David Adams, the final iPod winner in the Journal Star's Mix It Up contest, has all surf music on his playlist even though he has "never been to the ocean, never even seen it."

This week's winner

David Adams

Age: 58

Occupation: Medical technologist, MDS Pharma Services

His description:  This collection is my favorite surf music. More contemporary than classic. I love listening to surf music since I live in a landlocked state. I grew up during the '60s and listened to The Ventures, The Astronauts, Dick Dale, etc. Surf music has great beats and fantastic guitars. Enjoy.

The List:

"Kawanga!," Los Straitjackets

"Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," The Ventures

"Pipeline," Dick Dale with Stevie Ray Vaughan

"Penetration," The Pyramids

"Midnight," The Goldentones

"Baja," The Astronauts

"Surf Blaster," The Vara-Tones

"Buzzed Meg Theme," Buzzed Meg

"Carl Needs a Pill," Ray Corvair Trio

"Brave New World," Blue Stingrays

"Psyko," Laika and the Cosmonauts

"The Bat," The Moon-Rays

"Ghastly Stomp," The Ghastly Ones

"Soul Surfin'," The Mermen

"Galaxy Drive," Los Straitjackets

What the judges said:

"Boy this was a hard one. The mix informed me that I don't actually listen to enough danceable music. I haven't been to a dance party since 1989. That mix has me thinking about clearing out the dining room and inviting some old folks over to shake a leg or bust whatever moves those crazy kids are up to these days. However, I do l-o-v-e the surf, and David's collection of songs could easily be made into one of those Time-Life comps. Dick Dale and his Stratocaster would be co-hosts for the half-hour infomercial, and I'd have been glad to shell out five easy payments of $19.99 for it."

— Kristen Bailey

"Ride, ride, ride the wild surf. I've been a huge surf music fan for decades, and David's collection is a real winner, blending old and new and catching the trebly guitar wave from start to finish. You gotta love any collection that goes from Dick Dale, who's coming to Lincoln soon, to the masked Los Straitjackets to my guys from Finland, Laika and the Cosmonauts, who I last saw playing through a driving rain in Austin, Texas. This one's going in my car."

— L. Kent Wolgamott 

The Finalists:

J.W. Culver

Age: 22

Occupation: Employee, Old Mutual Financial Network

The description: Electroclash. Dance-punk. Hi-hats for everyone. Whatever. This is a mix that proves dance-punk is more than a Gang of Four/Joy Division groove/dirge — white belts/skinny ties = genius. These are songs that bridge dance, punk and hip-hop. They can break your heart and move your feet, proving a song can be equally cerebral and primal. Please enjoy what I call "Dance! Dance!! Revolution!!!"

The list:

"Movement," LCD Soundsystem

"Neat, Neat, Neat," The Damned

"See No Evil," Television

"All Medicated Geniuses," Pretty Girls Make Graves

"I Would Die 4 U," Prince

"Call Call," The Faint

"Atari Teenage Riot," Atari Teenage Riot

"Myxomatosis," Radiohead

"Echoes," The Rapture

"High Noon," DJ Shadow

"Burn Hollywood Burn," Public Enemy

"Hot Topic," Le Tigre

"Poppy," TV on the Radio

"This Room (Four Tet & Manitoba Remix)," Notwist

"Once in a Lifetime," Talking Heads

Tracy Liesemeyer

Age: 35

Occupation: Teacher

The description: I still remember holding a tape recorder up to the AM/FM radio trying to catch my favorite songs from Rick Dees' American Top 40.  The quality stunk, and it took a long time to get the right mix, but it was worth it.  I never imagined that making a mix of my favorite songs would one day only take a few seconds and all I had to do was drag and drop from my iTunes library of 2,800 songs.

It took longer than a few seconds to come up with this mix. Finally, I decided on a mix of the most mood-altering tunes to help me get through the long Nebraska winters. They give me the adrenaline and serotonin needed to cope with so little sunlight!

The list:

"Walking On Sunshine,"  Katrina And The Waves

"Last Nite," The Strokes

"Friday I'm In Love," The Cure

"Jet Airliner," The Steve Miller Band

"Wild Wild Life," The Talking Heads

"I've Been Everywhere," Johnny Cash

"Come Dancing," The Kinks

"Veronica," Elvis Costello

"Graceland," Paul Simon

"Tu Sonrisa," Elvis Crespo

"Sultans of Swing," Dire Straits

"Dyslexic Heart," Paul Westerberg

"Kodachrome," Simon & Garfunkel

"Groove Is In The Heart," Deee-lite

"Telephone Call From Istanbul," The Red Elvises

David Smith

Occupation: Extension technologist

The description: I am submitting this playlist for my pooch, the Yorkshire Terror, err Terrier, Ivan.  The irascible little cur has an attitude a mile wide, a growl that scares squirrels and a sincere love for good music. I had to be involved since Ivan wanted to throw together a playlist the first week and send a shout out to the canine world, but I leashed him in and we worked on his list for the past four weeks, and also he can't type.

Naturally there was some negotiation and songs I simply could not agree to put on the list ("Born Free," "Who Let The Dogs Out," etc.), but Ivan is open-minded and hip, and we came up with a playlist that sends a dog through his diverse and carefree day.  Next to jumping up on our king-size bed, this was the hardest thing Ivan has ever done. He spent many fitful days on the couch trying to pare down his list, and still whines when he thinks of some of the artists and songs that he had to exclude, but we wanted to stick with his theme and not launch off into some obscure vein of music centered around the UPS man. Hope you and your dogs enjoy. BTW, if the iPod headphones don't fit Ivan, I will duct tape them to his little ears.

The list:

"Morning Has Broken," Cat Stevens

"T-Bone Shuffle," Albert Collins/Robert Cray/Johnny Copeland

"Dem Belly Full," Bob Marley

"Scuttle Buttin'," Stevie Ray Vaughan

"Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose," Dwight Yoakam

"Unchained," Van Halen

"Phillips Goes Bananas," Hound Dog Taylor

"The Sunny Side of The Street," Willie Nelson

"The Trees," Rush

"Whippin' Post," Allman Brothers Band

"Dawg's Due," Bela Fleck

"Maga Dog," Peter Tosh

"Wang Dang Doodle," Howlin' Wolf

"Take 5," Dave Brubeck

"You're Innocent When You Dream," Tom Waits