The three weeks before I graduated from undergrad I was miserable. I was sad, and already dreading the day all my friends would leave our previously un-penetrated bubble of binge drinking, late nights, traveling, naps and academia.

I’m in grad school now but I realized the crummy days are coming back again. My fifth year friends are rounding the victory lap and getting ready to leave school. I’m excited for them to scatter across the country, but sad to see them go. I decided my sentiment was best expressed in two playlists; one for those dark, depressing days and one for the hopeful, bright ones.

We’ll start with the sad one. Sometimes the best way to get over a hurdle is to have a good cry. This should make you do just that.

1. Freshman – Verve Pipe

Achingly sad when I was a freshman in high school, still pretty tear-inducing now that I know what they’re talking about.

2. Forever Young – Alphaville

This song is most known for the 8 billion TV prom scenes its used in. Don’t hold that against it. If you want to hold those haircuts against them, be my guest.

3. Tear – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Best lyric? “Say it now because you never know.” It sounds so much easier when Anthony Kiedis is advising you. Read More »

These days, the radio is a serious disappointment. I long for the days when the number one hit was Mariah Carey singing Vision Of Love (I’m sorry but that sh*t was QUALITY). When I listen to say…something like, “This Is Why I’m Hot”, I find myself feeling so incredibly–unhot. Instead, I feel ashamed for listening to junk. Listening to most of the todays Top 40 tunes is like eating a Big Mac.

So, I’m going to bring you MY version of the good stuff, old school style, spanning several decades. Holla!

1. She’s Got A Way and Piano Man- Billy Joel

Ok, if you really want to go there….just buy a Greatest Hits album, so worth it.

2. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves- Cher

Yeah, Cher. And no, I’m not a gay man.

3. I Have Nothing- Whitney Houston

Whitney would MURDER any of those American Idol b*tches. Read More »

Whether you are waking up after an intense night of serious drinking or a romp in the sheets with a less-than-worthy male, these tunes are perfect for curing the morning-after blues. Don’t worry, sh*t happens to everybody!

1. My Alcoholic Friends – The Dresden Dolls

Pretty much all my drunken regrets can be blamed on one thing…my alcoholic friends.

2. Lua – Bright Eyes

It’s true – everything seems simple in the moonlight.

3. You Learn – Alanis Morissette

At least, we hope you learn.

4. Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight – Amos Lee

This song is peaceful, calm and reminds you that it really will be okay.

5. Shameless – Ani DiFranco

Ani never apologizes, so why should you?

6. Hey Jude – The Beatles

Classic.

7. Dry the Rain – Beta Band

I don’t really know why, but this song always makes me feel better.

8. You Gotta Be – Desiree

Take Ms. D’s advice and be bad, be bold, be wise…next time you’re drunk and in bed with a random boy.

9. It Don’t Matter – Donovan Frankenreiter

If it don’t matter to you, it don’t matter to me…mmkay?

10. Walk in my shoes – Emily King

And just remember if people try to make you feel bad for your decisions….nobody else walks in your shoes, so what do they know?

I’m going through a boys-are-kinda-sh*tty phase right now, and every phase needs a good soundtrack. These tunes go from woe-is-me to female empowerment, so hopefully by the time you get to the end of the list you’ll be over stupid boy of the week and ready to move on!

“Perfect” Rogue Wave

The lyrics say it all: Everything was perfect ’till you came along. Get out the tissues and wallow.

“When I Was Drinking” Hem

Remember how you never did your homework cause you were too busy fussing over your man? Well, think of all the time you wasted…sad, isn’t it?

“Melt Your Heart” Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins

This one’s a heart-wrencher…just cry it out. Yup, get the ice cream. Keep crying.

“Tears Dry On Their Own” Amy Winehouse

See? You’ve stopped crying, and now you’re starting to be a bit more rational. And upbeat! Read More »

This playlist could be appropriately titled any of the following. Please choose according to your “situation”:

“I’m About to Regret This, Aren’t I?”

OR

“No. I Don’t Want Breakfast, I Just Want Sex.”

1. Stronger Than Me — Amy Winehouse

2. In Tha Mood – Esthero

3. Come Here Boy — Imogen Heap

4. Like A Boy – Ciara

5. Talk Show Host – Radiohead

6. Back it up, boys – Peaches (yes, it’s true, Peaches could have her own sex playlist)

7. Brown Skin – India Arie

8. Put The Needle On It – Danni Minogue (the HOTTER Minogue sister.)

9. Maybe — Toni Braxton

10. Freak Like Me – Adina Howard (yes it’s old school and still. so. great)

11. My Place – Tweet

12. There’s A Place In The Whiskey — Gretchen Wilson

13. Erotica – Madonna. (I mean, Obviously)

[Any songs you would add to this list?? Let us know! We're always dying for a bad decision making soundtrack...]

Despite what you might hearing the media, there are big things happening in music other than Aretha Franklin’s boobs (but seriously, how ginormous are they?!). I thought I’d share the rundown with all of you so you can stay on top of what’s happening in the biz.

First thing, I think they stopped saying “biz” several years ago. Remove it from your lexicon.

- The bloggers over at BestWeekEver exposed me to a little website called Muxtape.com today. You can upload your own music and turn it into a playlist that’s accessible to everyone on the site. It’s a great way to access new music (I got to fall in love with Cat Power all over again this morning) or just share your impeccable music tastes with everybody.

The uploading is a little slow, possibly due to an unusual amount of traffic, but invest some time in it if you have a few minutes. Read More »

I don’t really exercise. Don’t care for it too much. My excuse being, I live in Manhattan and walk constantly, so shut up.

On the rare occasion that I am feeling spunky, however, I will work out and take it to the Elliptical, a.k.a the Poor Man’s Treadmill, just like this hottie. But I cannot and will not work out, if I don’t have good music to help me on my sweaty, fat-burning journey. And that music best suited for my JOURNEY? 80′s music. Journey. 80′s music.

The New York Times just featured an article on the effect that certain songs have on us while we exercise, and while it’s not all that exciting or earth-shattering to read that faster songs correspond to a faster heart rate (NO SH*T, really?) it is pretty interesting to see some of the suggestions of songs to add to our playlists, to help pump us up and keep us motivated.

Self.com is a website after my own heart, as the NYTimes article mentions they chose Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go as a workout playlist hit. There is nothing like a good Wham! classic to really get me going. Which got me thinking of one of my personal workout faves which is also from the 80′s, called Baby I’m a Star. It was originally sung by Prince, but in my opinion, The Lil’ Soul Man does it waaay better. Plus, his backup dancers are rocking those shoulder pads, and his wig is amazing. Read More »

For those of you halfway through your first school week, relaxing with a cold one may not be the first thing on your mind. But why not? It’s Hump Day! Celebrate your first (half) week back with a little get together!

Everyone knows that a party is not complete without a decent mix of pump-up songs. Besides, who doesn’t enjoy chugging your beers to a bumpin’ beat? It’s important for every college lady to know the best tunes to guide you along the beautiful road to tipsy:

Fiddy & JT: She Wants It (Ayo Technology)

Justin’s always a no-fail, but make sure to resist the drunken lap dance. You’ll always manage to feel a lot hotter than you actually look, bumping and grinding and simultaneously knocking over your roommate’s laptop. (Oops.) Read More »

One of my biggest flaws as a college girl is the total inability to stay on top of downloading new songs for pregaming mixes or workout playlists.

More for the purpose of the latter — working out, because I am completely incapable of finishing a cardio session without my trusty ipod. Plus, I can always rely on my roommates to take care of the prebar/getting ready beats.

I kid you not, I have been working out to the exact same playlist this whole semester because I actually took the time to do it over winter break. And even then, I had to look up the top songs on websites like billboard.com to find out which songs I heard on the radio and wanted to listen to. Sad, I know.

But with my recent discovery of fitpod.com, I can now access premade mixes that keep me going throughout my whole workout.

Read More »

Son of a bitch iTunes, your damn shuffle setting is ruining my sex life. I don’t know how you manage to find all the skeletons of my music library, only to unearth them for mockery, but if I were to give out gold stars for sucking, well you would get three.

Last night, while having the sex (that last bit was done in a Borat voice) I unthinkingly leaned over my not quite spacious XL twin and started to play a Tribe Called Quest, good boning music if I’ve ever heard it. Don’t think this was done out of some weird compulsion to always hear music during sex, we were at a pausing point, one of those gaps when you switch positions. Anyways, things began to heat up again and suddenly, out of the blue, a capella starts playing. Read More »