1. Best Day of Your Life (Katie Herzig) - An optimistic song to get us started. The holidays are coming up, and this song seems to capture the giddy anticipation of reuniting with friends and enjoying life.
2. Breakdown (Gary Clark Jr.) - Young bluesman cuts loose on a rock song. Kinda reminds me of Steve Miller.
3. Origin of Love (Mika) - From the pop virtuoso's third album of the same name. I LOVE THIS GUY!!! The album is fantastic - so expect more Mika tunes on future playlists. Here, he's joined by a choir of autotuned angels as he celebrates the object of his affection.
4. Baby I'm Yours (Breakbot feat. Irfane) - French artist channels 1980s Cameo for some bouncy R&B.
5. Tuesday Heartbreak (Macy Gray) - Macy's back, and covering Stevie Wonder's 1972 album "Talking Book" song by song. The cd is a little uneven, but I did enjoy her take on this song.
6. Guardian (Alanis Morissette) - Another lady who was big in the 1990s! Now she's married, a mom, and according to PETA one of "The World's Sexiest Vegetarians". Here she promises to protect those she loves, and something tells me if you've got Alanis on your side - nobody's gonna mess with you.
7. Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel) - Ugh. Has it really been 25 years since this was released? Still sounds great, though.
8. Down the Road (C2C) - Somebody put "Molly" in the Moonshine, and the hillbillies are having a rave!
9. Madness (Muse) - Latest track from the English bands starts at a slow simmer then escalates to a rolling boil (note to self: I've been reading too many recipe blogs).
10. Loca Por Un Loco (Kela Gates) - Jill had this on her September playlist, and I fell in love with it. Perky Peruvian, who resembles Doris Day - gets the fiesta started!
11. Kodachrome (Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band) - Paul Simon gets the Indie band treatment.
12. Let Her Go (Passenger) - Wistful blues from UK singer/songwriter Mike Rosenberg.
13. Bonified Lovin' (Chromeo) - I found a recent remix of this on White Folks Get Crunk, but the more I listened the more I just wanted to hear the original. Another fun band paying homage to the great 1980s R&B sound.
14. What Makes a Good Man? (The Heavy) - Sounds like one of those early 1970s bands whose name I should know, but I don't.
15. Be Your Everything (Boys Like Girls) - You know I love me some boy band pop with a sick hook.
16. My Flaming Thirst (Pepe Deluxe) - Sounds like a lost James Bond theme song!
17. Everybody's Free (Simon from Deep Divas featuring Debbie) -Burn off those Thanksgiving calories by playing this and dancing your booty off! See ya next month!
