1. Kylie Minogue – “On a Night Like This” (remix)

From last year’s BOOM BOX remix comp. Kylie is always ripe for remixing. Many of them are typical house remixes, which I find kind of bland, but some of them are on (such as CSS; remix of “Wow.”). This falls somewhere in the middle.

2. The Clash – “I’m So Bored with the USA”

From the classic first LP.

3. Van Halen – “Happy Trails”

VH’s acapella nod to Roy Rogers. From the Diver Down LP, which is a pretty uneven collection of originals and covers.

4. Prince – “Make Yo Mama Happy”

Emancipation sessions, released on Crystal Ball. A decent track. Suffers from the shortcomings of P’s production style at the time. But you know, gotta make mama proud!

5. Megadeth – “Psychotron”

From the Countdown to Extinction LP, probably their last great album. Ah, middle school.

1) “She Loves Me Not” by Faith No More from the hugely underappreciated and perhaps ambitiously titled “Album of the Year.” Hearing their take on a weird piano-based pop tune with lyrics about phone sex is pretty darn awesome.

2) “Hall of the Mountain King” by Savatage off “Final Bell.” A live performance of a great if somewhat silly tune prominently featuring the late Criss Oliva. We’re kicking ass today!

3) “Right Next Door To Hell” by Guns ‘n’ Roses. Sleazy, slippery bass with bluesy rock guitar and Axl screaming. It’s not half bad.

4) “Surreal” by Ambeon off “Fate of a Dreamer.” Heavy but really crisp production from Arjen Lucassen with oddly tender female vocals by a very young woman whose name escapes me.

5)”Donna Lee-Twist (Live” by Andy Timmons off “That Was Then, This Is Now.” Takes bassist Jaco Pastorius’ adaptation of this saxophone bebop tune a step further by giving it the Wipeout treatment. Utterly bizarre in concept but wonderful in execution.

1. “Sorry Signs on Cash Machines”, by Mason Jennings from “Century Spring”, 2002. How fitting! I was just laid off and this was my last day of work.

2. “Getting Better” by The Beatles from “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club”, 1967. I hope so!

3. “The Crane Wife 3″ by The Decemberists from “The Crane Wife”, 2006. I listened to this album so much when it came out but it has been a little while. i will have to listen to it again.

4. “Late” by Ben Folds from “Songs for Silverman”, 2005.

5. “Song for Sidiki” by Jenny Scheinman from “Crossing the Field”, 2008. jenny released two albums last year. I love the other one which has vocals.