Happy New Year. Wishing you all good health, happiness and a Democratic win for the White House in 2008.

Start the evening off slow and smooth. Kick back with a lil' Barbara Acklin. Motor on down the hightway with Black Box Recorder. Pogo around to an underground 90's punk tune with Bladder Bladder Bladder. And finish off the year with your eye on opportunity, courtesy of Elvis Costello.

1. "Blue Glasses" - Smokey and Miho 

2. "Am I the Same Girl" - Barbara Acklin

3. "English Motorway System" - Black Box Recorder 

4. "U.S. Dole Qeue" - Bladder Bladder Bladder 

5.  "Opportunity" - Elvis Costello

My mother has vivid childhood memories of this 50-year old slab of vinyl. We played it last night for the first time in decades, and she teared up as soon as Suzy Snowflake came on. Although this album was intended for children, the classic croonings of Rosemary Clooney, Gene Autry and Doris Day appeal to all ages.

Buy the rereleased CD here.  

1. "Here Comes Santa Claus" -  Doris Day
2. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - Jimmy Boyd
3. "The Littlest Snowman" - Captain Kangaroo
4. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Gene Autry
5. "Suzy Snowflake" - Rosemary Clooney

How many of you are at your parents' house this weekend? Yep, me too. An entire week in the suburbs can be deadly, but lucky for me, we've got a fully stocked fridge and wine cellar. In fact, my mother spent $200 at the liquor store yesterday--mostly on red wine. 

"Another Christmas At Home" - Eux Autres

One bottle I've enjoyed here is the McManis cab. If you're looking for a $10 bottle of wine that tastes like $20, try any of the reds from McManis vineyard.

"Baby Won't You Please Come Home" - Nat King Cole 

This minimalist track above is from a cheap (read: not digitally remastered) three-pack of Nat King Cole albums.

My friend, Caitlin, started an mixed tape CD exchange with friends and colleagues. This year, I was invited to join in. Unfortunately, my hatred of snail mail delayed the distribution of my CD for weeks past the deadline. Finally, with the help of my ever-patient girlfriend, I trudged on down to the post office and mailed my shiny discs to five Brooklyn hipsters. I have yet to hear back from a single person. Not sure what that means. Maybe hipsters are too cool for positive feedback?

1. "Some Like it Hot" - Mel Torme
2. "The Start of Something" - Voxtrot
3. "Nuclear Device" - The Stranglers
4. "Good Friends" - Violent Femmes
5. "Helicoptere" - Mireille Darc
6. "Collarbone" - Fujiya & Miyagi
7. "Where the Boys Are" - The Czars
8. "Heretics" - Andrew Bird
9. "Krotenwanderung" - Casper & Cookies
10. "Recorder Demo" - Talkdemonic
11. "Fare the well, Miss Carousel" - Townes Van Zandt
12. "Heartbroke" - The Good Life
13. "Wishes" - The Ex-Members
14. "The Air We Breathe" - The Figurines
15. "Somebody Buy Me a Drink" - Earls of Suave
16. "Points of View" - Squeeze
17. "Bam Bam" - The Maytals
18. "Come Back Baby" - Utah Carol
19. "Um, Circles and Squares" - Dosh
20. "How to Be So Real" - Jim Noir