New Cloud Cult album named!

I don't know how much of a secret it is, but this is the first I heard of it ... and from Mr. Craig Minowa himself!

Quoting: "We’ve got a tour over to Norway and the Netherlands in the latter part of February, and will be doing a 10-day tour stint down to SXSW and back in mid-March when we’re back from Europe. The album hits radio in late March and hits stores April 8. We’ll be on a national support tour April and May. The album is called 'Feel Good Ghosts (Teapartying Through Tornadoes).'"

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FURTHER READING
"Music for the Green Revolution" - A Q-and-A with Minowa
"The Best Albums of 2007, Pts. 1 & 2" - Of which "The Meaning of 8" topped

(Image courtesy of the band.)

A&E FYI: Renegade Radio to broadcast live from Beaner’s

Renegade Comedy Theatre's Renegade Radio Hour will return to the KUWS airwaves (91.3 FM) from 8 to 9 p.m. Jan. 19 with a live broadcast from Beaner's Central in West Duluth -- in conjunction with the coffee shop's benefit for Mentor Duluth. For more information on how to attend, click here.

(Image courtesy of Renegade Comedy Theatre.)

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FURTHER READING:
"It's Official: Renegade's Holiday Revue More Fun than 'Drunkle' Saul" - Performance review of 2007's "Walkin' in a Bergson Wonderland, or: I'll Be Herb for Christmas"
"Ordean Foundation Honors Mentor Duluth Match" -- Includes some background info on the program

A&E FYI: Josh Harty returning to Duluth Friday!

In case you haven't already heard, there is an amazing triple bill in the works for Friday, Jan. 11, at Beaner's Central -- including Chicago (by way of Fargo and Madison) troubadour Josh Harty (pictured), local favorites Lookdown Moon and Madison chanteuse Jentri Colello. Show starts at 8 p.m. Cost is $5.

See you there!

(Image courtesy of Josh Harty.)

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 63: Other fruits say oranges are blind

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.

Who's Johnny?!
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. Paloalto - "Fade Out/In"
For those times when you feel like you're stuck in some uber-epic teen drama, this is your soundtrack.

2. Metal Molly - "Orange" (listen here)
You probably saw this one coming....

3. Brian Wilson - "She Says that She Needs Me"
A lot of people like to shit on "Imagination" (especially Rolling Stone), but forget about 'em: it's a great record!

4. Semi.Official - "Semi.Official?"
DJ Abilities shines on this I Self Devine-less instrumental track -- worthy of any of his groundbreaking solo sets, for sure.

5. Atmosphere - "They All Get Mad at You"
2007 was a banner year for Minneapolis' preeminent hip-hop duo, but somehow this one managed to work its way up to the top.

6. Les Savy Fav - "Patty Lee" (download others here)
A smash hit for the hyped-up post-punk set. Viva los Pixies!

7. Carbon Carousel - "Lather Rinse Repent"
When Abilities was busy working with other rappers (see No. 4) and on his solo sets, his E&A "compadre" Eyedea was busy cranking out records with the angst-ridden Carbon Carousel. A departure, but one worth listening to. (Click here for my full interview with Eyedea.)

8. Aqueduct - "Split the Difference" (Daytrotter vers.)
I can't say it enough: David Terry is a god!

9. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - "Colleen" (DL others here)
I've never been too huge of a Ted Leo fan, but this modest rocker quickly got under my skin.

10. Office - "Had a Visit"
It just blows my mind how incredibly catchy this group's songs are. Magnet said it best: "Pretty irresistible stuff."

11. The National - "Fake Empire"
It seems like most hardcore critics were split between three records: Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible," M.I.A.'s "Kala" and the National's "Boxer." We all know where I stand, but I can definitely see what all the fuss is about.

12. Badly Drawn Boy - "The Shining" (The Avalanches' Good Word for the Weekend Mix)
I know I said this on the last mix, but it isn't any less true this time around: "I would give my [UNPURE JOKE] for a new Avalanches record."

13. Weakerthans - "Reunion Tour" (DL others here)
Is it even possible for this group of Winnipegers to write a song that isn't instantly memorable?

14. Pretty & Twisted - "Stranger"
A haunting, David Lynch-approved (or at least I would assume so) track Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano wrote with Replacement Paul Westerberg.

15. J Church - "City by the Bay"
R.I.P. Lance Hahn. While you're at it, check out the benefit album put out earlier this year. (It's for a good cause, and it's only $7.25!)

16. Charles Douglas - "Baby Come On" (listen to lots of his tracks here)
I have written miles about this man's genius. (Here's just one sample.)

17. Jane's Addiction - "Just Because" (full album stream of "Up from the Catacombs" here)
Wow, can you believe this song is already five years old? (Yeah, I didn't have anything else to say....)

18. Tripmaster Monkey - "Fizzle Like a Flood" (listen here)
For whatever reason, this reminds me of "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" ... and I never even watched that show.

19. Jeremy Messersmith - "Great Times" (DL others here)
Read on: My review of "The Alcatraz Kid," this terrific song's home album.

20. Six Mile Grove - "Hollywood" ("Midnight Road to Moscow" available here)
Read on: "Six Mile Grove's Pure Farm Boy Charm," my feature on the group's chief songwriter, Brandon Sampson. (p.s. Did anyone else see him last weekend while he was in town? I caught his first set at Fitger's Brewhouse -- blew me away!)

21. Dylan Hicks - "Hal Blaine"
Recommended if you like Mark Mallman (see my picks for his greatest hits here) and Six Mile Grove (how convenient, I know...).

22. Sugar - "Believe What You're Saying"
In my book, Bob Mould can do no wrong. (Maybe it's about time I pick up those Hüsker Dü records everyone keeps talking about....)

23. Iron and Wine - "Boy with a Coin"
You know I wouldn't be doing my job as a Cloud Cult superfan if I didn't find at least one CC-sounding track for each and every mix tape. Enjoy!

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BONUS TRACKS - LISTEN UP!

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: The Surfactants, 'pretty, pretty pictures' and more contest fun!

Up with people!

"Rise of the Surfactants" -- Zac Bentz discusses his latest group’s unique sound (an Americanized take on "Technicolor pogo punk," if you will) and eclectic influences (Polysics, Iron Maiden, et al.).

The "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" contest returns with ... well, I can't tell you outright; but here's a bonus clue for being such a good pal: Along with the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center and the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center (aka "The Depot"), this week's answer has always been one of my favorite places to kill time in the Twin Ports.

BONUS PRINT EDITION EXCLUSIVE: "Discover Duluth: A Year of Pretty, Pretty Pictures," which is pretty self-explanatory (at least one would hope so!).

Also, if you haven't had a chance to check out "The Best Albums of 2007, Pts. 1 & 2," I implore you to do so. (I'm strangely proud of that piece.)

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 62: You looked like a mermaid in your water wings and a push-up bra

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.

Hail Canada ... apparently!
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. Self - "Busy Sending Me"
A veritable "DTAS" classic: Outside of Built to Spill's "Center of the Universe" and Les Savy Fav's "Who Rocks the Party" (my old radio show's back-to-back theme songs), I can't think of a song that's been on more Matthew R. Perrine-produced mix tapes than this one.

2. Atmosphere - "Don't Stop"
All right, who else thinks that Slug sounds like Jay-Z circa "The Black Album" on this mesmerizing track?

3. Weakerthans - "Hymn of the Medical Oddity" (other MP3s here)
If Winnipeg ever gets you down, there's always the Weakerthans (to write about it).

4. Chad VanGaalen - "Flower Gardens"
Speaking of the Great White North, here's that country's bona fide jack-of-all-trades; effortlessly floating between Melvins riffs and crafty Wolfmother wordplay on one track to something a wee-too-sweet on the next.

5. Mono Puff - "The Devil Went Down to Newport (Totally Rocking)" (video here)
As lame as it sounds, this side project from They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh is *ahem* totally rocking!

6. John Davis - "Watch Me Walk Away" (live Superdrag MP3s here)


7. Wooden Stars - "Orphans"
Hey, wow, go Canada! I just found out these superb indie rockers hail from Ottawa.

8. Magic Numbers - "This is a Song" (Daytrotter vers.)
No matter where these blokes rate on your Chuck Klosterman "rate scale," there is no denying the power and ageless beauty of their songs -- and this track is one of the best ones to start with (read: not as hopelessly tragic as some of the others).

9. Phonograph - "Nu Americana" (listen to some tracks here)
This group, otherwise known as "the new Wilco," never ceases to deliver that it's-like-I-grew-up-with-this-record feeling. Love it up.

10. Belle and Sebastian - "I'm a Cuckoo" (The Avalanches Mix) ("Another Sunny Day" available here)
I'm only a fair-weather fan of Belle and Sebastian, but I would give my left nut for a new Avalanches record. (It's OK, I have three....)

11. DeBarge - "Who's Johnny?"
I grew up hearing this song played incessantly throughout "Short Circuit," so guess what the first song I downloaded was after I recently found a used copy of that excellent trip down Nostalgia Lane?!

12. M.I.A. - "Boyz"
Again, M.I.A., I am so sorry for snubbing you on all of my obsessive year-end music lists. "Kala" just isn't the sophomore slump I once thought it was.

13. Unknown Prophets feat. DJ Abilities - "The Wrong Route" (listen to others here)
Day 43 of my DJ Abilities obsession....

14. Ol' Dirty Bastard - "Cold Blooded"
Blah blah blah Neptunes production blah blah blah how could you leave us so early ODB?

15. Common feat. Lily Allen - "Drivin' Me Wild" (listen here)
Let's face it: I'm a sucker for the P.O.P.

16. Wintersleep - "Archaeologists"
Oh, Jesus Christ, not another fucking Canadian band! (Do you think God is trying to tell me something? ha ha ha)

17. The Julies - "Love Scene Seventeen" (Cedar Creek mix)
This is one of those amazing underground bands where, if I were to meet just one fellow fan in real life (as in that life you used to have before MySpace), I would die a happy man. (I know you're out there!)

18. Giljunko - "Quit Your Low Down Ways" (Bob Dylan cover)
Here's a question for you: Isn't it a little weird that, as I get older, I hear more Bob Dylan covers than songs actually performed by him?

19. The New Pornographers - "Fugue State"
An exclusive "Challengers" B-side for iTunes and Buy Early, Get Now customers ... while it's not great enough to kick the band in the head over, I'd still be a little upset if I purchased the album elsewhere.

20. Jim Bryson - "The Wishes Pile Up"
Oh, no, not again ... guess where this bastard's from? Ontario ... for fuck's sake! (Jokes aside, I'm really starting to admire Canada's indie rock scene.)

21. The Fontanelles - "Keepsake" (listen to others here)
I can't understand why this group's albums are worth so much on Amazon. It's like the Keep Aways if they learned to love the pop (well, for the most part). It's decent enough, but should only be purchased at bargain-bin prices.

22. The Alrights - "In a Way" (listen to others here)
R.I.Y.L. Maroon 5 (but not Kara's Flowers).

23. Illness Project - "Dance Outro" (from KRFC's "Live at Lunch")
R.I.Y.L. Cloud Cult ... like a lot.

DOWNLOAD: Rhymefest's 'Man in the Mirror' finally arrives

"Man in the Mirror," Rhymefest's 24-track tribute to Michael Jackson, was released today as a free download on the Chicago MC's Web site. Snatch up this mix tape album (released by Mark Ronson's Allido Records) before it disappears like "The Grey Album." (While you're there, make sure to grab the "Plugg City" mix tape -- also free -- while it lasts.)