Lou Barlow

Lou Barlow

Lou Barlow performs in The Current studio

Few people in the indie-rock world have had three separate successful careers. Lou Barlow is known as much for his solo work as his tenure as the bassist in Dinosaur Jr. and as the founder of the alt-country/folk supergroup Sebadoh.

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The Local Show Giveaway

The Local Show with David Campbell is giving away tickets to see The Modern Guitar Festival at the Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday, December 5 at 7pm. Click here for official rules.

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Devil Trombones
No Bird Sing
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CD of the Week

Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures
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Bill DeVille

Musicheads - Nov. 17

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah frontman Alec Ounsworth has a new solo project entitled "Mo Beauty," and the Musicheads chime in on how is stacks up to Ounsworth's work with the band that helped launched his career. Mark Wheat and David Safar join Bill DeVille to also discuss Devendra Banhart's latest effort, "What Will We Be," and Mayer Hawthorne's neo-soul outing "A Strange Arrangement."

For this week's question, Bill asks, "What recent release has spent more time in your CD player than any other?"

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Vote for this week's Top 20

The Chart Show is moved to Wednesday next week only. Tune in at 8 p.m. on Wednesday 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 see Swell Season at the State Theater on December 5th!

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Previous Top 20 lists

In-studio performances

Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons

Cory Chisel

Cory Chisel performs in The Current studios
Growing up in an Appleton, Wis., household separated from pop music, Cory Chisel had to turn to other musical sources for inspiration. Gospel, blues, and Americana all played an important part in shaping his musical voice.

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Brendan Benson
Brendan Benson
Four albums into his solo career, Brendan Benson has made a name for himself as one of the music world's premier collaborators. As part of the Raconteurs, he's played an instrumental part in shaping the sound of garage-inspired indie rock.
Girls
Girls
A brand new band from San Francisco, Girls specialize in always-sunny California pop -- jangling guitars, beautiful harmonies and flawless hooks. Frontman Christopher Owens layers this sunny backdrop with darker lyrics reminiscent of more introverted artists.
Lissie
Lissie
Illinois-born Lissie offers some of the best Americana music to come out of the Midwest in recent decades. Now living in California, the musician -- Lissie Maurus by birth -- examines life in small-town America and growing up in a rural area.
Fanfarlo
Fanfarlo
After many independent labels and attempts to break into the international music scene, Fanfarlo took things into their own hands and released their album for $1 on their Web site. The result? A national tour of the United States and plenty of international dates as well.

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The Current Music Blog

Honey-do: Power Pop tunes
Today's assigment is "power pop" tunes. What is that, you ask? Well, it's music full of big guitars, lots of harmonies & catchy sing-a-long melodies. Pete Townshend coined the phrase back in the late 60' to descibe the Who's music....

Random Vinyl 11/16-11/20

Friday Coffee Break: Viernes No Ingles!

Today In Music History: He Wrote The Religious Song That Wasn't

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Video

The Klaxons
The Klaxons perform in studio
Eighteen months ago James Righton was an English teacher. He and a couple of friends began playing and recording together as Klaxon. They put out their first single just over a year ago. While there was a bit of a buzz about the band, they were relatively unknown.

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Live Current - Vol. 5

Live Currents - Vol. 5 Each year we choose the best performances from your favorite artists, recorded live in The Current studios, and compile them into one amazing, limited-edition album. Live Current Vol. 5 is our best yet.

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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.