Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Dropkick Murphys Critics’ Pick ()
Traditionally, the Dropkick Murphys have taken the stage to “The Foggy Dew” by the Chieftains—a song that features vocals by Sinead O’Connor and which gravely rolls along with churning drums and foreboding strings. Bursting at its seams with green, the song is a fitting introduction for a band that has, through six studio albums, become a symbol for Celtic […]
- Hey Brit Awards… The Hood Internet Already Did It ()
There’s an episode of South Park where one of the characters’ evil alter-ego (Professor Chaos) attempts to come up with a number of ways to bring, well, chaos to the town. But throughout the brainstorming process, his assistant continues to remind him that his original ideas are unfortunately not all that original. At every stop, Butters, er… […]
- Kelly Clarkson “All I Ever Wanted” Review ()
The release of Kelly Clarkson’s fourth album, All I Ever Wanted, has to come as a relief for the singer, especially considering the drama that surrounded 2007’s My December. Between the label’s outspoken dissatisfaction with her songs and Clive Davis supposedly having offered Clarkson $10 million to scrap five of its tracks in favor of […]
- The Ting Tings vs. Franz Ferdinand mashed by DJ Y Alias JY ()
When the Ting Tings released We Started Nothing last year, the album’s second single immediately jumped out as not simply one of the best tracks from the band, but one of the best tracks we’ve already heard from another group. Allow me to explain… While not being explicitly called out in the media for its suspiciously familiar […]
- New Found Glory “Not Without a Fight” ()
Following a three year hiatus New Found Glory returns with Not Without A Fight, the band’s first release on Epitaph records. In addition to a new label, Not Without A Fight being the group’s first album away from Drive-Thru Records, New Found Glory also took a new approach to the recording process for the album. While retaining Neal […]
- ELO vs. Run DMC & Aerosmith mashed by Pytski ()
It’s always refreshing to hear a new take on classic track… especially one that has permanently embedded itself in my brain. Though I’m fairly certain that I could live a complete and fulfilling life if I went the rest of my years without hearing “Walk This Way” again, it’s still interesting to hear a new […]
- Q-Tip “The [Abstract] Best” Mixtape ()
One of the most exciting aspects of J. Period & Q-Tip’s The [Abstract] Best mixtape is how fresh tracks from The Renaissance sound when contrasted against songs from Tip’s back-catalog. One of my favorites, “Move,” is considerably more vivid when cast between a pair of lackluster singles from 1999’s Amplified, “Vivrant Thing” and “Breath & […]
- Chris Chu (of the Morning Benders) Interview ()
Following last year’s show at the Fine Line Music Cafe where the band opened for the Kooks, the Morning Benders are returning to play the Triple Rock Social Club tomorrow night. Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine caught up with the Benders’ Chris Chu recently, talking about the band’s upcoming album, tainted peanut butter and the split […]
- The Submarines Interview ()
Currently winding down their North American tour, the Submarines and the Morning Benders will be retuning to Minneapolis Wednesday night when the bands play the Triple Rock Social Club. Culture Bully’s Chris DeLine recently caught up with the Submarines’ Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti to discuss the recent split single they did with their tour-mates, […]
- Romantica Critics’ Pick ()
How is it that an Irish singer helms one of the Twin Cities’ best answers to modern Americana? After hearing Romantica and digesting the group’s cohesiveness, such a question is entirely moot—just know that the band makes complete sense after even a brief listen. Gaining immense national recognition with 2007’s America, Romantica has steadily been building […]
- Flogging Molly Critics’ Pick ()
With the Aggrolites in tow for the band’s entire fifth-annual Green 17 Tour, Flogging Molly will be returning to the Twin Cities Monday night to play Myth. The tour, which serves as a yearly countdown to the group’s St. Patrick’s show (this year being held in Chicago), has Flogging Molly making their way across the U.S., still rolling high […]
- The Cult vs. Faith No More mashed by G3RSt ()
I’d venture to say that the Cult are one of my favorite bands from the ’80s. You can always tell how much you liked an old group by your response to its output in the twilight of its career. And as I enjoyed the band’s 2001 “comeback” album, Beyond Good and Evil, I think it’s fair […]
- U2 “No Line on the Horizon” ()
There are certain things I don’t like about U2 that tend to blur my perspective on whether or not the band is actually any good. But when they recently played the Grammy Awards, it felt like the ol’ band was stretching itself a little thin. “Get Your Boots On” fell flat—and I certainly wasn’t the […]
- The Guystorm “Real Big Business” ()
The Guystorm’s debut EP, loosely titled The Dark Album, contains a handful of whirlwind tracks that the band has been fine-tuning since first coming together in late 2007. If my memory serves me correctly (it usually doesn’t), I believe the band’s performance at the 2007 Clapperclaw Music Festival was its second show ever, and that’s […]
- Monotonix Critics’ Pick ()
A onetime tank commander in the Israeli army, Ami Shalev now leads Monotonix around the world on a tireless touring schedule. Not to downplay the band’s blistering rock, but the Tel Aviv trio might be best known for its raucous stage show, which perfectly translates the intensity of Shalev’s former position. If the band’s last stop in town, […]
- Fujiya & Miyagi Critics’ Pick ()
In an exceptional lineup for such an easily packed venue, Fujiya & Miyagi will be joined by School of Seven Bells Wednesday night at the 7th St. Entry. Led by former Secret Machine Benjamin Curtis, School of Seven Bells continue touring in support of 2008’s celebrated Alpinismsan, which recently had the band playing to a packed Triple Rock Social […]
- Amadou & Mariam “Welcome To Mali” ()
Released in Europe via Because Music, Nonesuch Records has ushered Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia’s Welcome To Mali into America just as it did with 2005’s Dimanche à Bamako. Produced by Marc Antoine Moreau, Laurent Jais and Damon Albarn (Blur/Gorillaz) the duo’s fifth studio release features guest appearances by Juan Rozoff, Keziah Jones and Somali-Canadian MC K’naan. The […]
- Bishop Allen “The Ancient Commonsense of Things” ()
Two new tracks were recently released by Bishop Allen in preparation for the band’s third full-length release, Grrrr… “The Ancient Commonsense of Things” has a full-bodied sound with simple harmonies, not unlike how the New Pornographers sound at their finest. “Dimmer” takes a different approach, quietly chugging along, building a deliberate vocal pattern cast over […]
- Dearling Physique Critics’ Pick ()
Formerly the moniker of solo electronic artist Dominique Davis, Dearling Physique has now expanded into a unique musical hybrid with the addition of a supporting cast of diverse band members. In recent years Davis has shifted his sound away from simplistic loop-driven electronics to music that emphasizes his soulful voice, while creatively balancing its pervasive nature […]
- Spiritual Mansions “Lady Cascade” (Influenza) ()
Approach Influenza as a series which serves to help give insight as to where music is born; these are the thoughts, influences and the inspirations directly from the mind of the artists. Here guitarist and vocalist Ryan Harris discusses his songwriting process, in particular discussing the creation of “Lady Cascade” from Spiritual Mansions’ latest album […]
- Mastodon “Crack The Skye” ()
Crack The Skye, Mastodon’s fourth studio release, comes as the band’s first album since 2006’s critically acclaimed Blood Mountain. In continuing the group’s tradition of approaching their albums with unique concepts, Crack The Skye loosely follows the absurdities Czarist Russia. A change of pace from the band’s previous release however, Crack The Skye as only seven tracks and a running […]
- Sean Garrett feat. Pharrell “Patron” ()
Plain and simple, Sean Garrett is a hit machine. But who is Sean Garrett, you ask? Along with Usher’s smash “Yeah!,” Garrett penned Ciara’s “Goodies,” produced Beyonce’s “Upgrade U,” and is currently working on Whitney Houston’s “comeback” album. It’s no surprise then, that when you put Garrett and Pharrell Williams together on a track, the […]
- B-Real “Smoke and Mirrors” ()
Some 20 years after the formation of Cypress Hill B-Real has struck out on his own, offering up Smoke and Mirrors as his long-awaited debut solo release. While the lead credits neglect mention of the legendary group, the core of the album suggests that the MC is well within the formula that has placed Cypress Hill amongst […]
- Yeasayer “Tightrope” (on The Current) ()
Late last year when the band was last in town playing with Chairlift, Yeasayer recorded a studio session for Minnesota Public Radio’s the Current. Low and behold, one of the handful of songs they played during the recording, “Tightrope,” ends up the mammoth upcoming Dark Was The Night benefit album. Immediately that ugly word bias […]
- Lindstrøm vs. Jim Jones mashed by The Hood Internet’s ABX ()
The Hood Internet have long since been two of my favorite bootleggers, and it kind of feels like they were finally accepted into mashup culture (if there is such a thing) around the end of 2008. After A plus D teamed up with the duo to host the first ever Bootie Chicago in late-October I was lead […]
- William Elliott Whitmore “Animals in the Dark” ()
Animals in the Dark is William Elliott Whitmore’s first release on ANTI- Records, and his first on a label other than Southern Records in roughly a decade. Focusing on themes ranging from the state of the nation to personal struggle, the Lee County, Iowa native projects Americana at its grittiest through his every howl and slur. […]
- Big Head Todd & the Monsters Critics’ Pick ()
Originally founded as a trio in 1986, Big Head Todd and the Monsters have since proven to be one of the longest tenured workhorses in independent music. Despite not having a single chart-topper in more than a decade, the blues-influenced rockers continue to achieve tremendous success on the road, heavily leaning on the idea that they are […]
- The Guystorm Critics’ Pick ()
The Guystorm are set to host a release show for their debut 7-inch vinyl EP, The Dark Album, this Saturday. Since the group formed more than a year ago, their undeniable energy and frustratingly distorted post-punk, cast behind Angelo V. Pennacchio‘s flamboyant gasps and oft-politically focused wails, have made them worthy of the “next in line” label among […]
- P.O.S “Never Better” Review ()
Three minutes into Never Better, P.O.S has already taken stabs at the government, gawked at the recession, used Macho Man as a verb, referenced The Dude, and gave shout-outs to both his crew (Doomtree) and his label (Rhymesayers). And “Let it Rattle” is one of the mellowest tracks on the MC’s third full-length release. Never […]
- Gloria Jones vs. Soft Cell mashed by Copycat ()
While being one of the most obvious approached to mashups, combining multiple renditions of the same song is so rarely used, let alone used and done well. In 2006 when A plus D combined Nelly Furtado’s cover of “Crazy” with Gnarls Barkley’s original, the song blew me away–it worked so well, I couldn’t believe that […]