Welcome to another amazing edition of the one-and-only Playback. This week’s dream compilation comes from Dan Nikolov, a junior mechanical engineering major. The Batavia native says his best concert experience was when he saw his two favorite bands – the Wallflowers and the Counting Crows – at “the most relaxing concert ever.” If Nikolov were to make a mix today, these would be his fabulous 15.

1. “Headstrong” – Trapt. “When I first heard this song, I was blown away. I like the effect of the pause before the loud chorus.”

2. “Rock You Like a Hurricane” – Scorpions. “It’s just a classic rock song. It was great in ‘Little Nicky’ when Nicky was rocking out in the opening scene in hell.”

3. “Santa Monica” – Everclear. “This came out when I was in eighth grade and it made me want to move out to the West Coast. I still want to move out after college is over.”

4. “Anytime” – Eve 6. “This was on the ‘Out Cold’ movie soundtrack and I could see myself snowboarding to the song. It’s an upbeat and fun song.”

5. “All the Small Things” – Blink 182. “The first time I saw the video, I couldn’t stop laughing. The song puts people in a goofy mood and it’s one of those feel-good songs of the ’90s.”

6. “Ocean Avenue” – Yellowcard. “The song is about finding, looking and chasing after someone. It’s a nice reminder of why we’re here – to pursue what we’re looking for and chase after our dreams.”

7. “Scotty Doesn’t Know” – Lustra. “This song is hilarious. The girl in the song is cheating on her boyfriend and the chorus chimes in ‘Don’t tell Scotty/Scotty doesn’t know.’ Some of the lyrics are kind of dirty, but you can’t help but laugh.”

8. “Vindicated” – Dashboard Confessional. “The song emphasizes clearing your conscious and feeling right about what you’ve said. It provokes emotion but it’s upbeat – not a drag on your conscience.”

9. “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” – Big & Rich. “I live in DeKalb and it’s starting to rub off on me. I guess I’ve been hanging out with hicks who listen to these type of songs. Overall, it’s a great party song.”

10. “Crazy Game of Poker” – O.A.R. “I didn’t see them in concert – I’ve been a day late and a buck short when it comes to concerts here. Lately, I’ve been playing a lot of poker at my house and there have been plenty of crazy games of poker around there.”

11.“Wonderwall” – Oasis. “It’s been out for a while, but it’s another song about going after what you want. It’s a great song for expressing your feelings to someone like a girlfriend or someone special.”

12. “Hotel California” – The Eagles. “They were a mind trip in concert – I saw them play six years ago at Navy Pier. The song is about being cautious regarding what you’re looking for and what you want.”

13. “Stories” – Trapt. “The song recounts different stories and the moral of it is that people are suffering through something the same way you might be.”

14. “Bother” – Stone Sour. “The song is simply about moving on. It’s about getting fed up with anything – especially relationships. It calls people out in the story too, in the chorus when they sing, ‘You don’t need to bother/I don’t need to breathe.’”

15. “Imagine” – A Perfect Circle. “This is a redone version of the John Lennon song. It’s an eerie thought when the chorus says ‘Imagine no heaven/Imagine no hell.’ The song makes me realize there is a lot of pain in the world that we’d like to make disappear.”