Carbon Carousel, Abzorbr Split CD Release, show tonight

By Greg Swan, on March 30th, 2007%

The baptismal recording rom Eyedea’s (Eyedea&Abilities, Rhymesayers Ent.) new label, CRUSHKILL RECORDINGS, is a split EP by Minneapolis’ experimental rock group Carbon Carousel (Tracks 1-3) and hip-hop group Abzorbr (Tracks 4-6).

Check out our past interviews with Michael Larsen (Eyedea) on Carbon Carousel’s self-titled debut and Chris Keller on Abzorbr’s Capable of Teething.

These groups are most assuredly helping shape the future of the Minneapolis sound.Â Come check out the show and pick up their discs.
CD Release show is tonight at Minneapolis’ 7th Street Entry with special guest Roma . . . → Read More: Carbon Carousel, Abzorbr Split CD Release, show tonight

Vicious Aloysius @ Barfly, Minneapolis, MN

By Greg Swan, on March 30th, 2007%

Vicious Aloysius played Barfly’s backroom stage last night. This was the first time weâ€™d seen the group for over a year, and theyâ€™ve cut some dead weight, found a new bassist and secured a fulltime drummer. Oh yeah, and the songs are extremely, professionally tight.

In addition to pulse-pounding favorites “Viceroy,” “Farewell Farewell” and “Pleasure and Pain” from the group’s self-titled debut, Cavell, VA debuted two new songs — perhaps revealing a lounge rock side to the group’s mid-90s alternative rock sound (plus harmonica, of course).

A cover of Stone Temple Pilots’ “Vaseline” was the emerald in the crown, and may . . . → Read More: Vicious Aloysius @ Barfly, Minneapolis, MN

Cloud Cult : Meaning of 8

By Greg Swan, on March 29th, 2007%

Cloud Cult
Meaning of 8
Label: Earthology/Rebel Group
Release Date: April 10, 2007

Cloud Cult are simply the best indie band out there right now, and we’re not just saying that because they’re from Minneapolis.

If you weren’t fortunate enough to check out their acclaimed Advice from the Happy Hippopotamus — a 25-song indie orgasm — then you’re wondering what the hell we’re talking about.

Led by singer/songwriter Craig Minowa, Cloud Cult has been kicking around for almost 12 years now, and like the Flaming Lips and other boundary-pushing musicians, it’s taken them some time to invade the headphones of the mainstream indie . . . → Read More: Cloud Cult : Meaning of 8

Dog the Bounty Hunter Contest

By Greg Swan, on March 28th, 2007%

If you’ve been sleeping in an abandoned minivan these past three years hoping the bench warrant won’t catch up with you, you may not know Dog the Bounty Hunter is coming up on its fourth season.

Duane â€œDogâ€ Chapman not only got Ozzy Osbourne to do his theme music, his show helps up and coming musicians like Trendkill, Kim Wilson and Living in Question get some great exposure.There’s a full list of bands who’ve lent their tunes to Dog here.

Who wouldn’t want their song used as a soundtrack for the worldâ€™s most famous bounty hunter as he and the fam . . . → Read More: Dog the Bounty Hunter Contest

The Exies : A Modern Way of Living with the Truth

By Greg Swan, on March 28th, 2007%

The Exies
A Modern Way of Living with the TruthÂ
Release Date: April 10, 2007
Label: Eleven Seven Music

We’ll be honest. We played the first 20 seconds of the Exies new disc, A Modern Way of Living with the Truth, and upon hearing the lame acoustic ballad, immediately scratched out our eyeballs and never even advanced to Track 2.

But we just read something about this alternative rock band called the Exies, and thought, “Wait — isn’t that a lame acoustic emo band?”

Well actually, no, they just made a poor opening track decision. Diving deeper into the 13 tracks reveal . . . → Read More: The Exies : A Modern Way of Living with the Truth

Monday Music News

By Greg Swan, on March 26th, 2007%

Chrisopher Blue doesn’t care if you think there should be a “t” in his name. Check out his new disc, room tones (Sarathan Records) on April 17.
Christopher Blue : â€œGhost In The Nightâ€ (mp3)

Underoath drummer, Aaron Gillespie, has come out from behind the drum set to front a new rock-based project called The Almost. The record will drop April 3. Stream the new video for “Say This Sooner” here: MOV; REAL; WIN

Wolfgang may or may not be the product of a man who fell in love with a robot and watched too much VH1 in the late 90s when . . . → Read More: Monday Music News

The Inevitable Backlash : Sex for Safety EP

By Greg Swan, on March 25th, 2007%

The Inevitable Backlash
Sex for Safety EP
Label: Hegemony Records
Release Date: March 27, 2007

The gnarly opening guitar riff kicking off The Inevitable Backlash’s Sex for Safety EP promises adrenalin-fueled rock with an attitude to match. Unfortunately, each of the five tracks gets progressively more boring and noncommittal.

And what’s with the lameatoidarthritis acoustic track, “Snowstorms”? Note to vocalist John Renton, ballads are supposed to be 1) a beautiful escape from the hard stuff to make the girls scream and/or 2) a poignant song to show the band’s breadth…not just filler.

For an all-star lineup helping Renton make the best of his . . . → Read More: The Inevitable Backlash : Sex for Safety EP

Minneapolis Reviews: Dragons Power Up!, Wannabe Hasbeens, The Next Step, NemoJoe, Charley Dush, Signal to Trust

By Greg Swan, on March 25th, 2007%

Dragons Power Up! : This Way to Gunshire (local)

With a serpentine, low-fi sound coiled round a flaming pile of reverb sits Dragons Power Up!, a Minneapolis-based beast of a band with one mission – to rock. This Way to Gunshire chronicles their planetary conquest and , with folded wings and fiery breath, strikes fear into the hearts of the innocent and warms the hearts of the damned.

Wannabe Hasbeens : Former Trans Future Vol. 1 (C*Motion Music/BMI)

Minneapolis’ Wannabe Hasbeens bill their sound as “Dumb rock for smart people,” and we can’t really argue. The group’s new album, Former . . . → Read More: Minneapolis Reviews: Dragons Power Up!, Wannabe Hasbeens, The Next Step, NemoJoe, Charley Dush, Signal to Trust

Electric Soft Parade : No Need to Be Downhearted : Interview

By Greg Swan, on March 23rd, 2007%

Electric Soft Parade
No Need to Be Downhearted
Label: Better Looking
Release Date: April 24, 2007

Electric Soft Parade are perhaps the best U.K. indie rock band youâ€™ve never heard. And that doesn’t necessarily mean you haven’t tried.

When the group released Holes in the Wall back in 2002, U.K. critics hailed the effort as a tremendous step forward in the indie rock world. With complex writing, mixed up time signatures and psychedelic production effects, Holes in the Wall became an import treasure hunt for those of us in the states.

Fast forward five years. One album, a stop at SXSW 2006 and an . . . → Read More: Electric Soft Parade : No Need to Be Downhearted : Interview

Tom Feldmann & the Get-Rites : Side Show Revival

By Greg Swan, on March 23rd, 2007%

Tom Feldmann & the Get-Rites
Side Show Revival
Label: Magnolia Recording Co.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Feldmann may come from Scandinavian “dontcha know” country up in Minnesota, but he’s rooted in the misty mountaintops of the southeastern misty mountains. With a soulful Americana folk sound in the tradition of blues legends (Son House, John Lee Hooker) and newer artists (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo), Feldmann and his band, the Get-Rites, are forging new territory here in the north woods.

Side Show Revival, the group’s latest release, is exactly what it claims to be — a spiritual renewal. With lyrics addressing finding Jesus, evaluating spiritual gifts and . . . → Read More: Tom Feldmann & the Get-Rites : Side Show Revival