Swamp Rabbit was nonplussed. “What’s with the playlist, Odd Man? New Year’s was six days ago. And most of these songs ain’t even about New Year’s.”

I told him that 2025 was still new, and that it took me a long while to make a 12-song list because there are so few songs about New Year’s that aren’t sentimental to the point of being cringeworthy.

“So I found some New Year’s songs that don’t have nauseating lyrics, and I filled the rest of the list with good songs that are in the New Year’s spirit even though they don’t mention the holiday.”

“What’s the New Year’s spirit?” Swamp Rabbit said. “This is a shitty time of year.”

“It’s an expression of energy and optimism and open-mindedness that defies the fact that this is a shitty time of year. We need that spirit more than ever now that the Orange Hog Monster and his minions are about to take over the government again, don’t you think?”

My mangy friend shrugged. “I’m done with thinking. When I ain’t thinking I feel much closer to my fellow Americans.”