Thursday, February 28, 2008

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Icebergs (on land!), Wendy Rouse, Woodland barbershops, Jes Durfee and pogs!

It's hard to celebrate this week knowing that Renegade Comedy Theatre's board dumped Brian Matuszak. I mean, he's only the comedy troupe's founder....

Regardless, here's what I've been up to:

"Discover Duluth: Iceberg on Land" --Yeah! An online exclusive in my photo essay series that may very well just blow your mind. (If you're familiar with East Orange Street, you probably already know what I'm talking about.)

"For the Love of Minnesota"
-- Wendy Rouse’s latest exhibit, "Mirror Lake," stems from a homesick episode in New York City. (Hopefully she's not making fun of me for getting lost trying to find her East Hillside studio....)

"Old-Fashioned Barbershop Opens in Woodland"
-- Thanks to Don Hanson, Woodland residents like Darrell Martin will no longer have to go more than a few blocks to get a haircut.

Elsewhere in this weekend's Budge, I snapped a shot at Lizzard's for David Buckner's excellent contribution, "Jes Durfee, Duluth's Glass Blower Extraordinaire," and there was a passing reference to my indefensible tendency to collect pogs in Matt Suoja's column on a similar dweeby activity, "All Right, I'll Finally Admit I Collect Baseball Cards." (To make a short story even shorter, it took my pog collection to get him to admit to his sickness.) (har har har)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Free MP3 download of new Cloud Cult single!

That's right, "Everybody Here is a Ghost" is available here. For free.

In addition to leaking the new single as a free MP3 download, Cloud Cult is shooting a music video for the song in St. Paul this Sunday, March 2, at Como Park.

A large crowd of extras is needed for the shoot—no experience necessary, so long as you can stand and look expressionless, as well as jump on command. The shoot will take place outside in the East Picnic Grounds (by the baseball field) of Como Park. Those interested are encouraged to arrive at the park promptly at 10 a.m. on March 2nd and bring their friends. The more, the merrier on this one. (Please also take a moment to forward this on to your friends and their friends and the friends of those friends of the other friends … ideally, Kevin Bacon will show himself for this one.)

The video will be shot outdoors, and will take upwards of 3 to 4 hours, so please dress to stay warm. You will be rewarded (with memories) for your time.

THE CONCEPT OF THE VIDEO: An overwhelmingly large crowd of people stand expressionless in a field, while band members pop out as faces within the crowd singing the new single from Cloud Cult as the camera drifts though everyone gathered. Eventually, the video evolves into a rambunctious party, and extras will be needed to jump and celebrate (in a snowy field).

RECAP:

WHAT: Extras needed for music video shoot of Cloud Cult’s new single, “Everybody Here is a Cloud,” off of the forthcoming release Feel Good Ghosts (due out April 8th). Listen to the track here

WHEN: This Sunday, March 2nd at 10 a.m.

WHERE: Show up in the baseball field within the East Picnic Grounds of Como Park in St. Paul, MN.

WEAR: Enough clothes to stay warm while standing outside in a large group for 3 hours.

WARM DRINKS: Will be provided.

NOTE: This is not a pyramid scheme.

WARNING: Slow motion will be used.

For more information and to RSVP, contact adrian@cloudcult.com.

~Information courtesy of Cloud Cult


FURTHER READING
"Music for the Green Revolution" - My Q-and-A with Cloud Cult frontman Craig Minowa last summer (in anticipation of their performance during the Grandma's Marathon festivities).

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Suck it, Maxim!

This just gives a bad name to music reviewers everywhere (and it's not like we need any help with that!) -- from The Associated Press...

Maxim apologizes for Black Crowes review

Tue Feb 26, 4:18 PM ET

Maxim magazine has apologized for publishing a negative review of the Black Crowes' new album by a writer who hadn't listened to the whole CD.

The review in Maxim's March issue gives the Crowes' "Warpaint" a rating of two-and-a-half stars out of five. The band posted an exasperated statement on its Web site last week saying the Maxim writer hadn't heard the entire album because advance copies weren't available. The Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an "educated guess."

Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky responded Tuesday with this statement: "It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers."

A spokeswoman for the magazine contacted by The Associated Press declined to say whether the writer would face disciplinary action.

"Warpaint," the Black Crowes' first album in seven years, is set for release March 4. The blues-rock group, fronted by Chris Robinson, has released only one song from the disc, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution."

The band's hits include "Hard to Handle" and "She Talks to Angels."

And the Black Crowes' response...

DATE: February 26, 2008

THE BLACK CROWES MANAGER REJECTS MAXIM'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALLS FOR
MAXIM’S FULL ACCOUNTABILITY
AND IMMEDIATE APOLOGY TO THE BLACK CROWES

Maxim magazine has issued a formal “apology” for publishing a negative review of the Black Crowes' new album by a writer who hadn't listened to the CD.

Pete Angelus, manager of The Black Crowes, stated, “In my opinion, Maxim’s fabrication of an album review is highly unethical and indefensible. This issue potentially pertains to all artists and their craft, and a publication which apparently has no respect for either.”

Maxim’s Editorial Director, James Kaminsky, issued this statement to the media: "It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers."

Angelus responds, “Maxim seems to continue in their attempt to deceive the public with their usage of the word 'entirety.' At the most, Maxim could have only heard the one complete song that has been released to radio, before publishing their 'album review.' It comes as no surprise that Maxim has elected to apologize to their readers now that the world has been informed of their deception; however, that is not full accountability.”

In closing, Angelus said, “In my opinion, Maxim’s ‘apology’ is self-serving damage control by failing to mention The Black Crowes. The appropriate action from Maxim is to immediately issue a public apology to The Black Crowes for disparaging both the band and their soon to be released new album ‘Warpaint’ without having heard the material.”

Today's Moment of Zen: Hammer Time!

Lest you forget: DULUTHIANS = 2 LEGIT 2 QUIT....

Monday, February 25, 2008

Report: Local author as cool as Kim Deal

It's true, and you have one chance to schmooze with Jeffrey Woolf before he hits the big time! Check out his novel release party for "Apples of Arcadia" -- released through his Black Umbrella Books DIY operation -- March 8 at Carmody Irish Pub and, if you're feeling so kind, his one-on-one with me (Matthew R. Perrine) in next weekend's edition of the Duluth Budgeteer News.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Holy crap! The Flaming Lips to play 10,000 Lakes Festival!!

10,000 Lakes Festival Confirms Initial Lineup Including Phil Lesh & Friends, Mickey Hart Band, The Flaming Lips, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic and Many More

Concert Celebration Descends on Northern Minnesota July 23-26 for 6th Annual Music & Camping Festival

Detroit Lakes, MN (February 22, 2008) - The sixth annual 10,000 Lakes Festival (10KLF) is proud to announce the initial lineup for this year’s celebration of music, nature and community. Held July 23–26 at the Soo Pass Ranch in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, 10KLF continues to grow as Al Schnier guitarist from moe. calls the 10,000 Lakes Festival “one of those great spots you tell all your friends about.”

With over sixty bands on the final lineup, the 10,000 Lakes Festival announces initial artists for the 2008 event with performances from:

Phil Lesh & Friends
The Flaming Lips
Michael Franti & Spearhead
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Mickey Hart Band (featuring Steve Kimock & George Porter Jr.)
Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood
Slightly Stoopid
Dark Star Orchestra
Panjea with Michael Kang
JJ Grey & MOFRO
The New Mastersounds
Everyone Orchestra
The Wood Brothers
Cornmeal
WBPN
The Hue
With over forty additional acts still to be announced

Along with these artists, the OurStage 10KLF Cosmic Break Tour presents emerging musicians nationwide with the chance to perform at this year’s festival. Artists may simply submit their music on the OurStage 10KLF channel without charge and then it’s up to the fans to decide. Based on OurStage’s fan-rankings, 50 bands will be selected to perform at 10 regional tour stops throughout the Midwest this April. At each stop, five bands will take the stage to perform live where the band with the most audience votes at each show receives a paid performance at 10KLF in July. http://www.ourstage.com/go/10KLF

Located off the beaten path in Minnesota’s pristine North Country, the New York Times praises 10,000 Lakes Festival’s “enticing” wooded and lakeside camping grounds, describing them in last year’s Summer Festival Guide as “perfect for long walks.”

While such long walks can certainly be relaxing, they are by no means necessary. The festival’s five different concert stages are strategically placed within short walking distance of each other. Over 600 acres of unspoiled lakeside and forest camping provide an unusually tranquil and natural festival setting.

Strolling around the Soo Pass Ranch’s 60-acre concert bowl, festival attendees are treated to top of the line, modern facilities with running water and hot showers. Shorter lines and more personal space create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that lasts all weekend long, complimenting the natural Minnesotan hospitality. Perhaps the Minneapolis Star Tribune put it best by describing 10KLF as “filled with thousands of good vibes.”

This widespread good spirit allows 10KLF to continue supporting the community that hosts the event through the ‘Help Us Help’ campaign. Through this campaign, 10KLF will match each dollar donated by patrons when ordering tickets online. All of the proceeds go directly to worthy charities supported by the 10,000 Lakes Festival including: the Becker County Humane Society, The Rex Foundation, Conscious Alliance, Detroit Lakes Public Schools and more.

Event tickets, campground reservations and festival details are now available online at www.10KLF.com.

Performers at the previous 10,000 Lakes Festivals include Widespread Panic, Bob Weir & RatDog, The String Cheese Incident, The Black Crowes, G. Love & Special Sauce, Les Claypool, 311, Galactic, The Roots, John Mayer, Donavon Frankenreiter, O.A.R., Medeski Martin & Wood, Keller Williams, Los Lobos, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Samples, DJ Logic, Particle, Sound Tribe Sector 9, Rusted Root, Maroon 5, The Big Wu, The Radiators, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Soulive, North Mississippi Allstars, Tea Leaf Green, Railroad Earth, Shooter Jennings and many more.

~10,000 Lakes Festival press release

Friday, February 22, 2008

Brother Ali: 5 Line King (another special mix tape)

In honor of Brother Ali's upcoming performance at Pizza Luce (click here for details), I've put together a mix tape of his best performances -- in my humble opinion, that is.

Note: "Artwork" by me, Matthew R. Perrine, utilizing Dan Monick's original photograph.

1. Brother Ali - "Champion (Remix)"
Found on: the "Champion" EP. Believe it or not, but an improvement on the original (which appears on "Shadows on the Sun").

2. Brother Ali - "Bitchslap!"
Found on: "Shadows on the Sun." As Ant revealed in his appearance at the University of Minnesota's "Making Music" Q-and-A session (listen here), this was originally written for Slug/Atmosphere but felt more like a Brother Ali track.

3. Brother Ali - "5 Line King"
Found on: P.O.S. & Turbo Nemesis' "Meat Tape." Outside of "Walking Away," this rare track is Ali's best showcase of his storytelling ability.

4. Brother Ali - Phone Message for Matthew R. Perrine
Exactly what it sounds like. (I'm a hopeless music geek, I know!)

5. Atmosphere feat. Brother Ali - "Cats Van Bags"
Found on: Atmosphere's "Seven's Travels." One of the most explosive tracks ever ... is it reckoning day yet?

6. Brother Ali - "Love on Display"
Found on: the "Champion" EP. One of Ant's best bass lines to date.

7. Brother Ali - "Truth Is (Remix)" (download original here)
Found on: Brother Ali & BK-One's "Off the Record." Remix by Brother Ali and BK-One -- the lengthy intro includes hilarious caller comments from Ali's successful run on Twin Cities hip-hop station B96. Choice lines: "You need to keep Brother Ali off the radio ... you guys are like a pop station and he's way too good for B96, dude. This station officially sucks."

8. Sage Francis feat. Brother Ali, Slug and Joe Beats - "Doomage"
Found on: "Still Sickly Business." Production by: MF Doom. It's tough and gritty -- but what else would you expect from an MF Doom/Sage Francis collab?

9. Brother Ali - "Heads Down (You Haven't Done That Yet)"
Found on: the "Champion" EP. A nice bridge between albums one and two.

10. Brother Ali - "Forest Whitiker"
Found on: "Shadows on the Sun." Sunday drive hip-hop? There's some seriously sunny production going on here.

11. DJ Abilities feat. Brother Ali - "Brother Ali Exclusive"
Found on: DJ Abilities' "... For Persons with DJ Abilities." Production by: DJ Abilities. Abilities takes a backseat to Ali, with minimal production allowing the MC to shine through.

12. Brother Ali - "Fire in the Eye"
Found on: the "A League of Our Own, Vol. 2" compilation. Production by: Mr. Dibbs (?). I don't know much about this track, but it's well worth seeking out (hint: it was collected for the "Off the Record" mix tape).

13. Brother Ali - "Take Me Home"
Found on: "The Undisputed Truth." Another sunny jam. People say Ali's always pissed off, but apparently Ant's out to change that perception.

14. Brother Ali feat. Slug - "Blah Blah Blah"
Found on: "Shadows on the Sun." The first Ali track I ever heard -- and one of the catchiest.

15. Brother Ali - "Whatcha Got"
Found on: "The Undisputed Truth." Really has a way of introducing itself, like some of the tougher cuts on "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having."

16. Brother Ali - "The Trap"
Found on: Brother Ali & BK-One's "Off the Record." Production by: BK-One (?). Ali rapping over the Roots' apocalyptic "In the Music" (sans Black Thought's vocals, of course). Works surprisingly well.

17. Brother Ali feat. Slug - "Missing Teeth"
Found on: "Shadows on the Sun." For whatever reason, reminds me of the "Headshots: SE7EN" sessions.

18. Mr. Dibbs feat. Brother Ali - "Live from the Chippie-Bun Club"
From "Thirty-Seven." Production by: Mr. Dibbs. Ali goes rock 'n' roll!

19. Brother Ali - "Truth Is (Robotobots Remix)"
Found on: Robotobots' Web site. Sounds like something DJ Abilities would cook up -- very cool.

20. Brother Ali - "Original King"
Found on: the "Scribble Jam 06" compilation. One of the funkiest intros in the history of Ant.

21. Brother Ali - "Operation Push"
Found on: Brother Ali & BK-One's "Off the Record." Production by: BK-One (?). Gotta love the shout-outs!

22. Brother Ali - "Walking Away"
Found on: "The Undisputed Truth." I never considered myself a huge Ali fan until I "stumbled upon" this track. It will make a believer out of anybody. Its gorgeous backing track and bittersweet lyrics about a failed marriage are simply irresistible. "I don't love you / I don't think I ever did / And if you hadn't tried to kill / I would've stayed for the kid."

All tracks produced by Ant except where noted.



FURTHER READING
"Brother Ali Has Left the Building" -- That's right; I finally scored an interview with the legend-in-the-making Rhymesayers MC! (If you like what you read, make sure to check out my Q-and-A with Eyedea as well.)
"CD Review: Brother Ali's 'The Undisputed Truth'" -- The headline says it all, no?

Thursday, February 21, 2008

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Brother Ali, Jamestown Story, Cities Never Sleep and ... antiques?

I know it looks like I was a lazy, good-for-nothin' S.O.B. this week, but my bro Matt Suoja was off in Sin City, so I was on news clerk duty (ah, yes, the good old days...) this week as well:

"Brother Ali Has Left the Building" -- That's right; I finally scored an interview with the legend-in-the-making Rhymesayers MC! (If you like what you read, make sure to check out my Q-and-A with Eyedea as well.)

"The Making History Rock Show" -- Four bands (Jamestown Story, Cities Never Sleep, Sing it Loud and Forfend). One night. A couple photographers (but only mine made the Budgeteer). Too many Long Island pitchers. (Oops, did I share too much?)

"See How Much Your 'Junk' is Worth" -- This week's cover, coming in from The Depot's weekly free version of "Antiques Roadshow" -- starring none other than antique appraisal expert Dan Sershon.

I also snapped some shots of DFL U.S. Senate candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, but those haven't hit the Web yet, so I'll keep you posted.

Finally, I just wanted to thank everyone who participated in (and, equally as important, everyone who sponsored) our "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" contest. Yes, it's officially over. Tune in to KDAL Monday morning to see if you won either of the two big prize packages!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Today's Moment of Zen: 'How to Be a Mall Punk'

A snippet from the excellent Born Backwards' "Mall Punk Instruction":

4) Shoes - If you don't wear Vans, you're not a mall punk. Vans puts on the Warped Tour, and there's nothing more punk than that. You might be able to get by wearing some Converse All Stars, but people may mistake you for emo. FUCK THE SYSTEM!

CD's To Own

Here's a list of bands you must claim to own at LEAST one album from. They are in no particular order.
- NOFX
- Rancid
- Dead Kennedys
- Operation Ivy
- Any band on Fat Wreck Chords (namely No Use For A Name and Lagwagon)
- Any band on Drive Thru Records, but especially Midtown and New Found Glory
- Black Flag (to show you've got roots [this requires that you know who Henry Rollins is, you poser fuck])
- Green Day (Dookie or earlier)
- Many, many compilations with at least 30 songs each (This will allow you to name drop and keep up with any conversation you start. This will let you hear at least one shitty song by every shitty band in existence.)
- Any band on this year's Vans Warped Tour
- Pennywise
- A "Before You Were Punk" CD (but you must hate Vagrant records)
- Screeching Weasel
- Gutter "The Worst Band In Existence" Mouth

p.s. Check out the Born Backwards main page for an MP3 of John Mayer's "interesting" cover of Radiohead's "Kid A."

Charles Douglas returns (yes, already!)

Give it up for "My Friend Bobby"...

Monday, February 18, 2008

Charles Douglas really, really, REALLY hates Ryan Adams

The latest video dispatch from the creative genius...

Aerosmith rocks the 'Guitar Hero' (a very special mix tape)


In honor of Aerosmith's very own installment of "Guitar Hero," I have put together an Aerosmith-only mix tape -- which, you're right, is very heavy on "Permanent Vacation" (my personal favorite) material. Either way, I just hope some of these make the game's final cut!

1. "Dream On"
2. "Angel's Eye"
3. "Rag Doll"
4. "Sweet Emotion"
5. "Deuces are Wild"
6. "Shut Up and Dance"
7. "Draw the Line"
8. "Livin' on the Edge"
9. "Hangman Jury"
10. "Same Old Song and Dance"
11. "Nine Lives"
12. "Simoriah"
13. "Back in the Saddle"
14. "Just Push Play"
15. "Taste of India"
16. "Girl Keeps Coming Apart"
17. "Dulcimer Stomp/The Other Side"
18. "Heart's Done Time"

This Week's (Belated) Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Mining Ely, Erik Sommer, Barbershop quartets, the Alrights, Tepetricy and the Raveonettes

So sorry this is coming in so late, but I was down in the Cities Friday running into Ant outside Fifth Element and enjoying the sounds of Kill-Me Kare Bare, Harp and Finial, Best Friends Forever and a reunited Nothing Jive About Jupiter at the Hexagon Bar ... too much excitement for one weekend!

"Deposits are Found, Mines are Made" -- If all goes according to plan, Duluth Metals could be mining near Ely for a long, long time. I spoke with the Canadian company's president and CEO, Rick Sandri.

"Erik Sommer: '... And I'm a Romantic'" -- The Duluth-born artist on living the dream in Harlem and his Castle Band days.

"Coming Down in Four-Part Harmony" -- This weekend's front page photo, featuring barbershop singer Jack LeVasseur handing a Valentine's Day card to Kathy Davey at AT&T's call center in the Tech Village. To celebrate the holiday, members of Davey's customer service team hired his quartet, the Pick-up Four, to serenade her.

"Discover Duluth: Michigan Street" -- For whatever reason, the downtown stretch of Michigan Street sometimes seems like the forgotten part of the city. (A photo essay.)

"CD Reviews: New Ones from the Alrights, Tepetricy and the Raveonettes"
-- Reviewed this week: The Alrights' “Meeting of the St. Louis County League of Volunteer Astronauts: Excerpts from the Keynote Address," Tepetricy's “Shaking the Rust Internally” and the Raveonettes' "Lust Lust Lust."

Finally, it's your last chance to enter the Budgeteer's "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" contest. Since the prizes are really sweet, and I'd like to see one of my blog visitors win something, a bonus clue: It ranks right up there with the maritime museum on my personal nostalgia and fun scale.

A&E FYI: Registration underway for 2008 Homegrown

The Duluth music scene will celebrate a decade of “rawk and/or roll” debauchery during the 2008 Homegrown Music Festival. The 10th annual event is scheduled for April 27 through May 4.

Musicians with a connection to the Duluth scene have until midnight on March 1 to register on www.duluthhomegrown.com to be considered for a slot. A schedule for the eight-day festival is expected to be completed by mid-March.

For more details, click here or visit the Homegrown Web site.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Today's Moment of Zen: A little hunting humor for ya

Sometimes it's OK for naughty words to make it into newspapers -- like when children shit out 8-point bucks...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

New Mt. Dew flavors announced (and other beverage news)

I don't know, but they all kind of sound disgusting...



Vote for Supernova

Vote for Voltage

In other beverage news, Cocaine is back on the market -- much to the chagrin of parents who don't want their kids walking around sporting the company's new branded T-shirts or checking out its appropriately titled (and official, mind you) fan site, www.lovecocaine.com.

Finally, for one month only (or so says my Leinie Lodge newsletter!) the pride and joy of Chippewa Falls, Wis., the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, has reintroduced its fantastic Northwoods Lager for a short time. This limited run, which includes six-packs of the product in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas, will only be available until supplies run out. (I can't speak for the entire Twin Ports, but I know Belknap Liquor in Superior has a few.)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Today's Moment of Zen: Way better than 'Leatherheads'

dtas71: DON'T FORGET TO BRING A TOWEL

Submitted for the approval of the Twin Ports Awesome Mix Tape Appreciation Society, the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul."

As always, to encourage the consumption of music that doesn't suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

Venkman! Venkman!
Matt

(Questions? Comments? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

*******

1. Nada Surf - "Everyone's on Tour" (free MP3s here)
Recommended if you like Nada Surf the underdog, not Nada Surf world champion. (It's OK to like both, but, damn, if "The Proximity Effect" isn't one of the best albums of all time....)

2. Polysics - "Electric Surfin' Go Go" (free MP3 here)



3. DJ Abilities - "Abilities Reactivation" (free MP3 here)
R.I.Y.L. "South Park" samples and top-notch turntablism.

4. Beck - "Minus"
R.I.Y.L. fumes and tenth-anniversary deluxe editions that miss the boat by almost two years.

5. Dog Pookah - "Scarlet and Bea"
R.I.Y.L. the Cheer Up Poems and manic depression.

6. Goldfrapp - "A&E" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. beautiful women (from other countries!) and songs you don't always want to own up to.

7. The Magnetic Fields - "California Girls" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. static, the Beach Boys and Superstar DJ Walt Dizzo's weekly radio transmissions.

8. British Sea Power - "Waving Flags" (download "Atom" here)
R.I.Y.L. rock music. You like rock music, don't you?

9. The Hold Steady - "Chips Ahoy!" (free MP3s here)
R.I.Y.L. Lifter Puller, Springsteen circa "Darkness On the Edge of Town."

10. The Grass Roots - "Wait a Million Years"
R.I.Y.L. Fargo in the summertime (specifically Trollwood Performing Arts School) and circulating the NDSU Spectrum to all the good, good people.

11. Sia feat. Beck - "Academia" (listen here/download "Electric Bird")
R.I.Y.L. Keri Noble but wish she had more of an edge (and friends like Beck Hansen...).

12. Hey Willpower - "Hundredaire" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. Imperial Teen and the fact that the members of Faith No More are all enjoying fruitful post-FNM careers (to the best of our knowledge).

13. Redd Kross - "Yesterday Once More" (Carpenters cover)
R.I.Y.L. that Carpenters logo, man ... it's that logo!

14. Pedro the Lion - "Transcontinental"
R.I.Y.L. the genius of David Bazan and some other guys (I keed!).

15. China Forbes - "Everybody Needs Somebody"
Hey, it's better than Maxim of the Great White North, isn't it? Eh?

16. Hot Hot Heat - "Ladies and Gentlemen" (free MP3s here)
R.I.Y.L. Cheap Trick and special ones named "Apollonia."

17. Eels - "Your Lucky Day in Hell (Michael Simpson Remix)"
R.I.Y.L. the original. The Dust Brothers are great, but, let's face it, this doesn't sound horribly "remixed."

18. Mac Lethal - "The Brunes" (free MP3s here)
R.I.Y.L. Joseph Cotten's famous monologue in Alfred Hitchcock's mesmerizing "Shadow of a Doubt" (sample: "How do you know what the world is like? Do you know the world is a foul sty? Do you know if you rip the fronts off houses, you'd find swine?") and the soundtrack to Rob Zombie's "House of 1,000 Corpses."

19. The Alrights - "When I Get Born" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. the sound of Duluth's the Alrights shedding those "alright" tags.

20. Bob Mould - "The Silence Between Us"
R.I.Y.L. Sugar and, to a lesser extent, Blowoff. (Doesn't sound so much like Husker Du though.)

21. Joe Rathbone - "Like Some Angel" (listen here)
R.I.Y.L. cheesy titles, pretty decent rock 'n' roll.

22. Parlour Steps - "Hot Romance" (free MP3s here)
R.I.Y.L. Pleasant (the band and the feeling).

23. The Beatifics - "This Year's Jessica"
R.I.Y.L. Dylan Hicks, early Sloan.

24. Blood on the Wall - "Hibernation"
R.I.Y.L. Combine, if and only if they utilized five or six less distortion pedals.

25. The Promise Ring - "Nothing Feels Good" (free MP3s here)
R.I.Y.L. songs about east Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, the location of Atlanta and Indianapolis summers (?).

Monday, February 11, 2008

Thanks for teaching me a much-deserved lesson, Richie!

The best part about reviewing local media is that if you even hint that you didn't like a song or two on an album (heaven forbid!), you'll get a dozen e-mails and phone calls telling you to stop reviewing ... anything.

But this just one just takes the cake -- in response to my review of Sara Thomsen's "Everything Changes":

Matthew,

Reading your review of Sara Thomsen's new CD, I just had to comment. I know enough about Sara's music, her presentation of it, and even the production process, and you obviously simply don't know what you're talking about. Any comparison to Bill Isle's work shows the tiny-ness of your musical universe. With that as a reference point there isn't much hope that you are going to recognize true gifts. And that's not to say anything bad about Bill's music, only that comparing musicians and their art is comparing apples to oranges (kind of like when you referred to Jim Henson in writing about Mary Plaster's puppets. What?!).

I'm not writing because you dared to say anything negative about Sara's music, only that there are some people in every community who shouldn't be writing music reviews but do it anyway, and I believe you are one of them. But you will write, and people will suffer. It's how the world is right now.

You review was rather unkind and strange and missed the point. You should stick to reading other people's reviews of music and art. Then you'll actually know what's going on.

Peace,
Richie Townsend

PS Perhaps this email will result in your writing a scathing article about my music in the future. That would be taken as a compliment at this point. It would be almost comical to watch you try to make sense of our music.

“Romantics are made of stardust, but cynics are made of the nuclear waste of dead stars”
Nancy Ellen Abrams

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Spokeo: The scariest fucking Web site you'll ever come across

CYBER STALKER ALERT! I read about this crazy Web site in Newsweek, Spokeo, which helps you find "your friends' blogs and photos that you never knew about -- guaranteed."

Scared yet? You ain't seen nothin' yet ... just try it for 10 minutes and you'll reconsider your MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, Slide, Windows Live Spaces, LinkedIn, Picasa, Pandora, Stumbleupon, Digg, Upcoming, Multiply, imeem, Bebo, Friendster, Hi5, Vox, Picturetrail and Amazon wishlist pages. (Just to name a few, of course.)

It works its privacy-invasion magic by tracking almost everything you've done online with an e-mail address. Company reps defend it by saying everything Spokeo tracks is already in the public domain.

I don't buy it. Agree? Disagree?

Friday, February 8, 2008

dtas70: STROLL AROUND THE WORLD

Submitted for the approval of the Twin Ports Awesome Mix Tape Appreciation Society, the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul."

As always, to encourage the consumption of music that doesn't suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

Odelay!
Matt

(Questions? Comments? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

*******

1. Mac Lethal - "The Way We Bash" (other MP3s available here)
The best use of a Clash sample ever?

2. Star Casino - "Stroll Around the World"
If you've ever sucked at the teet of "Lumines II" for hours*, this flavor will taste familiar. (Eww....) Err ... moving on -> this is easily one of the greatest unreleased tracks of all time: Think AFI's Davey Havok if he really, really, really liked his backing band to sound like Gravity Kills.

3. Eels - "Susan's Apartment" (free MP3 of "Skywriting" here)
"E" is a great storyteller and -- bonus! (score!) -- the other guys in the band know how to knock out memorable tunes with the best of 'em.

4. The Alrights - "Happy Birthday Universe" (listen here)
For whatever reason, I always thought this group was aptly named. Not true anymore: The Alrights are quickly shaping up to be one of Duluth's most potent outfits. (p.s. Look for a review of the Alrights' new EP, "Meeting of the St. Louis County League of Volunteer Astronauts: Excerpts from the Keynote Address," in next weekend's Budgeteer!)

5. Dog Pookah - "Wipe My Sacred Sing" (some great MP3s here)
Before the Cheer Up Poems, there was Dog Pookah and, not to lift too many great ideas from Cloud Cult or anything, but this wonderfully spastic track could've easily been called "Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes."

6. Crooked Fingers - "Call to Love"
Can't find that last track to finish up that Valentine's Day mix tape for your honey? Consider this classic.

7. James Moors - "Stretch" (listen here)
I really, really like this track -- at least that's what my review of Moors' new album, "Hush," said!

8. Rhymefest - "Devil's Pie" (lots o' free MP3s here)
Sweet, sweet Strokes sample; I miss those crazy New Yorkers.

9. I Self Devine - "Ice Cold"
I appreciate the fact that I Self Devine has never lied to me (or anyone else, for that matter).

10. Dance Band - "Mississippi"
Oh. My. God. Did you catch these guys at Diorama-rama 3 last month? One of the best performances mine eyes have ever witnessed!

11. Linus - "Detroit '83"
I love what happens to my favorite bands: This group's guitarist found fortune and fame elsewhere (in Best Friends Forever) and its frontman? He moved to California to get stoned on the beach -- or at least that's the last I heard (from aforementioned guitarist...).

12. Sloan - "Delivering Maybes" (other MP3s here)
This brings me right back to Disc-Go-Round, Burning Tree Plaza, circa 2002. That's when I first discovered Sloan. What a lovely, lovely year.

13. Beck - "Strange Invitation" ("Odelay" deluxe edition vers.)
This isn't really bothering me: Isn't there an (even more) stripped-down version of this song floating around somewhere?

14. Matt Mahaffey (of Self) - "17 Days" (Prince cover)
Speaking of Hawai'i (see bottom of post) ... here's Matt's notes on this track on MySpace: "Recorded on a rainy day in the rainforest of Hana with Hawaiian instruments.
Features my wife on background vocals and drums."

15. Cat Power - "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" (free download of "The Greatest")
All in all, the "I'm Not There" soundtrack was pretty decent, but you've got to hand it to Chan Marshall for this expectations-defying cover of what is arguable the Duluth native's most powerful composition.

To show my gratitude, I'm letting Cat Power take over my blog:



16. Musab (f/k/a Beyond) - "Bang" (listen here)
Rhyming over cheesy '80s rock anthems? That's ballsy, but Musab easily pulls it off. A triumph for hip-hop.

17. Dr. Octagon - "Aliens"
There are no words ... and you thought Aesop Rock was "out there"!

18. The Trucks - "Zombie"
Thanks, Superstar DJ Walt Dizzo, for introducing me to another great rock 'n' roll band. These ladies are tough all over (when they want to be ... this track is just plain groovy).

19. Northern Room - "Waiting" (free download of "We're on Fire")
Nice guys, even though they canceled their Duluth debut. Here's to rescheduling!

20. Glen Hansard with Marketa Irglova - "Falling Slowly" (listen here)
I heard so much about the "Once" soundtrack. I didn't expect much, but, being a huge Frames fan for the better part of a decade, I thought I owed it to ol' Glenny boy. Verdict? There's not much to it, but this one is definitely a keeper. (Still, the reworked Frames version -- on "The Cost" -- is more alluring most days....)

*Like I did on my honeymoon in Hawai'i. Oh god, this sounds really embarrassing, but I don't care: One evening at the Grand Wailea on our room's balcony, I played that addictive beast through a sunset and *cheeks redden* a couple hours into the night (as my bride napped). Now, whenever I hear anything from the game's soundtrack, it brings me right back to that moment. Who says video games aren't good for anything? They can be damn near transcendent sometimes.

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Norshor pics, Eric Dubnicka, Brendan Flynn/Off the Mike Mark and more!

Hey, perv, the Budgeteer is more than just sexy "Discover Duluth" photo spreads!

"Discover Duluth: Norshor Theater" -- Though owner Eric Ringsred’s decisions have been debated since he purchased the Norshor Theater in 1982, no one has ever questioned the building’s historic significance.

"Dubnicka Goes it Alone for Retrospective Show at Washington Studios" -- To celebrate his upcoming solo exhibit at the co-op’s gallery, the Budgeteer shot off some questions to local artist Eric Dubnicka.

"Off the Mike Mark: We are What You Say"
-- Brendan Flynn on his new group and the curse of the unmemorable band names.

"Pier Ice" -- This weekend's gorgeous cover, courtesy of yours truly. (Yeah, it might look a little familiar....)

"Minnesota Web Site Helps Teenagers Fine Part-Time Work" -- And it's pretty straightforward: Teenagers who log onto www.jobs4teens.us have the option of either browsing job listings by county or filling out a skills form so they can be matched to possible job openings.

Finally, another week, another "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" bonus clue: This week's location reminds me of a killer Replacements tune!

p.s. Yes, those are waterwings....
p.p.s. Suoja was right: "SLC Punk" is a pretty entertaining flick!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

People in Planes return (celebrate with a free MP3!)

Anthemic Welsh modern rockers People in Planes have leaked a track, "Pretty Buildings," from their upcoming (as of yet untitled) album -- which will be released by Wind-up Records later this year.

Download "Pretty Buildings" now.

As an added bonus, their PureVolume page still has a free download of earlier hit "Falling by the Wayside," which was used in promo spots for "The Sopranos."

Image courtesy of the band.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Today's Moment of Zen: 'Huckabee Girl'

And you thought George W. was bad for America...



read more | digg story

It's ... my very first shameless LocalM.com plug! (James Wilsey's 'El Dorado' reviewed)

That's right; your fearless* Duluth Budgeteer News reporter, Matthew R. Perrine (hey, that's me!), has "stepped out" for a spell.

I recently helped out the fine folks at Local M with a review of James Wilsey's (The Avengers, Chris Isaak) brilliant solo disc, "El Dorado."

The review is only available at LocalM.com, so check it out now ... you know, before this whole Internet fad fizzles out!

*But he still bruises like a peach, so don't attempt to test this statement or anything....



FURTHER READING
"LocalM.com's Rock for the Tots Returns" -- A little story I ran on Craig Rhode Jr.'s (aka Mr. Local M) excellent benefit concerts.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

dtas69: ME, WHITE NOISE (Secret Songs, Pt. 1) {VIDEO EDITION}

Submitted for the approval of the Twin Ports Awesome Mix Tape Appreciation Society, the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul."

Hidden tracks are fun, aren't they? I've decided to start a new series in which I compile the best that are out there. Hopefully you'll find something you didn't even knew existed!

To aid in this process, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to YouTube videos of the songs mentioned.

Too beige?
Matt

(Questions? Comments? Want one of your band's songs to be considered for an upcoming awesome mix tape? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

*******

1. The Beatles - "Sgt. Pepper's Inner Groove"
FOUND ON: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." HOW TO FIND: After "A Day in the Life." SOUNDS LIKE: A "dog-friendly" high pitch leads into a seriously deeee-ranged tape loop. Like Death Cab for Cutie's "Flustered/Hey Tomcat!" but not nearly as listenable.

2. Blur - "Me, White Noise"
FOUND ON: "Think Tank." HOW TO FIND: Before "Ambulance" in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE:



3. Nirvana - "Sappy" (fka "Verse Chorus Verse")
FOUND ON: The "No Alternative" compilation album. HOW TO FIND: Unlisted Track 19. SOUNDS LIKE:



4. Green Day - "All by Myself"
FOUND ON: "Dookie." HOW TO FIND: After "F.O.D." SOUNDS LIKE:



5. Jay-Z - "Breathe Easy (Lyrical Exercise)"
FOUND ON: "The Blueprint." HOW TO FIND: After "Blueprint (Momma Loves Me)" but before "Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix)" (another unlisted track). SOUNDS LIKE:



6. Beastie Boys - remix of sample of Los Angeles Negros' "El Rey y Yo"
FOUND ON: "Hello Nasty." HOW TO FIND: Between "The Move" and "Remote Control" in the pregap. SOUNDS (KIND OF) LIKE:



7. M.I.A. - "M.I.A."
FOUND ON: "Arular." HOW TO FIND: After "Galang." SOUNDS LIKE: Another piece to the "Arular" puzzle. (Note: I don't know if later editions of the album had this as a separate track, but it was certainly "hidden" on mine -- no bluff!)

8. Beastie Boys - Biz Markie freestyle
FOUND ON: "Hello Nasty." HOW TO FIND: Between "Intergalactic" and "Sneakin' Out the Hospital" in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE: Exactly what it sounds like: a Biz Markie freestyle!

9. Alice in Chains - "Love Song"
FOUND ON: "Sap." HOW TO FIND: Unlisted Track 5. SOUNDS LIKE:



10. 311 - "Transistor Intro"
FOUND ON: "Transistor." HOW TO FIND: Before "Transistor" in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE:



11. Blind Melon - title unknown
FOUND ON: "Soup." HOW TO FIND: Before "Galaxie" in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE: Some gentle instrumentation and Shannon Hoon lyrics in reverse playback.

12. Nick Cave and the Dirty Three - "Dread the Passage of Jesus, For He Will Not Return"
FOUND ON: "Songs in the Key of X" compilation. HOW TO FIND: Rewind past the first track, Mark Snow's "X-Files Theme" and the Dirty Three's cover of that song (another unlisted track) in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE:



13. Pearl Jam - "Writer's Block"
FOUND ON: "Binaural." HOW TO FIND: After "Parting Ways." SOUNDS LIKE: Someone hammering away at a typewriter. Think "The Shining."

14. Linus - "The Northstar System" (acoustic vers.)
FOUND ON: "Championships are Won in the Off Season." HOW TO FIND: After "Detroit '83." SOUNDS LIKE: Self-explanatory, but it should be noted that because of this song's simple elegance, it became somewhat of a mini-sensation at select University of Minnesota Duluth house parties circa 2002-2003. (Strange, eh?) Anywho, here's some background on the song courtesy of guitarist Bri Smith: "Jeff (the group's singer) wrote it for me to try to get me to date him. And it worked for a little while too. We initially performed it in an ensemble for a concert at arts high (in Minneapolis)."

15. Super Furry Animals - "The Citizen's Band"
FOUND ON: "Guerrilla." HOW TO FIND: Before "Check it Out" in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE: Hands down, one of the greatest SFA tracks out there. Wonder why they decided to hide it so well?

16. Radiohead - untitled instrumental
FOUND ON: "Kid A." HOW TO FIND: After "Motion Picture Soundtrack." SOUNDS LIKE: Really beautiful, transcendent stuff. If I ever found myself orbiting the Earth, I would request this brief track.

17. Atmosphere - "Say Shh"
FOUND ON: "Seven's Travels." HOW TO FIND: After "Always Coming Back Home to You." SOUNDS LIKE:



18. The Presidents of the United States of America - "Basketball Dream"
FOUND ON: "II." HOW TO FIND: After "Ladies and Gentlemen, Pt. 2." SOUNDS LIKE:



19. Primus - "The Heckler"
FOUND ON: "Antipop." HOW TO FIND: After "Coattails of a Dead Man." SOUNDS LIKE:



20. The Deftones - "Bong Hit (skit)/Damone"
FOUND ON: "Around the Fur." HOW TO FIND: After "MX." SOUNDS LIKE:



21. Look Down - title unknown
FOUND ON: "24/7 Dance Force." HOW TO FIND: Before "Zack Morris Phone" in the pregap. SOUNDS LIKE: If Look Down ever gets big (and Brett Favre knows they deserve it), I could see this being their big arena intro.

22. Travis - "Some Sad Song"
FOUND ON: "12 Memories." HOW TO FIND: After "Walking Down the Hill." SOUNDS LIKE: Let's just say that if the love of your life is walking down the aisle with someone else, you'd want to be listening to this on your headphones.

23. Bare Jr. - "Pearl"
FOUND ON: "Boo-Tay." HOW TO FIND: After "Why Won't You Love Me." SOUNDS LIKE: A message from a pissed ex (choice line: "Don't write me a song.") lends itself into a song about -- you guessed it -- her. Kiss-offs never sounded so good.

24. The Frames - unlisted instrumental
FOUND ON: "For the Birds." HOW TO FIND: After "Mighty Sword." SOUNDS LIKE: Ireland's best band goes all doom-and-gloom (relatively speaking, of course) on us. Man, I really love this track. Something about it just makes you want to keep it playing at maximum volume until you're carted off to "the big house."

25. CKY - "Halfway House"
FOUND ON: "Volume 1." HOW TO FIND: After "To All of You" and "Rio Bravo Reprise" (another unlisted hidden track). SOUNDS LIKE:



26. White Zombie - unlisted instrumental
FOUND ON: "Astro-Creep: 2000." HOW TO FIND: After "Blood, Milk and Sky." SOUNDS LIKE: Very similar to the Frames' track on this mix tape. You just want to lose yourself in this one. You can almost feel your speakers melting away.

27. The Beatles - "
Sgt. Pepper's Inner Groove" (reverse vers.)
FOUND ON: "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." HOW TO FIND: After "A Day in the Life." SOUNDS LIKE: A "dog-friendly" high pitch leads into a seriously deeee-ranged tape loop. Like Death Cab for Cutie's "Flustered/Hey Tomcat!" but not nearly as listenable -- in reverse. ha ha ha I don't know exactly what I expected to hear, but I still can't discern anything that's being said....

Friday, February 1, 2008

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 68: DON'T TELL ME HOW TO ROCK, I'M FROM HERE

Submitted for the approval of the Twin Ports Awesome Mix Tape Appreciation Society, the latest installment of "Don't Tell a Soul."

As always, to encourage the consumption of music that doesn't suck, I have provided -- wherever available -- links to free, artist-sanctioned MP3s of the songs.

Dirt McGirt!
Matt

(Questions? Comments? Want one of your band's songs to be considered for an upcoming awesome mix tape? E-mail mperrine [at] duluthbudgeteer [dot] com.)

*******

1. Nash Kato - "Zooey Suicide"
Did lightning strike twice for Nash Kato? Sure does. After warming the hearts of hipsters everywhere with Urge Overkill (particularly after the group's cover of the Neil Diamond song "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" became synonymous with "Pulp Fiction" in '94), he released a phenomenal solo record in 2000, "Debutante" -- which featured this gem. A funny little message I found on UO's Web site: "Nash Kato is ready to launch his secret rock assault on some unsuspecting civilians and radio programmers. You see, Nash won't have a problem with self-promoting, the trickle down effect will take precedence like it did for Urge. Nash's real battle will be vying for top billing on your Limp Bizkit playlist. Can Nash do it ... fuck yeah! Will you do it ... fuck yeah! 'Zooey Suicide' has all of the rock elements needed to be a hit. Hook included."

2. Marah - "Angels of Destruction" (other free MP3s available here)
My favorite review of the new Marah masterpiece actually came in from The Onion's A.V. Club. A sampling: "Songwriters Dave and Serge Bielanko have immersed themselves in classic-rock vocabulary for so long that it's practically their primary language. ... Emulating Springsteen back when emulating Springsteen wasn't cool is starting to pay off."

3. Tony Bennett - "All Things Must Pass" (George Harrison cover) (listen here)
Staying on this classic rock-oriented, we have Cars & Trucks/Bloodstool/Dames/Seed Math frontman Tony Bennett's gorgeous take on one of the The Quiet Beatle's most memorable solo cuts.

4. Mac Lethal - "D.U.I. #1" (many free downloads here)
Not the same D.U.I. hook he rallied behind during his recent performance at Pizza Luce, but another classic Lethal joint nonetheless.

5. J.U.F. - "The Last Wish of the Bride"
J.U.F. (Jewish-Ukrainishe Freundschaft), a collaboration between between members of Gogol Bordello and Balkan Beat Box, sounds like a mashup of any given Gogol Bordello song and Stella Soleil's "Kiss Kiss." No joke.

6. Sector 7-G - "Some Days (A Song About Me and You)"
This would sound perfect at the recently reopened Orpheum Theatre in Duluth (now a nightclub).

7. Paper Tiger - "Make-Make"
A mesmerizing (almost) instrumental from one of Doomtree's best producers.

8. Building Better Bombs - "Deathships"
Back with Doomtree, here's P.O.S.'s other group, which likes to kick a lot of ass with a post-hardcore assault with an intensity that hasn't been heard since Sweden's Refused shaked our shores.

9. Jay Reatard - "Oh It's Such a Shame" (listen here)
This continues along the same lines, but Reatard couples his maxed-out fuzztones with addictive melodies that make you want to prepare for the upcoming first wave of Reatardmania!

10. The Whigs - "Right Hand on My Heart"


11. Sir Salvatore - "Townies"
From my preview of the "Continental Breakfast" EP, regarding "Townies": "A brilliant mover that doesn't waste any time (the track clocks in at 1:30) -- imagine the Little Black Books if Mark Lindquist traded in Duluth for that other city by the bay."

12. Saves the Day - "Can't Stay the Same" (listen here)
Remember 2001, when it seemed like Saves the Day was poised to take over the world? Well, they didn't, but guess what? They're still around, and, if this track's any indication, as catchy as ever.

13. Sloan - "Even Though"
(other free MP3s available here)
A worthy bonus track to 2006's album of the year (according to me), which is only available* at Yep Roc's Web store.

14. Fiver - "Don't Tell Me How to Rock, I'm from Here"
(other free MP3s available here)
Remember the first time you experienced Beulah? That's kind of the feeling I got when I got back from the Fetus and listened to Fiver for the first time. Brilliant, brilliant (and underrated) stuff here -- somewhat along the lines of 764-HERO, though a little more poppy.

15. The Sundogs - "Desperation & Borrowed Time" (listen here)
Recommended if you like Phonograph (the band) or all those radio-ready Cities bands that came to prominence in the early '90s.

16. Colour Revolt - "Naked and Red"
R.I.Y.L. the Yeah Yeah Yeahs cut with classic rock and, oh yeah, you'd never wear a fanny pack -- not even for a cheap laugh.

17. The Donnas - "Living After Midnight" (Judas Priest cover)
Sounds exactly like you'd expect, and that's OK.

18. Lightspeed Champion - "Tell Me What's It's Worth" (listen here)
If this feel-good trickery got as much play as that overrated Canuck Feist, I would die a happy music geek.

19. I, Colossus - "It's Not Funny"
My I, Colossus album review in the Budge went a little something like this: "Here, on what can only be likened to the feeling one gets after a massive sugar high, Sandstedt channels Mahaffey’s work in the most flattering way: unequivocally coupling aw-shucks lyrics ('Like a bullet in the gun / You’re dressed to kill someone') with imaginative rhythms and fluid, though somewhat subdued, soft/loud dynamics."

20. Of Montreal - "So Begins Our Alabee"
Kevin Barnes is a golden god ... man!

21. Portrait of a Drowned Man - "Count to 10 in a Snowstorm"
(other free MP3s available here)
Again, to plagiarize my work in the Duluth Budgeteer News: This is instrumental "Hum-esque space rock" in the key of awesomeness.

22. Chris Walla - "Like a Spark" (download "Sing Again" here)
If you were smart enough to order your copy of "Field Manual," the Death Cab for Cutie guitarist/producer's solo record, through Barsuk, you were rewarded with three exclusive non-album downloads -- and this beauty was one of 'em.

*BONUS TRACKS*

23. They Might Be Giants - "Theme from 'Flood'"
Words of wisdom like "Why is the world in love again? / Why are we marching hand in hand? / Why are the ocean levels rising up?" before ...

24. Battles - "Tonto"
a lengthy exercise in exploratory jazz-fusion ... yay!

*This could be true ... though I must admit I'm too lazy to check it out for sure.

Diorama-rama 3 Moment of Zen

I know this is a couple of days late, but I wanted to preserve this monument to the POG kingdom for posterity (yeah, for posterity) ... you know, before one of my friends sits on it thinking it will timewarp him/her back to '93 or something.

Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present to you *cheeks redden* my contribution to Diorama-rama 3: "Battle Arena Poginden, or: Hey, Remember When Fun Shit Didn't Cost $160?"



FURTHER READING:
"Diorama-rama 2 Moment of Zen" -- Like this, but Electric Light Orchestra-themed....

"Pog Champion" -- The best T-shirt ever?

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: The maritime museum (again and again), whodunits, 'VD Day,' James Moors, Sara Thomsen, Drew Danburry and more!

Forgive me Crosby, for I have sinned ... I gave press to an Aitkin native. (For shame!)

"Books Where Somebody Always Dies" -- Duluth (by way of Aitkin) mystery writer Kathleen Hills on her latest, "The Kingdom Where Nobody Dies," and why Scotland maybe isn’t the best place to write.

"Discover Duluth: Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center" -- Believe it or not, the dead of winter is actually a great time to visit the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center. You stay classy, maritime museum. (This place was always a favorite of mine as a kid, and I finally got to honor* it with my photo essay series!)

"Some Enchanted Evening in February"
-- As in years past, Valentine’s Day options abound in the Twin Ports. Some of the experiences noted in this what-to-do-what-to-do article: Glensheen, Fairlawn, Beaner's, Snoodle, Hell (rather, Hell's Kitchen), the Minnesota Ballet and Carmody Irish Pub with its -- this is classic -- Anti-Valentine's Day concert, featuring Taconite (which, excuse my language, kicked ass at last weekend's Diorama-rama 3), Tangier 57, Bill Meier and Erotic Poetry.

"New Albums from James Moors, Sara Thomsen and Drew Danburry" -- Reviewed this week: James Moors/The Artist Formerly Known as Sterling Waters' "Hush," Sara Thomsen's "Everything Changes" and Drew Danburry's "Mother."


ALSO: I took a photo for Chelsea Honebrink's Budgeteer debut, "Thom Holden: Captain of the Maritime Museum"; I took this weekend's cover whilst walking around the maritime museum grounds; I took last week's cover of a "marquee moon" hanging over the Sundew too (but neglected to share it with you back then); I also penned a story about quirky home products for the latest edition of Blueprint (which hasn't made it to the Web yet, unfortunately) and, last but not least, the latest installment of "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" is ... really, really easy, so you don't need a bonus clue. (Just look at it, for [BEEP BEEP]'s sake!)

*The degree of which is probably debatable. ha ha ha

p.s. If you're reading this and there is a box (or tube) of POGs taking up space in your closet, we need to talk.

p.p.s. Seriously, I play with POGs!