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    Songs by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and similar artists
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    Songs by Black Flag and similar artists
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    Songs by Moby and similar artists
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    As the '90s became the '00s, indie bands began doing the unthinkable: embracing and creating dance music. Here's some of the best indie dance from the past decade.

Favorites

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    Folk rock was born when bands started using rock instrumentation to play traditional folk music in the 1960s. These are the songs that defined this important development in popular music history.
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    Sit back, relax, and drink the "electric kool-aid." This playlist offers up the best psychedelic music from the genre's most fruitfull decade, the 1960s. Far out, indeed.
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    In the 1960s, gospel music met secular lyrics describing the black experience in America, and soul music was born. '60s soul singers demanded respect, begged for love, and told it like it was, changing popular music forever.
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    The best songs from the groups that pioneered that ultra-cool surfer sound. Guitar-heavy and full of reverb, these tunes are perfect for strapping your board to the roof of your woodie and cruising to the beach.
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    The first wave of punk bands in Britain produced some of the fastest, hardest, and grittiest rock music the world had ever heard. Hold on and get ready for "anarchy in the U.K."
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    New York City is the birthplace of punk rock, and like the city that birthed it, the punk rock scene in the late 70s was diverse, contentious, noisy and unlike any other in the world. This is the sound of CBGB's and Max's Kansas City.
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    Born from post-punk and new wave influences, college rock describes the brand of alternative rock that dominated college radio playlists in the 1980s, before alternative rock went mainstream with the grunge movement in the 1990s.
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    The hardest partying, most indulgent '80s rock stars were at their best when they showed their sensitive side. These hit love songs feature the dramatic choruses, passionate vocals, wailing guitar solos, and epic drum fills that defined an era.
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    4AD Records is known for breaking some of today's most critically-acclaimed independent artists, including Bon Iver, St. Vincent, The National, and Deerhunter. This playlist features songs released on the label since 2000.
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    Light a fire under your ass and get moving with these propulsive, energetic songs from bands that have a keen sense of urgency.
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    A collection of ethereal, melodic, and ambient songs to help you unwind after work. From current indie to forgotten gems from the past, everything reverberates with the same dreamy aesthetics. Brought to you from KnowPhase.com
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    Low-tempo indie tunes perfect to take your mind off being cramped up in coach, whether you're trying to fall asleep or just get into a zen-like zone.
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    Bouncy, jangly, and upbeat songs from classic soul to '80s alternative and today's indie rock. Break through the mid-afternoon lul.
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    Songs by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and similar artists
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    Wham bam, thank you ma'am! Glossy and raucous tunes from the 1970s glam-rock era, from both leading lights and also-rans of the glitter scene.
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    Inspired by the classic beach party movies of the 1960s, this collection of surf rock, pop, and doo-wop music is perfect for riding waves or doing the twist by a beach-side bonfire.
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    A varied mix of smooth downtempo grooves and sunny pop handpicked for sitting by the ocean with a refreshing beverage.
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    Nocturnal and textural electronica for long nights spent by yourself or with someone special. Listen to this until the sun rises.
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    Explore the techno scene based in Germany's capital, a hotbed of electronic experimentation since the 1970s.
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    Rasta, repatriation, and reefer: classic roots reggae from the 1970s.
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    We read all the music blogs so you don't have to. Updated weekly, these are the songs that indie music blogs love.
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    Some call it chillwave, others call it glo-fi. Whatever the name, this laid-back blend of modern lo-fi recording techniques and vintage synth noises is one of today's most addictive sounds.
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    These are the songs that take classic rock to another level: forgotten B-sides and sprawling deep cuts from the most iconic rock acts of the '60s and '70s.
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    Some songs just sound like summertime. Hold up your lighter and groove to these essential warm-weather classic rock jams.
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    For those who spent their university days hanging around the campus radio station during the heyday of college radio. Journey back to the time when all the best music could be found to the left of the dial.
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    This brooding set of synth-pop features acts ranging from Tubeway Army to LCD Soundsystem.
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    Songs by Dead Kennedys and similar artists
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    Hypnotic breaks and pensive soundscapes from today's greatest electronica artists: the perfect soundtrack for reading, working, or just relaxing.
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    Hazy, soothing pop songs that'll make you feel like you're having the best dream ever.
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    Punk rock was born in New York City, but by the late '70s the genre's infectious primitivism had reached cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, where bands began playing a tougher, thrashier style of punk.
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    Need an electronic pick-me-up? This collection of uplifting trance anthems should do the trick in no time.
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    The most important, influential, and definitive house recordings of all-time.
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    Whether they're jamming on extended improvisational solos, combining unlikely genres, or playing songs backwards, jam bands make innovative, risky, and unclassifiable music that'll never sound the same way twice.
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    Classic Jamaican reggae songs, plus newer songs from reggae artists in the U.K., U.S. and Africa.
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    These are the songs you heard as a kid in the backseat of Dad's car. Relive the memories while you take the wheel on a long drive with your dad.
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    This playlist features comforting folk songs from the '60s to today, replete with warm acoustic guitars and soothing vocal harmonies.
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    Drawing on influences from traditional folk, psychedelia, and elsewhere, freak folk was born out of the "New Weird America" cultural movement in the mid-2000s. Listen to the sounds inspiring a new generation of hippies and expanding the definition of folk music.
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    Turn any old room into a trendy cocktail lounge with this jet-setting collection of swank, laid-back grooves.
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    Electro/indie-pop from the last decade -- all backed by killer synth -- that's sure to get your toes tapping. Toto, we aren't in the '80s anymore.
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    Songs by Great Lake Swimmers and similar artists
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    Sometimes it takes a grown man to make a grown man cry. These songs, all by great male artists, take guys to their emotional zeniths.
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    Rowdy three-chord rock from the latest buzz bands and the stalwarts of the indie scene. Crack two tall boys and go dance with that cute guy/girl.
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    Sitting in beach traffic on Route 27 doesn't have to be a buzzkill. These bright, easygoing tunes will keep you in vacation-mode even when you're stuck in gridlock.
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    A collection of warm acoustic songs, handpicked for enjoying the crisp autumn air, fall foliage, and hot apple cider.
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    Cold, skittish electronica from witch house to post-dubstep with beautifully brooding synthpop sprinkled into the mix.
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    Celebrate the things that make America great -- including cars, young love and rock & roll -- with these classic heartland rockers.
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    Cool tunes from the golden age of pre-punk classic rock, 1965-'76, featuring deep tracks from the era's superstars as well as definitive songs from cult heroes and oddballs. Vintage doesn't have to mean old-fashioned.
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    Dance the night away to the stacked jukebox in a steamy dive bar on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
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    plays songs from the Scorpions album
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    Settle into the hip, cool lounge of a trendy European hotel with these stylish tunes. Order a cocktail and let the evening take you away.
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    Light, upbeat indie pop to help you start your day.
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    Songs by indie artists that are strongly influenced by traditional roots rock, bluegrass, and country. Rootsy and rough around the edges.
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    Like Vinyasa, this playlist is both flowing and dynamic; some songs function to clear the mind while others work to energize the body. The focus here is on left-of-center acoustic and electronic songs.
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    Songs by Iron Maiden and similar artists
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    The E Street Band and The Asbury Jukes perfected the Jersey Shore Sound, but this playlist features all the classic Jersey rock songs, from the Four Seasons to Bon Jovi.
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    Songs by Kate Bush and similar artists
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    The members of Kings of Leon handpick their favorite songs and influences. Head over to http://facebook.com/KingsOfLeon to request songs!
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    From Black Flag to Daniel Johnston, this playlist showcases some of the artists who influenced the short but incendiary career of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
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    A journey through the history of France's vibrant electronic music scene; from the early pioneers inspired by "musique concrète" to today's chillout masters.
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    From the late '70s to the early '80s, rock music evolved to incorporate a softer, more sophisticated studio-produced sound. These are the best songs from the last era of rock before video killed the radio star.
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    Need the perfect soundtrack to accompany your late night drives? Look no further than this mix of dreamy, propulsive electronica that blends introspection with the rushing pulse of the highway.
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    Classic sounding, and sometimes sentimental, these nocturnal rock ballads are the perfect nightcap after a long day of sex, drugs, and rock & roll.
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    Looking for a chilled-out take on that brain-splitting, wobbly bass? Liquid dubstep combines ambient soundscapes with beautiful melodies and, of course, visceral bass lines.
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    Fuzzy, noisy, primal rock where passion is paramount has existed almost as long as rock itself. Explore the history of lo-fi from the garage-psych '60s through the post-punk '70s and the DIY '90s until today.
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    Epic-length explorations from the jam band underground, along with a few tunes by the bands who inspired the style.
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    Let the mistakes of last night melt away to the beautiful melodies of these soul-searching songs, from today and years past.
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    Not all electro acts aim for the dance floor. Explore the low-key, laid-back side of the style though these well-known names and under-the-radar indie acts.
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    This playlist features mellow indie tunes that provide the perfect soundtrack for working, studying, or just plain old relaxing.
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    Songs by Moby and similar artists
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    Folk and folk-like tunes from both sides of the pond that evoke a forest setting.
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    Songs from films written, produced and/or directed by Quentin Tarantino: film auteur and legendary music geek.
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    Explore the current wave of scuzzy, lo-fi rockers, with a smattering of old-school classics of the style.
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    New wave, post-punk, synth pop, proto-goth, new romantic, mod and ska revival cuts from 1978-1984. No disco.
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    One of the most eclectic sub-genres in rock music, new wave features the punk-influenced, synth-dominated sound that defined pop music in the early 1980s.
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    Late night public transit has a way of setting the perfect stage for dark entrancing music with salacious undertones and plenty of bass. Transcend the cacophony.
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    Pop, dance and electronica from Scandinavia. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland represent!
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    Idyllic electronic sounds that evoke expansive rural vistas, from expressive Teutonic rock (Neu!, Cluster, Brian Eno) to deep-listening drone (Fennesz, Oneohtrix Point Never, Emeralds).
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    From the underground to your above ground; chill by the chlorine with your Ray Bans on and waste away the day with these sun-drenched indie tunes.
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    Garage rock and other hard-rocking songs from the '60s and early '70s that helped pave the way for The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, and other early punk rock bands.
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    Think of these progressive instrumentals as the ultimate "temp tracks" -- that is, the music used during the editing phase of a film production to set the mood for a scene. Great for budding indie filmmakers and soundtrack enthusiasts.
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    Also referred to as psychill, psybient is a genre of electronic music heavily influenced by world music and psychedelic sounds. Wherever you are, these songs will take you somewhere else.
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    Psychedelia is eternal. These contemporary indie artists explore altered states much like the lysergic explorers of the past.
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    Take a trip into the hypnotic world of psychedelia and Goa trance music. Go on a celestial journey from the comfort of your own private chill-out room.
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    The fiercest, most bludgeoning tracks from the thrash/speed-metal heyday of the 1980s and early '90s. Kick it up!!!
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    Some of today's catchiest indie rock combines the sweet harmonies of '50s and '60s pop with the rough energy of early garage rock. Listen to songs by new artists who put their own twist on those vintage sounds.
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    You're not an American until you take a cross-country road trip, and it isn't a proper road trip unless you're blasting these songs. This playlist is long enough for even the most arduous leg of your journey.
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    Hendrix may have said "You'll never hear surf music again," but he was wrong. Surf's reverb and twang has been an essential influence on the punk, new wave and indie eras, not to mention those acts that took surf itself into modern times.
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    Dirty, dusty sounds left out in the sun too long, echoing off the steer skulls and sand dunes into the wide open spaces.
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    From the land of long nights and longer winters come these white-hot electro and indie dance pop bangers that'll melt even the most frozen of faces.
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    If you're ready for some soothing sounds to lull you softly into slumberland, but your tastes run toward the alternative, here's a heaping helping of hushed tunes by indie favorites of yesterday and today.
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    Summery, fun, and jangly lo-fi pop. Grab some friends, pack some munchies, and lie on the grass and watch clouds for hours.
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    Surrounded by strip malls and cookie cutter houses, the 'burbs can be a real drag. Embrace the malaise with a mix of melancholy, ambient and washed out fuzz.
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    Throw on your sunglasses and melt into a lawnchair with these heady chillwave and synth pop grooves.
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    Shake off the winter doldrums and dance around to these upbeat and outrageously catchy indie pop tunes.
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    The American punk underground spawned some of the most creative, fiery and fiercely independent bands of the 1980s. Listen to the groups that paved the way for grunge, emo and pop-punk's commercial ascent in the 1990s.
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    Johnny Cash called the Bristol sessions of 1927 "the most important event in the history of country music." This open-mike recording session for Appalachia's "hillbilly" musicians was the commercial debut of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family.
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    Before grunge entered mainstream consciousness in the early 1990s, it was a vibrant, restless rock scene rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Get on your flannels, ripped jeans and Docs and head back.
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    In the early 2010s, we've seen a new emergence of fun, upbeat pop music created by alternative-leaning artists. Enjoy some new songs about celebrating, dancing, and (often) being in love.
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    Songs by The Smiths and similar artists
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    Go deeper into the chilly beauty, imagination and melancholy that's at the heart of Justin Vernon's music. Explore his influences, contemporaries and several of the artists Vernon (aka Bon Iver) has collaborated with.
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    Listen to essential songs by The Only Band That Matters (and its members' side projects) as well as their greatest influences, contemporaries, and followers.
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    One of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, the Wu-Tang Clan has proved timeless and astonishingly prolific. This mix takes you straight to the slums of Shaolin, covering the work of Wu-Tang's core members, outsiders, and everything in between.
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    Today's most popular deep house tracks from some of the world's hottest DJs.
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    Today's most popular electro house tracks from some of the world's hottest DJs.
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    Today's most popular house tracks from some of the world's hottest DJs.
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    Today's most popular progressive house tracks form some of the world's hottest DJs.
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    Songs by Ty Segall and similar artists
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    Contemporary Jamaican music was born when young musicians began covering and reinterpreting the American R&B songs they heard on the radio. Listen to these classic Motown, soul, and rock songs, transformed by reggae's unmistakable upstroke rhythm.
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    Enjoy these predominantly acoustic, unplugged songs with a distinctly wintry feel. Imagine yourself snowed-in on a winter day, sitting by the fireplace with little to do but reflect.
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    Hop in your VW Bus and take the psychedelic journey back to the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival. This playlist features live (and some studio) versions of songs that'll transport you right back to Yasgur's Farm. Don't take the brown acid.