Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, music offers a welcome respite from holiday traffic (and gears you up for the hours of family time ahead).

Listen to our playlist on your pilgrimage home.

They’ve stopped even announcing anything about your already-very-long-past departure time. Settle into the molded plastic chair with a $7 bottle of water and this playlist. You’ll be on your way — in your mind at least.

Prep your iPod with these traveling tunes.

Turkey may make you sleepy — but that excuse works for only one day. Reboot with a high-energy playlist that’s certain to send you buzzing along through New Year’s.

Get down with our post-Thanksgiving playlist.

Whether you’re preparing an elaborate dinner party spread or baking Toll House for one, these songs will keep the kitchen warm and your culinary spirits high.

Whip up a culinary masterpiece to the sound of this cooking playlist.

Camera Obscura, Band of Horses, and The Knife? Looks like it’s going to be a very indie holiday.

Tap into the spirit of the season with indie covers of holiday favorites.

Gather round the fire (or radiator) for a song list of holiday nostalgia peppered with indie faves — because you can play Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” only so many times.

Rock around the Christmas tree with our cheery holiday playlist.

The busy holiday season can be an emotional ride of highs and lows. When shit happens, revel in this moody playlist (just once), then get your act together.

Bring the energy level down a notch with this mopey playlist.

New Year’s Day is for resolutions. But New Year’s Eve is for breaking them. Whether you’re hosting a dance party in your living room or prepping your preclub game face, here are some tracks to get rowdy to.

Groove to our rocking New Year’s music picks.

The best way to jump-start your New Year’s resolutions (read: I will get in shape) is to put on your dancing shoes. Work off the holiday excess as you welcome 2011 with signature tunes — booty shaking guaranteed.

Start your dance-a-thon now.

This is the year you will find romance (or at least a warm body when the clock strikes 12).

Set the mood with our hot-and-heavy playlist.