It's the New Year!: Dec. 30, 2013-Jan. 5, 2014

Because the New Year begins (very) early Wednesday morning, I thought it might be time for a temporal music theme. Enjoy!

1. "New Year's Day" - U2

2. "The New Year" - Death Cab for Cutie

3. "How Soon is Now" - The Smiths

4. "No Time" - The Guess Who

5. "Time" - Pink Floyd

6. "Time of the Season" - The Zombies

7. "Turn! Turn! Turn!" - The Byrds

Best of Christmas: Dec. 23, 2013-Dec. 29, 2013

In honor of Christmas (this Wednesday), here are some of my yuletide favorites:

1. "Maybe This Christmas" - Ron Sexsmith

2. "The Holly and the Ivy" - Performed by the Choir of Kings College Cambridge

3. "Last Christmas" - Wham!

4. "Silver Bells" - Performed by Bing Crosby

5. "Baby It's Cold Outside" - Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer [Written by Frank Loesser]

6. "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" - Tchaikovsky

7. "Ave Maria" - Performed by Andrea Bocelli

8.  " Blue Christmas" - David Thibault [Originally by Elvis Presley]

Best Artists of Portland- Dec. 16, 2013- Dec. 22, 2013

As a native of Portland, I feel compelled to celebrate some of the local talent:

1. "Furr" - Blitzen Trapper

2. "Bohemian Like You"- The Dandy Warhols

3. "Queen's Rebuke/ The Crossing" - The Decemberists

4. "AM Radio" - Everclear

5. "Kicks" - Paul Revere and the Raiders

6. "We Used to be Friends" - The Dandy Warhols

7. "Float On" - Modest Mouse

8. "Needle in the Hay" - Elliot Smith

9. "Down by the Water" - The Decemberists

10. "Louie Louie" - The Kingsmen

11. "A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity To Be Free" - Elliott Smith

Getting Ready for Winter: Dec. 9, 2013-Dec. 15, 2013

In just one week, it will be astronomical winter. Here are some songs to warm you up and keep you in the upcoming-holiday spirit:

1. "Hazy Shade of Winter" - Simon and Garfunkel

2. "Come Into Our Room" - Clinic

3. "Winter '05" - Ra Ra Riot

4. "Mary Lou" - Black Mountain

5. "Clothes of Sand" - Nick Drake

6. "Daysleeper" - R.E.M.

7. "Human Behavior" - Björk

8. "Angel in the Snow" - Elliot Smith

Covers (Probably Pt. I): Dec. 2, 2013-Dec. 8, 2013

Inspired by the covers of Lou Reed's work, here are some other great renditions of other artists' songs:

1. "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" - The Killers [Originally by Mel Tillis]

2. "Dear Prudence" - Siouxsie and the Banshees [Originally by the Beatles]

3. "Gone Daddy Gone" - Gnarls Barkley [Originally by the Violent Femmes]

4. "Superstar" - Sonic Youth [Originally by the Carpenters]

5. "Thirteen" - Elliot Smith [Originally by Big Star]

6. "Pretty Ballerina" - Eels [Originally by the Left Banke]

7. "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" - Urge Overkill [Originally by Neil Diamond]

8. "Creep" - Scala and Kolcany Brothers [Originally by Radiohead]

9. "46 and 2" - Aaron O'Keefe's Students [Originally by Tool]

10. "I Will Survive" - CAKE [Originally by Gloria Gaynor]

Tribute to Lou Reed, the Godfather of Punk: Nov. 25, 2013-Dec. 1, 2013

On October 27, the world lost one of its greatest modern poets, Lou Reed. In his honor, the first post on Just Another Manic Monday is a playlist of his work with The Velvet Underground, one of his most famous solo songs, a track by his wife (Laurie Anderson), and two covers of his more popular songs.

1. "Stephanie Says" - The Velvet Underground

2. "Heroin"- The Velvet Underground

3. "Venus in Furs" - The Velvet Underground

4. "Walk on the Wild Side" - Lou Reed

5. "O Superman" - Laurie Anderson

6. "There She Goes Again" - R.E.M.

7. "What Goes On" - The Feelies