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There are a few really cool new albums I’ve been listening to lately that I want to share with you. They’re all kind of in the “electronic” genre but it’s hard to place. The first is the debut album by French house duo Justice, called “†”. The sound is probably closest to Daft Punk, but it’s more down and dirty. But what I especially like is the variations. Let There Be Light has a really cool chord progression, hard and loud like the first song. About two thirds of the way through the song, however, it the instrumentation changes direction and it becomes hopeful, like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. All the tracks are just so catchy and unexpected, and all the tracks are connected to each other, like Dark Side of the Moon. I love that in an album. Another stand out track is The Party. It has a wonderful chord progression, slowly adding layers and variations, and the whole time has the sing-song voice of guest star Uffie rapping, just floating over the music. It’s so unbelievably catchy, especially the refrain. Listen to “The Party”

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.