We're kicking off the New Year with 15 songs you need now. Some of the cuts that made our cut include choice songs from Amy Winehouse, the Affair, and Andrew W.K.

Every month we list 15 songs you have to hear now, and for December, chipper boy-girl quartet the Magic Numbers, punk mainstays the Slits, novelty act the Upper Crust, and British-sounding Texans Voxtrot have made the cut.

It's that time of the month -- no, not that one, but the one where you lucky readers get the low down on all the songs you need to download now. From New York electro-pop trio +/- (Plus/Minus) to Brooklyn's joyful shoegazers Asobi Seksu to Portland punk-thrashers the Thermals, get ready to beef up your playlist with tons of new music that rocks.