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At last. A beautiful, quiet snow day here in New York. The trash and concrete and cars are covered in four inches of wet stuff. It's on (now-rare) days like these that I'm glad I work from home--no slippery subway steps and people with cold feet and sopping umbrellas frowning into their novels on the L train. But being out in the storm has it's own appeal, despite the hassle of wet boots and obligations. It's something brave, something primitive and exhilarating. You're an explorer, defying the elements, sloshing over snowbanks because you have to.

So here's a mix honoring that meteorological event that turns the world into silence. Listen to it quick, before the snowflakes turn to rain.

1. "Snow Day" - Parker & Lily

Listening to the now-defunct Parker & Lily makes you feel like you're trapped in a David Lynch film, or maybe in that Tom & Jerry cartoon where Jerry does a ballet dance wearing a tutu made of Swiss cheese.

2. "Snowstorm" - Mia Riddle and Her Band

I heart Mia Riddle. Her voice is like a warm blanket. She's playing with Laura Cantrell tonight at Union Hall.

3. "Snow Owl" - The Mountain Goats

John Darnielle opens his mouth and world is a better and more beautiful place.

4. "Snowy Atlas Mountains" - Fionn Regan

Lucinda Williams called this kid "the Bob Dylan of his generation" at her concert in October. I don't quite agree with Lu, but I get where she's coming from.

5. "Lover In the Snow" - Rivers Cuomo

Let's pick up the mix, shall we? This is the portion of the mix/storm where you bundle up and head outside for a game of pond hockey or a few runs down the hill on a flying saucer.

6. "Abominable Snowman in the Supermarket" - Jonathan Richman

The best I can do here is link to the Amazon page for JR & The Modern Lovers' Best of CD, The Beserkley Years. Click on Track 8 for your dose of peas & carrots, confused and complaining housewives, and other aspects of this grim situation. Better yet, order the CD and listen to the genius at your leisure, in all kinds of weather. Woah, I just wrote a Richman-esque lyric. Can't help it. Dum-dee-dum-dee-dum, dum-a-dum-day!

7. "It's Snowing on T.V. Again" - The Pink Snowflakes

Like snow days in the Northeast, gone are the days of snowy television sets. Thanks, global warming and cable TV!

8. "20 Years of Snow" - Regina Spektor

Regina, Regina. Do I hate you or love you? I can't figure it out.

9. "Storm" - Jose Gonzalez

If this guy's voice doesn't sound like snow falling then I don't know what.

10. "Snow" - Mark Sandman

R.I.P. Sandman.

Bonus Track

"Snowblind" - Ace Frehley

Still obsessed!

It's no surprise that mountains and rivers and lilies and riddles and aces and snowflakes and the Sandman are swirling together in this mix as they do inside the giant snowglobe we call home. And as we peer out at lunar eclipses and full moons, we wonder if we're the only ones in the universe who know about snow. Put on your boots, people! Be brave.