'I buy my DVDs used on Amazon, but I never watch them'

That's what Henry Rollins said. To Me. About his myriad film projects. I still can't believe it either. Either/or, make sure to check out what else he had to said during his exclusive Budgeteer interview in "Henry Rollins Continues the 'Recountdown' in Duluth." (Hint: He's bringing his new spoken word tour to Sacred Heart Music Center.)

Elsewhere in the bin...

"Local CD Review BLOWOUT: Yeltzi, Two Many Banjos, the marcgartband and the Hobo Nephews" :: Reviewed this weekend: Yeltzi's "Snow in August," Two Many Banjos' "Give Me Time," the marcgartband's "Me and My Big Ego" and the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank's "One for the Time Capsule" EP. All good ... what do you know?!

"One Jerk's Opinion: The 2008 Beaner's Songwriter Competition" :: Judge Matthew R. Perrine's – Hey, that's me! – thoughts on the two-song sets from Dustin Ralston, Billy Southern, Sam Dull, Kim Monson, Jason Robuk, George Kaplan, The Tico Three, Drew Anderson, Stephanie Dykema, Mark Blom, Emily Jayne, John Derke, Adam Depre, Greg Tiburzi and Steve Isakson at the fifth annual Beaner's Central songwriting competition (held last Wednesday during One Week Live). DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"Duluth Gets a Taste of the BFF-Approved Terrordactyls" :: While easy comparisons could be made to labelmates the Pharmacy and occasional tourmates Best Friends Forever – or, to a lesser extent, Madison’s the Buffali – the simplest way to describe the songs cooked up by this Seattle duo is that they're experimental, quirky and fun. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"Discover Duluth: Chambers Grove" :: The magnificent views of the river and the rolling hills that surround Fond du Lac's Chambers Grove are at least worthy of a pit stop on your way to nearby Jay Cooke State Park. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

Finally, this weekend's cover, "Special One," can be viewed here. Yay for fall colors!

Thus concludes THIS WEEK'S (SHAMELESS) BUDGETEER PLUG!

Today's Moment of Zen: Tina Fey, forever my hero

sys24 :: WHO SMOKED THE JUKEBOX?

Thanks, I like to play/make lots and lots of mix tapes.

1. Kanye West feat. Mos Def and Freeway - "Two Words"
I know I've used this before, but, seeing as how Kanye's debut disc was the soundtrack to my Trollwood summer, I'm gonna use it again: Strange how my memory improves tenfold when aided by music. -> This one brings me right back to the summer of '04, when I worked at Fargo's glamorous Trollwood Performing Arts School. As a glorified janitor....

2. Michael Franti and Spearhead - "Hey World" [Remote Control Vers.]
And, continuing this lazy trend of recycling my words, here's what I wrote about this track in my review of its parent album, "All Rebel Rockers": Like a cross between Grayskul’s bouncy “Scarecrow” and any given giddy OutKast hit, everything just seems to come together for four glorious minutes: From the perversely fun lyrics (“I didn’t come here to chill, I came here to rock / To smash the empire with my boom box”) to the top-notch production, this is it; this is why we listen to music.

3. The Killers feat. Lou Reed - "Tranquilize"
I like what Brandon Flowers told Maxim about this track: "That song was begging for a duet, and Lou Reed's one of the kings. We were all nervous. He's not a large man, but he's intimidating. He must have thought we were all right, though, because he finished the song. It's exciting that there are people like him in the world. I hope one day to intimidate people."

4. Oranger - "Crones" [MP3]
Recommended if you like Death Cab, but with a little mid-'90s alt.rock and a little Cars action thrown in for good measure. A nice late autumn/early winter tune, once the season finally hits us. (Sorry, I just watched "A Simple Plan," so I'm hankerin' for my "birth season.")

5. Val Emmich - "Go On With It" [MP3]
Radio-ready pop with a sense of Western flair. For fans of groups like the Fray, but far more uplifting.

6. Arson Welles - "Second Coming"
This song completely blew my mind. I just "discovered" it on one of those Radio K comps. ("Stuck on AM 3," perhaps?) Indie pop that's every bit as exciting as those late-period Tripping Daisy masterpieces. I especially like the Beach Boys-influenced flourishes. <- Will never get sick of those.

7. Cracker - "Good Times Bad Times" [Led Zeppelin cover]
I'm embarrassed that there was a point in my life when I needed my generation's rock 'n' roll bands to tell me that it was OK to like those of my father's.... But "Encomium" sure did the trick!

8. Eels - "Jelly Dancers" [Dimension 5 cover] [MP3]
Mesmerizing fun from Eenie Meenie's "Dimension Mix."

9. Saint Etienne - "Artieripp"
Along the same lines as "Jelly Dancers," this track takes you to different dimensions and alternative realities. (Listen with caution, I guess....)

10. KoRn - "Wake Up Hate"
I recently rediscovered hard rock -- thanks to local acts like Number One Common, Malec and Portraits for Judith -- so you might have to deal with a little more variety on these here mix tapes in the coming days.

11. Local H - "Fritz's Corner"
I don't usually go ga-ga over too many concert films, but the sight of Local H fizzling out speakers with this frenetic stomper forever changed my mind about what RnR duos were capable of. (This was a few years before the White Stripes.)

12. Deadstring Brothers - "Lonely Days" [MP3]
Don't let the title fool you; this track'll put a spring in your step in no time.

13. Ben Weaver - "White Snow" [MP3]
Here I go with my winter fascination again....

14. Mason Jennings - "Crush the Pill" [Live on Radio K]
A complete story in just over a minute's time. How does he do it?

15. The Mountain Goats - "Palmcorder Yajna" [MP3]
I've been paying a lot more attention to these guys since Aesop Rock told me why he sought out a collaboration with frontman John Darnielle: "My brother introduced me to the Mountain Goats’ music sometime around 1994, and it blew my mind. I had never heard a non-rap act pay that much attention to lyric writing, and treating lyrics as an 'art.' It was apparent from the first few words out of his mouth that this man was a writer."

16. Irving - "Turn of the Century" [MP3]
Irving, where have you been all my life? This is really beautiful music, but, like Beulah or Mason Jennings' "Nothing," it also has a groove -- something that will make you move.

17. Human Highway - "Sleep Talking"
Beatlemania v2.0. Courtesy of the dude from Islands, no less.

18. The Sadies - "Little Sadie" [MP3]
I feel like I should be at the Brewhouse or something with Americana this flashy and polished. Steve Albini's production prowess shines through again.

Thus concludes your twenty-fourth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES.

'If you don't shop indie bookstores, they won't be there'

See how Anita Zager (that's her quote above) and her Canal Park shop, Northern Lights Books & Gifts, and others like it are dealing with competition -- like the increased visibility of wireless reading devices like Amazon.com’s Kindle -- in "NorLights Increases Online Presence with Literary Blog."

Elsewhere in the bin...

"DVD Reviews: 'The Babysitters' as Bad as Everyone Says" :: The John Leguizamo-produced "The Babysitters" inexplicably switches gears from a failed attempt at recreating the masterpiece of taboo lust and awkward midlife crises that was “American Beauty” to, as LA Weekly expertly pegged it, a “female inversion of ‘Risky Business.’”

"Book Reviews: Punks, Skinheads and ... Increased Literacy?" :: Two more winners coming atcha: Gavin Watson's photographic goldmine “Skins & Punks: Lost Archives 1978-1985” and Nathan Nedorostek and Anthony Pappalardo’s surprisingly informative “Radio Silence: A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music."

"CD Review: The Blend Drops the Ball for MPLS" :: Minneapolis’ hip-hop scene is one strike away from losing its crown. The first major embarrassment was hearing Kristoff Krane singing “Hip hop / I’m a little tadpole” at Luce a year ago, and No. 2 comes in courtesy of the Blend’s new EP, “Losing the Game.”

Plus: Informative little nuggets about the Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank, 4 Track Films' new webshorts and comedian Mick Lazinski (who has ties to the area).

Well, let's it for THIS WEEK'S SHAMELESS BUDGETEER PLUG!

sys23 :: TENNESSEE SURE ENOUGH

I'm getting so far behind with these awesome mix tapes that it's not even funny anymore. Therefore, if I make no sense tonight, forgive me -- just go out and listen to these songs. You won't be disappointed. Promise, promise.

1. Dynamite Hack - "Switcheroo"
I almost died listening to this song in early '02. Good times.

2. Piebald - "The Monkey Versus the Robot"
Love these lyrics: "We have the best job ever / Yeah, we really got lucky / We're nobody's robot / We're nobody's monkey."

3. The Shazam - "Super Tuesday"
Not really about politics. This is a good thing.

4. Riddle of Steel - "Easy Love"
Some things I learned about my new favorite band, Riddle of Steel (aka St. Louis' answer to Cars & Trucks) -- in no particular order: Drummer Rob Smith is also in the band Traindodge, this is their last month together as a band and www.hotdudesrockinout.com is probably the best URL you can purchase to send traffic to your MySpace page. R.I.P. R.O.S.

5. Local H - "High-Fiving MF"
More lyrics to base your existence on: "You've got no taste in music / And you really love our band / Your haircut is atrocious / It's been the same since '83."

6. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Sikamikanico"
Looking back at this classic soundtrack cut ... what happened, guys?

7. Apollo Sunshine - "I Was on the Moon" [MP3]
Download it. Love it. Buy it. Love it even more.

8. The Beatles - "Dear Prudence"
Some crazy-cool news out of the Zenith City: A bunch of Duluth musicians will get together Oct. 6 at Sacred Heart Music Center and play the Beatles' guess-who's-40 "White Album" in its entirety. Come on, Cars & Trucks tackling "Happiness is a Warm Gun"? Doesn't get much better than that. I'm pretty sure "Duluth Does White" will be a massive success. Hopefully someone -- hint, hint, Eric Swanson -- will hit "record" from the adjoining studio. Either way, stay safe by getting your tickets here.

9. The Aliens - "Tomorrow"
Ex-Beta Band players return triumphantly. Much better than the stupid King Biscuit Time s--- Steve Mason pushed on unsuspecting fanboys back in the day. Download "Robot Man" here.

10. David Bowie - "Boys Keep Swinging"
My wife and I caught a skunk this morning. Funny -- and cute -- but oh-so-stinky. This song makes me feel better, though.

11. Belle and Sebastian - "Act of the Apostle"
You definitely have to be in the right mood to fully enjoy some B&S "action," but this one's a winner even if you're in the worst of 'em. Download "Another Sunny Day" here.

12. Frank Black - "Superabound"
I know it's not the cool thing to admit, but, of all the Pixies, Black Francis definitely has the most consistent solo career.

13. Ash - "Petrol"
I never thought I'd say this, but I love my iPod. I'm rediscovering tracks I haven't "stumbled upon" in years.

14. Jason Loewenstein - "Codes"
Always a staple of my non-wife mix tapes. Sadly, when most people hear the word "Sebadoh," they only think of Lou Barlow. Download two songs here.

15. Ryan Adams - "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be Young)" [MP3]
Probably best known for its inclusion on the "Old School" soundtrack. Still, I like it. A lot.

16. Jon Rauhouse feat. Neko Case - "The World is Waiting for a Sunrise" [MP3]
Remember, kids, this pretty faux-Canadian lass wants to be a ninja....

17. Mason Jennings - "Flight Path" [Live]
Why is this still unreleased? Mason Jennings, I'm boycotting your shows until this gem sees the light of day!

18. NOFX - "Hotdog in a Hallway" [MP3]
He he he.

Thus concludes your twenty-third dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series previously known as Don't Tell a Soul.

Duluth (Music) Hall of Fame: 'Seed Math'

SEED MATH - "SEED MATH"

{Cover art unavailable ... for now.*}

TRACKS

1. "Planet Earth"
2. "Piggyback Accident"
3. "Television, Alright!"
4. "Instrumental #1"
5. "Same Again"
6. "Instrumental #2"
7. "Two Two One Ten Two Two"
8. "Let it Begin"
9. "The Matthew Lesko Polka"
10. "Question and Answer Book"
11. "Bad Heart"
12. "Acoustic Midget Blues"

LINER NOTES

"Liner notes" were quite limited, as the Seed Math releases were just the CDs in color jewel cases. (This first release came in a blue case.) However, like the other installments, this first disc came with a small piece of paper denoting its volume number (out of four), edition number (out of 25 ... quite rare!) and that it was created by Tony Bennett of the Dames (now of Cars & Trucks). There was also text printed directly onto the disc: "Written, performed, recorded and mixed by Tony Bennett at Spirit Valley Studios, Duluth, MN. Mastered by Zac Bentz w/ TB. 'Artwork' by TB. seedmath@hotmail.com. All songs copyright 2003 SEED MATH. Thanks!"

ETC.

Tony Bennett's Seed Math discs were released jointly by Shaky Ray Records and Cutout Records in the early 2000s. Some songs from the series were later featured in "Broc," a documentary about ceramacist Broc Allen made by Steve Ash. Learn more about Bennett's career in "Speaking as a Child of the '70s," a feature I wrote about him for the Duluth Budgeteer News. A choice quote from the story: “I’ve always kind of compartmentalized [my songs] in my mind for some reason,” he said. “If I write a Beatle-y kind of song, you know, that will go in this pile. If I write a hard rock song, that’ll go in this pile. Then, if I write a weird keyboard song, that’ll go in the Seed Math pile.”

*Duluth (Music) Hall of Fame is by no means official. It's just a way to get information about all of the many wonderful Twin Ports music scene releases out there. You can help out by submitting any missing materials or, better yet, starting your own (read: better) Northland music database.

'I get a lot of hate mail'

Steve Hofstetter says this during his sets — a lot.

In fact, there’s even a section of the comedian's Web site dedicated to archiving the particularly nasty letters he receives (as well as his spot-on rebuttals).

While it's too late to catch his set at Dubh Linn (it was Saturday night, sorry chuckles), it's never too late to read my DuluthBudgeteer.com-exclusive Q-and-A with the MySpace and Facebook favorite.

Elsewhere in the bin...

"More to Bayfield than a Couple (Thousand) Apples" :: With Bayfield’s celebrated Apple Festival right around the corner, it seemed like the right time to learn more about Wisconsin’s little city that could. To do so, the Budgeteer spoke to Mary Motiff, director of Bayfield County Tourism & Recreation. This is the second installment in our "Fun on One (Tank of Gas)" series, after Ironworld in Chisholm. (Note: Due to some unforeseen technical difficulties with our Web site, I won't be able to post the additional photos of Bayfield like I promised in the print edition -- until further notice, that is. My apologies in the meantime.)

"Minneapolis' Keri Noble Returns to Sacred Heart" :: It’s not just Keri Noble fans who are looking forward to her performance at Sacred Heart Music Center Sept. 26. A feature on the always-delightful Miss "Talk to Me."

"The Secret Delights of Tim Nelson's 'Sub-Underground' 550 Million Society" :: 550 Million Society, which features former Gild members Tim Nelson, Jim Hagstrom and Dicky Brooks, recently recorded a podcast for LocalM.com at Subterranean Productions in Superior. This is a good thing. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"Election Protection Ready for Election Day" :: We’ve all heard Election Day horror stories, so many will probably consider Election Protection a good thing for the United States’ democratic system. The Budgeteer (I) recently traded e-mails with Election Protection’s Jon Greenbaum to find out more about the organization, which is being billed as the largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition in the nation. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

"CD Reviews: Aaron Espe, Jeremy Messersmith and Spearhead" :: Albums reviewed this week: Aaron Espe’s “Songs From a Small Town," Jeremy Messersmith's “The Silver City" and Michael Franti and Spearhead’s “All Rebel Rockers." For the first time in a long time, three bonafide winners!

Thus concludes THIS WEEK'S SHAMELESS BUDGETEER PLUG!