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Love As Laughter’s Holy came out last week. Obviously influenced by bands like Modest Mouse (whom they toured with, btw), I was immediately struck by the title track and “Crosseyed Beautiful Youngunz,” which you can see them perform below (taken from 6/16 show in Rochester):
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Mar’s debut album, The Silence, featured Jimmy LaValle of The Album Leaf and Black Heart Procession and Samuli Kosminen of MúM and was recorded in Iceland in the thick of Sigur Ros’ Takk… Sessions.
The new album, The Sound, was recorded in a backwards Arkansas cabin — just a trifle...
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Today local postmodern indie rock band Aviette release their second full-length album, The Way We Met, on Draw Fire Records. Working with Minneapolis-based producer Darren Jackson (Tapes n’ Tapes, Kid Dakota, The Hopefuls) helped the group make some lofty steps on their sophomore offering, and early...
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UK garage punk band The Heys sent us their new album, Young Bored and Broke. The Heys : “Pressure” (mp3)
The Heys : “Friday Night” (mp3)
While “Pressure” is the lead single, I’d opt for the cooler, Strokes-flavored title track. RIYL The Kinks, Jam, Hives and...
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Daniel Ahearn, of the electro-acoustic folktronic rock band Ill Lit, released his solo EP, Pray For Me By Name, this week on Riparian Records. Daniel Ahearn : “Down for the Count” (mp3)
Late in 2007, Daniel was robbed, and his electronics, boom box, keyboards and pedals were all stolen. Undeterred...
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Plagiarists are a five piece indie/alt-rock outfit that formed in the fall of 2004.
While attending St. Olaf College in their hometown of Northfield, Minnesota, members Eric Wilson and Davis Wille (vocals/guitar and lead guitar) met fellow student Mikael Witte (bass guitar). The three found that they...
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Lex Land, the 21 year-old songstress from the City of Angels, is readying her debut album, Orange Days On Lemon Street, for its physical release on July 22 (Intelligent Noise Records). Despite her age and inexperience, Lex has the technique, personality and maturity of someone who always dreamed of singing...
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What’s your dreamscape soundtrack? Personally, when my head finally hits the pillow after another crazy day, my psyche goes into overdrive. My dream soundtrack is a mix of haunting Angelo Badalamenti acidic whirring, grating Rammstein guitar riffs, driving Trent Reznor electro-beats and intermittent...
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I usually hate compilations, but this one is different. Verve//Remixed 4 features a wide array of production contributors to re-imagine a number of R&B, soul, latin and jazz standards (and rare gems). I’ve been blasting this CD at the office a few times a day. Favorites are Kenny Dope’s...
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Local prog rock band Pharaohs of Rhythm released their debut EP this month, Signs of Life. Whether multi-part songwriting with crashing symbols, rolling toms, and melodious bass (”The Rabbit”), subtle ambiental moods cut from the So-Cal coast (”You Know the Number”), more traditional...
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Blending together their love of Depeche Mode and Hot Chip to create their own mix of dark, “my soul hurts” pop-electronica, Ready Fire Aim have a new album out called This Changes Nothing on Expansion Team Records. Too dark to dance to but not so desolate as to induce self-flagellation, this...
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The first time I saw Guerrilla Blue play was their very first live show ever, and admittedly, I wasn’t very patient. Later I checked out their debut EP, interviewed the band and became a more informed listener. They have a new album out, Fluorescent Fuzz, that definitely has its stellar moments...
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Minneapolis pop rock band Atomic Flea would probably not win in a knock-down-drag-out fight. In fact, they don’t pick fights. Why are we even talking about fighting each other? These are nice guys with a new album, Babadebaba, full of uplifting tunes reminiscent of TMBG, Matt Pond PA, Weezer and...
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Okay, so I was pretty sarcastic about the Radiohead Best Of’s at first. It’s no secret Radiohead left Capitol/EMI and didn’t agree to this Best Of series — let alone 5 different formats designed to make the label as much money as possible. Plus, as what I consider to be a “true”...
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Minneapolis sludge punk band The Holy Ghostriders release their full-length debut, Fast Track Heart, on Learning Curve Records this week.
You know when you’re moshing at a show and you feel yourself get punched in the kidneys HARD, and you whirl around and everyone’s rocking out like nothing...