - Gang Gang Dance

Coming back from work, pissed and ready to key someone in the face:
“Fucked Up” - Yo! Majesty (Won’t be released until October, but fyi this song is pretty fucked up)
The Chronic by Dre is really all you need

Coming back from work, feeling above it all:
“Elevators” - Stars
“Ordinary Girl” - Jade
“LDN” - Lily Allen
“I Get Around” - The Beach Boys

Lastly, four songs to prepare you for the urban jungle:
“Wartime!” - theStart
“Good Luck” - Basement Jaxx
“Get Over It” - OK Go
“Still D.R.E.” - Dr. Dre