Not inspired to listen to a full album or particular playlist on the way to work this morning, I decided to “let go and let iPod.” Here’s what my 30 GB companion selected on shuffle:

“Pneumonia” – Björk / From Volta, one of 2007’s most disappointing CDs

“I Miss You” – Björk / My iPod redeems itself with a favorite from the Icelandic pixie’s 1995 gem, Post

“Love That Man (Peter Rauhofer NYC Mix)” – Whitney Houston / In need of a little redemption herself, Whitney’s got a new disc coming out, with mentor/savior Clive Davis back at the helm. I’m looking forward to the remixes.

“Like A Prayer” – Madonna / Try as it may, it’s nearly impossible for my iPod to avoid Ms. Ciccone. The video for “Like A Prayer” was recently heralded on Fuse TV’s “Videos That Rocked The World,” thanks to its controversial religious imagery.

“My Way” – Aretha Franklin / An outtake from the Spirit In The Dark sessions, recently issued on the two-disc Rare and Unreleased Recordings, Aretha takes the song to church as only the Queen of Soul can. With a lyrical change in the song’s second half (“Your way”), the Sinatra standard becomes a proclamation from the pews. Listen up:

“Softer, Softest” – Hole / A relatively quiet track from Courtney Love and Co.’s Live Through This. Seems my iPod’s theme this morning was salvation, as Courtney is hoping to reclaim her relevance with Nobody’s Daughter, her sophomore solo release (no date has been set).

“Question Existing (The Wideboys Club Mix)” – Rihanna / Yes, the Barbados-born pop princess behind last summer’s can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head hit, “Umbrella.” Her album, Good Girl Gone Bad (specifically the deluxe import edition with bonus remix CD) was one of 2007’s standouts. No small feat in these single-centric times.

While using iPod’s shuffle feature is always something of a shot in the dark, often I discover I listen more closely than I would have otherwise. Uncovering gems — songs you already own, but have overlooked (like the Aretha track) — or rediscovering forgotten favorites is one reason I love my iPod.

*..and came out of the closet.