Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s take a look back at what I had on repeat in December. This month was mostly ’80s-themed, with Liquid Liquid, Aerosmith, and, unironically, A Flock of Seagulls. What inspired this time capsule? I read Walk This Way: Run-DMC, Aerosmith, and the Song That Changed American Music Forever. It made me revisit my favorite Aerosmith song, “Angel,” and also helped me discover “Cavern.” “Cavern” was an instant add to the DJing playlist I have on a separate Spotify account. (Daydreaming of a time when I can go dancing again!) Meanwhile, I don’t think I had ever actually heard “I Ran,” but because I was in an ’80s mood, I just kept falling down that rabbit hole. Aside from the one-hit wonder status and the distractingly ridiculous hairdos, it’s actually a good song.

We’ve also got a perennial favorite, “Get on the Road” by Tired Pony. It may or may not have appeared on other Monthly Obsession playlists. Whoops! It’s just so good: stirring guitars, poetic lyrics, and heartfelt delivery. “Invented” by Jimmy Eat World has a similarly emotional sound, down to the acoustic-tinged electric guitar. It was a happy accident of a discovery for me. I had been listening to one of my other perennial favorites, “Littlething,” and I must’ve left autoplay on because “Invented,” the next song on the album, started playing immediately after. I love when things like that happen. What are discoveries of yours from this month?