Bill Simmons 21st Century Football Playlist

I'm a big fan of the sports writing of Bill Simmons. His style and humor certainly have universal appeal, but as a New Englander and a Red Sox fan some of his columns have offered a special spiritual solace.

I was tickled and curious when he included a playlist in a recap of the NFL Playoffs Week 2 action earlier this week. It goes a little something like this:

"The Harlem Shuffle Award for Funniest Attempt to Prove You're Hip
To Fox and CBS for moving out of the '70s with their "Cool music with a quick riff to get you fired up for the football game" choices -- Fox played the Killers (welcome to the 21st century, Fox!), while CBS played "Jane Says" by Jane's Addiction (welcome to the '90s, CBS!). Terrible news for Billy Squier, Bad Company, George Thorogood and everyone else who relied on the royalties from live sporting events.

(Note to the networks: If you're interested in songs from the last year with good instrumental hooks, try "Banquet" by Bloc Party, "Sweet Troubled Soul" by StellaStarr*, "Tribulations" by LCD Soundsystem, "This Isn't It" by Giant Drag and "Finding Out True Love is Blind" by Louis XIV. We're all pulling for you guys to get this right some day. And yes, I spend way too much time on iTunes and checking my e-mail, hoping they'll ask me to make a Celebrity Playlist before remembering that I'm not a celebrity. Back to the column.)"

Indeed. Mister Simmons is an iTunes man, but all his recommendations are available in Rhapsody. Here's the rundown, coming to a commercial bumper near you some time next century:

Bill Simmons 21st Century Football Playlist

Banquet - Bloc Party
Sweet Troubled Soul - Stellastarr*
Tribulations - LCD Soundsystem
This Isn't It - Giant Drag
Finding Out True Love Is Blind - Louis XIV