The Perfect Road Trip Soundtrack: Leaves L.A. by St. Ranger

Fern's Big Adventure
Feb 25
4 min read

Updated: Mar 11

Two palm trees on fire and smoking. Black ashes and a city. Fire, red, rust and ash colors.

Some albums are meant to be played on the road, and Leaves L.A. by St. Ranger is one of them. There’s something about desert landscapes, open highways, and endless horizons that makes this album feel like it was written for the perfect drive.

The Story Behind 'Leaves L.A.'

St. Ranger is the solo project of Shawn Harris, best known as the frontman of The Matches (my all-time favorite band). In 2016, Shawn recorded Leaves L.A. while traveling across North America in Wanda, a 1974 Airstream trailer, with his wife, Lauren. He invited fans into the creative process, sharing demos, progress updates, and even asking us to help choose the tracklist—though in the end, he perfectly sequenced it himself.

This album has a surfer-meets-road-trip vibe, blending influences from punk, garage, and new wave. More than just a collection of songs, it’s a soundtrack to adventure—crafted while actually living on the road.

'Leaves L.A.' & Life on the Road

I first heard Leaves L.A. back when I was still living in Chicago. I was following Shawn’s Patreon project, "You (Don’t) Know Me," where he took fans behind the scenes of his songwriting journey. Later, he launched Pretend Record Club with Tim de Vil, giving us an even closer look at his creative process.

At the time, I was learning to cook, and this album was always playing in my kitchen—especially "P.S." (the bridge in that song just gets me every time). But it wasn’t until we were cruising through the sun-soaked stretches of California that I truly understood why Leaves L.A. is great road trip music—every song fit the moment.

One drive in particular—through the Mojave Desert—sticks out in my mind. Every song felt like it belonged to that landscape. I even wrote to Shawn on Instagram, and he told me this album was made for exactly that kind of experience.

How 'You (Don’t) Know Me' Helped Me Find My Own Road

Before we hit the road full-time in Fern, our RV, I was still in the dreaming phase—wondering if this lifestyle was even possible for me. Around that time, Shawn was using You (Don’t) Know Me to discuss topics suggested by fans, so I sent in a request:

"Would you do an episode about living and traveling in your Airstream?"

And he did.

Hearing firsthand about his experience living and creating music on the road made it feel so much more achievable. It wasn’t just an abstract idea anymore—it was something real, something I could actually do.

Fast forward to now: I’m writing this from our RV, Fern, living that dream for myself. It feels incredibly special that this album, which played such a role in inspiring our journey, is now the soundtrack to it.

Favorite Tracks & Standout Moments

"Let’s Go Wander" – The opening track sets the tone for the entire album. It’s an invitation to explore, to drive with no destination in mind.
"P.S." – My personal favorite. I love the echoing of “Strawberry”—it gives me chills every time.
"Sentimental Bullshit" – The instrumental moments in this song are next-level.
"Love Song for Mitch" – I love his raspy vocals in this one. This was a song he played at his house show, and the last minute and a half is everything.

The Soundtrack to My Adventures: Shawn Harris

I’ve been a huge Matches fan since I was 14, and I still go to every reunion show they play. I first saw them at Fireside Bowl in Chicago when they were touring with the Plain White T’s, and I was hooked.

Years later, after the E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals reunion in 2014, I got to know Shawn personally through his house shows in Chicago. Those shows were something special—he’d use whatever was around him as an instrument (singing into a cabinet, a coffee can—anything). Now, whenever The Matches play, we always say hi, and it’s amazing to know that one of my favorite musicians is just as genuine and kind as I always hoped he’d be.

Shawn has since gone on to become a best-selling children’s book author and illustrator, co-writing The First Cat in Space series and independently writing and illustrating Let's Be Bees. As always, I continue to support everything he creates—from his music to his art to his stories.

The Ultimate Road Trip Album

There’s something about Leaves L.A. that makes it one of the best road trip albums out there. Maybe it’s the fact that it was written while traveling. Maybe it’s the raw, natural recording style—using real environmental sounds as part of the music. Or maybe it’s just that every song feels like an open invitation to adventure.

All I know is that Leaves L.A. will always be playing in our RV on driving days. If you’re planning a road trip, heading out for a long desert drive, or just looking for an album that captures the freedom of the open road, this is it.

Listen to Leaves L.A. by St. Ranger wherever you stream music!

Have you ever had an album that just clicked with a road trip? Drop your favorites in the comments—I’m always looking for the next great driving soundtrack! ✨