Welcome to the Weekly Music Playlist, your new source for the penultimate playlists of various themes. This week’s theme is songs to blast while driving.

To define all the best driving songs in one playlist is impossible, I cannot put it any other way. But I have done my best to craft you an experience, a playlist which will last you any long drive, that will keep your hopes up as your eyes slowly drift from the road to the squirrel which miraculously can keep up with your car on the sleepy suburban side street you wind along. So, listen to the songs, read the rationale, and enjoy. Please note, there is no Lady Gaga in this playlist. There will never be any Lady Gaga in this playlist. So Lady Gag-me fanatics, you may now leave.

All My Life (Foo Fighters): The ultimate starter song, gets the rocking started with a smooth beginning followed by heavy guitar.

Nobody Moves Until We Say Go (Street Sweeper Social Club): This Rock and Rap super group endeavor keeps the pedal pressing.

I’m Shipping Up to Boston (Dropkick Murphy’s): Heavy accordion, awesome bagpipes, sick vocals, recipe for fast turning and solid stops.

Map of the Problematique (Muse): Muse gives us the strong beat yet twisting vocals to bring you down from the high that is hard rock.

Black Friday Rule (Flogging Molly): As we shift into more mellow music, Flogging Molly keeps the power pumping with the greatest extended guitar ever.

It’s My Life (Bon Jovi): Nothing gives you the sense of individual badassery like this song, the perfect song to blast while going the exact speed limit as a good law abiding teen.

Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers): The song itself is an amazing journey, just like your quest in your car!

Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen): Name says it all. No further comment.

Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin): Rock and Roll keeps rocking with the same constant jam for the whole song. It’s got a fun sound to listen to that doesn’t require close study to appreciate.

Wheel In The Sky (Journey): The wheel in the sky keeps you yearning while keeping those hands on the wheel in the car!  That’s right – I went there.

The Distance (Cake): The song is about a badass racecar driver, how is this not the perfect song?

Riders On The Storm (Doors): I save this song (a personal favorite) for last simply because just as All My Life is the ultimate starting song, Riders is the ultimate ending song, transitioning you from the epic land of rock to the subdued but still pretty awesome normal world.