For the Record

Author: Melissa Marshall

Okay, so it's J-term, and you know what that means. Skiing? No, maybe when I master walking. Intoxication? If you're buying, sweetheart. The correct answer is workshops! As your friendly, almost retired Campus columnist, I would like to offer my dining hall readers a crash course into what may not be on your headphones this January, but should be. And while I cannot promise that my workshop will end in a colorfully constructed hat like many currently offered evening activities, it is free. Side effects include awkward dancing and compulsive listening. May result in your new favorite band. Read at your own risk.

Let's face it: J-term is a time to party. And personally, I might just commit seppuku if I hear "Call on Me" one more time on the dance floor. Instead, try mainstays Of Montreal's new album, "Skeletal Lighting." It's addictive and surprisingly fresh for a band that has the tendency to fall flat. And most importantly, it's wicked fun. "Id Engager," "An Eluardian Instance" and "Gallery Piece" complete the puzzle of a perfect night out. Plus, they mention ninjas; people on this campus are into that, right? If you're feeling more adventurous, you could venture into Metro Area's new release "Fabric 43." This band is strange even for Brooklyn, mixing '70s disco and old-school house and R & B into synthetic sounds that are actually catchy. Having a blowout and need reinforcements? Cut Copy's "In Ghost Colours" is a staple that should never be ignored.

Need some quiet time after the burden of being social? Don't let the hyperborean temperatures deter you from exploring the snow-globe wonderland that is Middlebury. Marrying a temperate guitar with a confidential violin, the Horse Feather's second release, "House with No Home," presents itself as the ideal accompaniment to a Vermont winter car ride. Quiet yet uplifting, "Curs in the Weeds," "Heathen's Kiss" and "Rude's Rile" are forerunners of one of Kill Rock Stars' most intriguing new acts. If you're looking for more contemporary sound to your folk, Sonya Kitchell's "This Storm" is country chic. Tracks such as the single "Here to There" and "Borderline" are bit too banjo for my taste, but "For Every Drop" sounds like a power ballad to open an episode of "Grey's Anatomy." Hey, bad shows can have good soundtracks. Remember "The O.C."?

Want to enjoy the outdoors in a more active way? Calhoun's new endeavor, "Falter Waiver Cultivate," is guaranteed to put you in a good mood and pump you up for a day of skiing, snowshoeing or even Wordsworth explication. The whole album released by Artist Garage is a gem, but "Breathe," "Freedom in the End of Everything" and "Apocalypse (A Love Story)" standout as mix CD heartthrobs. Need an extra push? "Morning Tide" by the Little Ones is a shoulder-shimmy, brave little song that sounds like Oasis before the hangover: energetic and clever.

I almost forgot one of the most pleasing aspects of J-term: copious amounts of sleep. And while I have never been a subscriber to the continuing trend of trance-pop, it does serve a purpose as a sleepaid. As an introduction to a rather obtuse genre, The Dears' most recent release "Missiles" proves accessible and enjoyable in and out of consciousness. "Disclaimer," "Threats" and "Savior" are good jumping-off points. Ready for the behind-the-counter stuff? In true Duchamp style, High Place's first full-length of the same name transforms household appliances and found sounds into synthetic melodies. And while it's hard to grab out tracks as singles since the entire album is a blurred soundscape, ""From Stardust to Sentience" and "Papaya Year" have arrested the arm of my alarm clock.