One of my favorite parts of the new year is checking out all the wonderful retrospective lists that are so lovingly compiled by bloggers and publications. Personally, the music lists are my favorite, since I love new music but rarely take the time to keep abreast of all the new, exciting stuff as it comes out. Here are some year-end lists that have helped me check back in on some of the great albums and artists that I missed out on last year. More

Give gifts that foster a child's love of music this holiday season. Here are some great choices for listening, making, learning, playing and doing. More

Along with candles, latkes and dreidels, music is one of the major trappings of Hanukkah. Singing with family is part of the holiday tradition and fun. Make the festival of lights even more festive with a playlist worthy of a dance party. More

Every year a batch of new artists tries to record the ultimate holiday album and thus guarantee that they'll be a part of the season for years to come. This year sees new albums from some old standbys (Richard Marx, Olivia Newton-John) along with a couple of new compilations. More

We are about to enter the biggest holiday entertaining season of the entire year. Many of us are already thinking about food, cleaning, rearranging, planning, inviting, and decorating. But have you considered the less tangible elements of ambience? Like the music? Our family gatherings are always kid-friendly affairs, and I'm thinking this year is a great time to introduce a kid-friendly set of music to keep us all bopping.

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Justin Roberts has always been a master at getting kids revved up; grownups and kids rock out to his power-poppy songs written from a kids' eye view. With Lullaby, Justin and friends play listeners out to dreamland. More

Let's face it, sometimes a full-on party is just too much during the holiday season. Sometimes all you want to do is kick back, open a bottle of wine, light a fire and listen to some music. There are songs that begin to feel like they belong at certain times of the year. Perhaps it has to do with memories attributed to them, or perhaps there is something inherent in a song that allows it to settle in with the weather. More

If you recognized the eyes and forehead above before you even read the word Morrissey, these posters were made for you. Offered by a small little design website out of the UK, this collection of posters re-imagines classic rock songs. More

This month marks forty years since the original release of Free To Be You And Me, the influential kids' record dreamed up by Marlo Thomas when she couldn't find any bedtime stories for her niece that exceeded old gender stereotypes. More

With the cooler weather and holiday spirit, we're in prime dinner party season. It's much cozier to stay in, share some drinks and good moments with friends, and save some pennies. There's a lot of thought that goes into a dinner party, so if you're looking to save a little time, here's a readymade playlist that will allow you to forget mixing songs and get back to mixing drinks. More