Rock
Bob
Mould - The Silver Age -Ex Husker Du
and Sugar frontman gives em what
they want.
The Magnolias -
Pop The Lock - The first studio
record in a long time from this
pillar band of Minnepolis pop and
punk.
The Parlour
Suite - Everyone's Looking - This
band is fronted by the married duo
Joel and Inga Roberts. They are
referred to as "Surf Pop" music,
though that term seems too limited
for describing their intelligent pop
sensibilities.
The
Bad Companions - What, Me Worry? - A
great rockin' rockabilly record from
a supergroup of sorts made up of
seasoned Twin Cities rockabilly
players.
4OnTheFloor
- 4X4 - Four guys playing four kick
drums in four-four time. They're not
mean. They're also not messin'
around.
Actual Wolf -
Lightning and the Wolf - Hired gun
player for other great bands stands
front and center and makes a
statement.
The Honeydogs -
What Comes After - Adam Levy and
company put out their most solid
record, maybe ever.
Country/Bluegrass/Folk
Teague Alexy - This Dance -
Co-frontman of Hobo Nephews of Uncle
Frank gives us this solid collection
of well-written songs.
Diet Folk - Cold - Twenty-somethings
from Duluth make one of the best
records I've heard this year
Saint Anyway - Here on the Ground -
Sharing members with Diet Folk,
these guys lean further into
contemporary bluegrass.
Trampled By Turtles - Stars and
Satellites- Pretty and brooding at
the same time. Their last couple
releases have been great. This one's
even better.
Steve Kaul and the Brass Kings -
Machine - Steve Kaul is a machine.
His output in the last ten years has
been fantastic and plentiful. He and
his group of players are as worthy
of attention as anybody currently
playing in Minnesota today.
I Like You - Fall In Like - This
record sounds like a celebration
that you don't soon forget and
doesn't hang you over.
Ben Kyle - Self-titled - The
uber-talented frontman of Romantica
delivers a long-waited, highly
personal record.
Jazz
Connie Evingson - Sweet Happy Life -
A wonderful record from Hibbing
native and veteran Twin Cities jazz
vocalist.
Darin Bergsven - Out of Nowhere -
Traditional songs, and songs written
by Charles Johnson (AKA Frank
Black). This Duluth musician with
roots in Bemidji rides that line
like he doesn't know it should be
difficult.
Blues
Virgil Caine - Self-titled -
Seasoned players from northeast
Minnesota present a great collection
of blues-rock originals
Alison Scott - Hiding Under the
Covers: Vol. 2: A diverse and
entertaining collection of covers
from this bluesy, soulful Minnesota
talent.
Compilation
Twin Cities Funk and Soul: Lost R &
B Grooves from Minneapolis/St. Paul
- 1964 to 1979 - Twenty-one lost
tracks rescued and rereleased. There
is some serious good karma deserved
for putting these songs in the light
of day again.
- Charlie Arts and
Cultural Heritage Producer