The rough guide book of playlists

iPods and MP3 players have changed the way we listen to music: it's all about songs rather than albums, and making your own compilations.

This is the first music guide that gets it: a book of 500 playlists, each of them packed with great music to rip or download.

It features artists from Marvin Gaye to Nick Cave, Bjork to Manu Chao, Rufus Wainwright to Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra to Franz Ferdinand, genres from Britpop to Krautrock, dub to Motown, bebop to bhangra, punk to drum'n'bass, fado to gangsta rap, and themes including Broken hearts, motoring music, protest songs, and covers that beat the originals.

It is packed with quirks and silliness including singing drummers, aliens, chickens and insects, drinking songs, and even music raved about in Murakami novels.