The last month before finals. Woof.

For me, this time of year is all about flashcards and all-nighters celebrating with friends I know I won’t be seeing for months over summer vacation. It’s about taking it all in before it’s back to mom and dad’s chores and nagging. But, above all, it’s the time of year we need good music to dance and drink to, to try and help us forget about all the things (bluebook exams and papers) that lie ahead in the weeks to come.

These past couple months were big ones in the music world. Yet again, it was a popular time for huge artists to come out with new albums. Recently we’ve seen and heard new stuff from artists like Adele, Lupe Fiasco, Chris Brown, and Britney Spears. You can consider this playlist a sample of some of the hottest songs and remixes from their newly released albums you likely haven’t heard before. It’s a taste of a little of each with, as always, some older and some less mainstream type stuff thrown in there as well.

This playlist is an opportunity to catch up on what your favorite artists have been up to. To find out hit songs before they hit the radio… or before your friends know about them. And to let it all go and celebrate the (hopefully amazing) school year you’ve had.

Click here for your awesome April pre-party playlist.

Like I raved all about last time, phenomenal artists came out with albums last month. Kanye West’s album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Nicki Minaj’s, entitled Pink Friday, are really the two big ones to pay the most attention to and give a full listen as soon as soon as you get a chance. They’re both nearly flawless, in my opinion. If you happen to have some sort of inexplicable resentment or animosity towards either one or both of them, I’m sure you’ve found it nearly impossible, at this point, to avoid hearing them somewhere or another. Not only are some of the tracks from their new albums already topping the charts, but Nicki and ‘Ye are also being featured in nearly every other popular hip-hop song out there right now. They’re basically the unofficial king and queen of hip-hop these days. Thus, unavoidably, (and to my great satisfaction) they’re also all over this month’s playlist.

Out of the very goodness of my heart, I handpicked some of the most catchy and upbeat songs from both of their albums so you don’t have to sort through the slow, mellow ones when you’re ready and looking to party. But don’t worry – if you’re not a huge fan of them there are also plenty of other great artists featured on this month’s playlist as well. Like Lupe Fiasco with his awesome brand new single that was just released last month. Or a not-so-well-known, but instantly appealing song by La Roux that contains her usual fun, electronic-pop beats. And, lastly, what would a December pre-party playlist be without Jay Sean’s new hit song, perfect for any New Year’s Eve celebration, that advises everyone to, “Party like, like it’s the end of the world.”

As for the rest of the songs, you’ll just have to click here to find out which other ones made the cut. Most importantly, happy holidays to all! Are all the doings and goings-ons in the month of December not the greatest excuse to party and celebrate?

I’d like to make that journey a little more literal and give you some of my favorite city-specific tunes. Start packing the suitcase, this gypsy’s taking you with her!

1. Is It Safe- Matt Pond PA [let's go swimming in Philly]

2. Pachuca Sunrise- Minus the Bear

3. This Place is a Prison- The Postal Service [watch water "cascade down Puget Sound"]

4. Lubbock or Leave It- Dixie Chicks [take a trip back to Texas]

5. Lights- Journey [see the lights shine in San Fran]

6. Boston- Augustana

7. 8 Mile- Eminem [takes you to his hometown of Detroit]

8. La Cienega Just Smiled- Ryan Adams [takes you on a drive in Los Angeles]

9. Spanish Harlem- Aretha Franklin [takes you to NYC]

…You can also go to “Coney Island” with Deathcab For Cutie

10. Walking in Memphis- Marc Cohn

11. Paris, Tokyo- Lupe Fiasco

12. When in Rome- Nickel Creek

13. Holiday in Spain- Counting Crows

14. Leaving on a Jet Plane- Peter, Paul and Mary