1. Rooney, "Where Did Your Heart Go Missing" (from Calling the World, Geffen)
2. Charlotte Hatherley, "Behave" (from The Deep Blue, Little Sister)
3. Low Vs. Diamond, "Life After Love" (from Low Vs. Diamond, Epic)
4. The Bees [A Band of Bees], "Listening Man" (from Octopus, Astralwerks)
5. Beirut, "A Sunday Smile" (from The Flying Club Cup, Bada-Bing)
6. The National, "Mistaken For Strangers" (from Boxer, Beggars Banquet)
7. Dr. Dog, "Worst Trip" (from We All Belong, Park the Van)
8. Josh Rouse, "Hollywood Bassplayer" (from Country Mouse City House, Nettwerk)
9. David Crowder Band, "Can You Feel It?" (from Remedy, SixSteps)
10. Spoon, "The Underdog" (from Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Merge)
11. Gogol Bordello, "Your Country" (from Super Taranta!, Side One Dummy)
12. M.I.A., "Paper Planes" (from Kala, Interscope)
13. LCD Soundsystem, "All My Friends" (from Sound of Silver, Capitol)
14. Timbaland f. Keri Hilson, "The Way I Are" (from Shock Value, Interscope)
15. Lloyd, "Get It Shawty" (from Street Love, The Inc.)
16. Sonny Jim, "Can't Stop Movin'" (MP3)
17. Dude n Em, "Watch My Feet" (single, TVT)
18. Kanye West ft. T-Pain, "The Good Life" (from Graduation, Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam)
19. Cool Kids, "88" (MP3, Fool's Gold)
20. T-Pain, "Calm The F**k Down" (from Epiphany, Jive)
21. UGK ft. Outkast, "Int'l Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" (from Underground Kingz, Jive)

Selections from a dialogue with my six-year-old son, Jonathan, about this mix:

1. I like the beats and how they're playing them. It makes me think of California. [Why?] It sounds like the coast of California in the summer. [Is that why you like it?] Well, I like California because I was born there, Daddy. [Good point.]

4. I think I've heard this song before. I like it a lot. A lot lot lot. What is this name of this band? [The Bees.] That's a silly name. [Why?] People don't really like bees, dad.

5. This music sounds like a Mexican restaurant. [I think it's supposed to be more French than Mexican.] Doesn't sound like France to me.

6. Do you remember Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam? [Yeah, I remember them.] I like them better than these songs. [I don't think she did any songs this year.] She should. I would rather listen to that than these. [Maybe next year.]

7. It sounds happy, then sad, then medium. The singing and the beat are happy, but the "eeee uhhhhh" parts sound sad. [The horns.] I don't know what they're called, but they sound sad. What is this band called? [Dr. Dog] I don't think dogs can be doctors. Are there dogs in the this band? [I'm not sure.] That would be weird.

8. This sounds like the first one. [Why?] The dun-dun, dun-dun-duh-duh part. It is the same! [It's a different song.] It really sounds like the first one. Are you sure they're different?

9. You should pay me 25 dollars for this. [Why?] You're making me listen to a lot of music. [This is what I do for a living, and I don't always get 25 dollars.] You should ask for more money, then.

10. This is your favorite song. [It is?] I think you like it. You listen to it a lot. I like it because you like it. [Well, I like all of these.] You like all of these? [Sure, that's why they're on the CD.] Some of these aren't very good, Dad.

17. This is a party football song. [What's a party football song?] I don't know, but they have to wash their feet. [He says watch, not wash, buddy.] Why would someone write a song about watching their feet? [Why would they write one about washing their feet?] You make me wash my feet, and I sing songs while I do it sometimes. Maybe it's like that.

18-21. [We should skip the rest of the songs.] Why? [The singers sing some adult words.] Do I still get paid if we skip the rest? [Sure. You did a good job.] I hope people like your story. Tell them I am a good beatboxer and to be happy in 2008.

Dan Gibson is an occasional contributor to Idolator, researcher for a few music related companies, a husband and father of two. His son, Jonathan, is in the first grade, loves Franz Ferdinand, and is a good beatboxer.