The First Echo

No, really.

It wouldn't be the beginning of summer without a recommended playlist from yours truly, a suggested soundtrack to use during those long-ass road trips, those family barbecues, those sunscreen-filled jaunts to the beach. As you'll see, along with some up-and-comers, there are a few artists included here that I'd normally banish from my iPod, but they've somehow managed to produce some catchy - albeit disposable - tunes that don't make my ears bleed.

So stop what you're doing and take note while I present to you Volume 1 (don't fret - at the rate I've been downloading, Volume 2 isn't far behind)...

1. "Monster" by Lady Gaga
2. "Commander" by Kelly Rowland feat. David Guetta
3. "Next Best Thing" by Nikki & Rich
4. "This Ain't a Love Song" by Scouting for Girls:

5. "Just Say Yes" by Snow Patrol
6. "Break Your Heart" Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris
7. "Downboy" by No Angels:

8. "DJ (I C…

Apparently she digs what I have to say.

I have a feeling I'll be playing this as I drive along the open road across the country next month. Something about this tune just screams Road Trip Soundtrack...or Poignant Journey to Self-Discovery Accompanied by Moody British Rock:

I love me a good TV theme song. I especially love a good montage accompanied by said theme song which chronicles the evolution of the characters from a long-running sitcom:

Today's flashback to 1988 is brought you by five hours of sleep and a huge coma-inducing breakfast at work.

Welcome to the Summer Movie Season of 2010, or as I like to call it, A Summer Without Michael Bay.

Once again, Hollywood will offer us a buffet of cinematic comfort food we've learned to expect this time of year. The season is indeed full of flicks that won't require much brain power, but there are a few cerebral gems hidden among the stockpile (see the last movie on this list). Here's what will (I think) go down in theaters during the next four months as we lather on the sunscreen, break out the flip-flops and check out what's on cable now that network TV ain't looking so good (is it me, or is that final episode of Lost taking forever to get here?). Let us begin:

Iron Man 2 - RDJ trades quips with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke sports some yucky-looking dreds and Scarlett Johanssen channels her inner Catwoman in this seemingly self-indulging sequel.


Robin Hood - Gladiator with bows and arrows. And Cate Blanchett.

Shrek Forever After (a.k.a. The Final Chapter) - Every…

25 days from now I will be embarking on an adventure, taking part - for the first time - in what has come to be known as The Great American Road Trip.

Salt Lake City. Yellowstone. Mount Rushmore. Denver. Austin. Dallas. Memphis. Atlanta. Knoxville. Pittsburgh. Cleveland. New York. In that order. 12 destinations in 17 days. Needless to say I'm pretty psyched to journey across this great nation of ours and experience the different cultures, interact with the colorful locals, taste new cuisines...and see all of the places I'll be thankful for not living in.

The road map is ready. The playlists have been shuffled (naturally). America, here I come.

H.P.M.