It's that time again! Let's take a ride on the iPod shuffle!

1. You're So Close - Peter Murphy.

Off of Holy Smoke, Murphy's less than stellar followup to Deep. "You're So Close" has a dark rocking beat which is appealing. Just don't listen too carefully to the lyrics because they don't make much sense. I think it's about sex.

2. Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani.

A guilty pleasure. And bless Stefani for helping put me in touch with the vernacular of kids these days. I love the drumbeat in this one. It took me a couple of bars to get the hang of it, but that's what makes it all the sweeter.

3. Unbelievable - Diamond Rio.

One of their bigger hits from a few years back. I love their harmony work in this track.

4. How Am I To Know - Benny Goodman Quartet.

This one is off of a 4-disc compilation EMI put together, I believe with the intent to market it to the film industry for licensing into movies. It's wound up being a great collection of obscure and not-so-obscure standards. The clarinet work in this track is quite dated. It takes me straight to 1950s pop culture - especially the "Seven Year Itch". But the play, not the Marilyn Monroe movie. Listening to this track I can understand what it must have felt like to watch the stage version.

5. Newborn Friend - Seal.

I love the chording in this song, a dissonant but a fantastic melody. "If I chant for happiness, maybe it will make me feel better." The songwriting is solid, and the execution is great.

6. Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

Ach, shuffle. Nevertheless, is this not simply the greatest swing dance anthem? The energy in the big band - it makes me wish I had the energy and skill to jive.

7. The Freeze - Spandau Ballet.

A lesser known track to American audiences, but Spandau had a longer career in Britain. This track and "To Cut a Long Story Short" hold up quite well given the British 80s indie-rock revivalism. The vocal styling, the orchestrations - this song could come from Franz Ferdinand. Except that Spandau Ballet did it 25 years earlier. Man I'm old.

8. Head Over Heels - Tears for Fears.

I love this song. This is and always has been my favorite from Tears for Fears. This is a tune I could name after hearing one note. I still can (hint: it's all in the reverb and the synth).

9. And Love Goes On - Earth, Wind & Fire.

I acquired Earth, Wind, & Fire's Greatest Hits CD as a download from Sony courtesy of a class-action lawsuit for their anti-piracy software (a moment where I was unconditionally happy to stick it to the man.) There are over 30 tracks on it, so many I haven't been able to digest it.

10. All the Things She Said - t.A.T.u.

Ah, Russia's favorite pseudo-lesbian pop duo. Bound for one hit wonder status. They did the Eurovision song contest after this track. I have no idea what happened to them, and honestly, don't really care.