The Playlist: One More Shot

Before transitioning to the governor's office, Greg Abbott, the outgoing attorney general, indicated that he intends to file at least one more lawsuit against the Obama administration, so our playlist starts with the Levon Helm Band's "One More Shot."

The easiest way to enjoy the playlist is to download Spotify, a free program. But even without it, you can still follow along. Here are the other selections for the week:

Speaking of Abbott, we profiled Daniel Hodge, who has been among the attorney general's most trusted aides for years and is expected to play a significant role in his gubernatorial administration. This inspired the inclusion of "Count On Me" by Bruno Mars.

Election season is lasting well beyond Election Day as lawmakers continue to shuffle around, so we have Lucinda Williams' "Overtime." One person still seeking higher office is state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, and odds appear to be in her favor as she vies for a Senate seat, so we added "Chances" by Five for Fighting.

Opponents of a new ban on fracking in Denton are blaming the city's college population for tipping the scales in favor of the measure, which prompted us to add "College Kids" by George Barnett. That's followed by Jimmy Buffett's "Spending Money," because, after voters approved adding billions to the state highway fund, officials must figure out how to use it.

After delays and bickering over who should pay for security measures, a new rail line connecting Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley is expected to open in February, so we have "Train Song" by Mandolin Orange. Then there's "Divisions" by Umphrey's McGee, since Texas Republicans are far from united on how to use their own power to police unauthorized workers and the employers who hire them.

The Trib's Ross Ramsey analyzed the depth of the Republican wins in statewide elections, inspiring the addition of Bob Marley's "Redder Than Red." And finally, we close with Eminem's "Space Bound," because as states compete to become the center of private space flight, SpaceX could change the game in Texas.

Enjoy!