Every fall, New York City is bombarded with a number of things, from fallen leaves to bed bugs and rent hikes. Another mainstay is the CMJ Music Marathon, which began on October 15 and officially wraps on the 19th.

In the landscape of festivals, it’s closer to a SXSW than a Coachella, as events occur in venues throughout the boroughs. There’s no way to see everything, or even most things, so it becomes a week of stumbling upon shows, missing others, and actually attending pre-planned events. Or avoiding the behemoth altogether. I did not avoid the behemoth.

This week’s Songs of the Week is dedicated to CMJ: the best from the sets I made, those I missed, those I’m planning on seeing, and those I ultimately will never see.

Kelela, “Enemy”

Origin: Los Angeles via Washington, D.C.

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

Where music can be blasted, preferably when you have a task that must be completed, like intense dusting –> rest of album is evolved Zhané.

NONONO, “Pumpin Blood”

Origin: Stockholm, Sweden

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

In bed as natural light creeps into your home. For some reason there is a human cooking bacon in your kitchen. You are confused but joyous.

Pusha T, “40 Acres”

Origin: Virginia Beach, Virginia

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

Pusha talks about his brother, Malice, and it might make 2 thug tears fall out of your eye, but that’s okay, let them flow. I miss you, Malice.

Orange Gold Red, “Ink”

Origin: Brooklyn via East Chatham, New York

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

Take a night drive on a winding road but don’t go too fast because that’s unsafe but occasionally go really fast when the song tells you to.

Lizzo feat. Sophia Eris, “Batches and Cookies”

Origin: Minneapolis via Detroit

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

Put on headphones and walk through the mall. Make a stop in the Apple Store and just touch stuff. Then go meet your girls in the food court.

Wet, “U Da Best”

Origin: Brooklyn

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

Lay in a field. Or is it “lie” in a field. I can’t lie, I don’t know. Or is it “I can’t lay.” No. That’s dumb. Anyway, this song is whimsy.

World’s Fair, “Suspect”

Origin: Queens, New York

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

A dungeon with no windows that has Wi-Fi, maybe a mud pit and 100 people playing cards against humanity. also bagel bites and 8 rottweilers.

Courtney Barnett, “Avant Gardener”

Origin: Melbourne, Australia

140 Characters on Ideal Setting for Listening to This Song in Your Normal Life:

Hang out with a lot of people who are doing psychedelics. But don’t do the psychedelics. Just sit around them and knit and devour ice cream.