http://minnesota.publicradio.org/about/people/mpr_people_display.php?aut_id=31193 en-us Copyright 2013 Minnesota Public Radio Thu, 23 May 2013 19:52:45 -0500 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/standard/images/mpr003/logo_mpr.gif http://minnesota.publicradio.org/?refid=0 Alpine - Gasoline, from the new album "A Is For Alpine." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/20/alpine?refid=0 Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Dungeonesse - Shucks, from the new self-titled album. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/20/dungeonesse?refid=0 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 John Grant - GMF (Greatest Living Creature), from the new album "Pale Green Ghosts." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/16/john-grant?refid=0 Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 South Minneapolis rapper Greg Grease knew he had to get his debut album "Cornbread, Pearl and G" out to the masses before the end of 2012. If anything, it would be a good holiday gift to family and friends. What he didn't know was that the record would end up making just about every best album list from local critics. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/08/greg-grease-live?refid=0 Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about a band famous for its two pairs of brothers, plus the return of a French robotic duo. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, May 21. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/17/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0500 Crimes- Cloud Creep, from the new album "Thin Sunlight." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/14/crimes?refid=0 Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Still Corners - Fireflies, from the new album "Strange Pleasures." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/11/still-corners?refid=0 Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 She and Him - Never Wanted Your Love, from the new album "Volume Three." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/11/she-and-him?refid=0 Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Savages - She Will, from the new album "Silence Yourself." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/11/savages?refid=0 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Deerhunter - Back To The Middle, from the new album "Monomania." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/10/deerhunter?refid=0 Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Crimes' first album "Good Hope" was a sleeper success. Released to little reception initially, the band gradually came to forefront of the Twin Cities music community and gained praise for their interesting mix of lo-fi rock and slight sense of depraved lyrics. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/08/crimes-live?refid=0 Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about a British singer whose debut is getting a United States release, as well as an album whose title comes from a Junior Reed song. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, May 14. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/11/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 11 May 2013 10:00:00 -0500 VANDAAM - Electron Oceans, from the new self-titled EP. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/07/vandaam?refid=0 Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Jonny Fritz - Goodbye Summer, from the new album "Dad Country." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/06/jonny-fritz?refid=0 Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 The Child Of Lov - Heal, from the self-titled debut album. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/06/child-of-lov?refid=0 Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Carmen Villain - Lifeissin, from the new album "Sleeper." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/06/carmen-villain?refid=0 Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Mikal Cronin - Weight, from the new album "MCII." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/03/mikal-cronin?refid=0 Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about a group whose frontwoman runs the influential Pop Noire record label plus the newest funk and soul sensation sweeping Europe. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, May 7. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/03/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 04 May 2013 10:00:00 -0500 On An On - The Hunter, from the new album "Give In." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/02/on-an-on?refid=0 Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Shout Out Louds - Illusions, from the new album "Optica." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/01/shout-out-louds?refid=0 Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 The Veils - Through The Deep Dark Wood, from the new album "Time Stays, We Go." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/30/veils?refid=0 Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500 The Uncluded - Delicate Cycle, from the new album "Hokey Fright." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/29/uncluded?refid=0 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Houses - The Beauty Surrounds, from the new album "A Quiet Darkness." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/26/houses?refid=0 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about a frontman who counts David Bowie among his collaborators, a California local band gone big-time and the newest electronic buzz act from New York. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, April 30. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/26/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500 It's time for us to welcome On An On to the Minnesota music community. But they aren't total strangers: Nate Eiesland and Alissa Ricci both grew up in the state before joining forces with Ryne Estwing and several others in the popular Chicago band Scattered Trees. After the act suddenly disbanded, Eiesland, Ricci and Estwing started On An On, changed their musical direction and partly uprooted themselves back to Minneapolis. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/22/on-an-on-live?refid=0 Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Har Mar Superstar - Lady, You Shot Me, from the new album "Bye Bye 17." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/25/har-mar-superstar?refid=0 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Keaton Henson - You, from the new album "Birthdays." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/22/keaton-henson?refid=0 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 At 25, Lucy Michelle has firmly established herself in the Twin Cities music community as a distinct voice. She's collaborated with countless artists and released four albums with her full band The Lapelles. But the time has come for her to branch out on her own, and she's got the help of two of Minnesota's most respected musicians. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/18/lucy-michelle?refid=0 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Formed out of a personal tragedy, The Ericksons united sisters Bethany and Jenny with a relocation to Brooklyn. With that move, they played music every night together, finessing a brand of melancholic folk that often provides warmth when you least expect it. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/17/the-ericksons?refid=0 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about a musician with local ties who is getting help from Julian Casablancas, a Swede who got popular off of a cover of The Knife and a French band returning after a three-year silence. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, April 23. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/19/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500 Mudhoney - I Like It Small, from the new album "Vanishing Point." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/16/mudhoney?refid=0 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 The Thermals - The Sunset, from the new album "Desperate Ground." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/15/the-thermals?refid=0 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Young Man - In A Sense, from the new album "Beyond Was All Around Me." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/12/young-man?refid=0 Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Frankie Lee may not be a familiar name to casual local music lovers, but his face sure is. For years, he has played with countless artists in the Twin Cities, most notably supporting Molly Maher, Erik Koskinen and Tom O'Reagan as a guitarist and bassist. Now Lee has stepped into the spotlight with his debut EP "Middle West." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/12/frankie-lee?refid=0 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about one of most pivotal rock bands of the 2000s, a new release from Sam Beam and a New York group whose frontwoman has worked with Har Mar Superstar. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, April 16. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/12/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500 Telekinesis - Ghosts and Creatures, from the new album "Dormarion." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/05/telekinesis?refid=0 Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 The Black Angels - Don't Play With Guns, from the new album "Indigo Meadow." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/05/the-black-angels?refid=0 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 KS Rhoads - Harvest, from the new album "The Wilderness." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/05/ks-rhoads?refid=0 Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Kurt Vile - Never Run Away, from the new album "Wakin On A Pretty Daze" http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/05/kurt-vile?refid=0 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about an English musician whose debut reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart, the next release from a Swedish brother-sister duo breaking a hiatus and another album from the Philly indie rock scene. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, April 9. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/05/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 06 Apr 2013 10:00:00 -0500 Weird Visions - Make To It feat. Zoo Animal, from the new self-titled 7". http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/02/weird-visions?refid=0 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Hey Marseilles - Bright Stars Burning, from the new album "Lines We Trace." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/04/02/hey-marseilles?refid=0 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Villagers - Nothing Arrived, from the new album "Awayland." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/29/villagers?refid=0 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 William Tyler - Cadillac Desert, from the new album "Impossible Truth." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/29/william-tyler?refid=0 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Wall. - Left To Wonder, from the "Shoestring EP." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/29/wall?refid=0 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500 It takes a long time for any band to leave a substantial mark on the music world, and for Minnesota, there's only a handful of artists for each decade that we can say measure up. It's safe to assume we can now add Low to that list as the band celebrates 20 years together, as well as the release of their most acclaimed album yet "The Invisible Way." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/28/low-live?refid=0 Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about the debut of a band and the return of another, both from California, and a group who gets their name from a Velvet Underground song. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, April 2. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/29/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 30 Mar 2013 10:00:00 -0500 Pert Near Sandstone - Ship Of Fools, the title track of their new 7". http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/28/pert-near-sandstone?refid=0 Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let The Day Begin, from the new album "Specter At The Feast." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/27/black-rebel-motorcycle-club?refid=0 Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Pickwick - Hacienda Motel, from the new album "Can't Talk Medicine." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/26/pickwick?refid=0 Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Caitlin Rose - Waitin', from the new album "The Stand-In." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/25/caitlin-rose?refid=0 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Josh Ritter - Joy To You Baby, from the new album "The Beast In Its Tracks." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/22/josh-ritter?refid=0 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Strange Relations - Endurance, from the new "Ghost World EP." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/20/strange-relations?refid=0 Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Foxygen - No Destruction, from the new album "We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace And Magic." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/15/foxygen?refid=0 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Ulrich Schnauss - I Take Comfort In Your Ignorance, from the new album "A Long Way To Fall." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/15/ulrich-schnauss?refid=0 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Ducktails - Letter Of Intent, from the new album "The Flower Lane." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/15/ducktails?refid=0 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Wooden Wand - Supermoon (The Sounding Line), from the new album "Blood Oaths Of The New Blues." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/15/wooden-wand?refid=0 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 It's been three years since Gospel Gossip released their "Drift EP," but now the trio is back with a self-titled album that truly is a labor of love. A brief hiatus and a long recording process has given the Northfield-born band time to refocus and finesse their sound. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/13/gospel-gossip-live?refid=0 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 This week on New Hot, read about a band that got started at an open-mic night, one of America's most notorious rock bands and an act considered a Minnesota staple. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, March 19. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/15/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 16 Mar 2013 10:00:00 -0500 Fury Things - Vapors, from the new "EP2." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/11/fury-things?refid=0 Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Mister Lies - Align, from the new album "Mowgli." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/11/mister-lies?refid=0 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Gliss - Blur, from the new album "Langsom Dans." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/11/gliss?refid=0 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 The Cave Singers - No Tomorrow, from the new album "Naomi." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/08/cave-singers?refid=0 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Ladyfinger (ne) - Dark Horse, from the new album "Errant Forms." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/08/ladyfinger?refid=0 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 Dark Dark Dark's Nona Marie started her Anonymous Choir back in 2011, featuring a rotating cast of female musicians and close friends, some of which had never performed in a band before. The result is a gorgeous, stirring and stripped-down project focused solely on covers of their favorite musicians. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/08/anonymous-choir?refid=0 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 This week on New Hot, read about a young band from Chicago signed to a major label, a musician who brought back the "freak-folk" style and a living legend who has sold over 140 million albums. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, March 12. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/03/08/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:00:00 -0600 Bad Bad Hats - Super America, from the "It Hurts EP." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/28/bad-bad-hats?refid=0 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 James Hunter Six - Minute By Minute, from the new album "Minute By Minute." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/28/james-hunter-six?refid=0 Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Jose James - Do You Feel, from the new album "No Beginning No End." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/28/jose-james?refid=0 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 DRGN KING - Wild Night, from the new album "Paragraph Nights." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/28/drgn-king?refid=0 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Dog Bite - Forever Until, from the new album "Velvet Changes." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/28/dog-bite?refid=0 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 One of the fastest rising local bands right now is Carroll, a quartet that graduated from Macalester College last year and got their name from the street they lived on. A mix of psych-pop and Alec Ounsworth-esque vocals, Carroll just released their debut EP and has subsequently gathered all sorts of press and accolades. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/27/carroll-live?refid=0 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 When it comes to loud bands, it's difficult to out-do STNNNG. For 10 years, this local quintet has released some of the most acclaimed Minnesota albums and consistently challenged the strength of venues' sound systems across town. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/26/stnnng-live?refid=0 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Van Stee - Color In The Paper Planes, from the new album "We Are." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/26/van-stee?refid=0 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Big Harp - You Can't Save 'Em All, from the new album "Chain Letters." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/26/big-harp?refid=0 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 John Grant - Black Belt, from the new album "Pale Green Ghosts." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/26/john-grant?refid=0 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 The Spinto Band - Shake It Off, from the new album "Cool Cocoon." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/25/the-spinto-band?refid=0 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Veronica Falls - Teenage, from the new album "Waiting For Something To Happen." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/21/veronica-falls?refid=0 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Even if you aren't a fan of "AMOK," accolades are in order to a band whose first outing has truly pushed the boundaries of subtlety. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/25/atoms-for-peace-amok-review?refid=0 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:00:00 -0600 It has been a year in the making and Van Stee is following up their popular single "We Are" with a debut album of the same name. Concocted by Charlie Van Stee and Josh Kaplan, the now five-piece has been gaining steam in the Twin Cities with their Brit-inpsired pop rock. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/22/van-stee-live?refid=0 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 This week on New Hot, read about a band who become a YouTube sensation, a side project of Radiohead and the debut solo album from The Smiths' former guitarist. These are our three recommended releases for Tuesday, February 26. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/22/new-hot-update?refid=0 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:00:00 -0600 Gloss - Ian's Dream, from the new "Front Porch" 7". http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/21/gloss?refid=0 Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Beach Fossils - Generational Synthetic, from the new album "Clash The Truth." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/20/beach-fossils?refid=0 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Unknown Mortal Orchestra - So Good At Being In Trouble, from the new album "II." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/19/unknown-mortal-orchestra?refid=0 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:08:29 -0600 Jamie Lidell - What A Shame, from his new self-titled album. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/15/jamie-lidell?refid=0 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Mount Moriah - Bright Light, from the new album "Miracle Temple." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/15/mount-moriah?refid=0 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Stick with me through this momentary confusion you might be experiencing: Wolf Lords was the name of a project launched last year that you heard a lot of on the station. It's a collaboration between Aby Wolf and Grant Cutler. However, now the project has been transitioned to Aby's name, and the album title has been made "Wolf Lords." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/15/aby-wolf-live?refid=0 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Broncho - Try Me Out Sometime, from the new album "Can't Get Past The Lips." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/12/broncho?refid=0 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Pillowfight - In The Afternoon, from their new self-titled album. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/11/pillowfight?refid=0 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Jenny O. - Good Love, from the new album "Automechanic." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/11/jenny-o?refid=0 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Cheatahs - The Swan, from the new album "Extended Plays." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/08/cheatahs?refid=0 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Sometimes Duluth feels very far away. Unless bands from the area are playing regularly in the Twin Cities, it's typical for some of the brightest acts from the North Shore to get overlooked. Last year, we got a ton of tips regarding musicians producing incredible work just a few hours from The Current's home-base. One of the bands we heard most often was Southwire, and we have a feeling that Minnesota is going to be talking a lot about them this year. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/08/southwire-live?refid=0 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Aby Wolf - Brave Boy, from the new album "Wolf Lords." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/05/aby-wolf?refid=0 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 We held our first public music meeting at the Amsterdam Bar and Hall on Tuesday night as part of a grand experiment: what would happen if listeners could sound off on music that the programming team was considering adding to The Current's playlist? http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/06/music-meeting-recap?refid=0 Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:00:00 -0600 Thao and The Get Down Stay Down - We The Common (For Valerie Bolden), from the new album "We The Common." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/05/thao-get-down-stay-down?refid=0 Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Adam Green and Binki Shapiro - Just To Make Me Feel Good, from the self-titled debut. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/01/adam-green-binki-shapiro?refid=0 Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Night Beds - Ramona, from the new album "Country Sleep." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/01/night-beds?refid=0 Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Amor De Dias - Jeans Waving, from the new album "The House At Sea." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/29/amor-de-dias?refid=0 Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Wake Owl - Wild Country, the title track from the new "Wild Country EP." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/28/wake-owl?refid=0 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Whitehorse - Devil's Got A Gun, from the new album "The Fate Of This World Depends On This Kiss." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/25/whitehorse?refid=0 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Nightlands - So Far So Long, from the new album "Oak Island." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/18/nightlands?refid=0 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Indians - I Am Haunted, from the new album "Somewhere Else." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/18/indians?refid=0 Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Dan Deacon - Guilford Avenue Bridge (Live at The Current) http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/18/dan-deacon?refid=0 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Parquet Courts - Borrowed Time, from the new album "Light Up Gold." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/18/parquet-courts?refid=0 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Mixed Blood Majority may be a new act, but the faces are familiar to Minnesotans. The trio consists of Joe Horton of No Bird Sing, Lazerbeak of Doomtree and Crescent Moon of Kill The Vultures. The new collaboration brings the best of all their projects into a cohesive collective, challenging listeners to embark on a hip-hop journey of styles throughout the years. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/17/mixed-blood-majority-live?refid=0 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Thomas Kivi and The Immigrants - Cops and Crims, from their new self-titled EP. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/10/thomas-kivi-cops-crims?refid=0 Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Bleeding Rainbow - Waking Dream, from the new album "Yeah Right." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/10/bleeding-rainbow-waking-dream?refid=0 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Yo La Tengo - I'll Be Around, from the new album "Fade." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/11/yo-la-tengo-ill-be-around?refid=0 Wed, 16 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Low - Plastic Cup, from the new album "The Invisible Way." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/15/low-plastic-cup?refid=0 Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside - Party Kids, from the forthcoming album "Untamed Beast." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/10/sallie-ford-party-kids?refid=0 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 The Growlers - One Million Lovers, from the new album "Hung At Heart." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/04/the-growlers-one-million-lovers?refid=0 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600 Sometimes avant-garde appeal surpasses commercial appeal. Alt-J fit that niche at exactly the right moment. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/31/alt-j-an-awesome-wave-review?refid=0 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 All Eyes' debut album "Shelf Life" has been in the recording phase for over a year. The quartet has had a mysterious public profile during that time, but the names of the members aren't newcomers to Minnesota. Notably, the band is led by Alicia Wiley, a singer whose previous five albums were done as a solo affair. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/03/alleyes-live?refid=0 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 Sunday night on the Current Presents, "Girls Got Rhythm" co-founder Dana Raidt joins Jon Schober for a Garage Rock 'road trip' across the United States. Tune into 89.3 The Current on Sunday night from 9-10 p.m. to hear the freakbeat play out. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/12/05/garage-rocks-3?refid=0 Fri, 07 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 Four years after their wildly popular debut album, Solid Gold has returned with their follow-up full-length "Eat Your Young." Dark and brooding themes are abound on this effort, the product of a long hiatus and change in pace. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/21/solidgold-live?refid=0 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600 As part of McNally Smith's ongoing Soundbite Series, Local Show host David Campbell once again sits down with another musician to dissect their work for an interview and live performance -- this time from the rising Chastity Brown. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/21/chastity-brown-soundbite?refid=0 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:39:07 -0600 Prissy Clerks won Vita.mn's Are You Local? contest back at the beginning of 2012, and we've been waiting almost a full year for their debut album. Now the quartet is preparing to jump into the spotlight with the release of "Bruise Or Be Bruised." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/13/prissyclerks-live?refid=0 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0600 As the end of the year nears, it's time for the annual list-making to begin. In addition to our Top 89 programming this year, the local crew is also launching an inaugural poll to determine the best Minnesota releases of 2012. But we need your votes to make this poll a reality! http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/16/local-poll?refid=0 Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:30:00 -0600 The local music scene in Duluth has been gaining some well-deserved attention in the past couple of years, and the addition of a new record label in town definitely won't hurt the spotlight. Chaperone Records may be a baby still -- it was only launched in May of this year -- but its roster already includes some of the brightest talent on the North Shore. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/11/05/chaperone-records-interview?refid=0 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:32:43 -0600 "Channel Orange" revels in the silence between beats; it makes minimalism sound bold and enlightened. It's also masterful in the way it intertwines R&B, jazz, electro-funk and psychedelia. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/26/frank-ocean-channel-orange?refid=0 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Chris Rose has been a go-to guitarist in town for years, playing with bands like Vampire Hands, Private Dancer and Heavy Deeds. For much of the last year though, he has embarked on a solo affair called Robust Worlds. The project is doused in characteristic reverb and provides dreamy imagery that cohesively pulls together all the work he's done in other acts through the years. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/19/robustworlds-interview?refid=0 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:00:00 -0500 One half of Guante and Big Cats!, Spencer Wirth-Davis has been busy with his Big Cats self, creating beats for much of the hip-hop community in the Twin Cities over the past year. Because of his extensive collaborations, he's become of the most sought-after producers in the area. But for his new record "For My Mother," Spencer did the gathering of talent. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/26/bigcats-live?refid=0 Sun, 07 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0500 This seems to be a big year for Dark Dark Dark. At the time of recording this session with the quintet, they were about to jet off that night to Iowa City, the first date on their 2012 tour that will lead them across the States, to Australia, Europe and back again. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/27/darkdarkdark-live?refid=0 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Since 2004, The Daredevil Christopher Wright has been one of Eau Claire's musical success stories, releasing a string of records that got them well-deserved national attention. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/19/daredevilchristopherwright-live?refid=0 Sun, 23 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 The Valdons were one of the most popular funk and soul groups of the late '60s and early '70s in the Twin Cities. After disbanding, the quartet never dropped their passion for music, continuing to perform with other bands and as solo artists. So Minnesotans and the rest of the world are getting a rare treat: the modern day reincarnation of The Valdons courtesy of Secret Stash Records. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/09/14/the-valdons-live?refid=0 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:17:44 -0500 The musical chemistry between Liam Benzvi and Francis Jimenez is immediately apparent on the layered electro-jams that fill their first studio EP. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/20/strangenames-live?refid=0 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Bomba De Luz only just put out their debut record "What A Heavy Weight," but the high-school band are already darlings in the local music community. With a CD release show that featured too many opening acts to count such as Brian Laidlaw, Twinkie Jiggles Broken Orchestra, Ill Chemistry and Guante, the young group is quickly finding their sound and finessing their craft. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/31/bombadeluz-live?refid=0 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Mankwe is like a version of Nina Simone and Erykah Badu, but we get to have her in our own backyard. Her improvisational technique, a skill she has fine-tuned through years of performing, as well as her world music influences, have melded together for a proper sophomore record in "Science and Spirit." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/02/mankwe-live?refid=0 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Eric Pollard has been playing with Low and Retribution Gospel Choir, but his new project may be of a surprise to you. As Actual Wolf, he channels the best of Bob Dylan in one respect and good ol' fashioned folk rock when a live band is employed. He's moved down to the Twin Cities this summer to routinely play gigs, and he joined us in the studio for his Local Show debut. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/06/actualwolf-live?refid=0 Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Sleep Study's craft comes in their songwriting, joining the ranks of other established lyricists in the Twin Cities like Chris Koza, Jeremy Messersmith and Adam Levy. Coupled with strong chemistry within the band and an updated '70s aesthetic as heard on their first single "Flower Girl," the group has been making waves since their formation last summer. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/20/sleepstudy-live?refid=0 Sun, 05 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Spiritualized's appearance at First Avenue in May was the first in years, and a ravenous Twin Cities fanbase welcomed Jason Pierce and his band back with open arms. For those who missed it, The Current recorded and aired the entire show, and now we're able to provide it for you to stream online. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/08/02/spiritualized-live-first-ave?refid=0 Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:28:28 -0500 Martin Dosh has been playing in the Twin Cities music community for years, penning his first solo album a decade ago. After a successful streak on Anticon Records and consistent touring with Andrew Bird, the multi-instrumentalist is planning to release new material at the beginning of 2013. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/27/dosh-live?refid=0 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Three is the magic number for Flavor Crystals. "Three" is the name of their new record, it took three years to record and it's their first release in that many years. It's a welcome surprise: the psych-rock band put out two of the Twin Cities' most acclaimed releases during the mid-2000s, a pair of records which spawned a tour with Brian Jonestown Massacre. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/20/flavorcrystals-live?refid=0 Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0500 When people hear John Mark Nelson's music for the first time, the sense of disbelief is usually evident. With arrangements that recall songwriters who have been in the business for decades, the 18-year old - and recently graduated - Minnetonka High student is turning heads for the mature compositions he's been recording since the age of 14. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/07/05/johnmarknelson-live?refid=0 Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:00:00 -0500 The Chalice may be a new collective, but the three emcees who make it up - Sophia Eris, Claire De Lune and Lizzo - are well-known in the local music community both here and outside the region. Bringing a much needed light to female-fronted hip-hop, the trio mixes whip-smart raps, crisp production and clever imagery to create songs that don't plan on leaving your head anytime soon. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/23/thechalice-live?refid=0 Sun, 03 Jun 2012 00:00:00 -0500 The Hypstrz were considered one of the purveyors of cool in the Twin Cities during the late '70s and early '80s, helping to pave the way for some of our most beloved bands like The Suicide Commandos and The Suburbs. Hypstrz had a different niche though: reworking '60s classics into an idiosyncratic, full-out garage rock and punk experiment. And while they didn't immediately get the attention they deserved, the band has now gone down in the history books of Minnesota music. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/17/hypstrz-live?refid=0 Sun, 20 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 If there's one artist in the Twin Cities who has steadily increased their recognition and popularity, it's probably MaLLy. Malik Watkins is only in his mid-20s, but his reputation has been bolstered by encouragement from the Rhymesayers crew and old friends from the high-school days that now collaborate with him side-by-side. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/11/mally-live?refid=0 Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Local duo Bloodnstuff has been gathering accolades the past few months for their raucous live show. While many might think they're a new band on the circuit, Ed Holmberg and Dylan Gouert have actually been playing around for almost ten years, finessing a craft that has seen many incarnations. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/11/bloodnstuff-live?refid=0 Sun, 13 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Father John Misty may be a relatively new project, but the man behind it has been around for a few years now, playing in one of indie music's greatest break-out bands. J. Tillman used to drum for the mighty Pacific-Northwest act Fleet Foxes, but left the group this year to pursue his own endeavors, trading in the rootsy, experimental folk for more of a vintage rock sound. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/11/fatherjohnmisty-live?refid=0 Fri, 11 May 2012 19:30:00 -0500 Justin Townes Earle shouldn't be overshadowed by his famous father Steve Earle. The two may have similar styles, but Justin modernizes what his dad began popularizing in the late '90s. His newest record "Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now" has garnered considerable accolades in the Americana scene, and there's a chance for you to win a copy of that CD from The Current this week. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/07/justintownesearle-live?refid=0 Mon, 07 May 2012 17:30:00 -0500 Dylan Hicks has been in the midst of a long-term hiatus. We saw the release of his last record in 2001 after a string of prolific efforts starting all the way back in 1990. Maybe he was tired and maybe he needed something new, but we can at least partially chalk up his absence as the result of his most recent endeavor: "Boarded Windows," Hicks' new book. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/04/dylanhicks-live?refid=0 Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 I Self Devine's new record features a slew of hip-hop power players to complement an emcee who is gaining major ground locally and nationally for his whip-smart and poignant raps. In his debut for The Current, I Self Devine talks Soundset, origins, his wide-range of influences from disco to his mother, graffiti and more. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/04/iselfdevine-live?refid=0 Sun, 06 May 2012 00:00:00 -0500 L'Assassins have been playing together for over two years, but they may seem new to local music fans since L'Assassins wasn't always their name. In fact, the quartet performed without a title for months before settling on something that fit their aesthetic and style. They've found their identity and are rising fast: L'Assassins will be playing the inaugural Girls Got Rhythm Fest in early May. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/20/lassassins-live?refid=0 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Lucy Michelle and The Velvet Lapelles have been together for a long time. A string of well-received albums, best band nods and consistently well-attended shows has made the act a local treasure. In the past year though, they've been a little off the radar. Now we know why - the band has traded in their traditional folk sound for a full sonic revamp and the results on their newest record "Heat" couldn't be more promising. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/17/lucymichelle-live?refid=0 Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:30:00 -0500 The backstory of Manhattan band Cults is second-nature by now: originally a duo, Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin released a three-song EP on Bandcamp in 2010 that gradually gathered accolades over the next year. It eventually nabbed them a spot on famed major label Columbia Records, proof that no matter how small you start off, your impact can still be huge. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/16/cults-live?refid=0 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:30:00 -0500 Aby Wolf was chosen to partake in the Cedar Cultural Center's 416 Club Commission in 2011 and received a grant to explore a new electro-art-pop project that had been stewing in her mind. Recruiting the talents of Jesse Whitney, Linnea Mohn and Joey Van Phillips, Wolf created A. Wolf and Her Claws. Instead of a one-off performance as originally planned for the Cedar's winter season, a full-fledged band has been formed and there's no signs of slowing the momentum. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/13/awolfandherclaws-live?refid=0 Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:00:00 -0500 The Duluth quintet has been steadily expanding its fan-base for the past decade, and the release of their fifth record "Palomino" undeniably helped propel them into greater mass appeal. It reached #1 on the US Bluegrass charts and stayed in the top 10 for over a year. It should come as no surprise then that the year which followed the release proved to be Trampled By Turtles' most important year yet, solidifying their role as one of the major players of Minnesota music making an impact nationally and abroad. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/09/trampledbyturtles-live?refid=0 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:00:00 -0500 Is/Is has consistently risen to the top of the local music scene, anchored by tight, vintage-inspired rhythms and scuzzy vocals that has made many a garage/psych rock fan's ears experience sonic bliss. That's a lofty statement, but the trio of musicians have been critical darlings since they first began making music. Now they are back in the spotlight with their long-awaited debut record "III." http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/26/isis-live?refid=0 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Metronomy's "The Look" was one of the hottest songs to come out in 2011, harnessed on an electronic minimalism that made the track's hook immediately danceable. It didn't hurt that the rest of the album "The English Riviera" was also a fine exploration of pop music, ensuring that frontman Joseph Mount would have a hit on his hands. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/05/metronomy-live?refid=0 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:30:00 -0500 Lucero probably won't be slowing down anytime soon. Live show enthusiasts since their beginnings in the late '90s, the band performs hundreds of times a year in support of the nine records they've already put out. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/04/04/lucero-live?refid=0 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0500 Long-time veterans of the local music community, Magic Castles are now getting a proper reintroduction. Thanks to Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe, the band has released a deluxe retrospective of their career through his personal record label. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/28/magiccastles-live?refid=0 Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Spending most of his life between Jacksonville and Seattle, Andy Bothwell's adopted pseudonym of Astronautalis has managed to play shows in the Twin Cities on a consistent basis over the past decade. Through his time in Minnesota, Bothwell befriended many of our most acclaimed local musicians, one of the many reasons he finally decided his move to the state would become a reality. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/29/astronautalis-live?refid=0 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 Chastity Brown has been absent from Minnesota for a little while, but there's a good reason for it. Knoxville born and raised and a Minneapolis transplant, the inspiration for her latest album "Back-Road Highways" largely came with her roots. Tennessee and the South in general have helped shape Brown's newest sound, one which pushes her into new territory, both lyrically and instrumentally. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/03/08/chastitybrown-live?refid=0 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500 From those who surge to unrivaled exposure in short amounts of time like Polica and Night Moves to experimental artistry that many bands will never match like you find in Brute Heart; from seasoned veterans who claim membership in too many acts to count like Haley Bonar and Halloween, Alaska, to the wild genre-crossing found in Mystery Palace and Doomtree - this thirst to constantly explore and collaborate is what makes the state so unique and active. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/01/29/album-review-local-current-vol-2?refid=0 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600