Heart To Gold, Early Eyes, and Dad Bod Concert Review

This past Friday night, a sold-out crowd packed into the Underground Music Venue to celebrate the release of Tom, the new album from rockers Heart To Gold which is, for the record, the best local album of the year as of yet. With them was an incredibly stacked bill of support from Early Eyes, Dad Bod, Gramma, and Paqrat. This cathartic affair felt monumental, building off of the energy of the bands and the crowd throughout the night. Singer and guitarist Grant Whiteoak echoed this sentiment early in Heart To Gold’s set, telling us all "I'm so fucking nervous, this is psycho."

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Prathloons "The Kansas Wind" Review

Conceptually, the album is about what the title suggests: The Kansas Wind. “I’m just kind of using the wind and the vastness of the sky to almost use nature as a metaphor to kind of usher in what once was and what now is,” explains Colin. Throughout the album, the air, the sky, and the wind are referenced in similar but always repositioned ways.

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Interview with Singer-Songwriter Jesse Norell on "Aorta Borealis"

Singer-songwriter Jesse Norell’s new album Aorta Borealis is special. Not only is it his return to music, but it also chronicles the struggles he and his family went through when his daughter Alyssa was diagnosed with CHD (Congenital Heart Disease). It’s a concept record of the most personal kind, dealing with all the emotions, and Norell hopes it raises awareness and aids in reducing the stigma of those living with Down syndrome.

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OKnice's "Have You Tried Being Happy?" Review

Have You Tried Being Happy surpasses the size of the emcee’s last two projects in the first-days-of-lockdown experiment of The Social Distance and the chilly, late 2019 release of Winter Tape Vol. 1. Oknice’s effort to make a feel-good record falls short on this album, but that goes without saying it’s not filled with heavy doses of dopamine.

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Alien Book Club's "Desecration of the Whispering Salamander" Review

Desecration of the Whispering Salamander proves to be just as eclectic as its name. Guitarist and vocalist, Anita, describes their work as “musical ADHD”, while bassist and vocalist, Andrea, chooses the words “chaotic and fun.” These descriptions are spot on, as Alien Book Club manages to weave aspects of numerous genres seamlessly into each song to create an exciting and entertaining listening experience.

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Genetic Drift's "History's Contagious" Review

The Minneapolis four-piece returns on October 13th with History's Contagious, their first proper release in six years. The 25-minute album demonstrates maturing songwriting craftsmanship that hasn't faltered in the years since 2015's Sunrise Compromise, with lead single "VIgorous PHantasy" showcasing the group’s brand of garage pop through a refined lens.

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