Fitting, perhaps, that Kanye West's new record, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is one of the final 15 or so new records that I'll be listening to before this Nothing Not New project turns out the lights at the end of this month. The record represents a lot of what I don't get about modern popular music or, put a better way, what I don't get about what other people think is genius -- and people clearly think West is a genius.

If you're relatively unknown as a musical artist, as is Sharon Van Etten, and you name your record Epic, you'd better be damn sure your record doesn't suck. The good news for Van Etten is that her seven-song record has little in common with things that do suck -- like, say, the song of the same name by one of the worst bands this planet has ever birthed, Faith No More.

Van Etten keeps it simple on Epic, letting her fine voice -- throaty, war, filled with pathos -- dominate the proceedings, especially on the Neil Young-esque opening track, "A Crime," a sad, minor-key relationship-gone-sour song in which she sings, "Never let myself love like that again" over a forcefully strummed acoustic guitar.

In 2010, few things seem more ridiculous than a punk supergroup anchored by two guys who made their most indelible marks on American punk rock nearly 30 years ago. But, damn, OFF! pulled off an unlikely feat, making a record that gives a tip of the hat to early L.A. punk (right down to the cover art by Raymond Pettibon) while still sounding vital and urgent. This band easily could've come off as goof, but I admired its purity.

Led by Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross, OFF! is rounded out with guitarist Dimitri Coats of Burning Brides and the "young guy" of the group, Mario Rubalcaba, who drummed for Rocket from the Crypt and Hot Snakes and currently plays with Earthless. Their record features 16 songs in just over 18 smoking minutes, with Morris sounding less cartoon-ish than he has in over 20 years and bassist McDonald making a welcome return (check out Redd Kross' early records -- essential) to performing after doing a lot of production work recently.

The critics sure do love the Swedish dance-pop star Robyn, who's been releasing Body Talk in chunks throughout 2010 and now has finally dropped the entire album as one 15-song compendium. But there seems to be a common theme of the reviews of Body Talk Pt. 1 and 2: Why hasn't Robyn caught on in America?

On the surface, it seems like a good question. Robyn has a radio-ready voice (think: not quite as pixie-ish Kylie Minogue), 21st-century-ready dance beats, and arena-ready choruses (Lady Gaga would be proud).

Peter Storch

Oh, how we've missed podcasting to the music fans of the Valley. Well, music editor Martin Cizmar and I are back with a new one, with nine new-ish songs and lotsa banter about music, including the artistic achievements of Sufjan Stevens, a great new song by local band Gospel Claws, what's the best-ever Old 97's album, the merits of Elvis Costello's career, post-My Aim Is True, and much, much more dialogue you didn't know you could live without.

Here's the playlist:

Kelley Stoltz: "Keeping the Flame"
Matt & Kim: "Ice Melts"
The 88: "Dead on the Water"
Gospel Claws: "Summer Nights Lakeside"
Warpaint: "Set Your Arms Down"
Screaming Females: "Boss"
Old 97s: "Let the Whiskey Take the Reins"
Elvis Costello: "A Slow Drag with Josephine"
Sufjan Stevens: "Get Real Get Right"

Listen to the podcast here and catch up your Nothing Not New reading here.