My iPod** is always set to "shuffle."
It's the only way to go, if you ask me: You get to hear songs you're almost guaranteed to like, but that you wouldn't necessarily pull off the CD shelf–especially if you have way too many CDs. While listening to my iPod** on shuffle a few months ago, a song came on that I didn't like. It was a John Prine song, maybe "Clocks And Spoons," but definitely from Diamonds In The Rough, because that's the only John Prine album I own. Anyway, I didn't like it, which led me to think about other people's iPods, and the amazing wonder of the shuffle feature, and the moon and the stars.
Flash forward to right now, and we've got Random Rules, which you should go check out on the main page. (Plug, plug.) I think it's pretty fun, and we've got some other cool shufflers on the horizon.
On my way home today, with iPod** on shuffle, I heard Elliott Smith's "The Biggest Lie," The Sugarcubes' "Cowboy" (a delightful blast from the past that has aged very poorly), Modest Mouse's "Workin' On Leavin' The Livin'," and Vitreous Humor's "Looper," from a disc that I don't pull out often enough. Every time I hit a stretch of songs I love (the other day, it played three in a row that I consider some of my favorites of all time), I bless the invention. Sure, it's got some downsides, but it's my friend, anyway. So, if you're inspired to share, hit reply and tell us what awesomely random things come up. Don't skip the embarrassing tracks, either.
**I don't own an iPod. I own a Creative Labs Nomad Jukebox Zen, which has served me well for many years. And though it's smaller than a Walkman, some people in this Onion office insist on making fun of its bulk and old-school, monochromatic readout. I fear it may die soon, though, and that 30 gig video iPod sure looks nice. Mr. Jobs, if you're out there, why not send us a few dozen?