MINNESOTA SOUND REVIEWS - 09/06/23
Reviews by: Mike Larson, Writer @holdingcaufield
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner/Editor @PlaylistTC
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Top songs on the Minnesota Sound playlist.
Anita Velveeta "Agoraphobia"
If "Agoraphobia" is an anxiety disorder, this song is the moment you get home and collapse into bed alone. You can feel or hear the anxiety from what is either a bass or baritone guitar playing a major 7. Each member of this band is doing their own thing and it all comes together in a very textured rhythm section. It's musical spaghetti you can eat in bed. The octave dual vocals are both sonically pleasing but also provide a sense of communication and duality that really ties the song together. And then, it erupts like a supervolcano. "Agoraphobia" is from Anita Velveeta's 2023 album "Western Amphibians."
Montclair "Curse in My Ways"
"Curse in My Ways" is dripping with vibes. It’s the ice in your lemonade on a hot summer day and the melted butter on your pancakes. While the lyrics paint a portrait of someone struggling alone, the performances on this song are thriving on the skills of the group. It’s a little Minneapolis and a whole lot of Motown. This song is a great example of a group of virtuosos holding back for the sake of the song. Every note is tasteful and needs to be there. What transpires when Montclair gets together is nothing short of the Minnesota sound at its nicest. "Curse in my Ways" is the title track from Montclair 2021 album.
BUIO OMEGA "INSULT TO INJURY"
*This review was updated after discussing the subject of the song with the singer.
"INSULT TO INJURY" is a reverb soaked racket that, like life, is over before you want it to be. The feedback that opens the track is a flatline before the zombie rises and wreaks havoc on the hospital. What could be more Minneapolis than punk song about a 90’s wrestling cage fight? Both share a storied local history. It’s brutal in the best way. Minnesota nice has never sounded so happy to be so angry. An emotional catharsis through bent guitar strings, hard hitting drums, and reverbed guttural screams. Take this one with your morning scream into the void. We all do that right? It’s a short one so feel free to add it to the queue a few times. Listen to "Insult to Injury" on Buio Omega's album "Take A Look."
RZ Shahid "Warrior"
"Warrior" by RZ Shahid is a triumph over the bad vibes that try to get in the way from time to time. After a long winter, this track is oceanside drive with the top down at sunset. It stays consistently cool as the energy shifts from relaxed to hyped. The song breathes deep in the verses and exhales a sigh of relief in beautifully layered choruses. RZ showcases both crisp delivery and silky smooth singing over a great jazz progression and a tight backing group. While the song is about overcoming various trials, my personal favorite line was “This game not a demo don’t test me.” I won't test him but I will be listening to "Warrior" when I need a summer day this winter.
Annie and the Bang Bang "Let Me Down"
"Let Me Down" is an instant classic which evokes memories of listening to Blondie and Jefferson Airplane. A fantastic guitar tone gets a lazy upstroke that puts the listener squarely in the rock and roll zone. The contrast of the crunchy guitars and the smooth sailing of the lead vocals is a complimentary balance. The choruses really open up into a wider space with a memorable vocal line to sing along with. Rockers rejoice! In a world of A.I. mashups and tik tok dances, there are still artists making great rock music and this is a song we all need to see live. See you at the show!
Calagary Winters "i sent you the rain"
“i sent you the rain” begins with a soft piano playing a contemplative motif that will carry us into and through the storm of that old familiar beast, the break up. It’s raining and even peaceful. Then the song explodes into an emo art rock letter to a former lover. A new release from Calgary Winters, it pays homage to music that someones cool older brother showed you in 1999 or maybe 2002. If emo was a phase (which it isn’t), this track is a great example of why we could get back into that phase. Great guitars working together and a ton of energy coming from the bass lines and drummers playing. If rock music took a nap, I think it's waking up.
