The National

The Decision

The National's Journey out of Ohio

With the National coming to town for a pair of shows at First Avenue, it's only fitting that Mac Wilson examines the band with a two-part essay. Check back on Monday as Mac unveils an unlikely analogue to the new album, High Violet.

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Band of Horses

Band of Horses

Band of Horses perform in The Current studios

Band of Horses latest album, Infinite Arms carries a cohesive blend of indie-rock with some alternative country.

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Tune in at 8 p.m. on Thursday as Mark Wheat counts down your Top 20.

Pick your top five tracks for next week's chart show, and enter for your chance to win tickets to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros on August 9 at the Cabooze Outdoor Plaza.

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Previous Top 20

Song of the Day

"Rockaway"
Rogue Valley
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CD of the Week

Dark Night of the Soul
Sparklehorse and Dangermouse
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Bill DeVille

Musicheads
July 27

This time on Musicheads, Bill welcomes Melanie Walker and David Safar from The Current's Music Department to the show. Up for discussion are projects from the Roots and their, How I Got Over album as well as the recent John Prine tribute, Broken Hearts and Dirty Windows, and the long-awaited collaboration of Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and David Lynch.

The cast also wonders: What are your favorite albums of 2010 (so far)?

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Musicheads podcast

The Specials

The Specials

Win the remasted debut!

Chrysalis has re-mastered and re-issued the classic first album from The Spcials thirty years after it's original release on 180 gram vinyl. Program Director Jim McGuinn share some history about the band, and offers up your chance to win a copy of the newly re-released album.

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Official Rules

In-studio performances

Fort Wilson Riot

Fort Wilson Riot

Fort Wilson Riot performs in The Current Studio
How do you follow up writing a rock opera for your first album? And not just a rock opera that existed solely as a recording, but one that you spent countless hours over three years in taking from just an idea to an album and then finally to a fully realized stage show incorporating puppetry, film, dance and a cast of 15.

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Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter
With his acoustic guitar, Josh Ritter has let loose folk sounds that have often been compared to the likes of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.
Paper Tiger
Paper Tiger's new album Made Like Us marks the second time that the producer has released something under his own name.
The Heavy
The Heavy
The Heavy's first single - "That Kind of Man" - from their 2007 debut album "Great Vengeance and Furious Fire" was an instant hit around The Current. So much so that we invited the band to play The Current's stage at the 2008 South By Southwest Musical Festival.
Private Dancer
Having received their namesake from either a Tina Turner song or a boat that sank, Private Dancer is a party rock barge in their own right.
The 22-20s
22-20's
As friends growing up in Lincolnshire, England, singer and guitarists Martin Trimble and bassist Glen Bartup began their music careers playing the blues. In 2002, at the age of 19, they began playing rock and roll as the 22-20's (named after the Skip James song, "22-20 Blues").

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Mac Wilson
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The Current Music Blog

Rewind: The History of Dance Music In Detroit
Tune in this Sunday at 9pm with me, Melanie Walker, for Rewind: The History of Dance Music In Detroit. It's the first in a series of several shows about the birth of electronic music as told through the great cities...

Honey-Do: Psychedelic rock

Win The Specials on 180g vinyl!

The Decision: The National's Journey out of Ohio (Part 1)

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Britt Daniel
Spoon performs live in The Current studios
According to music aggregator Metacritic, Spoon are the best band of the 2000s, which is nothing to sneeze at. Their excellent new record, "Transference," keeps the Austin four-piece's rock revival tone while channeling lyrical inspiration from frontman Britt Daniel's personal life.

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THE CURRENT PRESENTS

Back in the fall we had this idea: We believe that everyone has in them at least one great idea for a radio show - something they are passionate about - something that hasn't been done, and something that would be interesting to do. The ideas might be a one-offs or ongoing programs, but what if we had a place on the schedule where we could push ourselves to create and air new shows? As an idea lab, as a way to extend what we do at the Current, and just because it'd be fun and 'cause we can. 9 p.m. on Sunday nights.

Coming up:
8/1/10 - Rewind: The History of Dance Music In Detroit
8/8/10 - That Was The Year In Rock
(Listen to previous episodes)

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Minnesota Music on Gather.com
Minnesota's music scene has occasionally popped up on the national radar, but regardless of national attention it's a vibrant artistic community. Discuss the venues, shows, record stores, labels, or anything else pertaining to Minnesota music.