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I recently found out about 33 1/3, a series of tiny little 100-page books about albums, authored by various musicologists, superfans, fiction writers, rock critics, and musicians. One, about Let It Be by the Replacements, was written by Colin Meloy of the Decemberists. There is even a cheeky little tome dedicated to Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love.

On Tuesday night, I attended a reading at Housing Works Bookstore featuring three of the series writers: Kim Cooper (Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea), Amanda Petrusich (Nick Drake's Pink Moon), and Andrew Hultkrans (Love's Forever Changes). For a music nerd like me, this was heaven. I found out that the books vary in style and tone, most of them on the adoring critical essay/biography tip. But one, Kate Schatz's ode to PJ Harvey's Rid of Me, is a piece of fiction, something I call an "artful response" to the record filled with sex and rage and long black hair. Amazing.

So this week's mix is an homage to some of the artists/albums included in the 33 1/3 book series. For a list of all 53 published titles plus upcoming releases, click here. (If I had $580.35, I'd buy them all with one swift keystroke.) Keep in mind that these are some of the greatest albums in history, so I'm literally picking ten songs at random.

1. "Rid of Me" - PJ Harvey (Rid of Me)

A killer song to start a mix with, on account of PJ's tricky, spare strumming. Then her whispery imperatives come slithering in and holy hell here we go.

2. "Femme Fatale" - The Velvet Underground (The Velvet Underground and Nico)

Just another drop in the bucket of proof that Lou Reed is a straight up genius. (33 1/3 editors: I'm officially nominating Transformer.)

3. "Pink Moon" - Nick Drake (Pink Moon)

Um, this might be the most gorgeous song ever written. And Amanda Petrusich captures Drake's gloomily beautiful tone perfectly in her book.

4. "Knocks Me Off My Feet" - Stevie Wonder (Songs In the Key of Life)

I just love that Stevie's like, "I don't wanna bore you with it/Oh but I love you I love you I love you."

5. "Alone Again Or" - Love (Forever Changes)

A dear friend of mine who was obsessed with Arthur Lee way before High Fidelity came out passed me this record and now it's inextricably linked with him, which is a beautiful thing.

6. "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" - Neutral Milk Hotel (In the Aeroplane Over the Sea)

The indie-rock myth that is NMH has spawned the the best-selling book in the 33 1/3 series.

7. "I Bleed" - Pixies (Doolittle)

What? I'm supposed to tell you how great the Pixies are? Whatever.

8. "Organ Donor" - DJ Shadow (Endtroducing...)

This little gem appeared on a mixtape back in '98 and I thought my friend, the tapemaker, had discovered some unknown San Francisco DJ. He kind of did, along with the thousands of music critics who freaked out when they heard Endtroducing...

9. "I Left My Wallet in El Segundo" - A Tribe Called Quest (People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm)

This and "Bonita Applebaum" were the first Tribe songs I ever heard. Soon after, everyone in my high school was asking if they could "kick it." Yes ya can!

10. "Just a Little Lovin'" - Dusty Springfield (Dusty In Memphis)

Sensual, soft, straight-shooting. That's morning sex for you!

Bonus Track

"Picture Book" - The Kinks (The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society)

This song's not on iTunes. So...remember this?

What classic records would you like to see in the 33 1/3 series?