The Playlist: Education

With the leading gubernatorial candidates providing insights into their thoughts on education policy this week, we decided to begin our Texas news-inspired playlist this week with "Education," by Modest Mouse.

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

Gov. Rick Perry, the state's longest-serving governor, has begun his final year in office, so our second song is "The Beginning of the End," by Nine Inch Nails. It's followed by Bo Diddley's "Do What I Say," which was the message a legislative committee sent — along with some directives — to the University of Texas System this week.

A study approved by the legislature on solitary confinement is being held up by a lack of funds, so we have "Solitary Thinkin'," by Lee Ann Womack. Next up, because political scorecards are causing a major rift in the Republican party, we have "Tally it Up, Settle the Score," by Sleeping With Sirens.

We added Phantom Planet's "California" because Texans are looking west for guidance on how to address environmental concerns amid rapid port growth. The oil and gas industry is getting along with electric utility industry like, well, "Oil and Water," which is an Incubus song we included.

Gnarls Barkley's "Online" is a nod to an online defamation case heard by the Texas Supreme Court. Ricky Skaggs' "River Under Ground" refers an ongoing series by reporter Neena Satija on the state's thirst for underground water.

We close with Toby Keith's "Weed With Willie," since Kinky Friedman, who counts Willie Nelson among his friends, is making the legalization of marijuana the cornerstone of his campaign for agriculture commissioner.

Enjoy!