Afternoon Energizers

The cascading chords and fist-pumping choruses of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," the raucous rock return of R.E.M. ("Supernatural Superserious"), the swooping strings and about-to-blow build of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida," and the stuttering, speaker-imploding samples of Fatboy Slim's "The Rockafeller Skank" — droopy-eyed workers of the world, unite, as our Afternoon Energizers playlist lifts your spirit and (head) without resorting to any actual face slapping. Well, the guillotine guitars of "Salute Your Solution" might knock your block clean off . . . but in a good way, of course.

Now that you're officially awake again and ready to tackle the rest of the day, we've got a slew of Next Steps here to keep you going 'til at least 3.

The next time your morning cup of highly caffeinated sludge wears off, don't bother getting a refill. Instead, cue up the instant adrenaline shot that is "B.O.B.," a head rush of the highest order — caught somewhere between a bangin' hip-hop club and the peak hours of a drum 'n' bass party. In case that's not enough of a distraction from today's workload, we've got a stack of other pulse-quickening cuts at your disposal here, including the buzz-saw synth stomp of "American Boy," the all-together-now harmonies of "All the Small Things," the pitch-perfect pop and throbbing basslines of "Waiting for Tonight" and "Survivor," and one hell of a Michael Jackson cover ("Beat It").

Not quite over the late afternoon hump yet? Our Deep Cuts will take care of that.

So you're starting to feel like your second wind just gave way to an easy, breezy nap? That'd be fine if your boss weren't, oh, two cubicles away and about to catch your first z. But since he's seconds from asking what you've done today, you might want to look alive, (blue or white collar) soldier. Don't worry, we've got just the sort of thing that'll help: an icy and infectious Joy Division cover ("Shadowplay"), Green Day's garage rock alter ego (Foxboro Hottubs), pop-punk so sugary it'll leave you suffering from withdrawal the second it's over ("Move Along"), and maybe the most brilliant Clash sample ever — the bullet-riddled, register-emptying anti-pop of "Paper Planes," which borrows its wobbly hook from "Straight to Hell."

Considering all of the motivation and sheer spirit-breaking will that it took to simply get out of bed this morning, it's not surprising that you're beginning to feel sleepy — verrrry sleeeepy — halfway through your workday. This is where we swoop down and save you from yourself, serving up a sonic second wind of songs that'll leave you with only one option: WAKE UP! A high-octane blend of bass-heavy hip-hop ("Shake Ya Tailfeather," "The Boss," "Let Me Blow Ya Mind"), pleasures both guilty and straight-up poppy ("MMMBop," "Lady Marmalade," a Rihanna-backed "If I Never See Your Face Again"), and rock that'll turn the lunch room into a mosh pit ("Bodysnatchers," "Pork and Beans," "Helicopter"), Afternoon Energizers will, indeed, keep you going . . . and going . . . and going.