Today's Moment of Zen: Kids say the damndest things ... after watching 'South Park'

As an avid "South Park" fan, I find the following, a complaint received by the FCC about the show, extremely entertaining. But there's more -- much, much more, in fact* -- at Government Attic, a site that "rummages in the government's attic" and finds ... well, just take a look:


*For a 66-page PDF of "South Park" complaints, click here.

Today's Moment of Zen: The 'Blog' of 'Unnecessary' Quotation Marks

Can you tell one of my hobbies is "being" a copy editor? I love this site!

(Image from The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks.)

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Taconite, Dance Band, Diorama-rama 3, Sacred Heart and Over the Top dancing

Wow, this is the quickest I've ever finished this ... yay! p.s. Y'all excited for Diorama-rama 3 this weekend?

"Discover Duluth: Sacred Heart Cathedral" -- Sacred Heart is really a sight to see — inside and out. I was pleasantly surprised with how these turned out, all things considered (battery running out of juice, etc.).

"Diorama-rama 3: Bigger, Better, Shinier" -- Taconite and Dance Band headline the next go-round of the great Emerson get-together. And I mean it; the last one was a blast!

"Performance Review: Over the Top Gets Physical with 'Transformations 2008'" -- Know how I know a bohemian storm is brewing? Because I witnessed the beginning stages of one Saturday night at the Play Ground, that’s how. Serious fun.

Plus ... the latest installment of "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" <- That's me! So, a bonus clue: Barrett Chase once took some awesome shots here, and wrote a couple funny things about the "neighborhood" next door.

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 67: NO TIME FOR LOVE, DR. JONES

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.

Toshinden!
Matt

p.s. I've been overwhelmed by stacks o' CDs of late, so I apologize for this bare-bones, just-trust-me mix tape.

(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. Valet - "Record Store"
Rocks, don't it?

2. The Flaming Lips - "Be My Head"
Rocks, don't it?

3. Creeper Lagoon - "Parked Car"
Rocks, don't it?

4. Mr. Dibbs- "Eat Meat" (snippet)
Rocks, don't it?

5. Secret Machines - "Flying" (Beatles cover)
Rocks, don't it?

6. DJ Abilities - "Abilities Reload"
Rocks, don't it?

7. Dialogue from "Clerks" - "No Time for Love, Dr. Jones"
Rocks, don't it?

8. Ween - "Voodoo Lady"
Rocks, don't it?

9. Crew Jones - "Invisible Dudes"
Rocks, don't it?

10. Of Montreal - "A Question for Emily Foreman"
Rocks, don't it?

11. Rob Crow - "I Hate You, Rob Crow" (single vers.)
Rocks, don't it?

12. Fiver - "Horse Pill Vector"
Rocks, don't it?

13. Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - "Spanish Dance Troupe"
Rocks, don't it?

14. The New Pornographers - "Mass Romantic" ("Live from the Future" vers.)
Rocks, don't it?

15. Testa Rosa - "Weather Underground"
Rocks, don't it?

16. Dan Hutt Field Recordings - "Salt is Salty HM"
Rocks, don't it?

17. Better Friends Than Lovers - "Teeter"
Rocks, don't it?

18. Both - "Brick to the Face" (Dirty Knobs' Icepick to the Ear vers.)
Rocks, don't it?

19. Sly Doc - "Mix it Up Ice Cream"
Rocks, don't it?

20. Figurines - "Hey Girl"
Rocks, don't it?

21. Dog Pookah - "Slow Down"
Rocks, don't it?

22. The Plastic Constellations - "Smallest Skyline"
Rocks, don't it?

23. The Who - "The Song is Over"
Rocks, don't it?

A&E FYI: Northern Room show canceled

If you were planning on attending Northern Room's free concert Friday night at the College of St. Scholastica, don't. (Because it's been canceled, silly.)

A statement from the band's manager, Bob Arthur: "Due to illness -- our lead singer, AJ, is battling severe bronchitis -- the Northern Room show at St. Scholastica this Friday has been postponed. We are working on re-scheduling in March, but nothing has been set."

(Image courtesy of Tony Skarlatos.)

---

FURTHER READING: "From Milwaukee with Love" -- My Q-and-A with Northern Room's Andrew Jonathan, the up-and-coming group's "energy-emanating" vocalist ... aka the sick one.

28 years strong...

In case you haven't already heard, Australian actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York City apartment earlier today.

His death appears to be drug-related, according to an Associated Press report.

Such a shame.

Ledger proved himself to be one of his generation's most powerful actors in Ang Lee's 2005 masterpiece "Brokeback Mountain."

He can currently be seen playing Duluth native Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There." His last film was "The Dark Knight," the upcoming Batman film, set to be released this summer.

More information available here.

Today's Moment of Zen: A real-life Towelie

If only my dictionary had the right word to help me explain exactly what I felt when I first saw this ad....

In case you forgot... / Life as I know it (is over) / 'Hey, You Kids!'

Guess who's 150 this year?! (p.s. I recently caved in and bought "Rock Band," so you probably won't be seeing a lot of me on here for ... a very, very long time. *No tears, OK?*) (p.p.s. I still miss the Impossibles.)

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Freecycle, Northern Room, 'The Trial of Goldilocks' and Harry Welty's bigass Pinocchio

Strange combo, innit? No fear; it's time to strike up the band:

"One Duluthian's Junk is Another Duluthian's Treasure" -- With more than 3,000 members, the local Freecycle movement shows no sign of slowing. I take a look at this massive online community by interviewing a handful of its users and chatting up its "owner," Summer Emison.

"Bringing Snow to Life" -- This shot of Harry Welty's unbelievable front-yard snow sculpture (of Pinocchio) netted me the cover, yay! (Whoop! Whoop!)

"Children's Theater Growth Continues" -- Pat Castellano, the director of the Duluth Playhouse's production of "The Trial of Goldilocks," remembers the black sheep the medium used to be in Duluth.

"From Milwaukee with Love" -- A Q-and-A with Northern Room's Andrew Jonathan, the up-and-coming group's "energy-emanating" vocalist. These boys from the Cream City are on fire, if you will.

Finally, another week, another "Where in the Northland is Matt Perrine?" contest. Things are really heating up at the Budge, with new sponsors being added weekly. Joining us now are Hell's Kitchen, the Duluth Playhouse, the Duluth Children's Museum, Burrito Union, KDAL, Lake Superior Zoo and Tugboat Children's Theatre -- which means more prizes for you if you win! Bonus clue for this weekend's entry: It played a prominent role in a recent Low music video.

Eyedea & Abilities coming back to Duluth (yes, already!)

Just months after they brought their "Appetite for Distraction" tour to Pizza Luce, Rhymesayers recording artists Eyedea & Abilities are making the trip back up to the Twin Ports!

From Rhymesayers.com...

+ 02.13.2008 +
Venue: Kirby Ballroom (Note: This is on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus)
Address: 1120 Kirby Dr.
KSC 115
City: Duluth
State: MN
Phone: 218-726-8742
Doors: 8:30PM
Ages: All Ages
Cost: $5
-> Performing: Eyedea & Abilities

(Image courtesy of Eyedea & Abilities.)

---

FURTHER READING: "Spitfire: An Intimate Conversation with Eyedea" -- The Q-and-A I did with the legendary MC last time he came through town (in November)

A&E FYI: ‘Chisholm ’72’ screened locally for Black History Month

The YWCA and the League of Women Voters Duluth invite you to watch and discuss the documentary “Chisholm ’72: Unbossed and Unbought” at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Chester Creek Café. (A discussion will follow.)

Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman in Congress (and first woman and person of color to run for president) is the subject of this “must see” documentary.

For more information, click here.

(Image courtesy of “Chisholm ’72.")

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 66: I hate Winnipeg

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.

Beefcake!
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. Drew Danburry - "Tonight I Was Trying to Read... (Pt. 1)"
An awesome, bluesy intro to ...

2. The Donnas - "Don't Wait Up for Me"
The biggest, skull-crushing stadium anthem the Donnas have ever pushed out. (Way to go, girls!)

3. Doomtree - "Knives on Fire"
Not to be outdone, Minneapolis' preeminent hip-hop collective strikes with the best single 2007 had to offer (which, unfortunately, I did not hear until 2008...). Sims, P.O.S. and Cecil Otter's ferocious rhymes are backed by Paper Tiger's most unrelenting production to date. Speaking of Doomtree, I just found out that P.O.S. and Cecil Otter will be performing at Duluth's Pizza Luce at 11 p.m. Feb. 8. (Tickets go on sale Jan. 21. $10.)

4. The Good, The Bad and The Queen - "The Bunting Song" (acoustic vers.)
This is another one of those instances where I wish I had heard something before it was way after the fact.

5. Atmosphere - "66th Street" (download others here)
Slug's best "story-song" yet -- about getting held up at a Richfield c-store by a (fuckin') flare gun. (That's right!)

6. Gogol Bordello - "Wanderlust King" (listen here) (download others)
I can't remember how Walt phrased it -- Gypsy punk? -- but I'm glad he placed so much emphasis on this addicting song.

7. The Who - "Amazing Journey"
Does it get any more classic than this?

8. Faux Jean - "The Ballad of Kim and Thurston" (free download of "Drunk and Stoned" here)
Too many unforgettable lines to count, so here's a small sampling: "As long as we're alive / Why don't we write some songs? / And we can start a band / So we can play our songs."

9. Jason Collett - "Out of Time" (MP3 of "It Won't Be Long" here)
Is it too early to name "Here's to Being Here" one of 2008's best albums? (Probably.)

10. DJ Abilities - title unknown (Track 2 from "Fall 06 Set List") (download a track here)
A 15-minute odyssey of masterful turntablism. Some stops along the way: Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and Rage Against the Machine's "Bombtrack." Not to be missed. Under any circumstances. Like anything else he does.

11. Fatboy Slim - "Praise You" (Adrock and Mike D remix) (listen here)
While this pales in comparison to DJ Abilities' monumental epic before it, this "Small Stars" remix is leaps and bounds more interesting than Fatboy Slim's fluff piece of an original.

12. Polysics - "Married to a Frenchman"
Like a majority of Zac Bentz's work with the Surfactants, this takes Technicolor pogo punk to the extreme.

13. Deathray - "Wild as I Wanna Be" (listen here)
No "My Lunatic Friends" by an means, but just knowing that this group is still around is worthy of inclusion by itself.

14. Paul Westerberg - "Love You in the Fall" (listen here)
Damn, this one just missed the opportunity to be included on the autumn mix tape for my sweetheart.... (Maybe next fall, eh?)

15. Talking Heads - "Wild Wild Life" (listen here)
The more I look back at all those old awesome mix tapes, the more I realize there's been a substantial hole where Talking Heads tracks should be.

16. The Weakerthans - "One Great City!" (download other MP3s here) (and here)
Oh so funny! I hate Winnipeg too, but for entirely different reasons.... (And, no, it's not just because my Guess Who were dissed here.)

p.s. If you ever get bored, check out the irreverent "travelogue" from a trip to Winnipeg my buddies and I put together in 2004 after we went to see the Pixies' second show in so many years.

17. Soft - "Droppin'" (watch video here) (download "Higher" here)
Sweet, another track to make out to!

18. USSR - "Dance Floor" (listen here)
... And ride around on trains to! (Well, either that or break shit to!)

19. Both - "Brick to the Face"
I know I've said my share about the genius of Greg Cougar Conley, but, really, why stop?

20. The Whitsundays - "Sorry James"
If ever I were to use the "pretty" tag, it'd be right now ... something tells me these guys probably stick out like a sore thumb in the Edmonton music scene. (I'm sorry, I really have no idea what that means....)

21. Jellyfish - "Calling Sarah"
No, I'm sorry; this is the prettiest song of all time.

First impressions of ... Sir Salvatore's 'Continental Breakfast'

These San Francisco boys are as humble as pie: " It's Sir Salvatore, the underdog indie rockers. We've been quiet for awhile but we've got a new EP to show for it: 'Continental Breakfast'! You may recognize the first track, 'Ambalina,' from last summer -- just now that we've got a few more songs to go with it."

You may also recognize "Ambalina," lovely Fly High, Duluth! reader, from numerous awesome "Don't Tell a Soul" mix tapes -- along with the majority of Sir Salvatore's first release, the "Those Men are Not Astronauts" EP, that is.

Needless to say, I'm a big fan of this group.

What that in mind, I couldn't really wait until my next round of CD reviews in the Budgeteer to proclaim my love for this, easily one of 2008's most exciting releases. (Don't worry, this is just a preview; a full-blown review is still in the works.)

1. "Ambalina"
Wise move, Sir Salvatore launches its new EP with one of the most glorious indie rock gems ever penned -- a track I've certainly been spinning since it was "leaked" on the group's Web site last year.

2. "E.D.C."
A gentle composition that ... quickly picks up the pace and launches into a "dueling vocalists throwdown" -- an approach favored by Hopkins' the Plastic Constellations.

3. "Fingers"
A quirky number that won't fail to impress fans of post-punk groups like stellastarr* or (maybe even) Gorky's Zygotic Mynci.

4. "Denouement"
For whatever reason, this track's title immediately reminds me of "Clerks." But that's probably not a bad thing, seeing as how it could've easily slipped onto the film's eclectic soundtrack.

5. "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.

"Continental Breakfast" features artwork by Adam Drobotij. To purchase this digital EP, visit eMusic or iTunes. For more information on the band, visit www.sirsalvatore.com.

399 days to end of analog broadcasts...

Reminder: Before the digital TV transition hits, stop on by the government's Web site for its TV Converter Box Coupon Program, www.dtv2009.gov.

To ease the pain of shelling out $50 to $70 for one of those clunkers, Uncle Sam is offering each household the opportunity to apply for up to two $40 rebates -- good at stores like Best Buy or Radio Shack (and numerous others, I'm sure).

For more information, the Duluth News Tribune did a nice piece on the matter called "Converting to Digital Television May Be Easier Than You Think."

(Image courtesy of aforementioned Web site.)

Tracklist for new Atmosphere LP released

As announced today by Pitchfork, the tracklist for "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold" (to be released April 22 on Rhymesayers):

01 Like the Rest of Us
02 Puppets
03 The Skinny
04 Dreamer
05 Shoulda Known
06 You
07 Painting
08 Your Glass House
09 Yesterday
10 Guarantees
11 Me
12 Wild Wild Horses
13 Can't Break
14 The Waitress
15 In Her Music Box

(Click on photo for free download of "Strictly Leakage" album.)

A&E FYI: St. Scholastica production of ‘The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite’ opens Feb. 1

The College of St. Scholastica continues its 2007-2008 theater season with “The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite” by Quincy Long at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, in the St. Scholastica Theatre on campus.

For more information, click here.

This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug: Red Rabbit, Donny Bar Sinister, the Wuchters, PoaDM, I, Colossus, We Are Wolves and lots o' accordions

See you at the Josh Harty show tonight!

"Ness Takes Office" -- Pretty much just a picture of Donny in his new (almost completely bare) office.

"Bridget Riversmith's Amazing Journey" -- How one Duluth artist went from working at Goodwill to exhibiting in NYC.

"Discover Duluth: A World of Accordions Museum" -- Looking at Superior’s Harrington Arts Center, you’d never guess that an amazing accordion museum was hiding in its basement. (An outtake is above.)

"Sermons for Every Season" -- The teachings of late First Lutheran pastor Michael D. Wuchter live on in posthumous collections curated by his wife, Shirley.

"CD Reviews: New Albums from Portrait of a Drowned Man, I, Colossus and We Are Wolves" -- Reviewed this week: self-titled debuts from Duluth's Portrait of a Drowned Man and Minneapolis' I, Colossus and "Total Magique," the sophomore set from Canadian rockers We Are Wolves.

"Change of the Guard" -- A standalone photo of outgoing mayor Herb Bergson with his granddaughter, Hannah Marie, at Monday evening's State of the City address.

Finally, the "Where in the Northland is (Me)?" contest series continued with ... here's a clue: I once made a really horrible crack about the quality of the water in this place. (I'm sorry, [REMOVED]!)

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 65: I like rock, but you give me the blues

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 do you ride for?
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 Wannadies feat. Petter - "Piss on You" (alt. vers.)
"I like rock / But you give me the blues" ... I don't know; something about this song (except for the added-in raps from Petter, of course) just jives with this mix tape's "cover art." (Taken at Superior's A World of Accordions Museum, in case you were wondering.)

2. No Wait Wait - "Faith and Words" (other MP3s here)
Marc Gartman is a grossly underrated indie rock god, and Duluth is all the better for "snagging" him from NYC. For fun -- you know, easy, breezy fun -- check out my interview with him (about his Park Point music festival) and my reviews of the Gallows' debut and the first one from Two Many Banjos. (p.s. Here's to him releasing the third, finished No Wait Wait album!)

3. Pavement - "Rattled by the Rush"
How come these guys didn't sell more records? This is some catchy shit.

4. Black Kids - "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You"
Since the only band most of us can name from Jacksonville is Yellowcard, it is with great pleasure that I announce the hottest group to come out of that city -- "hot" on a scale of Tapes 'n Tapes, to boot!

5. Dialogue from "Clerks" - "Jay's Chant"
If you're familiar with this track's subject matter, you'll know it fits in nicely with ...

6. Atmosphere - "Peyote" (free download of "Strictly Leakage" album here)
though this one's apparently about a stripper. Slug, you dog!

7. M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" (cool videos here)
A million thanks to KUWS's superstar DJ, Walt Dizzo, for introducing me to this* Clash-sampling masterpiece.

8. Dr. Dog - "The World May Never Know" (other MP3s here)
While I'm dishing out the credit (which is much deserved, to be sure), I'd have to thank the Electric Fetus for offering up one of this group's 7" singles for 50 cents. I probably wouldn't have heard them until ... Walt played them on his show or something.

9. Led Zeppelin - "Night Flight"
That's right; Don't Tell a Soul is your source for deep album cuts from the greats. (Sorry, I just love pretending I work for a classic rock station....)

10. Son Volt - "Straightface"
Jay Farrar is pretty badass for an Americana dude.

11. John Davis - "Nothing Gets Me Down" (Superdrag's Daytrotter session)
Blah blah blah Superdrag frontman kicks a lot of ass without his old cronies blah blah blah. Same old song and dance.

12. Tunng - "It's Because ... We've Got Hair" (lots o' MP3s here)
Sweet, subtle folktronica in the key of early Beta Band. Anyway, it's far more rewarding than anything King Biscuit Time put out.

13. Enon - "Natural Disasters"
As weird as this sounds, had the Pixies never existed, these guys would've been the Pixies. (Confused yet?)

14. Battles - "IPT2"
Everybody needs a little math rock in their diets, don't you think?

15. D Generation - "Helpless"
A smash hit if I ever did hear one. For fans of Rancid's poppier sides.

16. The Who - "Cousin Kevin Model Child"
It's hard to believe this was actually cut from "Tommy" -- it's fucking brilliant!

17. Hot Hot Heat - "Island of the Honest Man"
If you can ignore this track's annoying "hyper-hypo" vocal intro, you're in for one hell of a power pop treat.

18. N*E*R*D feat. Clipse - "Loser"
Hands down best use of table tennis sounds in a song. Ever. (And they're used a lot.)

19. Semi.Official - "Grey" (listen to some tracks here)
I Self Devine's 2005 album "Self Destruction" is great -- it really is -- but this track, thanks to DJ Abilities' keen senses, almost tops all the classics on that one.

20. Oddjobs, Typical Cats and Heiruspecs - "Time Flies" (live)
The live album these three groups put out was extremely hit or miss, but this track, especially its triumphant closing, is worth seeking out.

21. The London Suede - "Bored" (listen to tons of samples here)
I don't get this band. One minute they're rockin' (this one), but, most times, they really aren't.

22. Ween - "Learnin' to Love" (listen here)
If you liked "12 Golden Country Greats" (who didn't?), you're sure to ... already own this one.

23. The Raveonettes - "Dead Sound" (free download of "Aly, Walk with Me" here)
I didn't think these Danish fellows (well, guy and his extremely beautiful cohort) would last long enough to produce four albums, but they did; and they've just kept on impressing musically as well.

24. They Might Be Giants - "We're the Replacements" (full stream of "Venue Songs" here)
Funny, funny, funny: "Hey, where's Tommy? Someone find Tommy."

25. The Pooh Sticks - "Susan Sleepwalking"
Gee, I wonder why these guys fell off the face of the Earth. (Kind of like what happened to my buddies in Gay Dad....) Too bad ... I mean, just look at this photo.

26. Swimmer - "Dirtyword"
Wait ... what? Is this chick rock? *Some regret here.*

27. Heavy Vegetable - "St. Livingston" (free MP3 of "I Hate You, Rob Crow" here)
All hail Rob Crow. Seriously.

28. The Surfactants - "The One, The Wayward"
Hey, it's a Surfactants' feature!

*And Black Kids and Enon and Battles, funkmeister "Sticks" and Gogol Bordello, which I thought was *ahem* a death metal band. (ha!)

Don't Tell a Soul, Vol. 64: We don't want to know what's really going on

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.

And remember, kids: I don't read Newsweeks in the order in which they were received. Sometimes this causes problems....

Who do you ride for?
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. Fatboy Slim feat. Bootsy Collins - "Weapon of Choice"
Good times, great oldies!

2. Superdrag - "Do the Vampire" (remix)
Strangely enough, I think I heard this danceable classic on VH1 in the background* on one of those we-can't-produce-a-program-without-a-bunch-of-has-beens-and-unfunny-comedians** "roundtables."

3. Stars - "Ageless Beauty" (Most Serene Remix) (download original here)
A unique "juke joint" twist on the nearly [see Track 22] unparalleled original.

4. Cloud Cult - "On the Sun" (DL others here)
Again, in case you haven't heard the great news, Cloud Cult's new album, "Feel Good Ghosts (Teapartying Through Tornadoes)," will be released April 8.

5. Grotto - "Get a Hustle" (download "Area Code 320" here)
Please bear with me (I'm only doing this because Grotto has all but disappeared, and everyone deserves to get their teeth kicked in by them once or twice) ... from Modern Radio's Web site: "Grotto began in the Winter of 1995 during their first year of high school. They played their first show in the Winter of 1996. After playing scattered local shows, things paused in the Spring of 1999 as Mike traveled. Chris played and sang with the short lived Pushbutton 3. Jeff played drums for the Hidden Chord along with recording with them on their first two 7"s. Jeff also played with Sean Na Na for a few shows and ended up playing on the song "Princess and the Pony" that was on the Sean Na Na split with Mary Lou Lord on Kill Rock Stars. When Mike returned, Grotto regrouped and recorded their full length, Get A Hustle, with Mike Wisti. Around that same time Jeff left the Hidden Chord. Get A Hustle was released in January 2000. Since then, they have toured the east and south in the summer of 2000. In December of 2000 they recorded for an CDEP that was released by Double Indemnity records out of St. Paul in the Summer of 2001. After sporadically playing over 2002, they broke up in the Spring of 2002. Jeff continues to played with different local artists including Sean Na Na and Askeleton at different points but is currently playing with in a Twin Cities band called Monarques."

6. Interpreters - "Shout"
Like the Isley Brothers' "Shout!" -- this isn't a cover; they just share titles -- this track is pure, unadulterated party rock to sing along to whilst [WELL, YOU HAVE AN IMAGINATION, DON'T YOU?].

7. DJ Abilities - title unknown (Track 1 from "Fall 06 Show Set") (download "Kastdaddy 4 President" here)
I'm sorry, but this guy is just fucking amazing. This is worlds beyond 2000's "... For Persons with DJ Abilities" ... don't get me wrong; that album is great too, but I wish it was more sample-heavy. (p.s. Does anyone have any information on 1,200 Hobos?)

8. Atmosphere - "The Things that Hate Us"
"This is for those who still drink malt liquor / Put the poison in your body just to pass out quicker."

9. Combine - "Big Disappointment"
Like Grotto, this is a band that has all but disappeared ... so, to grab some more information, click on this link.

10. GrndNtl Brands - "Hell (Go to Hell)"
And again with the wholly obscure bands that one shouldn't live without....

11. Charles Douglas - "I Could Get Used to You" (listen to lots o' tracks here)
Kicks off like early Nirvana, but Douglas' fragile vocals let you in on a little secret: Keep listening -- this guys' records should be in everybody's collection.

12. Of Montreal - "The Actor's Opprobrium" (free downloads here) (and here!)
"I guess I should have known to stay away / From a snuff film by Gene Genet / But the cash was good and the director gave me the biggest scene."

13. Bloc Party - "Two More Years" (lots of MP3s here)
I can't defend the route these blokes took on "Weekend in the City" (sorry, Walt...), but their early stuff is pure gold.

14. Ween - "I Can't Put My Finger on It" (stream of "La Cucaracha" here)
I can't believe I was allowed to listen to this in my formative years -- it's forever altered my perception of "pop music." (ha ha ha)

15. Family Cat - "With a War" (DL others here)
I'll give you one good reason to check out Family Cat: The album this is on, "Furthest from the Sun," features a P.J. Harvey collaboration. (To paraphrase Zen Bullets' discography for the band: Not a duff track in sight there.)

16. The Wedding Present - "Convertible" (DL "Interstate 5" here)
It's official: David Gedge is now on the list of people I really want to meet (it's a short list, with Matt Mahaffey and Ken Andrews as the other "honorees").

17. Paul Westerberg - "Ain't Got Me" (full album stream of "Open Season")
Like Bob Mould, this man can do no wrong.

18. Ed Harcourt - "Oh Drunken Wastrel"
If only I could convince the powers that be to have this playing on Tower Avenue from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. ... Mr. Mayor, can you hear me?

19. J Dilla - "Donuts" (DL others here)
How did I miss this when it first came out? There is some really terrific production going on here. (Rest in peace, James.)

20. Super Furry Animals - "Lazer Beam" (Danger Mouse remix) (free songs here!)
An unlikely collaboration that, along with today's other remixes, restores my faith in the entire medium.

21. Gay Dad - "My Son Mystic" (DL some tracks here)
In case you were wondering, no, it doesn't appear that the members of Britpop greats Gay Dad have done much since the group's 2002 split. Which is a shame. And apparently so was the band's name.

22. Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - "Where Does Yer Go Now?" (download some tracks here)
Lovely, lovely music -- right up there with Stars' "Ageless Beauty."

*I mean, of course they wouldn't actually be playing a music video or anything....
**They used to have Patton Oswalt the great, but, as so eloquently explained on "Lollipops and Werewolves," we all know why that gravy train had to end.

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.)