I remarked awhile back that I took my iPod in during a root canal and found the experience much improved. In recent weeks, however, the downside has clarified: I can no longer listen to Dismemberment Plan’s “The City” without feeling like someone’s drilling into my molar. Which is a shame, because I like that song.

Ezra Klein is a former Prospect writer and current editor-in-chief at Vox. His work has appeared in the LA Times, The Guardian, The Washington Monthly, The New Republic, Slate, and The Columbia Journalism Review. He’s been a commentator on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and more.