Spotlighting Minnesota Music from the Basement Up.
On August 10th the Chicago native and Twin Cities transplant MonoPoleoe released the tightly packaged and intriguing project “Hangin’ with My Senseis.” This project acts as a sort of precursor to something bigger by the end of year. Because of that, I will keep this review short and sweet and save the bigger cuts of meat for Mono’s main course this year.
Read MoreListening to this album altogether is like being on a claustrophobic rollercoaster ride through a haunted mansion, passing by sections going downhill at rapid speed like you’re on the river in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, as well as being forced to pass by slowly and watch a disturbing scene unfold.
Read MoreAs Rhino Shrine tell it, when it comes to whipping up "tasty jams," there can never be too many cooks in the kitchen. Even when adding a new set of hands to the ensemble, as they did recruiting drummer Sam "Johnny Tsunami" Arphu, the fresh tones all blend together in a complimentary way, never clashing. “We adjusted well,” singer/guitarist Gavin Jarl proclaims, “acclimated, quite nicely… Sam is a man of many flavors.”
Read MoreWhisky Kisses blooms with growing slide guitars the moment “Baby I Miss You” opens. Flourishing and vibrant, Fringe Pipes’ new EP has the band cultivating a dew kissed alt-country that flowers brightly with some of the most colorful varieties found inside the genre. Whereas much of Americana is filled with amber waves of breezy prairies, the version found here is dense, grown tall and thick with greenery.
I fondly remember the first time I ever saw Alien Book Club live. It was one of those rare moments when a band rips into their first song, and you turn to your friend and go “holy shit, how have I not heard this band before?”
Read More“Vestiges,” was released back on June 1st this year. We remember what was going on around that time and for I/O, and everyone else, a lot of personal goals and projects took a necessary back seat. With the world changing and burning in front of our very eyes, most other things didn’t matter except protecting you and yours, and most importantly: justice.
Read MoreHave you found yourself worried, like I have, that unabashedly romantic, uncynical jazz was dead? Well, I come as the bearer of good news! Thanks to acts like Leslie Vincent and her debut album “These Foolish Things” this genre is very much alive and well.
Read MoreGrayBeat returns on his first full length album, Elemental Rhapsody, which continues the saga that began on the Whaelstrom EP. Elemental Rhapsody is best experienced in full, each song introducing a new idea and expanding on it fully. You are taken through the life of Graylien, the Astrarian from Xul, as he goes on his adventure, experiencing the unknown that lies ahead.
Read MoreI don’t think I can find enough words to describe how absolutely beautiful this entire album is, it is the kind of album that you just can’t pick a song to claim as a favorite because they’re all awesome, hitting you right in the core of your soul and stirring all kinds of feelings.
Read MoreI’m officially baptizing Sister Species as the Slipknot of chamber pop! For those of you who don’t know what I mean by that, Sister Species flouts the traditional three or four member line up, much like Slipknot, and instead has seven awesome musicians. All these individuals combine to create a compositional sound that is full and lush, and just plain good!
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