This Week's Shameless Budgeteer Plug + New P.O.S. Album Announced!

Before the good news, though, here's what I've been up to the last couple days:

"UMD Alumnae Team for 'Hummingbirds'" :: The University of Minnesota Duluth’s theater department is once again utilizing alumna Jeannine Coulombe for fresh material. At the helm? Kelly (Brainard) Grussendorf, another UMD graduate. (Interesting side note: Grussendorf once had a national recording contract with Curb Records under the moniker Charity. Click here for a free MP3 download of her track "Aren't I Lucky?")

"CD Reviews: Clearwater Hot Club, the New Standards and Dr. Pepper Family" :: Albums enjoyed this week: Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club's “Just You, Just Me," the New Standards' "Rock and Roll" and a self-titled album from Belgium's Dr. Pepper Family. (While I can't share the e-mail with you, the New Standards' Chan Poling had quite the hilarious first reaction to my review of "Rock and Roll." So, to avoid this with anyone else, some words of wisdom: Read the whole thing -- I'm like the M. Night Shyamalan of record reviews.... LOL)

"New Books Gets Lift Bridge Story Right" :: A large chunk of Tony Dierckins’ "Crossing the Canal" is dedicated to separating Aerial Lift Bridge myths from reality. Not to be confused with my review of "Crossing the Canal," this interview with the author and publisher for Canal Park Times (a special supplement to the Duluth Budgeteer News) sheds some light on the book's findings.

"Shy Guy" :: This week's seagull-tacular front cover.

And, finally, without any further ado, the press release you've been dying to read...

P.O.S. TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM NEVER BETTER FEBRUARY 3RD ON RHYMESAYERS

P.O.S. returns with Never Better, February 3rd on Rhymesayers. It's the follow-up to 2006's critically acclaimed Audition. Most of P.O.S’ new album was written in a moving car. On it, he raps at full-clip to ride rolling drums and revving distortion. There’s an urgency that he keeps in careful check, and then unleashes for spring-loaded verses that represent his best work. P.O.S built his reputation as an innovator, with an unlikely punk rock past and expressive, honest content. He re-earns the accolades with every release. His records capture his charisma—they’re driving and sincere, the dark moments counterbalanced by some giggling banter with the engineer. On Never Better, the new disc, he conjures get-away cars, racing chariots, the pursuit of sirens, and the occasional rueful nighttime drive.

P.O.S. himself made more than half of the beats on Never Better, and the production bears his unmistakable signature. The album enters a room like bombshell with a black eye—badass, noisy, impossible to ignore. Feedback and relentless drum rolls are only occasionally tempered by sung choruses and clean, chiming guitar lines. Some critics will be eager to categorize the album as a hybrid—some kind of crossover project. But it’s probably not. P.O.S is a rapper with range, he’s a real musician and an unstoppable performer. For him, genres are as they ever were: permeable.

The packaging for P.O.S's new album Never Better is a one of a kind four panel transparent plastic Digipak that holds 16 solid and 6 Transparent inserts. The solid inserts have artwork on the front and lyrics/credits on the back. The Transparent inserts have artwork that when placed over the various solid cards, enhance and change the look of the art underneath, hundreds of combinations are possible. Look for P.O.S. to embark on a headlining tour for the month of February and he will stay on the road through the summer, where he's confirmed for the entire Vans Warped Tour.

P.O.S.'s two plus years on the road in support of Audition proved that no genre can contain him. He's just as comfortable performing in front of punk and rock crowds as he is with his ever growing loyal hip hop fan base. On different tours, he went out with Atmosphere, Minus the Bear, Gym Class Heroes and Underoath plus did 50+ dates on the Vans Warped Tour. Audition made it up to #13 on the CMJ Radio Top 200 and was #1 on the Hip Hop chart for three weeks. The video for his single "Bleeding Hearts Club (MPLS Chapter)" received heavy rotation on MTVu and also on MTV2's Subterranean.

Never Better Tracklisting
1.Let It Rattle
2.Drumroll (We're All Thirsty)
3.Savion Glover

4.Purexed
5.Graves (We Wrote the Book)
6.Goodbye
7.Get Smokes
8.Been Afraid
9.Low Light Low Life
10.The Basics (Alright)
11.Out of Category
12.Optimist (We Are Not For Them)
13.Terrorish
14.Never Better
15.The Brave and the Snake

(Information courtesy P.O.S.'s people.)

Today's Moment of Zen: Cat in a Box

This is Violet. She likes *ahem* not being in boxes. (The blue is the anger.)

sys33 :: OUR AMERICAN COUSIN, REVIEWS OF

I still can't get over getting my letter published in Playboy. The 12-year-old inside me is beside himself. LOL

1. Dr Pepper Family - "Can't Recall"
My all-time favorite Belgian rock band (just squeaking past Starfighter and Metal Molly) is back, and the results are, as expected, transcendent.

2. Sebastien Grainger - "Love Can Be So Mean"
The solo career of Death From Above 1979's Sebastien Grainger is, oddly enough, a dead ringer for the pre-"Happiness Ltd." Hot Hot Heat sound. [Some fun downloads here.]

3. The New Monarchs - "No Commotion"
So sayeth the Budgeteer (once again): While there’s not a bum note [on "Blueprints"], some immediate standouts for curious potential listeners would be “Common,” for fans of “Com Lag”-era Radiohead; the IDM-tastic “No Commotion,” which shines on like a quirky Valet diamond; and “You’ll Always Know,” which is quite possibly the most gorgeous track I’ve heard in months.

4. Electric Light Orchestra - "Mr. Blue Sky"
For whatever reason, the Democrats used "Mr. Blue Sky" at about every rally this campaign season, so it's about time I take it back in the name of ... just kidding; I can see why they used it and, if Obama ever needed a nickname, I don't think Jeff Lynne would mind him "nicking" this song's title.

5. Ra Ra Riot - "Can You Tell"
The new Rogue Wave? Quite possibly.

6. Del the Funky Homosapien - "The News (A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Microsoft Inc.)"
Cool interlude, humorous but dated (try Google...) title.

7. Brother Ali - "Mr. President (You're the Man)" [MP3]
Sure, the production's a little "phoned in," but this one's an instant classic for its message.

8. The New Standards - "Hey Ya" [OutKast cover]
Not as fun as the Supersuckers' version, but a worthy spin nonetheless.

9. Nirvana - "Lounge Act [Z-Trip Remix]" [MP3]
This Stargate-ready remix works because it brings out Kurt's haunting vocals.

10. Yo Majesty - "F----- Up"
From my review of "Futuristically Speaking ... Never Be Afraid" in the Duluth Budgeteer News: ... I’d peg “F----- Up” and “Get Down on the Floor” as the best places to start. These tracks — which Jewel B and Shunda K actually wrote with the members of Hardfeelings — are both extremely easy on the ear and, were it not for the in-your-face lyrics, would be strong contenders for high chart positions.

11. Rhymefest - "Stick"
A little sleazy for my beloved mix tapes, but, hey, I've already made a Stargate reference tonight....

12. Danzig - "Cantspeak"
No matter how hard I try, I still think of Beavis and Butt-head's "ploppy" description of this song's music video when I listen to it/attempt to enjoy it.

13. The Melismatics - "Soul Sucker"
According to my Budgeteer CD review (he he), I sure liked this track's "host album": ... You’d be hard-pressed to find any songs on ["The Acid Test"] that wouldn’t work as singles. There’s a trio of songs on “The Acid Test” that Clear Channel programmers should lose their jobs over if they don’t hear the appeal: “Digging Deep,” “Going for the Kill” and the aforementioned “Soul Sucker.”

14. Beloved Binge - "Miso (I Don't Like People)"
And, yep, looks like I'll again be leaning back on previously published words of mine: Seamlessly blending the best aspects of Grnd Ntl Brnds, the Geraldine Fibbers and all Calvin Johnson’s projects (most notably his work with Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch in the Halo Benders), their new album, “Blender Theory,” gets off to a terrific start with “(Got) Married on MySpace.” The song’s concept may seem a little hokey, but, once you hear its hyperactive chord progressions, you won’t give it a second thought. Not to be pigeonholed, Rob Beloved and Eleni Binge follow up that spastic track with “Miso (I Don’t Like People),” a mellow number akin to latter-day Imperial Teen. The majority of “Blender Theory” follows along those lines, showcasing the group’s flair for both the highs and the lows.

15. The Plasticines - "Under Control"
Best Friends Forever meets Ace of Base?

16. Tears for Fears - "Pale Shelter"
Hate all you want, but you know there's a group as embarassing as this on your iPod!

17. Scapegoat Wax - "Space to Share"
If I had to do junior high all over again, this is the song I would be requesting at all those awkward dances in Crosby-Ironton High School's cafeteria....

18. Cracker - "Hold of Myself"
A meandering track that manages to redeem itself in the end with lyrics about *ahem* man's best friend.

19. The Wrens - "In Turkish Waters" [MP3]
This is what Wrens bassist/vocalist Kevin Whelan had to say about this track when confronted by Stereogum: "This is a Wrens demo that I worked up for the band in our kitchen in our New Jersey band house. Eventually another Wrens version will see the light of day ... hopefully, the light of that day will be before 2015...."

20. Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F"
"Family Guy" gold!



21. Mighty Fairly - "Closer to End"
I'm sure you're probably hating my shameless-self-promotin' ass right about now, but, as my imaginary kids say, "Again! Again!" OK then: This isn’t to say “Big Words” lacks the fun of its predecessor, but some of the bright and bouncy moments have been replaced with easy-to-swallow songs about a certain four-letter word (“Closer to End,” “Save Your Love” and, as if it escaped from “Songs for Silverman,” “Live for Love”) and ones that are unfailingly epic (the poignant “Alaska,” for one). (Hint: This one works even better if you happened to be married to a Sarah.)

22. Tim DeLaughter and the Polyphonic Spree - "The Crash"
A nice little interlude before ...

23. Janove Ottesen - "Go Tell Her"
another mix tape-closing love song. Ahh....

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

A&E FYI: Radiohead and Wilco members hit the road with Neil Finn

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway to re-join Neil Finn for new 'Seven Worlds Collide' project

Radiohead's Ed O'Brien and Phil Selway will once again back Neil Finn for a follow up to the acclaimed Seven Worlds Collide, a project supporting international development organization Oxfam.

Seven years ago OBrien and Selway were invited by Finn to participate in a special series of concerts in New Zealand under the banner Seven Worlds Collide. Also returning from that original Seven Worlds Collide lineup will be founder of the Smiths and member of Modest Mouse Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, songwriter and violinist Lisa Germano, and Liam Finn. Artists newly joining the project include Jeff Tweedy, John Stirrat, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone from Wilco, and New Zealand songwriters Bic Runga and Don McGlashan. Behind the mixing desk will be master recording engineer Jim Scott. More names will be added to the lineup in the coming weeks.

The album will be recorded over the next few months in Auckland's Roundhead Studios and is due for release in 2009. Like its predecessor, the project will also see a series of concerts featuring many of the artists included in the lineup. The shows will take place in Auckland early in the New Year. Details will be announced soon.

Worlds Collide
Worlds Collide is a live album released in 2001 by New Zealand singer/songwriter, Neil Finn. This is a live recording culled from a series of five shows from April 2, 2001 to April 6, 2001 featuring Neil Finn & Friends recorded at the St James theatre in Auckland, New Zealand. Notable guests in Finn's band included Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr, Ed O'Brien, Tim Finn, Sebastian Steinberg, Phil Selway, Lisa Germano and Betchadupa. The title of this album is derived from the line "Seven worlds will collide / whenever I am by your side" from Crowded House's 1993 single Distant Sun.

Oxfam International
Oxfam is an international development organisation working to end poverty and injustice to bring real and lasting change to the lives of people living in poverty and to create a safer, fairer and more sustainable world.
Oxfam believes that poverty is not inevitable. Instead, poverty results from unjust policies, and the denial of basic rights and opportunities. There are 13 Oxfam affiliates working with communities on the ground in over 100 countries. We put all our effort and expertise into saving lives, developing programmes that empower people, and campaigning for lasting change.

Radiohead*
Radiohead is Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Philip Selway and Thom Yorke. Radiohead's recordings have included 1993's Pablo Honey, 1995's The Bends, 1997's OK Computer (the tour for which was documented by the 1998 film Meeting People Is Easy), 2000's Kid A, 2001's Amnesiac, 2003's Hail To The Thief and In Rainbows, which was self-released via Radiohead.com in October 2007. In Rainbows was released to traditional retail by TBD Records/ATO in January 2008 and entered the U.S. chart at #1.

*Like you didn't know....

---

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Holy crap, Playboy published my letter!

December 2008 issue. Page 17. Yes!

Haley Bonar, the Streets, circa a.m., Hand Over Fist and the Mighty Underdogs

What's I've learned this weekend: The "Stewie head" box set Amazon is selling isn't something you want to wake up to....

"Bonar: 'I Don't Have a Degree, I Have Records'" :: Haley Bonar has a problem: She’s big enough to have a lot of information about her on the Internet, but not big enough for these so-called experts to get their facts straight. An entertaining Q-and-A with my former University of Minnesota Duluth "classmate." (We both only attended UMD for one school year, 2001 to 2002, so there's a chance we had a class together....)

"CD Reviews: The Streets, Hand Over Fist and the Mighty Underdogs" :: It's another hip-hop blowout: The Streets’ “Everything is Borrowed,” Doomtree side project Hand Over Fist’s self-titled debut and the Mighty Underdogs’ “Droppin’ Science Fiction.”

"circa a.m. @ World of Wheels" :: I'm not very fond of this photo set from Halloween -- largely because the Budgeteer's Web site, for whatever reason, won't let me edit my images' captions (beyond what I entered initially) -- but it does feature some nice shots (in theory) and guest appearances by Andy Perfetti and members of the Surfactants.

Thus concludes THIS WEEK'S SHAMELESS BUDGETEER PLUG!

The Melismatics, Hillary Clinton, Mighty Fairly, Lester Park, Victory Ship and the other 'Hef'

I just found out that my hometown, Crosby, Minn., was supposedly the first town in America to elect a communist mayor. How weird is that?!

"The World According to Jim Heffernan" :: Considering that “Hef” has been writing columns for three-and-a-half decades, whittling down more than 1,500 columns to 52 for his new book was the “huge, daunting task” you can probably imagine.

"CD Reviews: Three (More) Albums That Will Restore Your Faith in Recorded Sound" :: Thoroughly enjoyed this week: The Melismatics' “The Acid Test,” Mighty Fairly's “Big Words and Power Chords” and Victory Ship's “Before the Fall.”

"Discover Duluth: Lester Park, Vol. I-III" :: If you have family visiting from out of town and want to show off Duluth’s natural beauty, Lester Park should be at the top of your to-do list. DuluthBudgeteer.com exclusive!

Finally, some standalone pics for ya: "Veterans' Day in Duluth" and last weekend's cover, "Clinton Push Enough for Franken?"

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