music from mn #8

When I say "Music from Minnesota" what's the first thing that jumps into your head? My guess is that it's probably Prince or Bob Dylan, maybe even Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. That's not a bad thing either. Those are some huge names in music history. Music from Minnesota has grown though. The Twin Cities is a flourishing musical hotbed on par with all of the traditional greats like Brooklyn, L.A., and Seattle. Don't believe me? Watch and listen as we explore an entire playlist of Minnesota music acts without having to use any of the obvious Heavyweights (Prince, Bob Dylan, Semisonic, Soul Asylum, and Atmosphere).


1. Sound Asleep by Solid Gold featuring P.O.S. - Are you hearing this?!?! Sheesh this is good! I just recently discovered this song, but it is already one of my favorites. I like it more every time I hear it!


2. Raggedy Man by Haley Bonar


3. Not The Kid by Communist Daughter - For me, this song has a 60's Donovan vibe to it. Goes down smooth like Mellow Yellow. (wink, wink)


4. Wandering Star by POLICA - Like Jessica said last week, this band is blowing up! They seem to be gaining steam by the day and for good reason too. These tracks are moody and haunting. So SOO good!


5. Bright Bright Bright by Dark Dark Dark - Please don't let the absolutely comical band and song title combo fool you. This song is gorgeous.


6. Freak Out by Tapes 'n Tapes


7. Settling It Off by Peter Wolf Crier - Another one of Jessica's professed loves. What a great band name too, huh?


8. Victory by Trampled by Turtles - Palomino was one of my favorite albums of 2010. If you didn't think it was possible for Blue Grass to melt your face off, listen to "Wait So Long". You've been warned! These guys are also releasing a new album in April, so keep a look out.


9. How Deep Is That River by Mason Jennings


10. Dillinger Eyes by Jeremy Messersmith - Mr. Messersmith is one of the more Successful acts to come out of Minnesota lately. His past couple of albums have been really solid, with his most recent "The Reluctant Graveyard" probably being his best work to date.


11. Back of Your Neck by Howler - Howler is another band that is blowing up, but these guys are doing it on a global scale. NME named them the #3 best band of 2011. They also recently just signed with a major British label (Rough Trade) and are now label mates with the likes of My Morning Jacket, The Strokes, and The Decemberists. Look out for Howler!


12. The Gaudy Side of Town by Gayngs - They're not as much of a band as they are a collection of awesome artists jamming together on one long, coooool, smooooth, album. Gayngs is a who's who of local and Midwest indie artists including Justin Vernon and Mike Noyce of Bon Iver, Har Mar Superstar, P.O.S., Dessa, Channy Moon Casselle of POLICA, members of Solid Gold and many, many more.


The Twin Cities music community is thriving thanks to talented, and creative acts such as these. You can go downtown almost any weekend and find a pretty great show. While we may have been cursed with some crummy weather, we have been blessed with a local culture that values some pretty amazing music, no matter what your taste.

gray days make me happy. (#7)

I just can't help it.
Everything looks so dramatic outside, chalked up in lavenders silvers and powdery blues and it all makes me feel like I'm walking around in a movie. And I love music that fits that chilly gray. This playlist is a sampling of stuff I've been coupling with the dreariness, and while I don't think it will bog you down and push you over the edge into deep snowy depression or anything, these songs for sure aren't pretending it's 80 degrees outside. And neither am I. ------------------------------------

1. Island, IS by Volcano Choir
These guys are a collaboration between Justin Vernon and Collections of Colonies of Bees, recorded in Fall Creek, Wisconsin in Bon Iver's recording studio, 3 miles from the house where JV grew up, 10 minutes from the bar where his parents first met.
Aw.

2. Sign of Life by Kunek
It's hard to believe I used to go see this band in Oklahoma for $5, and now they're opening for RADIOHEAD as the band, Other Lives. This is from their album Flight of the Flynns. Now I'll get to go see them in Kansas City.

!!!!!!!

3. I missed the Point by Neko Case
"I have lightning if the stars dry out to guide me".

4. Old Gowns by Mount Moriah
A little bit more country for you - this band is from Old Gowns, North Carolina.

5. Lay Your Cards Out by Polica
A four-piece band with two drummers? That's right.
This girl, Channa, formerly from Roma di Luna, teamed up with 3 other artists connected with Vampire Hands, Gayngs, and Bon Iver. They're local and are kind of exploding right now. They're playing 2 sold out shows in Minneapolis in the next month and 1/2 and I'm missing both of them. Boo. But seriously, sold out shows when they're less than a year into debuting their first album, Give You the Ghost, is pretty impressive.

6. Daphne by Lia Ices
I first heard Lia through my roommate B Tweet.
She's signed under Jagjaguwar, the same recording label as Bon Iver, Volcano Choir, Pele, Gayngs, and Collections of Colonies of Bees. Have you noticed I've mentioned Gayngs twice now? You should probably check them out.

7. A Case of You by James Blake
"I could drink a case of you darlin, and I would still be on my feet." Thank you Joni Mitchell.

8. Don't Tremble by The Low Anthem
I absolutely love this entire album (Oh My God, Charlie Darwin). I like to play this song for my roommates so much, I'm a little worried they might start thinking I'm in love with them. I might be a little bit, in the sense that I want so much for them, and from them.
"If your heart is unemployed, do not rush but do not stall, 'cause I'm waiting."

9. Nothing by Mason Jennings
Heard it on the Current yesterday and I smiled and bobbed my head the whole way through.

10. Love is Won by Lia Ices
I'm breaking Joey Churchill's rule against having 2 songs by 1 artist in the same playlist. I just couldn't choose.
So I made that my choice.

11. Sea of Love by Cat Power
Some days, only the Juno soundtrack will do.

12. Impossible Soul by Sufjan Stevens
Let's be honest - I don't make playlists without Sufjan tucked in somewhere.

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Enjoy!!

coming in a little late #6

so this week i decided to go all covers for the playlist cause covers are awesome and it's been really cold outside! as a musician, i really appreciate being able to take what someone else has done & give it a little tweek. creativity inspires MORE creativity & i think that's really what jess & i hope for this blog: that as y'all come see what we're up to, it'd inspire you to start doing something new too :)
let's do this.


1. Walk This Way by Run-D.M.C. - give it up y'all! this was a break-through cover that really changed music. i wonder what it was like to come up with the idea for this song and then get it done & watch people respond to it.


2. Killing Me Softly by Fugees - this is one i grew up on. lauryn hill & the fugees are probably one of the reasons i started listening to rap & hip hop.


3. In The Devil's Territory by Derek Webb - just recently stumbled upon this tune. i'm really impressed that a christian artist had the balls to touch something sufjan created, but this song wails! i love it!


4. No One's Gonna Love You by Cee Lo Green


5. Bad Romance by Lissie - didn't really like this song until i heard this version. now i can't help but like both. these two are freak bitches baby.


6. The Kids by B.o.B feat. Janelle Monae - this one really surprised me too. don't hate me, but i'm pretty sure i like this one more than the original by vampire weekend. *ducking to avoid stones/tomatoes*


7. I Want You Back by Discovery - this whole album is incredible. just sayin'.


8. Tiger Mountain Peasant Song by First Aid Kit - these chicks did a video for this song in the woods. amazing!


9. Such Great Heights by Ben Gibbard - this is the ultimate cover song. this song was originally done by ben gibbard with postal service, then was covered by iron & wine. here it is... ben gibbard covering a cover of his own song! cool!


10. I Can't Make You Love Me/Nick Of Time by Bon Iver - COME ON!


also... a quick honorable mention. my bro just found this little goodie. check it out!


that's all for now. cover up... it's cold out there!

high five, #5.

Is it Sunday already??

This week's playlist is simply what I'm listening to lately, so chances are if you've walked into i like you (NE Mpls - check it out) at any point in the last month, played pool with me, or basically given me any opportunity to be hangout dj, you'll have heard most of these.


1. Right Away by Peter Wolf Crier
These guys are local and have a new album out called the Garden of Arms - it's super dreamy to me, and ragged and beautiful.
2. Gangsta by tUnE-yArDs
who kill? They kill. Need a pick me up on the worst day ever? Google NPR's tiny little desk concert performance of theirs.
3. June by Motopony
Seattle based - this album totally sounds like they live in a place that rains 8 months of the year. But I like the moody stuff.
4. Jerome by Lykke Li
This young thang made our playlist 2 weeks in a row. What can I say, she's catchy.
5. Fall Creek Boys Choir (ft Bon Iver) by James Blake
I've decided that if I ever somehow spontaneously turn into a song, (because that sort of thing could totally happen), it (I) would be probably sound like something that's come out of Justin Vernon's mouth, or James Blake's brain.. or both.
6. He Lays in the Reins by Iron & Wine and Calexico
7. Chicago (Multiple Personality Disorder version) by Sufjan Stevens
Hey Suf.
8. Ceiling of Plankton by Givers
Personally, I like any song where you get to shout out "I'll give you all my guts!!"
9. The Case of William Smith by Astronautalis
I'm still trying to figure out if I like this guy. He just moved to Mpls to get into the local hip-hop scene, and that kind of makes me want to love him. I'm a sucker for transplants.
10. Falling in Love with Glaciers by Listener
Dan Smith's lyrics completely kick my ass. Amazing.
He says things like "Chop your own wood and it'll warm you twice" and "Everyone wants a revolution, but nobody wants to wash the dishes."

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Soul Team updates to come soon.
In the meantime, have a beautiful week!!

Joey's Top 10 of 2011 (#4)

So Jessica and Danny asked me to be "Guest Blogger Guy" for this week and post my Top 10 songs of 2011 and I jumped at the opportunity. I LOVE music and I think the concept of this blog is awesome. I'm thrilled to be able to contribute! So, without further adieu, my Top 10 and a little something on why I like each song or why it's special to me... #10 Louder Than Ever, Cold War Kids The Cold War Kids are one of my favorite bands. They've had a pretty distinct sound that is gritty, messy, and a bit bluesy at times so I was worried when I heard they were going for more of a "polished" sound on their 3rd album. My fears were calmed when I heard this! Great song. #9 Make Some Noise, Beastie Boys There is no deep thinking involved with this one. This is just a super fun track with a funky beat by three Hip Hop pioneers from Brooklyn. Word homies... word. #8 I Follow Rivers, Lykke Li I was first exposed to Lykke Li last year when she appeared on the "Twilight, New Moon" soundtrack. She is Swedish, which is awesome because this is exactly how I picture Swedish Pop music sounding. Lucky Swedes!!! #7 Satellite, The Kills I love it when songs take on physical characteristics and mimic things like machines or animals. This song almost has a chugging effect, like it's a train barreling down on you. It is a brooding rock song that has a certain haunting quality to it. Alison Mosshart leads the way on vocals and the tone of her voice compliments the mood of this song perfectly. I love it. #6 Blood Pressure, Mutemath Like my brother, Mutemath is probably my favorite band. These guys are constantly looking for fun, fresh, and innovative ways to make records. You can hear an evolution from album to album, and while that's not always a good thing in this case it is. It's refreshing. Mutemath has fine tuned their sound and on "Blood Pressure" they flex their muscle. #5 Helena Beat, Foster The People Foster The People is an interesting band. In 2011 they gained enormous amounts of fans and popularity, yet there are those in the music industry who hate them and view them as everything that's wrong with Indie Music. They're an invasion of cheesy pop and cliched gloss that takes direct aim at the masses with safe and catchy songs. It doesn't help that they are lead by a former commercial jingle writer. One write up marks Foster' as the official tipping point for Indie Music from subculture to marketable commodity... Insecure much? To hate on a band just because your little sister also likes them, or God forbid your parents (GASP!!!) is just plain childish. KDWB and every other "Top 40" Pop farm did get their hands on "Pumped up Kicks", but maybe that's because it's just a good song. Either way, "Torches" is a fantastic album. "Helena Beat" is my favorite, but you could just throw a dart at the track list and hit gold. #4 Simple Math, Manchester Orchestra If you have ever wondered what it meant for a song to "soar" just give this one ride. I remember the first time I heard it. I was in my car in the parking lot outside my work. I was so desperate to hear the new Manchester that I pulled it up on my phone via a Youtube clip. Yikes! Add that to the fact that my expectations were sky high and you have a recipe for disaster... By the end of the song I was engulfed in goosebumps and giggling like a little boy. It is a rare and special thing when a song has that kind of immediate impact on you. "Simple Math" literally blessed me that day. #3 Calgary, Bon Iver Bon Iver was an enigma to me. They were one of those bands that everyone else seemed to love and I just didn't understand. I don't know if it was Justin Vernon's voice or the pacing, but something never quite clicked with me. When their self titled "Bon Iver" album dropped earlier this year I decided I would give it a couple spins and see if anything stuck. It would be on in the background while I was hanging with the fam or cleaning. Then, suddenly, I loved it. I truly, genuinely loved it. It was like one of those "Magic Eye" puzzles where you stare at a blurry page for a couple of minutes and then all of the sudden a Humming Bird jumps out at you! "Calgary" is patient and rewarding. SO happy I found it. #2 Abducted, Cults Cults, along with Foster The People, are my favorite new acts of 2011. Cults is a unique and retro band with a throwback sound. I was first turned on to them by their breakout hit "Go Outside" but was pleasantly surprised when this track jumped out and slapped me across the face! "Abducted" starts off with a whisper but quickly bares it's teeth and erupts! For maximum listening pleasure turn the volume up as loud as you can handle..... then turn it up just a little more. #1 Helplessness Blues, Fleet Foxes For my list I apply just a few basic rules. One rule is I won't put more than one song in from the same band. If I didn't apply this rule to myself things could've very easily spiraled out of control and turned into my "Top 10 Fleet Foxes songs of 2011". This album is packed with gem after gem , but the crown jewel here is the title track "Helplessness Blues". Society preaches "Individualism", "You! You! You! It's all about YOU!!!", and "Survival of the fittest" where lead singer Robin Pecknold hints that there might be a better way to live. A more communal way, where I can rely on you and you can do the same of me. A simple way of life where I can just go to work on my freaking orchard, enjoy the fruits of my labor, and provide for my loved ones. When the rest of the world is telling you to dream big, Fleet Foxes dares us to dream small, and I love them for that.


2011 was a SUPER good year for music and 2012 looks very promising! There are multiple heavy hitters, and personal favorites due to drop albums in the next 365 days. Allow me to get your musical mouth watering... Mumford & Sons, The Shins, The XX, Muse, MGMT, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Yeasayer, Andrew Bird, Gnarles Barkley, and Sigur Ros all have new material due! Happy New Year indeed!!!