sys46 :: MILWAUKEE MOUNTAIN

"My only regret is that we were never able to find a spot for the Frogs, a wonderfully demented band whose music truly is the ideal soundtrack to 'Jackass' — although so much so that it was entirely impossible to get any of their stuff on the television show. If anything, once a song of theirs received the fine-tooth comb from the MTV standards department, it would've been no more entertaining than a car alarm convulsing at 4 in the morning with the true majesty of the Frogs' dirty lyrics lost in a barrage of bleeps." — "Jackass" producer Sean Cliver

1. Mason Jennings - "Nothing"
The song that launched his career.

2. Mighty Fairly - "Shadow"
Ever feel like you're stuck in a bandmate's shadow? Obviously I of the no-talent set have no experience in that department, but I think that's what this song is about....

3. Lazerbeak - "Legend Recognize Legend"
Recognize: This is DJ Abilities-level greatness.

4. Basement Jaxx feat. Siouxsie Sioux - "Cish Cash"
A pummeling of the senses ... that you can shimmy shimmy ya to!

5. Hot Hot Heat - "Let Me In"
The sweet, sweet sound of "selling out." I'll be the first to admit that my knee-jerk response to the "Happiness Ltd." album was unnecessarily dismissive.

6. MGMT - "Time to Pretend"
Whether it's being used beautifully in the opening scenes of "21" or kind of cliched-like in "Sex Drive," this song is everywhere — unavoidable in the best possible way.

7. M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel - "Rave On"
She & Him in reverse is Him & She. <- That's (surprisingly) actually a pretty good way of explaining what this song sounds like.

8. Pavement - "Embassy Row"
It appears I won't give this Pavement kick a rest until the entire "Brighten the Corners" album has been featured on these here awesome mix tapes.

9. The Thermals - "Now We Can See" [MP3]
Many thanks to Walt Dizzo for playing this request on his KUWS radio show Thursday night. Every boy and girl deserves to hear this impossibly catchy barnburner.

10. Deckard - "Christine"
Does the longshoreman's wife dream of electric warriors?

11. Fol Chen - "No Wedding Cake" [MP3]
... Except that there was wedding cake, and it was shoved right up my nose!

12. Imperial Teen - "21st Century"
"Superfan" alert: Even in Art Vandalay record reviews I manage to reference Imperial Teen.

13. A Camp - "Love Has Left the Room"
A delightful little group featuring the Cardigans' Nina Persson and her husband, Shudder to Think's Nathan Larson. For fans of Pulp, the Beatles, beautiful Swedish women.

14. Ben Lee - "Close I've Come"
Before I beat you over the head with how much I'm obsessed with Ben Lee's new album, "The Rebirth of Venus," I thought I'd revisit the first song of his I fell in love with, from 2005's "Awake is the New Sleep." I used to clean NAVTEQ's offices in Fargo for a spell in '05, and that song and Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Brooklyn Zoo" and some stuff from Hot Hot Heat (strange mix, I know) came up repeatedly on my MP3 player those nights.

15. Cursive - "All I Know"
One wonders if this is what a new Neutral Milk Hotel single would sound like.

16. The Mamas and the Papas - "I Saw Her Again (Last Night)"
Very British/bass-heavy/Herman's Hermits-y production ... I love it!

17. Bran Van 3000 - "Rainshine"
Completely propulsive percussion drives this claustrophobic mix tape must.

18. RH+ - "Curb"
This upbeat, poppy-enough group from Chile, which also goes by Rock Hudson, is currently one of my top "finds." I haven't heard a lot of buzz about them anywhere, so I hope some more music geeks give them a chance.

19. Phish - "Brian and Robert" [Live at Hampton Coliseum, 3/7/09]
Reunited, and it feels so good!

20. Superdrag - "I Only Want a Place I Can Stay"
Same here!

21. Mates of State - "So Many Ways"
Very similar to MGMT's "Time to Pretend," but ... I really don't care. They're both just so great. (This may just be the "Z" talking, but I'm all smiles when either pops up on my iPod.)

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

Random Thoughts: What I learned from RS 1075

Because actually reading for yourself is no fun, here are the highlights from Rolling Stone No. 1075, which arrived in my mailbox yesterday (or so):

• While I don't have proof, I'm pretty sure that just looking at the cover (above) makes you a pedophile.
• That said, I'm old.
• The new Jack White group, the Dead Weather, is for real. (Let's pray it's not another Raconteurs....)
• On Page 13, Danny Clinch took what is most definitely the best concert photograph ever. As if getting Phish's three shows back from "retirement" for free didn't already provide for enough good vibrations!
• U2 has completely lost it. Seriously, have you seen "The Claw"? It's their new stage set, and it makes the PopMart tour's giant lemon almost look necessary.
  
• Oh, so Street Sweeper is Tom Morello and the Coup's Boots Riley. Guess I better listen to those two free tracks I downloaded from www.ninja2009.com. <- Get it? Nine Inch Nails and Jane's Addiction are touring together....
• Reminder: Prince's two new albums (and a third album from one of his "lady friends") will be available at Target (and only Target) on March 29 for the sweet, sweet low price of $11.98. (Also, while I don't remember the exact date, he'll be playing a three-night stand on "Leno" pretty soon.)
• "Study for Field of Dreams," which stars Michael Jackson and a whole bunch of kiddies, is the sickest piece of s--- painting I've ever seen in my life.
• I'm hateful.
• Rumor: There might be a Woodstock '09. Please, God, no!
• The Flaming Lips/Arcade Fire feud is so, so petty. This is why the Internet sucks, perpetuating crap like this. (And, yes, I realize the irony of my words....)
• As cheesy as it might be, the cover of the 9.6 million-selling "Ten" is pretty iconic now, 18 years later....
• To reiterate: I'm old.
• Limp Bizkit is reuniting this summer.
• Again: Please, God, no!
• PJ jump: I'm really excited to hear Brendan O'Brien's remixed version of "Ten." Should sound more '90s than '80s, apparently. -> Which is a very, very good thing.
• On the flipside, I'm scared to hear Chris Cornell's collaboration with Timbaland. I like both artists, but I like them when they're not together.
• I'll probably end up loving it.
• Quote of the day: "'Astral Weeks' was anti-pop and -rock," Van Morrison tells David Fricke. "I don't get the part about it being classic rock. I never got that."
• Worst song of all time? "I Love College" by Asher Roth. Just reading that artard's name fills me with rage.
• Some records I'm excited to hear: Wilco's new one (June-ish), Sonic Youth's "The Eternal" (June 9), the Flaming Lips' new one (July-ish) and OK Go's new one (August-ish).
• The first picture on Page 43 belongs on "To Catch a Predator"....
• Lil Wayne "the greatest rapper alive"? Come no, RS, don't fill me with more Asher Roth-level rage!
• The "Where the Wild Things Are" movie, with a little help from Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers, actually might not suck.
• iPod aside: Attic Lights' "Bring You Down" is still one of my favorite songs. You should look her up.
• A full-page ad for the new U2 record (rated a full five stars by RS, by the way) features a plug for RecordStoreDay.com. Very cool. Though I had to squint to read it....
• Another iPod aside: "Kim's Chords" is a great Sonic Youth song.
• Holy crap, Neko Case's new album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts! (Her last album peaked at No. 54!!)
  

A&E FYI: The Buckinghams will celebrate 100 years of Coleraine, Minn., April 17

Music, Minnesota and a city designed as a model village, which a famous soldier had the honor of naming for a giant in the mining industry, are set to have an unforgettable birthday bash. On April 17, everyone from northern Minnesota will have the chance to go back to high school with the music of the Buckinghams, one night only, in the auditorium of Greenway High School and remember when life was simple, when music was easy to dance to and when anyone who wanted to work had their choice of jobs.

Not long after President Teddy Roosevelt’s famed Rough Riders had completed their famous battle of San Juan Hill, one of his favorite soldiers, John Greenway, entered civilian life and came to Minnesota to develop a new iron ore district. The area Greenway helped develop in northern Minnesota became known as the Mesabi iron ore range. As the man who was “first behind enemy lines and the second man to the top of San Juan Hill,” Greenway was a likely choice to lead the development of the western Mesabi.

The town of Coleraine, which turns 100 April 17, was designed to be a town for miners who worked the Mesabi range, and their families, to enjoy an exceptional quality of life. John Greenway was given the honor of naming the town, which he did for Thomas F. Cole, then the president of the Oliver Mining Company. According to local historian, Brad Hall, it was not coincidental that in addition to helping name the town, Greenway had a hand in naming the major streets in that town. Not surprising, then, that Coleraine’s main street was named Roosevelt Avenue, for Greenway’s leader in battle.

The centennial celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. April 17at the Greenway High School auditorium with a kickoff concert by the Buckinghams, who began their national career as musicians while finishing high school in Chicago. Carl Giammarese of the Buckinghams said, “We are honored to be invited to celebrate Coleraine’s centennial celebration and perform in the high school named for John Greenway, and it’s fitting that the school is located on Roosevelt Avenue.”

The Buckinghams are celebrating more than 40 years as a performing group. The band first became known to national audiences in the 1960s for its distinctive pop rock horn sounds. Bass player Nick Fortuna notes, “The Buckinghams began our career playing in many great high school auditoriums back in the 1960s, and now we get to enjoy playing reunion concerts in those auditoriums.”

The band’s youthful look and great sound reminds the audience that “60 really is the new 40” and you’re as young as you feel, even if your town is 100 years old.

The Buckinghams are best known for Top 10 hits like “Kind of a Drag,” “Hey Baby, They’re Playing Our Song,” “Don’t You Care” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” and “Susan.” In the 1960s they were featured on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “American Bandstand” and the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” The million-selling recording artists for Columbia Records will perform solid gold ’60s favorites, plus new songs from their latest release, “Reaching Back,” available on Fuel Records.

The concert is the first of a year-long celebration for Coleraine’s centennial, with future local events scheduled for July. Reserved seating is $30 per ticket, with a centennial special of 4 tickets available for only $100. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets, contact the Reif Center Box Office, 720 Conifer Drive, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. Call (218) 327-5780 for more information or visit online at www.reifcenter.org/wheretobuy.html.

For more information on the Buckinghams, visit www.thebuckinghams.com or www.myspace.com/thebuckinghams.

~Information courtesy West Communications / Image from www.thebuckinghams.com

sys45 :: PROTECTIVE KARATE FAT

"Equating oneself with royalty is such a female thing to do. We dress up as princesses and queens and we wear crowns, but Freddie [Mercury] created this image of himself as rock royalty. That performance screams, 'Watch me! I'm a legend!'" —Lady Gaga

1. The Minutemen - "Corona"
Perhaps best known nowadays for its twangy guitar lick being used incessantly on "Jackass."

2. Future of the Left - "The Hope that House Built"
A mammoth, punchy rocker from one of the several brilliant projects to emerge after Welsh post-rock greats Mclusky disbanded in '05.

3. Wild Light - "California on My Mind"
While this welcome-any-day pop nugget from an early Arcade Fire collaborator and his New Hampshire cronies is getting a little notoriety for its nonchalant cries of "Fuck California," I believe the true magic lies in the lines "Give me a lake that I can dive into / Bury my head in the shit at the bottom."

4. RH+ - "What About" [MP3]
Like Dealership, Starfighter, Cinerama and Fleetwood Mac? Well, then, I like you. ... Oh, and you'll like this song. A lot.

5. Marah - "The Closer" [Live at 100 Metro, August 2006]
A breezy, even-more-essential rendition of one of Marah's best tracks. Can't beat lyrics like "Beer can stumblin' in the wind down Metropolitan / I'm all over the place / Trying to walk like nothing's happening / Lonesome goats like me / We got more balance than cheese on an onion ring."

6. M. Ward feat. Jason Lytle - "To Save Me"
If you thought She & Him was good (and it is, believe you me), wait 'til you hear M. Ward's collaboration with the now-solo Grandaddy frontman. It's like the Beach Boys never recorded any crappy pap for the "Cocktail" soundtrack!

7. Small Sins (f/k/a The Ladies and Gentlemen) - "It's Easy"
One of my most mind-blowing "finds" in the last couple weeks, this Toronto act (actually, studio-wise, it's just the Carnations' Thomas D'Arcy) makes electronica-tinged rock 'n' roll that is sure to make any Sloan, Turin Brakes or Sondre Lerche fans out there go ga-ga. His streamlined sound worked on me, at least.

8. Shearwater - "Century Eyes"
While I don't have the patience for many of Shearwater's fragile lullabies, this (relative) rocker hums along like something from the Standard — and there's definitely nothing wrong with that!

9. The B-Sides - "The Inventor"
An experimental little interlude before ...

10. P.O.S. - "Out of Category"
... one of (semi-)underground hip-hop's most forward-thinking, genre-defying trunk rattlers. Per my review of the "Never Better" album in the Budgeteer: This one reminds me of “Gander Back,” P.O.S.’s aurally adventurous contribution to the aforementioned Doomtree crew album. Like that instant classic, there’s so much going on in the background (someone’s finger was on the “bass trigger,” among other things) that I’m having trouble concentrating on what’s been rapped about — will definitely require a few listens to take it all in.

11. Fol Chen - "Cable TV"
Some of the most instantly addicting obviously-inspired-by-Prince pop music since the last Self album (a free download, by the way).

12. The Lonely Island - "Like a Boss"
Just when you thought music-comedy albums were too played out for their own good....

13. Sahara Hotnights - "Alright, Alright (Here's My Fist Where's the Fight?)"
We all have our different ways of celebrating Women's History Month.

14. The Misfits - "Hybrid Moments"
Danzig's sure covered a lot of ground in his career, eh?

15. Riddle of Steel - "Our Guitars are Haunted"
Still a little sour about this Cars & Trucks-y group's breakup....

16. Mercury Rev - "Fable of a Silver Moon" [MP3]
A beautiful, free instrumental track before ...

17. N.A.S.A. feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold and Nick Zinner - "Whachadoin?"
... yet another heavyweight production in which M.I.A. steals the show.

18. Black Gold - "Detroit"
After an unsuspecting, unsure (as in, Will it? Won't It? R.O.C.K.) intro, the answer comes soon enough: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! In other words, I really like this track and hope you give it a spin.

19. Alva Star - "Tornado Girl"
Same goes here for one of the 10,000 sweet, sweet pop/rock songs dreamed up by Storyhill's John Hermanson. <- Who is, if you haven't heard, coming to Beaner's soon.

20. Stephen Malkmus - "Mama"
People talk about wanting to have the kind of romance you'd see in the movies. Not me; give me the type of songs that can make or break a great scene (like this gorgeous S.M. anthem) and I will die a satisfied man.

21. Say Hi (To Your Mom) - "Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh"
Does this have anything to do with that joke from "Office Space"?

22. Pacific Phonograph Co. - "Brickbats" [LISTEN HERE]
Finally, the A-side from this wonderful new Duluth group's debut "45." Great song, solid sound, highly recommended — especially to the few of you out there who have heard the original Nothing Jive About Jupiter recordings.

23. Stuart Davis - "8 Days in the Lotus" [Live at Fitger's Brewhouse]
Davis, the eccentric genius that he is, really makes a case for this one with this goofball introduction: "This is a great song for Duluth coming up here. It's a combination of hockey and Eastern spirituality. I think it's gonna hit close to home for a lot of us."

24. Storyhill - "White Roses"
I still can't believe it: Storyhill is holding its inaugural Midwest festival near Deerwood, Minn. That's right next to my hometown!

25. The Damnwells - "Everything" [MP3]
Pretty mainstream-friendly for these here mix tapes, but, hey, sometimes something just strikes you. (I was going to write "rubs you the right way," but ... nah; don't even want to go there.)

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

A&E FYI: Cheap Soundset ticket pre-sale ends tomorrow

Soundset Artist Announcement & Special Fan Pre Sale On Sunday, May 24, 2009, Rhymesayers Entertainment and Rose Presents brings you the second annual Soundset: the official Midwest kick-off festival of the summer with over eight hours of the best independent Hip Hop music in one day. It all goes down at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN (rain or shine). This is the first round of artists we are announcing, this IS NOT the final lineup.

What fun would it be to tell you everything right away?

Confirmed to perform on the Soundset main stage are: Atmosphere, MF Doom, Brother Ali, Sage Francis with B. Dolan, Immortal Technique, P.O.S, El P featuring Mr. Dibbs, Eyedea & Abilities, Abstract Rude and I Self Devine.

Soundset Tickets: For three days only, we are offering special fan pre-sale tickets to our supporting Rhymesayers peeps first. This special recession friendly ticket price is ONLY available from: Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18 starting at 3:00PM CST at Fifth Element and www.artistarena.com ONLY.

For those of you in Minneapolis, we have limited pre-sale tickets available starting today at Fifth Element, 2411 Hennepin Ave. South in beautiful Uptown Minneapolis, MN. For the first 100 people that purchase pre-sale tickets in store, you will receive a FREE limited-edition screen print poster from Soundset 08.

For all our friends outside of the Twin Cities, please go online at: https://tixx1.artistarena.com/soundset2009/

Get your tickets now, and save that dough!

Here's the deal (3/16 - 3/18 only!):
Special Fan Pre Sale General Admission - $25 (parking included!)
Special Soundset Festival & After Party (must be 18+) - $35 (parking included!)
VIP ticket (must be 18+)- $75 (VIP parking included!)

National Public On Sale is this Saturday, March 21, 2009 at:
General Admission- $30 (parking included!)
Special Soundset Festival & After Party (must be 18+) - $40 (parking included!)
VIP ticket (must be 18+)- $75 (VIP parking included!)

TEN other FAQ:
1. Hell yeah, there is going to be an after party. It will be on site in Canterbury this year, a hop skip and a jump from the festival grounds. You will need to be 18+ to party and 21+ to party with adult beverages. We will be announcing the who and what of this soon, but you can get these tickets now with the purchase of your Soundset ticket for a grand total of $35. There is not a separate ticket for the after party, you can only get access to this event as a combo ticket package.

2. For those people 18+, we are offering a limited VIP ticket. The VIP ticket includes the following: entrance to the festival and after party, access to a special exclusive VIP area near the main stage, meet and greets with artists, VIP parking, separate restrooms, VIP bar with adult beverages (beer and liquor) and special festival laminates. The VIP ticket is $75.

3. Of course, Soundset 09 is all ages- we are for the kids! And, for those youngsters under the age of 10 you get to experience the music for FREE, but must be accompanied by ticket paying adult. 2 kids per one adult.

4. No, this is not the final lineup for Soundset. We still have other main stage artists to announce, the entire line-up for the Fifth Element stage, the DJs for the Red Bull B-Boy tent, after party performers and DJs and much more. Stay tuned for regular announcements leading up to soundset 09!

5. When you get a ticket to Soundset, you get a parking spot. That's right party people, no extra parking fees this year. So, get your carpool on and help save the planet!

6. Tickets are always available at Fifth Element service charge free if you pay cash. If you pay with a credit card, those tickets will have a fee of $1 per ticket tagged on to your purchase. For information on tickets available at Fifth Element, call 612-377-0044.

7. Where is Canterbury Park? Well, if you're standing in front of Fifth Element in Minneapolis, it's 23 miles and less than 30 minutes. If you want to find out from your place in the world, get your Google on here: www.canterburypark.com/Directions/tabid/179/Default.aspx

8. Can I bring my camera? Yes, "point and shoot" photo cameras are allowed, but NO VIDEO cameras and ALL professional cameras will need a photo pass.

9. My Mom, Dad or Uncle Frank will be dropping me off at Soundset is there a drop off point? Yes, there will be signs upon entering Canterbury. Your folks can even go check out the horse racing which will be going on during Soundset starting at 1:30PM on May 24, 2009.

10. If you still have a question, concern or just want to voice your opinion, please email us at: soundset@rhymesayers.com.

~Information courtesy Rhymesayers

Today's Moment of Zen: Bob Dylan is a golden god

Perhaps that "something special" in Duluth's water supply?

A&E FYI: Best Friends Forever to headline Geek Prom 2009

Budgeteer News
Published Wednesday, March 11, 2009

It was recently announced that Twin Cities indie pop sensations Best Friends Forever will headline this year's Geek Prom, to be held April 18 at Great Lakes Aquarium.

The trio made its Duluth debut back in December of '06, when they headlined Diorama-rama 2 at the old Emerson Gym.

“This is historical,” BFF’s guitarist and co-vocalist Briana Smith joked back then.

"Romance Conflict Adventure," Best Friends Forever's first full-length for Plan-It-X Records, features the Star Tribune- and Minnesota Public Radio-approved "Eisenhower is the Father." Submitted art

In that same interview, Smith explained to the Budgeteer that her group had performed under stranger circumstances.

“On our tour this past summer we played at a rollerskating rink in Richmond, Va., and we were set up and played in the snack bar," the Crosby, Minn., native said. "It was this big punk festival, and we are so not punks. There were hundreds of punks. They were all drinking beer and spilling beer all over the rollerskating rink, and people were slipping on it.

“We weren’t sure how we would go over, but people liked it.”

BFF's first full-length for Plan-It-X Records, "Romance Conflict Adventure" (featuring the Star Tribune- and Minnesota Public Radio-approved "Eisenhower is the Father"), was released in 2007, and the group's debut EP for Say & Stay Said was recently reissued with hard-to-find vinyl tracks.

For more information on this annual event, visit www.geekprom.com. And, to get a taste of the BFF action, head on over to www.myspace.com/bestfriendsforeverandfriends.