Steph - IMO - Laws Have Changed is one of four of the poppiest, catchiest songs on Electric Version - but all together it is a solid album beginning to end. It all sounds pretty similar to LHC but not so much that you feel like you are listening to the same song over and over. I think you'd really like it. (And yeah - how catchy is that song?)

Here's what AMG says about it:

Three years after the sonic honey of Mass Romantic, the New Pornographers come up smiling once more with their sophomore effort and Matador debut, Electric Version. These beloved indie rockers stick with the syrupy goodness found on their first album, but opt to turn the amps up for a brighter, slicker sound, hence the title. It's a kitschy play on the band's power pop, and Carl Newman and secret member Dan Bejar keep their clever lyrical twists in tune. Twiddling riffs and organs dance with Neko Case's sunny harmonies on the rollicking "It's Only Divine Right" and "From Blown Speakers." The energy is there, but Electric Version captures a new kind of energy from the New Pornographers. While Mass Romantic was a little more quirky in spirit, Electric Version is more polished. They took just under a year to create this album, so naturally a fresh confidence would transpire and "The Laws Have Changed" highlights the New Pornographers' musical growth. This album standout is bold as brass, drenched in Case and Newman's perky vocals. "All for Swinging You Around" takes things further with wacky synth beats and tripped-up percussion, Velocity Girl-style, but its the band's own glossed-over rock & roll on "Miss Teen Worldpower" that truly represents the smooth emotion and might behind the New Pornographers' sound. Electric Version is an enjoyable and easy listen, chock-full of hungry hooks and brimming with indie rock's classic humility. -- MacKenzie Wilson

This Year's Love by David Grey

I heartily second this recommendation.

I am very pleased with the jewel case insert I came up with for my mix. It's very plain, but I like the effect muchly. Basically, all I did was handwrite intriguing scraps of lyrics from each of the non-instrumental songs in a sort of graffiti-like pattern. The overall effect was, I thought, rather nice. I got a printer for my birthday along with some label-making software, but I have yet to figure out how the whole deal works.

Hec's mix is just great. I'm totally chair dancing to it. And FTR - I had heard of 8 of the artists on it previously but only about 3 of the songs.

I started smiling like a loon and looked at the liner notes - it was the 5 a.m. make you smile song. Who else would include Editorial Notes in his own liner notes (which are so fun to read and full of charming hand-written corrections)?

I did my CD cover/track listing in about 5 minutes. I photo copied a funny greeting card and handwrote the tracks on the back. They didn't fit and I had to use white out and really squeeze in the last four or so. I'm 15.

"The Laws Have Changed," by the New Pornographers -- is that representative of their music in general?

I just want to wrod what tina said. TLHC is one of the hits, but there are several others and it's a supersolid album all around. It was one of these albums where, during the first three months of its release, DJs from my radio station combined to play almost every single song at least once.

Thirded on the New Pornographers. Electric Version knocked my socks off.

More confirmation/information about the Pixies reunion tour and new comp releases:

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Legendary modern rock act the Pixies are in a southern California rehearsal space preparing to reunite for the first time since 1993.

The group will hit the road in April for an 11-city warm-up tour of North America, concluding with a previously confirmed May 1 appearance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.

From there, the quartet of guitarist/vocalist Frank Black (news), bassist/vocalist Kim Deal (news), guitarist Joey Santiago and drummer David Lovering will head to Europe for a tour that will run from May 28 to July 10. The only confirmed dates at present are support slots for the Red Hot Chili Peppers on June 12 at Dublin's Phoenix Park and June 15 at Paris' Parc des Princes.

Additionally, 4AD/Beggars Banquet will issue a 23-track compilation CD with the working title "Wave of Mutilation -- Best of the Pixies," featuring such classics as "Gigantic," "Dig for Fire," "Monkey Gone to Heaven," "Here Comes Your Man" and a remix of "Debaser."

The label will also release a DVD, simply titled "Pixies," featuring music videos for "Debaser," "Alec Eiffel," "Here Comes Your Man," Velouria," "Monkey Gone to Heaven," "Dig For Fire/Allison" and "Head On," a 1988 concert from London's Town and Country Club and the documentary "Gouge," sporting testimonials from Bono, David Bowie (news) and Radiohead's Thom Yorke.

While Black has enjoyed a prolific solo career since the Pixies' demise, Deal has released music infrequently with the Amps and the Breeders, and Lovering has spent the six years working as a professional magician. "I'd given up drums for a long time," the drummer told Billboard.com last week. "I haven't played them in years and years. It would just be fun to do it again. We just have fun playing."

Amid all the Pixies-related activity, Black will release a double-disc solo album, "Frank Black Francis," in April or May via spinART.

For those who cannot wait for the reunion, David Bowie covers the band's track "Cactus" on his current tour, and told a Chicago crowd last month that the Pixies reunion was the best news he had heard all year.

Reuters/Billboard

Yay pixies! Please let DC (or Baltimore, or I'd even drive to Philly or Richmond) be one of the 11.

the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif.

I saw the list of bands that are playing this at pitchforkmedia.com a few days ago.

Am SO JEALOUS of west coast people.

iiieeeeee! David Bowie added more tour dates! Tickets for the April 14th Seattle show go on sale this Saturday!

bounce bounce bounce

I'm now gainfully employed, so I'm gonna blow some spending money on tickets. Must. See. Bowie.

He was so good at the NYC show. All giddy and smiles. I wanted to take him home and feed him soup.

I am so glad you posted about Bowie. The online presale here in KC started today and my best friend - biggest Bowie fan evah evah - didn't even realize it until I just called her. She screamed really loud in my ear. Ow.