Music To Run By

As someone who can't bring themselves to run unless a zombie from World War Z is chasing, I obviously need a little motivation. Like many of my fellow joggers on the lakefront, I like to plug in the earbuds and drift into my own personalized music video. Fortunately the library has thousands of CDs and downloadable music , opens a new window available. It's a great way to try unfamiliar music and experiment with your playlists. Here's a few of the artists you can discover or revisit while running through the neighborhood:

These Streets by Paolo Nutini. His debut album is available from our newest service, Hoopla, with no waiting list! The title song is lyrical and catchy and "New Shoes" will make you want to lace up a pair for a run. Fans of Ray LaMontagne will enjoy him.

Get Onboard by Eric Bibb. Full of upbeat tunes ideal for warm-ups or cool-downs, Bibb's music will appeal to fans of Mavis Staples. My favorite on this album is "Pockets."

Beauty and the Beat by the Go Go's. Ahhh, visions of neon socks and poofy bangs abound. Yet this disguises an album that is full of great hits guaranteed to keep up the running pace. Try "This Town".

Cease to Begin by Band of Horses. They have several good albums but their first remains my favorite. This one is good for long, meditative runs and will appeal to Neil Finn fans.