By Lacey Jane Pappas

Here’s a soundtrack to backdrop the rest of your summer. It’s a happy mix filled with fun songs to accompany your summer routine—jogs, barbecues, and road trips included. As they say, play it loud.

1. Never Had Nobody Like You: M. Ward (featuring Zooey Deschanel)
2. Folding Chair: Regina Spektor
3. Body Buzz: Aloha
4. See Fernando: Jenny Lewis
5. You and I: Wilco (featuring Feist)
6. Cartoons and Forever Plans: Maria Taylor
7. Cheerleader: Grizzly Bear
8. Honey in the Sun: Camera Obscura
9. Fitz and the Dizzyspells: Andrew Bird
10. I Don’t Know: Lisa Hannigan
11. Dimmer: Bishop Allen
12. The Pharaohs: Neko Case
13. Little Shadow (acoustic version): Yeah Yeah Yeahs
14. Saturday Waits: Loney, Dear
15. Gimme Sympathy: Metric
16. The Next Time Around: Little Joy
17. Sleepyhead: Passion Pit

You can preview YHO’s “Summer ’09″ mix here. Enjoy!

By Lacey Jane Pappas

I decided to take it old school for this year’s Valentine’s mix. These classics are perfect for putting on the romance with your sweetheart. Here are my picks:

1. For Once In My Life: Stevie Wonder
2. Don’t Worry Baby: The Beach Boys
3. Paper Moon: Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald
4. Words of Love: Buddy Holly
5. Let’s Get it On: Marvin Gaye
6. All I Have to do is Dream: The Everly Brothers
7. I Hear Music: Billie Holiday
8. Only Fools Rush In: Elvis Presley
9. Starstruck: The Kinks
10. The Way You Look Tonight: Frank Sinatra
11. Alone Again Or: Love
12. All You Need is Love: The Beatles

You can also preview YHO’s 2007 “I Heart” mix here.

{Doorprize} Want to gift this mix to your one and only? Leave a comment below telling us what songs are sure to be on your Valentine’s Day mix this year, and you could be one of three to win this for your valentine (from you, of course). Comment away. Time is short…. (Doorprize closed)

By Lacey Jane Pappas

On the eve of 2009, I thought I’d share some of my favorite sounds of the last year. Though the year is (almost) up, it’s not too late to give some of these beauties a good spin. Then tell us some of your favorites, too, and preview my all-inclusive playlist here.

10. Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue

This album features great storytelling and what’s perhaps my favorite song of 2008 altogether: the title track, “Acid Tongue.” The melody is catchy and the chorus is beautiful—much like the rest of the collection.

9. Flight of the Conchords: Flight of the Conchords

If you’re a fan of the show, you already know how crucial these clever tunes are to each episode. On their own, the songs are smart both lyrically and musically, and the album has grown into my go-to CD whenever I’m in need of a good laugh. (And for the record, I’m a bigger fan of Jemaine.)

8. Death Cab For Cutie: Narrow Stairs

As a longtime admirer of Death Cab, I always get excited for their new releases. Admittedly, it took me many listens to warm up to this album, but I soon came to love the always-reliable, sophisticated song-writing.

7. Thao: We Brave Bee Stings and All

This collection came out early in the year and was one I was slow to listen to. Soon, I realized that Thao’s imperfect voice, accompanied by staggered, bluesy rhythms made for a new, refreshing sound.

6. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend

These boys have topped many best-of lists for 2008. For me, it comes down to Vampire Weekend’s refreshing and reinvented pop vibe, reminding us of long-ago influences like Paul Simon and the Beach Boys. It’s a happy album that can be listened to on repeat.

5. Nada Surf: Lucky

Ever since Nada Surf’s release of “Let Go,” I’ve been a sucker for this group’s beautiful melodies. It’s easy for this band to get lost in the indie-rock shuffle, but if you focus on them alone, you’ll soon find a favorite.

4. Someone Loves You Boris Yeltsin: Pershing

This band-with-a-long-name runs a gamut of soundalikes from Weezer to Rogue Wave, but they’re talented enough to stamp it and make it their own. “Pershing” is a good, catchy collection, even if it takes some getting used to.

3. She & Him: Volume One

What a lovely project this turned out to be! (Did we expect any less?) M. Ward and actress/songstress Zooey Deschanel—soon to be Mrs. Ben Gibbard—released this charming album. Influenced by that smooth, 1950s girly-pop music that’s hard not to enjoy, each and every song leaves you with a smile.

2. Mates of State: Re-Arrange Us

I fell hard and fast for this album. Not only was it on constant repeat throughout summer, it also joined me at the gym. The fast-paced rhythms and sing-along lyrics stick with you, and leave you tapping your feet.

1. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago

I’ve got a weakness for beautiful ballads, and this track-list is packed with them. Justin Vernon created a romantic album filled with fragile but genuine songs. If you’re new to the group, debut “Skinny Love.” It’s a good representation of the album as a whole.

Now, you tell me. What were some of your 2008 favorites? And here’s to an even better 2009!

By Lacey Jane Pappas

Put on your Santa suit with YHO’s very own 2008 Merry Music Mix, compiled just for you by yours truly. Here’s a list of her hand-picked favorites for feeling the holiday cheer even when you’re stuck in 5:00 traffic … again. Or for a dose of goodness once the fruitcake’s all gone.

1. The First Noel: Sufjan Stevens
2. All That I Want: The Weepies (listen here)
3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel: Belle & Sebastian
4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: Ella Fitzgerald
5. Go Tell It On the Mountain: The Papercuts
6. Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming: Feist (listen here)
7. Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas): The Decemberists
8. A Change at Christmas (Say It Ain’t So): The Flaming Lips
9. What Child Is This: Don Peris
10. River: Rosie Thomas
11. Holy, Holy, Holy: Sufjan Stevens
12. Silent Night: Priscilla Ahn
13. Auld Lang Syne: Various Artists

You can preview the mix here, and make a purchase if you so desire. But wait. We think we hear jingle bells….

{Doorprize} As if our other recommendations weren’t enough, the first three readers to leave a comment on this post will get a complimentary copy of YHO’s 2008 Merry Music Mix. Better hurry!

It’s Lacey here. Hopefully you won’t need to add any spark to your Valentine’s Day, but just in case, give this mix a spin. It’s filled with love songs old and new, sure to ignite St. Valentine’s spirit. If nothing else, it’s an easy gift for your best pal … or significant other.

Listen on. Feel the romance. Share the love. Preview the mix here.

1. If You Rescue Me (Chanson des Chats): Gael Garcia Barnel
2. All I Want Is You: Barry Louis Polisar
3. 100,000 Fireflies: The Magnetic Fields
4. Parentheses: The Blow
5. Someday Some Morning Sometime: Billy Bragg & Wilco
6. God Only Knows: The Beach Boys
7. My Funny Valentine: Rufus Wainwright
8. A Place Aside: Beth Orton
9. Someday, Someway: Marshall Crenshaw
10. On Peak Hill: Stars
11. How Can I Tell You: Cat Stevens
12. Paris 2004: Peter Bjorn and John
13. Fly Me to the Moon: Frank Sinatra
14. Always Love: Nada Surf
15. If You Fall: Azure Ray
16. Girl From the North Country: Bob Dylan
17. Reason to Live: Mosquitos
18. When U Love Somebody: Fruit Bats
19. Grow Old With Me: John Lennon
20. Mrs. Darcy: Various Artists, Pride and Prejudice Soundtrack

{Doorprize!} What songs are sure to be on your Valentine’s mix? Let me know via comment, as I’ll be passing along two copies of this mix. We’ll choose the winners at random, and be sure to comment just once before 10 p.m. on Friday, February 8. Play on!

2007 was very good to us by way of music. Multiple musicians charmed me (and all of us) with their compelling melodies, unforgettable beats and fanciful lyrics. As you can see, there was a lot to choose from. Take it from my super-sized YHO’s Best of Oh Seven playlist, which you can preview below:

Like I said, it’s quite the list. But I daresay it’s worth a listen if you have yet to be captivated by any of these nice melodies. What were some of your favorite tracks/albums in 2007?

Here’s to hoping that 2008 is just as generous.