No matter how much effort you put into it, they'll always hit next.

Searching through my Google News flip-through-the-news object feature (something so cool they had to put it at the bottom of the page so no/every one could see it), I came across this article from Men's Journal (who tried to woo me into a one-year subscription with pictures of a Mercedes carboat and Viggo Mortensen) on making "an unforgettable summer mixtape:"

"As the president of Rock River Communications, Jeff Daniel helps big brands build an identity through music — in fact, he’s the reason you hum Madonna and Missy Elliott while you shop at the GAP. The guy knows a thing or two about pairing music with life, and he’s put together the perfect playlist for your next summer party."

So this is the guy responsible for possibly irritating you with constant replays of certain songs as you are shopping through various stores. And now he wants to give back:

“'There are two basic rules of thumb,' he explains. 'Always look for timeless sounds and melodies as opposed to being overly concerned about playing the latest and greatest. And don’t be afraid to be eclectic and to mix styles; you can always order the songs to make them flow. A entire mix of electroclash will get boring. All of the tracks on this mix will stand the test of time, even though many of them are brand new.'"

Okay so, really, the one reason I chose to post this was because I made my "Beginning of Summer Mixtape 2010" already. But Gorillaz and Vampire Weekend are nowhere near it (though The Dead Weather's I Cut Like A Buffalo is). Needless to say, I like the track listing here, but let me show you my picks for Summer 2010 after the jump.

Make an Unforgettable Summer Mixtape (via Men's Journal)

And so here's my pick for the beginning of Summer 2010:

1. Hackensack - Katy Perry

When I saw this on the track listing for her MTV Unplugged EP, I was pretty anxious to hear it. This Fountains of Wayne cover (from the excellent Welcome Interstate Managers album) is on par with the original song, it's just missing those familiar acoustic rock male vocals, which leads us to...

2. I'll Fight - Wilco

I was really into Wilco's You And I last summer (featuring Feist), and I felt like I wasn't over the album yet. This is just a strong acoustic rock song that does its job leading into the next track.

3. All Along The Watchtower - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

This is where my mix starts to pick up. The song just screams a scenario of speeding down the highway en route to the beach.

4. Hurt Feelings - Flight Of The Conchords

I hate to say it, but this song is filler to get you pumped for the next track. The little riff throughout the song bleeds nicely into...

5. Monkey Man - The Rolling Stones

That piano. And the bass. And the guitar. The Stones' answer to Walrus.

6. I Cut Like A Buffalo - The Dead Weather

I like to think of this odd-groove as the lovechild of Monkey Man and the next track.

7. Peace Frog - The Doors

And so ends the animal-themed-rock-song-trilogy. This is slowly becoming one of my favorite Doors tracks. How can you not surrender yourself to that funky sound? The track ends abruptly to introduce...

8. She's Got The Rain - Fastball

Can anyone else hear the Rhapsody in Blue influence in this song? My favorite track of last summer makes an encore.

9. Tubthumping - Chumbawamba

For the friends who love the song, but haven't heard it since its airplay in 1997. The opening will confuse them, but by the time the song kicks in, they'll be singing when we're winning. That said, the track has an odd lead-out, and now its time to test your friends' musical tolerance.

10. Party In The U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus

Admit it, you like this song. And your friends like it too. It may be the only Miley song you like, but hey, it's there, and it wouldn't be summer without it.

11. Empire State Of Mind - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys

I expect to hear a lot of California Gurls this summer, and while the song is good and all, it's not an answer to Jay-Z's New York anthem. I'm on Team Empire.

12. Don't Matter - Akon

The next four songs on this mix represent "summer love," whatever the hell that is. Don't Matter caught me off guard in 2007, mainly because it's got a timeless pop charm to it, something that can be said for the following three songs too.

13. Every Breath You Take - The Police

Okay, the lyrics are actually very creepy, but the world seems to be fine playing it at weddings. That said, even I pair this up with The Beatles' Here There And Everywhere once every now and then.

14. My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson

Whoa. Where the hell did this song come from? Seriously, addictive timeless pop-rock.

15. Beautiful Girls - Sean Kingston

Again, another whoa. And then a whoa for the whole album it comes from.

16. Toxic - Yael Naim

If this mix has been playing all day in your car, and you've been going places and making stops along the way, by now it's getting late. If the last four songs were the sunset, this is the dark. It's mellow, but its lyrics go hand in hand with Beautiful Girls.

17. Crack A Bottle - Eminem featuring 50 Cent & Dr. Dre

The mix starts the rise to its final climax with this. You're getting pumped again, but what's next?

18. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) - The White Stripes

The best song on Icky Thump, that's what's next.

19. (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To - Weezer

This is one of Weezer's best songs, just feel good, upbeat, and not as loud as Pork And Beans. It's sincere, and it reprises previous themes in the mix.

20. Hey, Soul Sister - Train

And here we are, acoustic rock again. Making the repeat feature on your CD player do its job properly.

So that's my mix, or at least the first mix this summer. World, what's yours?