The Crystal Method

Divided by Night

(Tiny E)

Record Review by Kevan Peterson

On Divided by Night, The Crystal Method’s fourth studio album, the duo delivers more bleeps and bloops then you can shake a stick-thin booty at.  The album holds more collaborations per square inch then any of their previous records, and that’s saying something for a band who loves to collaborate.  After recently building their own studio, Crystalwerks, the twosome went to work on what would soon develop into Divided by Night. 

The first half of the album relies heavily on instrumental tracks and choruses that are comprised of more distorted vocals and various oh’s and ah’s than actual words, including the bands first single, “Drown in the Now,” which features Jewish rapper Matisyahu rocking the mic for a good portion of the track.  Come the second half of the album the lyricists are out in full force, including contributions by Stefanie King Warfield, Emily Haines of the band Metric and Jason Lytle previously of Grandaddy.  For the track “Double Down Under,” The Crystal Method provided the tune for free via Myspace and allowed people to do their own remixes of the song in an attempt to build some viral marketing, which seems to have worked judging by the albums placement on more charts than any other Crystal Method album in the past, including the Billboard 200. 

The album delivers no real surprises as The Crystal Method seem to have worked out a fine formula for electronic dance tunes that serves them as well here as it has in the past.  The album also delivers some of the better packaging and cover design seen this year, with a simple moon made out of speakers on a slick cardboard case.  So a brick and mortar purchase may be a better route than the electronic download if you’re into such things.  A black covered version was available through iTunes pre-order which contained an extra track but ultimately you’ll be able to challenge your next door neighbors to a dance off with or without the bonus track.