New "Genius" feature of iTunes is pretty damn cool.

Finally, it looks like iTunes is getting past their focus on just being a storefront and are starting once again to innovate on the client side player and music library. They have a new feature called Genius and I have to admit its very cool. You select a song in your library, and it creates a smart playlist based on your pick. Admittedly, I didn't have high expectations given what I've seen with auto playlist technology so far - although I do enjoy Pandora, their intelligent channel creation sucks. The music is only marginally related. Here are some examples of Genius's playlist creation from my library.

Choice: Def Leopard - Rock of Ages yielded:

• Rock Of Ages Pyromania Def Leppard
• Girls, Girls, Girls Mötley Crüe
• Runnin' With The Devil Van Halen
• Tom Sawyer Rush
• Wheel In The Sky Journey
• Silent Lucidity Queensryche
• Fire Woman The Cult
• Man In The Box Alice In Chains
• That Smell Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Roadhouse Blues The Doors
• Love Bites Def Leppard
• Hot for Teacher Van Halen
• Shock The Monkey Peter Gabriel
• Breaking The Law Judas Priest
• Been Caught Stealing Jane's Addiction
• There's Only One Way To Rock Sammy Hagar
• Shout At The Devil Mötley Crüe
• Closer To The Heart Rush
• Panama Van Halen
• Too Much Time On My Hands Greatest Hits Styx
• Round And Round Ratt
• Rocket Def Leppard
• No More Tears Ozzy Osbourne
• Rainbow In The Dark Dio
• Hold On Loosely .38 Special

While selecting "Evil Urges" by My Morning Jacket yielded:

• Evil Urges My Morning Jacket
• Psychotic Girl The Black Keys
• The Kids Don't Stand A Chance Vampire Weekend
• Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife Drive-By Truckers
• Don't Make Me A Target Spoon
• Arizona Kings Of Leon
• There There Radiohead
• Sea Legs The Shins
• Taper Jean Girl Kings of Leon
• Wordless Chorus My Morning Jacket
• Strawberry Swing oldplay
• Phenomena Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• All You Ever Wanted The Black Keys
• Cath... Death Cab For Cutie
• Learning How To Live Lucinda Williams
• Marker In The Sand Pearl Jam
• I Stand Corrected Vampire Weekend
• Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 1 My Morning Jacket
• Man-Sized Wreath R.E.M.
• The Righteous Path Drive-By Truckers
• Black Like Me Spoon
• Spiral Staircase Kings Of Leon
• Bodysnatchers Radiohead
• Road To Somewhere Goldfrapp
• Locust Street The Black Crowes

Pretty damn good automatic playlist generation!