The Most Important Part of Any Party, Big or Small

As Apartment Therapy gets into gear for dining and entertaining month, we here at Unplggd want to join in on the fun. Whether you're having a friend or two over for beer and pizza or entertaining a formal dinner party, you know that your party play list will set the tone for the entire evening. iTunes is obviously a great resource for planning the perfect play list ahead of time, but what if you were too busy picking out wine to deal with setting one up?

These two great Web sites can help you with your last-minute party play list setup:

Playcharts.comis a music video site with five ready to go play lists of the top 100 songs as well as the weeks newest tracks in the genres of pop, r&b, rock, hip-hop and dance. So all you need to do is visit the site to get 26+ hours of uninterrupted and continuous playback of the hottest songs.
Pandora.com does the same thing, only instead of making play lists based on what's hot now, their play lists are based on user-suggested songs and artists. You're more likely to hear an outdated song, but also more likely to keep the mood going exactly how you'd like it.

What songs are on your holiday party play list, Unplgg'ers?

[ Image from Peat Bakke@Flickr ]

Comments (11)

I love Pandora's selection, but every so often it won't play a song for like 15 minutes. Does this only happen to me, or does it happen to others?

posted by baltimorerowhouse on November 19th 2008 at 9:27am
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I'm a fan of the musicip mixer, for songs you already own.

posted by gringcorp on November 19th 2008 at 9:33am
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I heard of Pandora, but prefer my own music.

However, I'm currently listening to Playcharts, and am likin' it so far! Definitely going to stream this from my imac to the speakers via the airport express (one of the best purchases I've made!)

Thanks!

- Ruth

posted by cptnruthless on November 19th 2008 at 12:39pm
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Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas - Great 5 CD set!

posted by bordjon on November 19th 2008 at 3:34pm
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I've recently discovered Pandora--awesome. Except some of my "stations" have a lot of songs in common.

It's especially cool when you stream it through your airport express via Airfoil. Another valuable resource that I picked up from this site. If you have multiple airports contact Airfoil support in order to download a software development that will eliminate the delay when streaming through multiple airports.

I haven't had the problem with a 15 minute delay but Pandora will stop playing music after awhile if there is no activity.

For xmas music, itunes radio has some good selections (especially the one from the uk).

posted by art on November 19th 2008 at 4:35pm
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"I haven't had the problem with a 15 min. delay but Pandora will stop playing music after awhile if there is no activity"

That was referring to baltimorerowhouse's question not the delay when streaming audio through airfoil to multiple airports.

posted by art on November 19th 2008 at 4:38pm
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Hi Ruth..

Thank you for commenting on playcharts :)

Regards,
Playcharts founder.

posted by playcharts.com on November 20th 2008 at 3:36am
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"I love Pandora's selection, but every so often it won't play a song for like 15 minutes. Does this only happen to me, or does it happen to others?"

If you minimize the window Pandora is playing in or walk away from your computer, it stops playing until you open it or return. I just make the window small enough to see what's playing and to see the pause and next song buttons and leave it behind everything on my desktop.

posted by hmg on December 1st 2008 at 12:28pm
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"If you minimize the window Pandora is playing in or walk away from your computer, it stops playing until you open it or return."

I find that is true on my mac on my PC it keeps playing when the window is minimized.

posted by MeWindow on December 2nd 2008 at 9:10pm
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oh and I adore Pandora
I am trying playcharts.com for the first time. So far I like.

posted by MeWindow on December 2nd 2008 at 9:11pm
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radio zapatisto on www.live365.com is duh bomb

posted by harlemmuse on December 7th 2008 at 10:31pm
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