Up and Down the Dial

I don't always think it's useful to listen to a personality make suggestions about something totally outside their usual area of expertise. For example, I wouldn't let Rachel Ray tune up my car. But when the New York Times posts a playlist from Sarah Vowell, I'll pay it some heed. After all, before her success on This American Life and her bestselling book Assassination Vacation, Vowell cut her writing teeth in the pages of Rolling Stone magazine, talking music.

I don't know most of the songs she mentions, but I do love number seven: Richard Thompson's cover of "Oops... I Did It Again," so I trust the other recommendations are just as good.

If you want more, check out Vowell's book Radio On for even more music writing.