By Lacey Jane Pappas

If you need a crash course in “best of” songs for the closing year, look no further. Here’s our roundup of quality tracks that have been on repeat:

1. “You Told a Lie” by Camera Obscura
2. “You and I” by Wilco featuring Feist
3. “The Giant of Illinois” by Andrew Bird from “Dark Was The Night” compilation
4. “Basic Space” by XX
5. “Skeletons” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
6. “Cheerleader” by Grizzly Bear
7. “Eet” by Regina Spekter
8. “I Was Only Going Out” by Loney, Dear
9. “Gimme Sympathy (Acoustic)” by Metric
10. “Knotty Pine” by Dirty Projectors and David Byrne from “Dark Was The Night” compilation
11. “Middle Cyclone” by Neko Case
12. “In These Arms” by The Swell Season
13. “Laughing With a Mouth Full of Blood” by St. Vincent
14. “All is Love” by Karen O and the Kids from “Where the Wild Things Are” soundtrack
15. “The First Days of Spring” by Noah and the Whale
16. “I Wish it was Christmas Today” cover by Julian Casablancas … just barely making the cut this week.

Preview some tracks here.

Now, you tell us who and what topped your track list this year.

By Lacey Jane Pappas

It’s more than officially time to turn up the carols. But if you’re wishing for more options than the FM dial can provide, this is the holiday mix for you. This year, I’ve compiled some non-traditional Christmas tunes. You can preview this festive mix here.

1. “Christmas Song” by Mogwai
2. “The Blizzard” by Camera Obscura
3. “When I Get Home for Christmas” by Snow Patrol (listen here)
4. “Icicles” by Let’s Go Sailing
5. “Christmas” by Rogue Wave
6. “Anorak Christmas (Piano Mix)” by Sally Shapiro
7. “O Come O Come Emmanuel” by Rosie Thomas
8. “Evergreen” by The Fiery Furnaces
9. “Holiday Song” by The Finches (listen here)
10. “Jeanette, Isabella” by Tori Amos
11. “Carol of the Bells” by The Bird and the Bee
12. “What Child is This?” by Don Peris

If you still need more, you can check out the holiday mixes I’ve compiled in years past here and here. And if you’re behind a computer all day long you can still get into the holiday spirit by streaming Woxy’s Holiday Mixer right here.

Enjoy! And happy holidays.

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

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.

It’s Lacey again. If you’re not up for buying tickets to any of this month’s shows, you can always opt for this playlist I mixed together—ideal for summer cardio sessions. Maybe it’ll be the ticket to push you through the next mile. (It is 20-songs long). I’ve personally tried and tested it, and given it my own stamp of approval.

1. The Sporting Life: The Decemberists
2. Dashboard: Modest Mouse
3. Crystal Clear: The Fiery Furnaces
4. Cheated Hearts: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. Combat Baby: Metric
6. Young Folks: Peter Bjorn and John
7. Sea Lion Woman: Feist
8. Ageless Beauty: Stars
9. Brand New Colony: The Postal Service
10. When U Love Somebody: Fruit Bats
11. Come on Closer: Jem
12. We’re From Barcelona: I’m From Barcelona
13. Feel Good Inc. (Album Crossfade): Gorillaz
14. Bowl of Oranges: Bright Eyes
15. All the Way to China: James Figurine
16. A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill: Jens Lekman
17. Common People: Pulp
18. The Way We Get By: Spoon
19. Seville: Pinback
20. Crazy: Gnarls Barkley

Get a taste for the tunes and preview the mix right here.

This comes straight from my music library, but I’d love to know what works for you. Is there a song that really motivates you? Share your thoughts in the comments, so we can create a killer Get-Movin’ playlist; maybe we’ll even be able to compile Volume II. Think of the miles we’ll get through….