Happy Monday, folks. The weather outside shows no signs of cooling off anytime soon, which is unfortunate given my love of and desire to wear flannel shirts every day. But that doesn’t stop the playlists from occurring!

1. Siba & Monkyman, “Dounana”: The entire song is in a language I cannot even begin to understand. The singer is a poet originally from Palestine living in Germany. But damn if it isn’t catchy as all hell and an absolute bop. Also, it’s about Israeli occupation of Gaza.
2. Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, “Li’l Red Riding Hood”: I’m sure if it were currently 1966, when this song was originally released, we’d feel less creepy about it than I currently do. Because man, this song is just…well, it’s a great song, but the lyrics are a little on the skeevy side in the Year of Our Lord 2026.
3. This Is Lorelei, “The Singer In My Band”: She doesn’t have Texas in her heart, man, she just wants to get to Chicago. She does not want to be the singer in your garage band.
4. Chance Emerson, “Doing A Number”: I really dig this guy’s vibe. And the song is pretty catchy, too. Doesn’t overstay its welcome.
5. The Fray, “How To Save A Life”: I’ve liked this song for years now, but it really bothers me that he never specifically tells you how to save a life. It’s right there in the title, man! How you gonna let the whole song go by and not do the thing that’s in the title?
6. The Minus 5, “The Town That Lost Its Groove Supply”: I feel so bad for this town. To completely lose one’s groove supply…how do people know what to do when it’s time to get down? Will they be prepared for next week’s Earth, Wind, and Fire groove explosion?
7. XTC, “Earn Enough For Us”: Even back in the 80s, XTC knew what was up with shitty economies and the struggle to earn enough money to keep your lady in the finer things like, y’know, enough food to eat.
8. Leonard Cohen, “I’m Your Man”: He’s confident, suave, and has a voice deeper than the Mariana’s Trench. I’d trust this man.
9. The James Gang, “Funk No. 49”: Funks 1-48 were all terrible, let me tell you. They really locked it in on number 49.
10. Ray LaMontagne, “Trouble”: To go from working in a shoe factory to recording some of the most affecting music of all time…it’s not an easy transition, I’m sure, but Ray pulled it off with aplomb. Aplomb, I say.