The following is a list of things that I have been listening to during the course of the past month. Some selections are old, some are new. Some are dancey, some are not.

Full Lengths:

Madonna Confessions on a Dance Floor
Melissa and I discussed how Madonna's lyrics range from mediocre to flat-out terrible ("New York," need I say more?), but man can she pick the perfect producer for the moment. The bulk of this album was produced by Stuart Price (Jaques Le Cont, Les Rhythmes Digitales, Zoot Woman). I love everything he touches and this is no exception.

Action Action An Army of Shapes Between Wars
An excellent sophomore effort from New York's Action Action, wherein the band takes the keyboard-punk sound of the first album and twists it into a fuller sound at times reminiscent of what one might hear on a Super Furry Animals record.

V/A Idol Tryouts Two: Ghostly International Vol. Two
Excellent two-disc compilation from Ghostly Records featuring a fine selection of electronic sounds, ranging from the synthpop of Solvent to Matthew Dear's minimal sound to the house influence on Daniel Wang's contribution.

Ursula Rucker Ma' at Mama
Lyrics too smart (and sometimes too dirty) to ever be played on the radio.

Split Enz History Never Repeats: The Best of Split Enz
Listen to the band that became Crowded House while learning about New Zealand history ("Six Months in a Leaky Boat").

Icicle Works S/T
You will recall "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" when you hear it, even if you swear that neither the title nor band name rings a bell. Then you will hear the rest of the album and wonder why this didn't resonate with you the first time around.

Tiefschwarz Eat Books
Some people are remixers. Others are producers. Tiefschwarz is both.

Editors The Back Room
I'll say it once more with feeling: New. Favorite. Band.

Singles:

Depeche Mode "A Pain That I'm Used To" (7")
The Goldfrapp mix is just okay, but you really want this for the B-side "Newborn (Foster Remix by Kettle)."

Depeche Mode "A Pain That I'm Used To" (12")
Bitstream Spansule mix is a minimal techno rendition of the band's second single from Playing the Angel. Bitstream Threshold has a more chaotic sound.

Man in Gray/Unsacred Hearts (split 7")
Man in Gray is like the band that you wanted to start after you heard Sonic Youth for the first time. That's good.

The Cloud Room "Waterfall" (7")
Well-written and well-performed song with that early-1980s modern rock sound. The flipside sounds like lo-fi Coldplay.

Annie "Me Plus One" (12")
The Rapture/Hush Hush mix is the killer here, a disco track that slowly unfolds across the dancefloor.

Munk "Disco Clown" (12")
The Digitalism mix is like an evil clown whose face glows against the blacklight of the club. The Midnight Mike mixes have a more joyful edge. Take your pick, all three mixes are great.

Solvent "Think Like Us" (12")
The Alter Ego mix is a killer electro number.

Depeche Mode "Behind the Wheel (Lexicon Ave. Mix)" (12")
This will pack the dancefloor anytime you play it. Trust me.

Vice v. MSTRKRFT (12")
MSTRKFT's remix of Bloc Party's "Two More Years" is so energetic that you might fall to your knees by the time it ends.