Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Electric Six Critics’ Pick ()
Although the Electric Six are long into their recording career, they have taken on much more of a life as a touring band since their mega-hit, “Danger! High Voltage,” than many might have expected. If by chance you haven’t heard the song, it catapulted the band into international fame with its repetitive call and response—the song begins, […]
- Dinosaur Jr. Critics’ Pick ()
The music video for 1994’s “Feel the Pain” featured members of Dinosaur Jr. cruising around the city in a golf cart, and the music video for 2009’s “Over It” captures the band as they cruise around the city on skateboards and bikes. While lead singer and guitarist J. Mascis finally put the band name to sleep in 1997, after […]
- Wu-Tang Clan “Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)” ()
While it might not touch Wu-Tang Forever, the Wu-Tang Clan did everything in its power to make The W the best it could be, including calling in favors from Redman, Snoop, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Streetlife, Junior Reid & Isaac Hayes. Regardless of the pedigree of its collaborators, The W was full of holes and felt […]
- Felt release new track: “Felt Chewed Up” ()
While much has been said about the upcoming collaboration between Slug, Murs, and Aesop Rock, the trio has left a lot to the imagination in terms of what the album will actually sound like, having only given a taste of what may be to come through a series of promotional videos. That is until yesterday when Felt dropped […]
- Felt 3: more behind the scenes footage ()
As the countdown nears for the release of Felt 3: A Tribute To Rosie Perez, Slug, Murs and Aesop Rock have released another video documenting some of the production that went into the making of the record. Though it offers little to any evidence of how Felt 3 will actually sound, it showcases some of DJ Big Wiz’ scratching–which […]
- Them Crooked Vultures “Them Crooked Vultures” Review ()
First hinting that the band even existed a mere six months ago, the ultra-super-mega powers of John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin; heard of ‘em?), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), and Dave Grohl (Foovana) find themselves tangled in the sounds of murky rock and sludgy blues (with a few oddball tangents to boot) of […]
- Mayda goes acoustic on new EP ()
Following the release of The Interrogation this past March, Mayda is returning with a digital-only EP showcasing a different side of the local pop songstress. The acoustic songs on Eyes On the Water extend back to when Mayda was five and first picked up a guitar; music that comes as a stark contrast to the blazing pop songs that landed […]
- Cloud Cult to offer expanded re-issues next month ()
While Cloud Cult has long since played its last show of the year, the band will be giving its fans some new material before the decade ends. Sort of. Craig Minowa and crew will be re-releasing 2003’s They Live on the Sun and 2004’s Aurora Borealis as an expanded, remastered double-disc album next month. Long since out of print, the […]
- Local musicians unite for “The Minnesota Beatle Project” ()
Just when you thought that Jeremy Messersmith would never record a Beatles cover, the MN Beatle Project (Vol. 1) has made the dream a reality. The benefit CD, which will also feature the likes of Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, Ice Palace, and the Suicide Commandos, is being released in December with all of the proceeds from its […]
- Har Mar Superstar Interview ()
The more you get to know about Sean Tillman, the more it seems like the guy never stops living the American Dream. That is, of course, if your version of the American Dream includes becoming a spokesman for a vodka company. And winning an onscreen dance-off with Ben Stiller. And making out with Kate Moss. […]
- A Plus D Interview ()
When did you start making mashups? A Plus D: We made our first mashup back in 2004, when we mashed up Missy Elliott with The Cure, and produced “I’m Really Hot Hot Hot!!!” Back in those early days of bootlegging, someone once said that your first mashup should always be made with either Missy Elliott […]
- Fuck Knights battle zombies, drink cheap beer ()
Minneapolis trio Fuck Knights just released the band’s most recent music video for the track “Teenage Wasteland.” The three minute zombie spoof takes on a B-movie goofball aesthetic, one that leads to two things that few might have ever seen in a music video: 1) a zombie bonging a beer 2) that same zombie bonging […]
- Mashups of the Week: Britney Spears & Duck Soup ()
Word came this week that the Kleptones will be delivering a new album before the year is out. Trust me, this is good news. Potentially the UK group is best known for its album A Night at the Hip Hopera, a mix between hip hop (obviously) and Queen’s A Night at the Opera which Blog Critics called, “This is a […]
- The Sounds Critics’ Pick ()
Rising out of a Swedish scene that was rife with such garage-rock revivalists as the Hives, the (International) Noise Conspiracy, and Mando Diao, the Sounds were driven by a radically different sound in 2002 with their debut album, Living in America. To the casual music fan, the band might be most recognizable from their song “Hurt You,” which […]
- Haunted House “Guess Who’s Not Coming To Dinner” Review ()
In a time when bands are able to buff out their every last blemish by way of modern production techniques, Mike Watton’s embrace of his monotone growl seems that much more unusual. On his band Haunted House‘s debut, Guess Who’s Not Coming To Dinner, the singer’s peculiar tone is the first sign of just how […]
- Mashups of the Week: The Hood Internet & Halloween mixes ()
This week Chicago’s Hood Internet hit their 300th mashup & celebrated by autotuning Biz Markie and mashing “Just a Friend” with Phoenix and Classixx. For those interested in more of the Hood, ABX & DJ STV SLV will be dropping their fourth mixtape November 9. ABX “Just A Friendomania” (mp3) As is tradition, a number of […]
- P.O.S releases “Never Better” video, shares Halloween memories ()
The perception P.O.S leaves with the video for “Never Better” almost suggests that the emcee has some serious hate in him for Halloween. After all, in the music video he gets into a rumble with all sorts of fiendish ghouls, only to take a serious beat down. Sharing some of his Halloween memories with MTV recently, the […]
- Retribution Gospel Choir to play 501 Club, release “2” ()
It’s been a busy month for Alan Sparhawk, and it doesn’t look things are going to slow down any time soon. In addition to having announced that Low will be performing a series of select fall/spring dates, his Retribution Gospel Choir is now deep in the production of its sophomore release 2. Having recently signed to Sub […]
- Lookbook “Wild at Heart” Review ()
Minneapolis is becoming increasingly known for being a hotbed of hip-hop and rock/noise acts, but somewhere in the shadows of the city lurks a stellar electronic scene that is just as remarkable. This often overlooked niche is arguably led by the duo of Grant Cutler (Passions) and Maggie Morrison (Digitata) who, under the Lookbook moniker, […]
- Solid Gold release new song, need your vote ()
As the teaser reads on mtvU’s site, “Your votes determine which videos get into rotation on mtvU each week only on The Freshmen.” Even if you’re one of the unfortunates who haven’t signed on with a participating cable or satellite provider to get the far-beyond-standard-cable network (myself included), you should still head over to their […]
- The Tragically Hip Critics’ Pick ()
Did you know that Canada has a Walk of Fame? It does. Located in Toronto, it includes but a slim 123 members added since its establishment in 1998. Among those with a star along the enshrined path are such expected names as Wayne Gretzky, Neil Young, and Jim Carrey. But in 2002, Kingston, Ontario’s Tragically Hip joined ranks of such […]
- Fu Manchu Critics’ Pick ()
Though they may have focused on a heavier, harsher sound on their last two records (2004’s Start the Machine and 2007’s We Must Obey), the stoner-rock elder statesmen of Fu Manchu have returned to a sound akin to their skater-punk roots with the release of Signs of Infinite Power. No strangers to waves of smoldering effects, classic-rock swagger, or heavily […]
- Brother Ali heads to Canada, collaborates with Gift of Gab ()
Rhymesayers has just released the second installment of its Fresh Air Tour video blog which is following Evidence and Brother Ali as they make their way across North America on their current tour. This video captures the the group as they head North of the border for shows up in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia. […]
- Har Mar Superstar brings “Tall Boy” to Late Night ()
Har Mar Superstar made an unusually clothed (as in, he actually had clothes on) appearance last night when Late Night with Jimmy Fallon hosted a performance of “Tall Boy,” the first single from the new album Dark Touches. Originally penned for Britney Spears, the song is accompanied by a pair of music videos which were released earlier this month. The first features guest […]
- Toki Wright “Devil’s Advocate” Video ()
Currently on the Fresh Air Tour with Brother Ali and Evidence, Toki Wright has just dropped the first music video from his full-length Rhymesayers debut A Different Mirror. “Devil’s Advocate” just saw it’s debut on MTV—which also acts as Wright’s solo debut on the national station—where it is now acting as the emcee’s introduction to […]
- DJ Schmolli Interview ()
When did you start making mashups? DJ Schmolli: I did my first mashup in summer 2000 (Creed vs. Destiny’s Child); after doing a couple more I decided to go for other musical projects as I am a live musician too. I rediscovered the bootleg scene in autumn 2005, going strong since then. Was there any […]
- Kill to Kill release “Sugar Sugar” music video ()
Aside from being a “band to watch” and having the “flyer of the week,” Minneapolis’ Kill to Kill have just released a video for the song “Sugar Sugar” which comes from their new Fighter EP (which is being released tonight at the Hex). “Sugar Sugar” comes produced by Northern Outpost, the local video site best known for its […]
- Mashups of the Week: Spice Girls & “Fleetwood Mashed” ()
Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of mashups, or just want something fresh for your jam-box, this taste-test from the new Fleetwood Mac Mashed album should sit well with you. The first track from the mix debuted this week (as did the entire album) at A plus D’s monthly Bootie Top 10 mix; here’s what they […]
- Red Pens “Reasons” Review ()
“It’s not every year that the winner of our Picked to Click poll blows the rest of the competition out of the water, but every so often a band comes along that manages to win over the hearts of the entire music scene.” Though a tad hyperbolic, City Pages‘ recent introduction of this year’s best […]
- Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles “Special Party Time for Everybody” Review ()
The past year has offered a world of change to the six members of Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles. Dropping the independently released Orange Peels and Rattlesnakes in the summer of 2008 only added to the budding attention that the band had already been attracting for its live performances around the Twin Cities. By […]