A couple of friends were asking what I've been listening to, so I thought I'd share. Here's some of my recent favorites:

• Anberlin: Cities - This album is the latest from Anberlin and easily their tightest album to date. Not only does the album have a cohesive sound, but it also has a full intro and an epic outro tune complete with a choir. The band continues to talk about relationships in a catchy, Christ-oriented perspective.
• Relient K: Five Score and Seven Years Ago - For Relient K's fifth album, the band hit it big time. Not only are they getting major publicity from Capitol Records, their music sounds bigger and better than ever. The album opens with a little harmony-laden a capella track from the five members of the band, goes through a couple punk numbers, and finally rests at an epic, touching track called "Deathbed". Last week I was jamming to "Give Until There's Nothing Left" in my head for days straight.
• Muse: Black Holes & Revelations - At first I thought this album was a bit of a downer after their last album, Absolution. But, as often can happen, I find that just because it's different doesn't mean it's worse. Subsequent listens found that, while some have that Killers-esque 80's retro vibe, these track still rock my socks off. The music video for "Starlight" first got me going, then the groove of "Supermassive Black Hole", plus you gotta stay for the epic Western, "Knights of Cydonia".
• Copeland: Eat, Sleep, Repeat - Aaron Marsh may be one of the greatest songwriters of the present day. Even after a couple listens to this CD, the lines are stuck in your head so much that you feel like you've known these words for years. The music just grabs me and keeps me clamoring for more. I'm glad that even though I had to stand outside for their whole show and listen in over a speaker, at least I got to sneak in and get my hands on a copy of the album. Plus, their EP of 80's covers are so amazing as well.
• K-os: Atlantis: Hymns for Disco - I picked this one up because it was on Relevant Magazine's really short list of picks in a recent issue and because I heard the track "Sunday Morning" on the Relevant Podcast. This Canadian hip-hop/R&B star is not to be missed. "Equalizer" starts out with the riff from "Jailhouse Rock" and features some great keyboard loops through the verses. The beats are some of the best I've ever heard and K-os (pronounced like "Chaos") tears up the mic.
• John Reuben: Word of Mouth - I'd have to say that I dug The Boy Vs. The Cynic more than this release. And yet, Word of Mouth is a worthy follow-up and totally a requirement for a John Reuben fan. I used to have to say that John Reuben was just a silly rapper, but with each new album, I have to say that he's becoming more and more of a serious artist. Plus, if you aren't paying attention, you're missing John's antics on YouTube!