NPR.org has a very public-radio-like piece on the difficulties of making a good wedding mix. It made us think of our friends who used Jeff Buckley’s “So Real” as their first dance together, which sounds like it might be cool on paper, but in reality was actually pretty awkward (think of those big orchestral crescendos and keening vocals). Give us Al Green’s “Love and Happiness” any day, which is a staple for a reason. Any suggestions on your end?

Photo: Barbour/Getty

In love with love? On the edge of a broken heart? Just calling to say goodbye? Don’t speak — we’ve got the perfect mixtapes to express your emotions so you don’t have to break a sweat. (more…)

Grammys mania offically starts now. The award show doesn’t air til this Sunday, but we’re counting down the days with Grammy coverage all this week. First order of bidness: a mixtape featuring artists nominated in the Big Four categories (that’d be Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist). *Note that the Red Hot Chili Peppers, whose Stadium Arcadium was nominated for Album of the Year, is not represented on our mix due to bureaucratic red tape.

Listen to the entire Grammys mixtape

“Be Without You” [Listen]
Mary J. Blige
(Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

“You’re Beautiful” [Listen]
James Blunt
(Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist)

“Not Ready to Make Nice” [Listen]
Dixie Chicks
(Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year)

“Crazy” [Listen]
Gnarls Barkley
(Record of the Year, Album of the Year)

“Put Your Records On” [Listen]
Corinne Bailey Rae
(Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist)

“Waiting on the World to Change” [Listen]
John Mayer
(Album of the Year)

“Dani California”
Red Hot Chili Peppers
(Album of the Year)

“Sexyback” [Listen]
Justin Timberlake
(Album of the Year)

“Jesus, Take the Wheel” [Listen]
Carrie Underwood
(Song of the Year, Best New Artist)

“Run It” [Listen]
Chris Brown
(Best New Artist)

“Hide and Seek” [Listen]
Imogen Heap
(Best New Artist)

>>Listen to every nominated song, watch every nominated video and browse complete artist pages for every nominated artist, with album reviews, the latest news and more in our complete Guide to the Grammys.

As those of you with calendars or highly developed circadian rhythms know, today is the shortest day of the year. Contrarily wise, that makes tonight the longest night. We’ll be spending it snuggled up with a malt beverage and jamming out to some thematically appropriate songs. We hope you’ll join us, metaphorically speaking.

• Kool and the Gang, “Ladies Night” [Listen]
• James Brown, “Night Train” [Listen]
• Smashing Pumpkins, “Tonight, Tonight” [Listen]
• Bob Dylan, “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” [Listen]
• Bruce Springsteen, “Night” [Listen]
• Bob Seger, “Night Moves” [Listen]
• Ray Charles, “Night Time is the Right Time” [Listen]
• Simon & Garfunkel, “A Hazy Shade of Winter” [Listen]
• Styx, “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” [Listen]
• Patti Smith, “Because the Night” [Listen]
• Listen to the entire Longest Night mixtape

In honor of the Druidic/Detroit holiday known as Mischief Night, we asked you, dear readers, to submit the songs that inspire you feel like busting in windows and setting fires. You are quite a naughty bunch, aren’t you? The selections you provided were so good, we decided to reward you with a custom-made mixtape, which you can listen to here. If you get in trouble with the fuzz, don’t blame us.

Today Chuck Berry celebrated his eightieth birthday, and we’d been planning on getting him this snazzy Le Creuset fondue set. But then we couldn’t remember if he was lactose intolerant or not, and really, what’s fondue if not an excuse to eat melted cheese mixed with booze and call it dinner? So instead, we wrassled up this nifty collection of Berry songs — both his own renderings and covers by a slew of other rock bigwigs. Check it out here.

Wow, you guys are really morbid. When we asked you what song you wanted played at your funeral, you told us … and then some. The whole thing is so goth we feel the need to run out after work and get a black manicure. Anyway, back to you. To thank you for your generosity, we’ve put together a handy little mixtape using the best of your submissions. Listen to it here. And don’t go getting any silly ideas.

• “Not Dark Yet” - Bob Dylan
• “If I Should Fall From Grace With God” - The Pogues
• “Free Bird” - Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Funeral Song” - Sleater-Kinney
• “Hurt” - Johnny Cash
• “‘Till I Die” - Beach Boys
• “Live Forever” - Oasis
• “Redemption Song” - Bob Marley
• “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” - Pink Floyd
• “Come On Up to the House” - Tom Waits