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If you haven’t already heard, Gnarls Barkley came out with a new album on Tuesday. It’s called The Odd Couple, a reference to the classic 1968 movie. It’s a fitting title for the two man crew of Gnarls Barkley, made up of Danger Mouse and Cee Lo.  As I’ve written before in my picks for the best recent albums, you guys know I’m a big fan of Danger Mouse’s Jay-Z/Beatles mash-up project The Grey Album. Well, Danger Mouse brings the same level of innovation to The Odd Couple, creating a terrific funky/rock/soul soundscape to swing to. My favorite song is “Going On,” featuring forceful organ cords in the background, with catchy electric guitar riffs and soulful singing and rapping. I’m digging the cover art, too. Here’s an interesting fact: in an interview, Danger Mouse compared himself to the film director Woody Allen. He said he wants to make personal, instantly recognizable music, just like a film auteur like Woody Allen makes personal and recognizable films. He’s striving to apply the film auteur theory to his music, so it’s no surprise that he’s one of the most innovative people in the music business today.

Get the full album on iTunes.

Bob Dylan recently said, “I don’t know anybody who’s made a record that sounds decent in the past 20 years, really.” I’m actually inclined to agree with him to a large extent. With artists known as “Flo Rida” and “Soulja Boy Tell’em” topping the charts, it really does seem like music is in a period of decline. Last century we had Elvis, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and countless others who pushed the boundaries of music. But is there anything as special today as Beethoven’s music was 200 years ago? Will any music from today have that kind of lasting appeal?

Only if the music does something new, if it sounds like nothing before it. First came classical, then jazz, then rock and roll, progressing into rock. Today it seems there are a million genres and bands playing, but what is truly revolutionary? What’s the next step?

I believe the next step is toward electronic music. Some of the best music coming out today is electronic. And just like music turned primarily toward electric guitars and basses last century, it will become increasingly electronic influenced in this new century. It has diversity of sound and complexity that most bands aren’t even coming near. I will now list a few artists and songs that I think are pushing the boundaries of music.

10. Menomena – Friend and Foe

If album art was the deciding factor of AoTY, then Friend and Foe would be the cream of the crop. This album from the Portland outfit, Friend and Foe feels infinitely more sincere than their debut, I AM the FUN BLAME MONSTER! (an anagram for “The First Menomena Album”) They’ve accomplished a unique form of indie rock that glazes the requisite bass, drums and guitar in piano and tenor saxophone. All of the cuts from the album are guaranteed to get your pleasure center moving, so please, dig in.

Pharoahe Monch isn’t new to the rap scene, but he might as well be. Monch took a Dr. Dre-esque 8 year break between his first and second albums, with guest spots, mixtapes, and a few record label jumps taking up a good chunk of time. The extra time sure helped. Pharoahe’s latest, the appropriately titled Desire, takes sage rhymes, excellent beats, and a healthy dollop of R&B/soul to make one of the tastiest confections of the year, and one that will surely hold off his fans for another 8 years.