Monday, June 30, 2008

Friday, June 27, 2008

Today's Moment of Zen: "This Album Syncs Up to 'ToeJam & Earl'"

Prolific Boston singer/songwriter/rock god Robby Roadsteamer has upped the awesomeness quotient on his third disc in 8 months (or so I'm told). "This Album Syncs Up to 'ToeJam & Earl'" is, hands down, the best album title EVER. Plus, as an added bonus, all 14 of its maniacal tracks -- as well as those from his other releases -- are available as free downloads on Roadsteamer's site.

sys11 -> an awesome mix tape + free MP3s!


As always, click on the links for free MP3 downloads of the songs -- it's so much easier than trying to think of something "clever" for each selection on this, my latest awesome mix tape!

1. The Toadies - "No Deliverance" (listen here)
2. Girls - "Lust for Life"
3. Haley Bonar - "Arms of Harm"
4. Josh Rouse - "Directions"
5. Centro-Matic - "I, the Kite"
6. Low - "Starfire"
7. Jay-Z - "Change the Game"
8. Girl Talk - "Hands in the Air"
9. Mason Jennings - "I Love You and Buddha Too"
10. Paul and Linda McCartney - "Too Many People"
11. The Willowz - "Evil Son"
12. Scanners - "Lowlife"
13. For Squirrels - "The Immortal Dog and Pony Show"
14. The Deadly Syndrome - "Eucalyptus"
15. Sean Na Na - "We've Been Here Before"
16. Pony Up! - "Matthew Modine"
17. Foreign Born - "In the Shape"
18. The Icarus Line - "Get's Paid"
19. Bob Dylan - "I Shall Be Free--No. 10"
20. The Pixies - "No. 13 Baby"
21. Eons - "Getchya Guitar On"
22. Mystery Jets - "Diamonds in the Dark"

Thus concludes your eleventh dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug


Haley Bonar, "Heavy Metal in Baghdad," Ana Popovic, Hojas Rojas, Mt. Wilson Repeater and the Arrowhead Library System's Bookmobile! Oh, and a couple random pictures!!

"Stuck Inside of Bev's with the Serbian Blues Again" :: Ana Popovic's performance July 4 at Bev's Jook Joint might be the last time you'll catch her in the Twin Ports before she hits it big as a ... pop star?

"Understanding the Arrowhead Library System" :: Jim Weikum, ALS’s director, explains Bookmobile, Mail-A-Book and how Duluthians can save money on audiobooks by renting them free from ALS’s Web site. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"High Gas Prices" :: Not my title, but that is my picture.

"Black Mags" :: Another orphan photo of mine. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

CD REVIEWS :: Reviewed this week: Haley Bonar's "Big Star," Hojas Rojas' "Helium" and Mt. Wilson Repeater's self-titled debut.

"DVD Review: 'Heavy Metal in Baghdad' Essential Viewing" :: From scene one, in which the film crew dons flak jackets, it's pretty obvious that “Heavy Metal in Baghdad” isn't going to be your ordinary, average, made-for-PBS documentary. I already got a nice note from a friend of the band (Acrassicauda), so I'm pretty happy with this write-up. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

I also wrote a piece for the summer edition of Blueprint -- which I believe is supposed to print this weekend -- but I don't have it in front of me so I'll have to link to it next week. (I know, the suspense....)

Leinie's Sunset Wheat takes flight ... literally

What is this blog without its high-flying beverage news, eh? Am I wrong? Come on ... who's with me?

LEINENKUGEL'S SUNSET WHEAT BOARDS DELTA FLIGHTS WORLDWIDE
Popular Wisconsin Craft Beer offered to customers on all Delta Flights

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (June 26, 2008) - This month, the Jacob Leinenkugel
Brewing Company began partnering with Delta Air Lines to offer the airline's
customers Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat beer on all Delta flights worldwide.
As the craft beer industry continues to grow in both popularity and sales,
Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat is among four beer offerings. The introduction
of Leinenkugel marks Delta's first craft beer offering.

Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, which was first introduced in Upper Midwest
markets in the spring of 2006, has since been making its way across the
country as Leinenkugel's expands its geographic footprint based on its
growing success as a regional brewer. Brewed in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
for 141 years, Leinenkugel's continues to build on its solid fan base and
has a loyalist group called the "Leinie Lodge" made up of over 200,000
members from across the U.S.

"Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat is a unique and refreshing beer choice and we
are thrilled to partner with Delta to offer it to passengers on board
flights," said Jake Leinenkugel, Leinenkugel's president and fifth
generation brewer. "This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce
Leinenkugel's to beer lovers and new consumers across the country who are
seeking different varieties to satisfy their taste for adventure."

"Delta is committed to providing its customers with choice and an onboard
experience that is both stylish and entertaining," said Jake Frank, Delta's
managing director of Global Product Development and Delivery. "Offering
customers a premium craft beer like Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat complements
our product strategy and the other enhancements we've recently added for our
customers - including signature cocktails and food created by celebrity
chefs."

Brewed in small, high-quality batches, Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat is a
year-round beer featuring a slightly fruity and citrus character
complemented by the gentle spiciness of coriander. It is brewed and
balanced with a combination of malted wheat and pale barley malt, cluster
hops and natural flavors. An orange garnish adds extra refreshment.
Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat contains 4.9 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

About Leinenkugel's
Leinenkugel's, brewed in Chippewa Falls, is the leading craft brewer in the
upper Midwest. Leinenkugel's year-round offerings include Leinenkugel's
Sunset Wheat, Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss, Leinie's Red, Creamy Dark, Original
and Light. In addition, Leinenkugel's offers four limited-release seasonal
beers including Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest,
Leinenkugel's Apple Spice and Big Butt Doppelbock. For more information on
the rich history of Leinenkugel's and the adventurous portfolio of beers,
visit www.leinie.com.

About Delta
Delta Air Lines operates service to more worldwide destinations than any
airline with Delta and Delta Connection flights to 324 destinations in 62
countries. Delta has added more international capacity than any major U.S.
airline during the last two years and is the leader across the Atlantic with
flights to 43 trans-Atlantic markets. To Latin America and the Caribbean,
Delta offers 600 weekly flights to 62 destinations. Delta's marketing
alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on more than
16,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding
member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with
extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its
SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 474
worldwide destinations in 104 countries. Customers can check in for flights,
print boarding passes and check flight status at Delta.com.

~Information and photo courtesy of Leinie's. Caption: Jake Leinenkugel, president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, at the Leinie Lodge in Chippewa Falls, Wis. with cans of Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat which were specially produced for Delta.

Friday, June 20, 2008

SYS9+10: My first double mix tape!


With Grandma's behind us, we can all breathe a little easier....

shake*your*shores9 :: ENTER

1. Lifter Puller - "To Live and Die in LBI"
2. Riddle of Steel - "John Frum"
3. Death Cab for Cutie - "Cath..."
4. My Morning Jacket - "I'm Amazed"
5. N.E.R.D. - "Windows"
6. The Cool Kids - "Black Mags"
7. The Thermals - "A Pillar of Salt"
8. Mason Jennings - "Crown" [Daytrotter vers.]
9. Hey Rosetta! - "There's an Arc"
10. Ghostface Killah - "Charlie Brown" [DJ Medhi Remix feat. Mapei]
11. Protons - "Good Guys"
12. XV - "I'm Going In (Check)"
13. Flipp - "Psycho Babble"
14. The Apples in stereo - "Signal in the Sky (Let's Go)"
15. Aerosmith - "The Train Kept A-Rollin'"
16. Bob Dylan - "One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)"
17. Jay Reatard - "All Over Again"
18. Rob Crow - "Up"
19. Rich Aucoin - "At War with the Cynics (An Opening)"
20. Cloud Cult - "As Long as You're Happy"
21. From Bubblegum to Sky - "Even the Sunbeams"
22. Gang - "One Up the Sun"

shake*your*shores10 :: RETURN

1. The Impossibles - "Never Say Goodbye"
2. Birdbrain - "Inside Out"
3. Geezer (or G//Z/R) - "Box of Six"
4. Cloud Cult - "Alone at a Party in a Ghost Town"
5. N*E*R*D - "Spaz"
6. Mac Lethal feat. Joe Good - "Camera No. 2"
7. Eyedea & Abilities - "Kept"
8. Doomtree - "I Should Cut Your Liver Out (Interlude)"
9. Pep Squad - "Bug-Nug"
10. Tokyo Police Club - "Friends of P" [Rentals cover]
11. Bicycle - "All of Her Chords"
12. Boston Spaceships - "Go for the Exit"
13. Ryan Adams - "Harder Now That It's Over"
14. Alice in Chains - "Over Now"
15. The Posies - "Definite Door"
16. The Pixies - "There Goes My Gun" [BBC vers.]
17. For Squirrels - "Stark Pretty"
18. Self - "Borateen"
19. God Lives Underwater - "Tortoise"
20. Spiritualized - "Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space"
21. Peter Gabriel - "Solsbury Hill"
22. Elliott Smith - "Son of Sam"
23. My Morning Jacket - "Heartbreakin Man"
24. Weezer - "Across the Sea"

Thus concludes your ninth and tenth doses of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES.

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug

Kritical Kontact, Heritage Sports Center, There and Back Books' Andrew Slade and lots o' pictures of Lincoln park Trail!

"Kritical Kontact: Putting Duluth Hip-Hop on the Map" :: Local hip-hop outfit Kritical Kontact is about to release what will most likely become its national calling card: “Evolution of Revolution" -- it's going to feature some production from Domingo (Eminem, Amy Winehouse, KRS-One and Fat Joe, among many, many others) and one of my favorite emcees, Kansas City's Mac Lethal, even drops by for a track!

"Andrew Slade Releases Second North Shore Guidebook" :: A Q-and-A with the Duluth author and field researcher, who runs There and Back Books with his wife, Sally Rauschenfels. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"Discover Duluth: Lincoln Park Trail, Vol. I & II" :: Lincoln Park Trail rightfully deserves a place among Duluth's elite trails -- you know, the ones you bring out-of-town visitors to to show off how wonderful the city you call "home" really is. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"The Start of a New Athletic Tradition in Duluth" :: This article by Matt Suoja on Duluth's wonderful new Heritage Sports Center feature a photo by yours truly.

Finally, I didn't write "Duluth-produced Mockumentary 'God Rocked' a Winner" -- my coworker Rose Case did -- but I believe it's something longtime Fly High, Duluth! perusers will enjoy. "...And on the 7th Day, God Rocked" (formerly known as "God Rocks") is 4 Track Films' debut, after all!* *We're not counting "Newton's Disease." Same people, but that was done a couple years before 4 Track was formed.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

The Best Bob Dylan Covers, Pt. 1 [Mix Tape]


All I can say is ... I'm ready to hear your arguments!

1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "All Along the Watchtower"
Found on: "Electric Ladyland"
Original from: "John Wesley Harding"

2. Ministry - "Lay Lady Lay"
Found on: "Filth Pig"
Original from: "Nashville Skyline"

3. Father Hennepin - "Girl from the North Country" [w/ KUMD intro]
Found on: "Duluth Does Dylan"
Original from: "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan"

4. Cloud Cult - "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Found on: "Duluth Does Dylan Revisited"
Original from: "Bringing It All Back Home"

5. Portastatic - "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
Found on: "Looking for a Power Supply" EP
Original from: "Bringing It All Back Home"

6. The Byrds - "My Back Pages"
Found on: "Younger than Yesterday"
Original from: "Another Side of Bob Dylan"

7. Old Crow Medicine Show - "Wagon Wheel"
Found on: "O.C.M.S."
Based on an outtake from the "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" album called "Rock Me Mama"

8. The State Champs - "Oxford Town"
Found on: "Duluth Does Dylan Revisited"
Original from: "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan"

9. Sonic Youth - "I'm Not There"
Found on: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack
Original from: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack (originally recorded during the "The Basement Tapes" sessions)

10. Cat Power - "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again"
Found on: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack
Original from: "Blonde on Blonde"

11. Giljunko - "Quit Your Low Down Ways"
Found on: "Duluth Does Dylan"
Original from: "The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3" (originally recorded during the "Freewheelin'" sessions)

12. Charlie Parr - "Blind Willie McTell"
Found on: "Duluth Does Dylan Revisited"
Original from: "The Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3" (an outtake from "Infidels")

13. Mason Jennings - "The Times They are A-Changin'"
Found on: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack
Original from: "The Times They are A-Changin'"

14. Sara Softich - "Buckets of Rain"
Found on: "Duluth Does Dylan Revisited"
Original from: "Blood on the Tracks"

15. Jeff Tweedy - "Simple Twist of Fate"
Found on: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack
Original from: "Blood on the Tracks"

16. Billy Corgan - "Forever Young" [LIVE]
Found on: This Web site (more info on the track here)
Original from: "Planet Waves"

17. The Hold Steady - "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?"
Found on: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack
Original from: "Biograph" (was originally released as a single in 1965)

18. Glen Hansard (of the Frames) and Marketa Irglova - "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"
Found on: "I'm Not There" original soundtrack
Original from: "Greatest Hits, Vol. II"

Mix tape album "cover" based on Nancy Miller's "Bob Dylan."

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug

A "G'day, eh!" to all fathers out there -- especially ones who have had to put up with little s**** like myself -- and a special "thank you" to my wife of two years for doing the same!

"Woodland: Small-town Life with a Duluth ZIP Code" :: Our "Neighborhood Spotlight" series continues with Woodland, home of Minnesota's lone Piggly Wiggly supermarket, the 99-years-strong Woodland Hills and, the first of its kind in the city, the Islamic Center of the Twin Ports. (Includes photo gallery!)

"Book: There's More to the North Shore than Just a Pretty Face" :: In her book “Lake Superior’s Historic North Shore," Deborah Morse-Kahn explores the "wildfire of property development" erasing its treasured shoreline. (A feature on a book I reviewed in brief a few months back.)

"CD Reviews: Islands, the Cool Kids and the Headie Berrie" :: Albums reviewed this time around: Islands' "Arm's Way," the Cool Kids' "The Bake Sale" EP and the Headie Berrie's "Morning Toast" EP.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

A&E FYI: Jamestown Story playing EP release show at Beaner's tonight

Jamestown Story will celebrate the release of its new EP, "The Prologue," with a special performance at Beaner's Central tonight. Cities Never Sleep and hot young band the Bricks open. Cost is $7, but includes a free copy of "The Prologue." Show's at 8.

Image information: Jamestown Story's Dane Schmidt performing at the Making History Rock Show at Grandma's Sports Garden in Canal Park this past February. It was one of the last Jamestown Story shows to feature Kieren Smith (of Sing It Loud) on violin. See more photos from that event, which also included a set from Cities Never Sleep, on the Budgeteer's Web site.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Park Point Rummage Sale Digest II (2008)

For Twin Ports bargain hunters, there is perhaps no tradition more treasured than walking the miles upon miles of sales every June on Park Point.

The Park Point Rummage Sale is some of the best fun you can have in these parts, and this year's event (my second) was certainly no exception.

I humbly present to you my finds:

(1) Zenith Brand Pure Lard (made by Duluth's Elliott & Company) 50-pound metal container @ 50 cents

(1) Paperback @ 5 cents: "The Haunted Mask," No. 11 in R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series

(6) Paperbacks @ 25 cents: Stephen King's "Carrie," "Thinner" (two copies ... oops!) and "The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger"; James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" (I was sadly disappointed when I realize I wasn't purchasing Towelie's "A Million Little Fibers" LOL) and Gertrude Chandler Warner's first volume of "The Boxcar Children"

(1) Paperback @ 75 cents: Stephen King's "Different Seasons"

(2) Paperbacks @ $1: "Desperation" and "The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass" by Stephen King

(1) CD @ 15 cents: Eddie Rabbitt's "The Branson Sound, Vol. 9"

(4) CDs @ 50 cents: "From a Window: Lost Songs of Lennon & McCartney" and the soundtrack to "Bully" (both sealed!) and two compilations from WBCN: "Naked Disc 4 Play" and "Naked Disc 2000" -- they sound sick, I know, but the former includes a rare live version of Radiohead's "Permanent Daylight" recorded in Dublin the summer of 2000.

(1) CD @ 75 cents: Love and Rockets' "Sweet F.A."

(5) CDs @ $1: Phish's "Billy Breathes," the best of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Har Mar Superstar's 9-track "Body Request" single, the Apples in Stereo's "Let's Go!" EP (featuring an interesting live cover of "Heroes & Villians") and, gotta love it, Eddie Money's 1991 masterpiece "Right Here."

(5/7) CDs @ $2: the Eels' "Blinking Lights and Other Revelations" and the Wings/Paul McCartney compilation "Wingspan" (both double-discs!) AND three albums from local favorites Low: "The Curtain Hits the Cast," "Trust" and "Secret Name."

Speaking of "Starfire" ... I picked up two "Park Point is for Lovers" T-shirts @ $10 from Mr. Lunt (I think he was at a friend's house) -- gotta love 'em!

(4) 3DO games @ 50 cents: "Theme Park," "Super Street Fighter II Turbo" and the first two games in the "Alone in the Dark" series. (They were also selling a 3DO console for $10, but it looked pretty banged up, unfortunately....)

(1) RCA Victor "His Master's Voice" tin @ 25 cents

(1) Funky beer mug @ 25 cents

And, finally, THE PURCHASE OF THE DAY: A working Super Nintendo -- the edition that included both the Super Game Boy and "Super Mario All-Stars," no less -- for only $5 ... yeah! Unfortunately I found this at the very first garage sale we stopped at, so the rest of the six-hour day was almost anticlimactic. Almost.

Today's Moment of Zen: Freddy Krueger's mining adventure!

Or do I just have an overactive imagination? Either way ... HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH -- I always liked "Jason" better anyway!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

A&E FYI: Beck names new album, release date

BECK: MODERN GUILT
RELEASE DATE AND TRACK LISTING CONFIRMED FOR NEW ALBUM

Beck's new album Modern Guilt, produced with Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton, will be released July 8th on DGC Records in North America and July 7 on XL Recordings in the UK and Europe.

The new album contains 10 new songs, and with the exception of last year's Grammy-nominated, digital-only single "Timebomb", Modern Guilt is the first new material Beck has written since the prolific stretch that produced 2005's platinum Guero and 2006's universally acclaimed The Information.

Modern Guilt is a tightly assembled group of songs that range in lyrical tone from introspection and social commentary to off the cuff wordplay and lighthearted humor. Musically, the album's ten tracks vacillate between economy and experimentation, hybrid and pop classicism, while consistently manifesting Beck and Danger Mouse's shared interest in psych-rock, folk, electronic minimalism and orchestration.

The complete track listing for Modern Guilt is:

Orphans
Gamma Ray
Chemtrails (listen here)
Modern Guilt
Youthless
Walls
Replica
Soul of A Man
Profanity Prayers
Volcano

Beck is about to embark on a tour of the UK and Europe, followed by a number of US headline and festival appearances, culminating in Beck's biggest hometown headline show to date, September 20 at the Hollywood Bowl:

8/22/08 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival
8/24/08 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphiteater
8/30/08 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
9/20/08 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Bowl
9/27/08 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Festival

~Information and image courtesy of Nasty Little Man

Saturday, June 7, 2008

sys8 -> file under: awesome mix tape.

My favorite (and most eclectic) mix tape in some time -- though they're all decidedly awesome:

1. Prince - "I Like it There"
No matter how many Prince records I collect, there's always more (at the door...) -- much, much more.

2. Cracker - "I'm a Little Rocket Ship"
Again, it's a good year for all the Cracker fans in the Twin Ports: They're coming to Superior!

3. Dion - "Doctor Rock 'n' Roll"
From Wikipedia: In 1966, Dion briefly reunited with the Belmonts for the album Together Again on ABC Records. Again, this bombed, despite one classic self-penned song, 'My Girl The Month Of May.' Although by this stage Dions career appeared to be nearing an end, he retained enough credibility to be, along with Bob Dylan, one of the only two pop artists featured on the album cover of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967." <- And this was before this gorgeous song was recorded.

4. The Thermals - "Here's Your Future"
Heard this closing out a third-season episode of "Weeds." Was wonderfully impressed. A post-punk gush to rival that of the Pixies.

5. Spoon - "Sister Jack"
Modern classic rock -- doesn't anyone else hear it?

6. Dance Band feat. Best Friends Forever - "Best Dance Alliance"
This is some goofy s***, and I really appreciate the nod to Bowie's most glorious decade.

7. Ghostface Killah - "Charlie Brown" [Orgasmic Remix]
I know I should dig Ghostface's solo records more than I do, so this Stargate-tastic remix is my way of making amends. (FYI -> A post about the original track on The Audiozine: Unreleased Ghostface track, supposedly produced by MF Doom. The rumor is that this was left off of Ghostface's "Fishscale" and "More Fish" albums due to sample clearance issues. The beat liberally samples the song "Alfomega" by Caetano Veloso, available on this compilation.)

8. David Bowie - "Speed of Life"
What an intro! Instantly hooks you, lures you in, etc.

9. Sigur Ros - "Gobbledigook"
I always imagined this group to be over-the-top pretentious -- maybe it is -- but this track is exceedingly beautiful.

10. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Oregon Girl"
I'm glad to find out there's more to this group than a funny name. This song could move mountains.

11. She & Him - "I Should Have Known Better"
Speaking of "Weeds," check out season three's first episode for Zooey's best onscreen performance since "The Good Girl." (I know she was in one at the end of season two too, but it just wasn't as out-and-out hilarious as her exit from the series.)

12. Dwight Yoakam - "I Wouldn't Put it Past Me"
It is true: You get a big truck, you start reaching for the Dwight records more than you used to.

13. Josh Harty - "December"
Finally, finally, finally this modern-day troubadour fashions himself a follow-up to "Three Day Notice." (Though I honestly don't know when "A Long List of Lies" hits the streets....)

14. Spiritualized - "Soul on Fire"
Thanks, Walt, for introducing me to this terrific (haunting) track. I probably wouldn't have checked out this record otherwise.

15. Bob Dylan - "Joey"
In case you haven't already heard, I'm a born-again Dylan fanatic. Dig it.

16. The Alrights - "All This Time"
Also dig this: Precious indie pop from the Zenith City.

17. The High Speed Scene - "All About It"
These guys really need to end their recording hiatus. (I don't live in L.A. -- I can't make your shows!)

18. Live - "The Sanctity of Dreams"
Live may have dropped everything for Christian rock, but, dammit, the band's music is still pretty catchy. (And, yes, those rumors are true: Live will be playing a triple bill with Blues Traveler and Collective Soul at Bayfront Festival Park next month. Tickets are a little spendy, so I probably won't go, but I've seen Blues Traveler twice in concert and they are ... probably actually worth it.)

19. Mates of State - "My Only Offer"
Another lovely single from this husband-and-wife team.

20. Electric Six - "Take Off Your Clothes"
Funny stuff, though it's basically a rewrite of ... every other song they sing.

21. Tub Ring - "I Am the Robot"
Like an "Incubus-ized" Mr. Bungle (with a slight hint of Building Better Bombs). Very interesting.

22. Wire - "One of Us"
I shouldn't like these guys (suing Elastica and all), but, on the other hand, it's hard to stay mad at 'em.

Thus concludes your eighth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug (Special DYLAN Edition)

Bob Dylan at Ironworld, Bob Dylan on my bookshelf, Bob Dylan on my "aged Blazer's crappy stereo system" and ... Bob Dylan on a yacht on Lake Superior? Not really, but close:

"All Eyes on the Lake" :: This weekend's cover photo, taken during last Wednesday's (good weather) yacht races on Lake Superior from the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Lakewalk.

"Fun on One (Tank of Gas): Ironworld" :: The Bob Dylan exhibit "Tangled Up in Ore" highlights Ironworld’s summer season. I traveled up to the Chisholm staple to take lots of pictures (check out my "The Faces and Places of Ironworld" photo gallery -- of which today's "poster" is an outtake) and chat up its marketing coordinator, Beth Pierce.

"Dylan Book 'Positively Main Street' Back in Print"
:: To celebrate the book’s reissue by the University of Minnesota Press, its author, Toby Thompson, spoke to the Budgeteer in a phone interview from his summer home in Montana.

"Like a Born-Again Dylan Fanatic, Pt. 1" :: A column. A tease: I was recently in the sadly misinformed camp that thinks, If Dylan doesn’t care about us, why should we care about him? (The “us” meaning residents of either Duluth, his birthplace, or Hibbing, his hometown.)

"Like a Born-Again Dylan Fanatic, Pt. 2" :: Phase two, in which Doris gets her oats again? No, no, that's not right. -> Try this: Phase two, in which Matthew R. Perrine bares his soul and comes close to losing his second wife ... ha! More exciting, no? I kid; here's another tease: Now that I know that Dylan wasn’t exactly “feeling the love” as a kid in Hibbing, I can return, wholeheartedly, to those records I fell in love with seven years ago, and truly appreciate Minnesota’s most important gift to the world.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

the mix tape that cried corporate sponsorship (SYS7)


It feels good to be back in the swing of things. (p.s. I bought a decidedly "Mister Rogers"-worthy jacket at Ragstock today -- aren't you proud?)

1. Social Distortion - "Story of My Life" [LIVE]
Speaking of "Guitar Hero" (?), rumor has it a Metallica-themed edition of the game is on its way.

2. The Clash - "City of the Dead" [LIVE]
I stumbled upon "From Here to Eternity" at Pawn America recently, and it just about made my day.

3. Mason Jennings - "Your New Man"
After 2006's somewhat-disappointing "Boneclouds," Mason is back with a stellar new album and, as evidenced on this track, his sense of humor intact. His major-label prison sentence didn't suck the life out of him after all!

4. David Bowie - "As the World Falls Down"
I recently rediscovered "Labyrinth" (due to an unprecedented Jennifer Connelly obsession), and I must say I'm more than a little embarrassed that this song didn't make my awesome wedding mix tapes: This might be the most romantic song ever written.

5. Adam Ant - "Why Do Girls Love Horses?"
And this, kids, is why we listen to Walt Dizzo's radio show on Thursday nights. If it wasn't for him, I'm pretty sure I would have never heard this terrific (and obscure) gem. When I sequence my final mix tape, this one'll be right near the top. Thanks, Walt!

6. Standbye - "Don't Panic, Don't Panic, Don't Panic"
Frenetic indie rock for those upcoming hot summer nights.

7. Cracker - "1,000 Flower Power Maximum"
Cracker to play Superior's Head of the Lakes Fair -- I couldn't be more excited!

8. Les Savy Fav - "Sweat Descends" [LIVE]
Though that evening under the stars would be made even more memorable if these urgent-urgent-urgent Frenchkiss rockers were playing with them.

9. R.E.M. - "I'm Gonna DJ" [LIVE]
If I'm ever allowed back on air -- will work for cheap! -- this might not be a bad song to end the show with.

10. Dingus - "Teeth"
From my feature on this very deserving Minneapolis-by-way-of-Grand-Forks pop punk band: ... The group’s sophomore effort, “Please Stand By,” is an extremely polished affair. While still retaining their pop punk aesthetic, the album, released in December by Coon Rapids’ Soup Bowl Records, has elements of the Stereo, early Weezer and, showing off Dingus’ pop sensibilities, American Hi-Fi.

11. Blueprint - "Check Mate"
From Rhymesayers.com: It's been three years since the world has heard the sounds of Columbus, OH emcee/producer Blueprint. Those wondering when new music was going to be released can now sit back and enjoy. Blueprint vs Funkadelic is inspired by his rediscovery of the George Clinton led Funkadelic's catalog; writing rhymes to beats that Blueprint created using samples of their music. This project is FREE to download. Only 500 copies of the CD are available and ship with a free 11x17 poster at www.weightless.net. CD's are also available at www.fifthelementonline.com.

12. "Super Mario Bros." Medley (Compiled by David Dayton)
I can't believe how damned enjoyable this nostalgic piece of art is!

13. Electric Six - "Don't Be Afraid of the Robot"
Sounds like the Dames, drunk, with Dance Band's sense of funny.

14. Butthole Surfers - "The Shame of Life" [Radio Edit]
The Butthole Surfers ape A3 and ... it doesn't sound that bad. Not. Too. Shabby.

15. The Who - "Guitar and Pen"
Another embarrassing admission: It's taken me the better part of a decade to "discover" this late-career classic from one of my favorite bands.

16. Brian Wilson - "Let it Shine"
It's easy to dismiss Brian Wilson's solo output -- until you hear it.

17. Honeymoons - "Would You Believe?"
Found this at the "junque shoppe" up on Scenic Highway 61; never been prouder of a $2.25 purchase in my life.

18. She & Him - "This is Not a Test"
It's been a couple weeks since this album's release and *surprise* I'm still not sick of hearing Zooey Deschanel's sweet harmonies on my home stereo.

19. The Wrens - "Nightswimming" [R.E.M. cover]
Way to go, Stereogum: another brilliant, free tribute album!

20. Elefant - "Misfit" [Radio Mix]
Infectious, infectious, infectious.

21. The Takeover UK - "Lean on It"
UK's answer to White Light Riot? Seems like it.

Thus concludes your seventh dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Join me for a ... virtual Canal Park walkabout

A Canal Park Times-themed addendum to last week's This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug:

"On a Canal Park Walkabout..." :: The sheer amount of things to do in Canal Park can be intimidating for infrequent visitors, so follow this walking tour of Duluth’s tourism district and you’ll hit just about everything worthwhile it has to offer.

"A Canal Park Walkabout" :: An online-exclusive photo gallery, in the vein of my Discover Duluth photo-essay series, to accompany the above story. (The version of "On a Canal Park Walkabout..." that appeared in the latest edition of Canal Park Times featured photographs by some eighth-grade girls that came to the Budgeteer for Lake Superior College's Job Shadow Day.)