13 Beats for the Week

College can be a very formative time when it comes to relationships. So, this week's playlist looks at love, lust and heartbreak, areas that many Colgate students have seen before. So, Colgate kids, through the break ups, hook ups and hang outs, I hope you keep music playing this week. After all, a good playlist is hard to find.

1. "Sky Blue and Black" - Jackson Browne If you want lyrics that will break your heart, look no further than Jackson Browne. Whether you're thinking of the girlfriend back home or that unattainable cutie down the hall, chances are that you understand love can be bittersweet. So does Mr. Browne.

2. "Ghost" - Parachute Maybe you've heard "She Is Love," the break-out single for this hot North Carolina band. While that song isn't bad, their album Losing Sleep offers several other great tracks, such as this infectious tune. Indulge your inner stalker by singing along to lyrics like "I'm in your car, in your house, waiting at your door." Creepy? Yes. Delightfully catchy? You bet.

3. "Good Girls Go Bad" - Cobra Starship featuring Leighton Meester I have never seen Gossip Girl, and I have no intention of ever destroying brain cells in that fashion, but I cannot lie - I LOVE Cobra Starship's latest dance hall anthem. For better or for worse, this was a song MADE for the Old Stone Jug.

4. "Stay" - Safetysuit Go buy their album Life Left To Go. One of my favorite albums of the summer, their alt-rock sound gets better with every listen.

5. "Details in the Fabric" - Jason Mraz featuring James Morrison Young sir Mraz continues to impress me with his collaborations. Colbie Caillat was good; James Morrison is even better. Class of 2013, this is the song to play after that long-distance significant other breaks your heart by saying goodbye.

6. "Miss California" - Jack's Mannequin Maybe I just like songs that seem to have lyrics penned by stalkers. Never fear, Andrew McMahon is not in your closet, but he should definitely be in your music library. Play "Miss California" or "The Resolution" for a study break pick-me-up.

7. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" - Deep Blue Something Seniors, there's nothing like some nice 90s music to put a smile on your face as you're walking up the hill in the morning.

8. "Ayo Technology" - Milow If you haven't heard this cover, please go YouTube it right now. The video is worth watching as well, but the song can stand on its own merit. Milow has a sexy, soulful take on this salacious 50 Cent/JT number.

9. "Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart" - Against Me! Featuring Tegan Quin I really don't listen to many female vocalists, but Tegan Quin sounds great on this duet. This song is particularly fun to play while on a mini-roadtrip to Gilligan's in Sherburne.

10. "Retrace" - Anberlin Anberlin is one of my favorite bands, and this track off New Surrender captures the feelings connected to "the one who got away." Reliving those memories triggers both smiles and tears, but hey, so does reading for my seminar. At least lost love makes for good music, which is more than I can say for Marx and Durkheim.

11. "Edge of Seventeen" - Stevie Nicks This song makes my playlist because I'm spending a suspicious amount of time with some sweethearts from the class of 2013. So, senior girls, if you've been indulging your inner cougar, give Stevie a play and let those sparks fly.

12. "Wake Me Up… And Tell Me" - Stereo Alligator Two words: Portugese electronica. Add them to your Friday night tunes if you're looking for something to dance to while primping for a night out on the circuit. They also make surprisingly good background noise for a rousing game of Apples to Apples.

13. "Friday I'm In Love" - The Cure Who doesn't enjoy falling in love on Friday nights? It happens all the time at Colgate… but seriously, let The Cure talk you through your rollercoaster of a relationship instead of indulging in that 3 a.m. taco binge.