Radio 200/Alternative | Loud Rock | RPM/electronica | Hip Hop | World | Local | Interviews

Radio 200/Alternative picks

	DEVENDRA BANHART -- cripple crow for those of you who have not heard any of this esoteric young man's music, you probably have been thinking your life is going ok. but hey, you may be wrong; and what better time to find out? the new album is fuller, fresher, more dynamic than ever before. why? full band. rather than the quirky folkesque groove running through his last few, cripple crow features a backing band this adds new life and awareness to barhart's songs. try: 4 -- Long Haired Child 5 -- Lazy Butterfly 12 -- When They Come
	TERRY REID -- superlungs christ, with a title like this you at least have to stop and check it out. and this man is -- rather, was (as this album is a reissue of one recorded in 1968) -- a male janis joplin, sending melodies floating and careening over some dirtyass guitar and classic rock rhythms. you could think of this fellow as an american dungen, splashed with some joplin and a bit of zeppelin thrown in. but he's before all these people! c'mon. 1 -- superlungs my supergirl 5 -- speak now or forever hold your peace
	WOLF PARADE -- apologies to the queen mary What do you get when you mix the arcade fire, modest mouse, david bowie  and interpol? a whole lot of hype. that hype is wolf parade, a band that  (for the most part) fulfills expectations, melding mournful melodies with  driving guitars, claps, beats beats beats and of course a little shimsham.  one of my songs of the summer, # 7 shine a light. 1 -- you are a runner & i am my father's sun 5 -- fancy claps 7 -- shine a light
	BROADCAST -- Tender Buttons A little bit of stereolab psychpop tinged with electronic drum beats...each song is a bit different, variations on the theme...of driving drums ambient guitars floating vocals put together piece by piece in different orders, at least try a few. worth a listen, says i: 1 -- found the f 4 -- america's boy
	JOHN VANDERSLICE -- pixel revolt is he or is he not a modern-day indie rock hero. you ask, i cannot tell. i know his albums are pretty solid, and that this one in particular is pretty good. if you've liked his older stuff, you'll dig this -- if you're just getting started, try 2 -- plymouth rock 12 -- dead slate pacific
	ORANGE JUICE -- The Glasgow School belle and sebastian would not have been belle and sebastian without orange juice. it's the vitamin c -- get your fill. SAME WITH franz ferdinand, i kid you not. or anyone else british pop type group...this is the real deal: 1 -- falling and laughing 5 -- lovesick 20 -- texas fever

Loud Rock

	KYLESA - To Walk A Middle Course [Prosthetic] Kylesa plays dark Scandanavian hardcore that features both male and female vocals, stoner metal riffs, and the driving blends and builds of post-punk/post-hardcore. Recommended if you're into: High On Fire, Tragedy, Converge Killer Tracks: 1, 2, 6, 8
	THE LETTERS ORGANIZE - Dead Rhythm Machine [Nitro] The Letters Organize find the way to combine post-hardcore and rock n roll into one rocking sound. For Fans Of: The Bronx, JR Ewing, Black Cross, The Blood Brothers Recommended Tracks: 1, 4, 5, 6
	WINTER OF APOKALYPSE - Solitary Winter Night [Moribund] This old school black metal that makes Cradle of Filth sound like kindergartners. This album rages and doesn't need any bells or whistles, just thrash. Check it out if you like: Tragedy, Darkthrone Rage to these songs: 1, 2, 6
	PAINT IT BLACK - Paradise [Jade Tree] This is Paint It Black's sophomore effort. Their new album is more straight forward but they still hold to being a melodic hardcore band. This time around the lyrics are even better and the band also shows more depth and variety. For Fans Of: Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Strike Anywhere, Dillinger Four Suggested Tracks: 14, 1, 6, 8, 10, 12
	INTO THE MOAT - The Design [Metalblade] Into The Moat plays psychotic metalcore with math rhythms. Recommended if you like: Nehemiah, With Dead Hands Rising, Psyopsus Tracks get into: 3, 2, 5, 8
	COMEBACK KID - Wake The Dead [Victory] The Canadian takeover continues. Winnipeg's COMEBACK KID brings positive hardcore that is catchy but isn't cheesy. The guitars are melodic and the vocals are youth crew. This album is infectious. For Fans Of: Modern Life Is War, Bane, No Warning Got your mosh on with songs: 3, 1, 4, 9

RPM

	FOUR TET Everything Ecstatic Kieran Hebden knows more about sound than I do about anything. Leaving behind melody, abandoning order for commotion, and reforming the unusual into the perfect, Hebden—with just his laptop— creates his own genre of “chillaxing” music. To top it off, I hear saxophone…and glockenspiel. Glorious! Tracks: 2. Smile Around the Face 4. Sun Drums and Soil ListenMusic ListenMusic 9. Sleep, Eat Food, Have Visions
	CHEMICAL BROTHERS – Push the Button Solid, solid album. The sounds are diverse, intermixing perfectly for some wicked beats. As can be expected with a 5th album, the sound is much more professional than previous albums whether for the better or the worse. All that I know is that the entire album deserves a listen or two. For fans of the Faint, Daft Punk, or Aphex Twin. Good tracks: 1, 3 (Bloc Party vocalist), 7.
	DROP THE FEAR – Drop the Fear This CD has racked up dozens of plays on my itunes. It is absolutely mesmerizing – ambient sounds weave in and out between perfectly airy vocals. The album just shimmers with beauty. While the sound never breaks out of its impressively soft shell, samples spaced throughout the album provide a great contrast to the perfect beauty of Sarah Marcogliese’s voice. Sounds like Bjork, Trespassers Williams, or Air. Listen to tracks 1, 3, 4.
	LEMON JELLY – ‘64-‘95 If you heard any their earlier albums, a fuller and more upbeat sound awaits you in ‘64-‘95. Watch out for Bill Shatner laying down some sweet spoken words. Check it out if you liked the pop-feel of the Flaming Lips’s “Yoshimi”, or the craziness of the Basement Jaxx’s beats. Highlights: 2, 5, 7, 10.

HIP HOP

	MF DOOM - MM...Food [Rhymesayers Entertainment] The masked man who is guilty of last year's underground hip hop hit Madvillain is at large again. This time he is under the moniker Doom The Metal Faced Villian. MF Doom's beats are really laid back. His samples feature classic sounds from 70's and 80's music along with some stuff that sounds like its from 50's TV programs. Doom's rhymes are as smooth as warm butter. The overall effect is a memorable hip hop record that has plenty of character yet doesn't compromise its overall integrity. For Fans Of: Mad Villain, Dr. Octagon, Aesop Rock Suggested Tracks: 14, 5, 15, 12
	SAGE FRANCIS - A Healthy Distrust [Epitaph] Sage's hard work from years of being an unknown hip hop mc are paying off. His new release is on Epitaph which should make him known to a lot more kids, especially punk rock kids. Sage brings together slick rhymes along with a nice blend of instruments and samples. This isn't booty rap that will get the club bouncing but it's more like hip hop music that will still consider good five years down the line. You don't have to be a hip hop fan to enjoy this but true hip hop fans should love this. For Fans of: Atmosphere, Eminem, Beck, Brother Ali Recommended Tracks: 1, 4, 5, 10
	HEIRUSPECS - A Tiger Dancing [Razor & Tie] St. Paul's Heiruspecs are finally getting the national recognition they deserve. This hip hop group is very talented. Not only do they have 2 extremely talented MCs but their rhymes are backed by a live band that bring sounds that no producer can bring. Listening to the record you'll hear the keyboards, bass, guitar, and drums that define the Heiruspecs hip hop sound For Fans Of: Atmosphere, Brother Ali, The Roots, Eyedea & Abilities Play these songs: 1, 3, 5, 6
	LIBRETTO - ILL-OET The Last Element [Dim Mak] Libretto has some funky beats, cut choice of samples and good rhyme saying skills. Libretto is itching to make it big but the album doesn't gloss over what is important to get there. For Fans Of: Murs, Outkast, Lifesavas Suggested Tracks: 2, 6, 9, 11
	OMNI - Burgundy Brown [BLX Records] Omni uses smooth instrumentation, whether it is from jazzy keyboards to classical guitars. Recommended if you like: Gift of Gab, Aceyalone, Akrobatik Suggested Tracks: 1, 4, 6

World

LOCAL

	THE DIVEBOMB HONEY - The Divebomb Honey 7"[Jilted Records] The core of this band is the Twin Cities rock and roll married couple Sheela Namakkal(ex-The Goochers) and Ben Crew (a '97 Olaf grad, ex-Sweet J.A.P., Damage Deposit, Black Brick Kiss). Together with their band members they create a new wave sound that is sort of pop-punk. Sheela is the lead vocalist and her vocals sound really good on top of the keyboards, bass, guitar, and drums. Recommended if you like: The Goochers, Devo, The B-52s Killer Tracks: ALL!
	THE MIDNIGHT EVILS - Break It Down [Estrus] If you're dying for some southern rock or AC/DC, you need to check out these guys. These Evil guys have an overall garage feel and they know how to rock it out like no other Twin Cities band. Recommended if you like: AC/DC, Stooges, Supersuckers Songs to rock out to: 1, 8, 3, 4, 6
	ANEURETICAL - When You Were A Kid [Afternoon Records] This is the sophomore release by these Twin Cities youngsters. The new album shows a lot of growth from their debut album. For only 3 guys playing three instruments, they come up with an amazing sound. They keep the rhythms edgy with sophisticated bass, guitar, and drums that kind find a groove but twist it 180 degrees with a sick accuracy. In addition, Anueretical keeps the vocals kind of catchy which creates a nice contrast between vocals and the instruments. I can't wait to hear what these come up with as they grow older. Recommended if you like: Q and not U, Modest Mouse Suggested Tracks: 1, 3, 6, 9

Interviews

	Rilo Kiley Read Curt's Interview w/ Rilo Kiley here.