Spotlighting Twin Cities' Music from the Basement Up.
Harper's Jar have rumbled around the Twin Cities underground for awhile now. Even before putting out their first track, the quick and saucy "Aphrodite," back in 2017, their raucous clattering has boomed from beneath the floorboards of DIY venues and out onto the streets of neighborhoods like Marcy-Holmes and Midway.
Read MoreRemember the quaint ol’ days of quarantinis and toilet paper shortage? Seems like so long ago. I find myself wanting to transport back to that time in order to be able to properly assess the debut album “Potluck” from the local food and jazz enthusiasts, Rabeca.
Read Moreniiice. are honest, self-doubt and scalding self-awareness sold in a family-sized pack. The self-described weed/party-emo band is merely a 3 piece, but when their tight-knit riffs and a big ol’ helping of vox/guitarist, Roddie Gadeberg’s, acrobat sing/shout hit, it’s clear there’s room for anyone to join in.
Read MoreWith a debut album that tallies over 14 features from a bevy of Twin Cities legends, Rising Path shares the most absolutely stacked lineup in an album this year. This album does not feel like a producer/vocalist duo project, but a compilation that dabbles over a vast spread of different sounds and styles with a heavy chunk of local flavor.
Read MoreDua Saleh is not here to fuck around. The Sudan-born, Twin Cities-based artist has proved that they are a force to be reckoned with since the release of their Nūr EP in January of 2019, and their follow up, ROSETTA, is no different.
Read MoreBluntness. It’s the source of a great punk song’s power, when raw lyrics turn a straightforward chord progression into something transcendent. This ethos comes through in spades on Everyone is Sad, the latest EP from the Minneapolis folk-punk duo,
Read MoreBetween the warm familiar voice, relatable lyrics, and soulful harmonica; this EP makes you feel like you're living the simple life on the prairie. It just feels good.
Read MoreOn 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 More