After a couple of middling albums, The Crystal Method released a new one called Divided By Night which has been slowly growing on me this week. They’ve dialed back the big-beat they were known for earlier to produce an album full of collaborations with other artists, including Emily Haines of Metric (another favorite new album), but the one I’ve been rotating is the final track with an artist named Meiko, called Falling Hard. It’s nice to have them back.

I’m currently listening to an album called We Can Create (iTunes link) by Maps on heavy rotation. It’s laid back electronica with some hooky choruses. Right up my alley.

I’m currently listening to Metric, Fantasies (iTunes link). I’m a sucker for indie electro-pop with female vocals (no, not Britney; think Ladytron) and this fills the bill perfectly.

I obviously wasn’t cool enough in 1991 to have appreciated My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless when it first came out, but I’m playing “Sometimes” over and over again this morning.

Excellent listening for this cloudy, gray weather we’re enjoying: Morphine’s Cure For Pain.

DJ Shadow, You Made It. I first heard this two weeks ago, and I can’t get it out of my head.

I’ve got Here’s What’s Left by RJD2 on repeat in my head(phones) all day, on the heels of Ring Finger. I love me some RJD2. Plus, I just wound up getting a hatchet job haircut not unlike his.

I’ve been listening to John Mayer’s Heavier Things for the last couple of days, and liking it more and more. It’s good in a heartfelt acoustic pop sort of way, a lot like Pete Yorn.

Cut Copy, Bright Like Neon Love.
I have “Saturdays” going through my head on infinite loop.

Album Of The Week 1.22.06
Beck, Guero. An excellent follow-up to Sea Change. Varying syles, subtle use of sampling (dig the backbeat in E-Pro) and lots of lush texturing. I like it more each time I hear it. Bonus: Check out “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” from the Eternal Sunshine soundtrack.