Tonight: Eyedea and Abilities @ 7th Street Entry

Tonight: MC/VL, Unicorn Basement @ Big V's

Tegan and Sara - "Umbrella" (Rihanna Cover)

*MP3: Tegan and Sara - "Umbrella" (Rihanna Cover)

Just got the memo on this.

Tegan and Sara on MySpace

Kings of Leon - Remixes Collection

Kings of Leon seem to never have a shortage of solid remixes of their latest singles. So, I thought I'd put them all together here under one banner. Be sure to place a vote on your favorite in the comments.

*MP3: Kings of Leon vs. Lykke Li - "Knocked Up" (Rodeo Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "My Party" (Kenna and Chad Hugo Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "On Call" (Grum Disco Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire" (Richard Sharkey and Peter Sar Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire" (Tenzin Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "The Bucket" (Tenzin Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody" (Dolby Anol Remix)
*MP3: Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody" (Tenzin Remix)

Tonight: Gay Witch Abortion CD Release Party

(Via)

Dessa of Doomtree to Release Poetry and Essay Collection

2008 saw a multitude of releases from the Doomtree hip-hop collective, including DVDs, videos, various solo projects, the fourth annual blowout, and, oh yeah, the crew record that came out in July.

If you think that the group is planning to slow down in 2009, then boy are you ever mistaken. First, there's P.O.S releasing his third solo album, Never Better. Then, in unique news, comes Dessa's collection of poetry and essays titled Spiral Bound. It is noteworthy in that it is the first book to be released by the collective. Watch the video above for an explanation of the project's genesis. The first one hundred pre-order copies will arrive signed, with a message in a tiny stoppered bottle.

Doomtree MySpace Page

Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel Get Engaged

Congrats you two cute kids. According to InTouch, Ben Gibbard and Zooey Deschanel got engaged over the weekend. Read the piece here.

*MP3: She and Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here"

*MP3: She and Him - "Sentimental Heart"

*MP3: Death Cab For Cutie - "Crooked Teeth"

David Bowie - "White Light/White Heat"

*MP3: David Bowie - "White Light/White Heat" (Velvet Underground Cover)

I stumbled upon this David Bowie cover of the Velvet Underground when digging through some old records this weekend. It's a great cover, found on the Ziggy Stardust soundtrack and also Bowie's BBC sessions.

You Ain't No Picasso made a post about Bowie's BBC sessions last week, so dig in a bit more there.

Bowie rulez.

MFR's Ultimate Comprehensive List of Year End Lists for 2008

Year End Lists are an extraordinary case study in trends and how music critics gather around to support their favorite releases of a given year. Although each list is unique, it is inevitable that a handful of universally loved artists will rise to the top of the indie-music pool. To distinguish who made the cut in 2008, we compiled a massive database comprised of the Top 50 lists of who we have determined to be the eight major music tastemakers today: Rolling Stone, SPIN, NME, Paste, MOJO, Uncut, Stereogum and Pitchfork. We omitted MFR from this list for some reason.

We pitted these lists against one another and treated each list as if it were a vote cast by the magazine or blog. Each placement was assigned a point value and we tallied the totals to see who came out victorious. The #1 position of each list was assigned a value of 50 points, consequently, #50 received 1 point (if the list only went to 40, #1 still got 50 points, we just stopped counting at 40).

As a result of all of this extraordinarily nerdy and tedious trek, we have come up with the Ultimate Comprehensive List of Year End Lists for 2008.

Click on the chart above to see how each title sized up.

Here are the Top 20 Releases that made this year's Ultimate Comprehensive List of Year End Lists:

#1: Fleet Foxes - "Fleet Foxes" (368 points)

*MP3: Fleet Foxes - "Blue Ridge Mountains"

#2: TV On The Radio - "Dear Science" (323 points)

*MP3: TV On The Radio - "Dancing Choose"

#3: Vampire Weekend - "Vampire Weekend" (310 points)

*MP3: Vampire Weekend - "Oxford Comma"

#4: Bon Iver - "For Emma, Forever Ago" (258 points)

*MP3: Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"

#5: Portishead - "Third" (257 points)

*MP3: Portishead - "The Rip"

#6: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "Dig! Lazarus! Dig!" (257 points)

*MP3: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "Jesus of the Moon"

#7: Santogold - "Santogold" (210 points)

*MP3: Santogold - "Shove It"

#8: The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive" (204 points)

*MP3: The Hold Steady - "Sequestered In Memphis"

#9: Deerhunter - "Microcastles" (195 points)

*MP3: Deerhunter - "Agoraphobia"

#10: Lil Wayne - "Tha Carter III" (185 points)

*MP3: Lil Wayne - "A Milli"

#11: MGMT - "Oracular Spectacular" (173 points)

*MP3: MGMT - "Time To Pretend"

#12: Hot Chip - "Made In The Dark" (172 points)

*MP3: Hot Chip - "Ready For The Floor"

#13: Beck - "Modern Guilt" (169 points)

*MP3: Beck - "Modern Guilt"

#14: Kings of Leon - "Only By The Night" (166 points)

*MP3: Kings of Leon - "Sex on Fire"

#15: No Age - "Nouns" (152 points)

*MP3: No Age - "Teen Creeps"

#16: Fucked Up - "The Chemistry of Common Life" (140 points)

*MP3: Fucked Up - "No Epiphany"

#17: Coldplay - "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" (131 points)

*MP3: Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"

#18: Girl Talk - "Feed the Animals" (129 points)

*MP3: Girl Talk - "Set It Off"

#19: My Morning Jacket - "Evil Urges" (111 points)

*MP3: My Morning Jacket - "I'm Amazed"

#20: Okkervil River - "The Stand Ins" (108 points)

*MP3: Okkervil River - "Lost Coastlines"

MFR: Week In Review

In case you missed it, here are the jams we've been rocking over here at MFR all week.

Download: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "All I Want For Christmas"
Download: Deerhoof - "Offend Maggie"
Download: Bon Iver - "The Wolves (Act I and II)
Download: Yeasayer - "Sunrise"
Download: School of Seven Bells - "Connjur"
Download: Fleet Foxes - "He Doesn't Know Why"
Download: Hercules and Love Affair - "Hercules' Theme"
Download: British Sea Power - "Atom"
Download: She and Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Download: David Vandervelde - "Someone Like You"
Download: Ratatat - "Mirando" (YACHT Remix)
Download: Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead"
Download: Marnie Stern - "Transformer"
Download: Download: Solid Gold - "Who You Gonna Run To"
Download: The Hood Internet - "Single Foxes (Put A Wood On It)" (Beyonce vs. Fleet Foxes)
Download: Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody" (Tenzin Remix)
Download: MGMT - "Kids" (Pet Shop Boys Remix)

Saturday: Big Quarters, Kristoff Krane @ 7th Street Entry

Tonight: Hard Times Ball @ Kitty Cat Klub

Video: The Spirit of '09 Preview

Vita.mn Presents New Years Eve from THE MOON GOONS on Vimeo.

Those of you who are not familiar with "The Spirit of '09" (not to be confused with The '59 Sound or "Summer of '69") should go here to check out the details for the New Year's festivities in the loft space above Barfly.

Video: Freez (Illuminous 3) speaks on working with Medium Zach (Big Quarters)

(via)

Video: Deerhoof - Live on "Who's Next?"

Performing the opening track to their very solid Offend Maggie LP, Deerhoof take a moment to play for "Kia's Who's Next?" station over at Yahoo's music (ah, synergy. you've done it again). Watch and enjoy!

Offend Maggie is out now.

First Avenue Announces "Best New Bands of 2008"

On Wednesday, January 14th, First Ave. will host another of its "Best New Bands of (previous year" series, and the line-up for next (this?) year's show does a solid job of showcasing the cream of the Minneapolis crop. Here's the line-up:

Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles
Lookbook
Bouncer Fighter
Kristoff Krane
The Dynamiters
Yer Cronies
Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps

And the details:

Wednesday, January 14
Mainroom
Radio K Presents…
FIRST AVENUE’S BEST NEW BANDS OF 2008
$7.00/7:00PM/18+

What do you think, readers? Do you feel that anyone got wrongly snubbed?

MFR's Top 10 of Stereogum's Top 50 Most Downloaded Songs

Stereogum posted their Top 50 Most Downloaded Songs yesterday. We took the liberty of picking out the ten best tracks for your summarizing pleasure.

10.) *MP3: Yeasayer - "Sunrise"

9.) *MP3: School of Seven Bells - "Connjur"

8.) *MP3: Fleet Foxes - "He Doesn't Know Why"

7.) *MP3: Hercules and Love Affair - "Hercules' Theme"

6.) *MP3: British Sea Power - "Atom"

5.) *MP3: She and Him - "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"

4.) *MP3: David Vandervelde - "Someone Like You"

3.) *MP3: Ratatat - "Mirando" (YACHT Remix)

2.) *MP3: Passion Pit - "Sleepy Head"

1.) *MP3: Marnie Stern - "Transformer"

Solid Gold Release New Mixtape, Get Written Up In The Guardian

*MP3: Download: Solid Gold - "Who You Gonna Run To"

We were a bit surprised when Decider Minneapolis said that synth-pop trio Solid Gold was a "bigger success overseas than in its hometown," but a recent write-up in UK newspaper The Guardian seems to serve as a coincidental back-up for said claim. UK critic Paul Lester has been writing about a new band every day for the past 455 days straight. Band 454? You guessed it: Solid Gold. I bet you had to strain your brain figuring out that one.

About the band, Lester says:

It may be late in the year, the time when record companies slow down, but there will be no drop in quality round these parts. Solid Gold are as good as anything we've heard in a while. They make downbeat dance music, sad synth-pop, melancholy club tracks, which might sound like a contradiction in terms but not to those of you who have, over the past 25 years, appreciated artists from Pet Shop Boys to Junior Boys.

Pretty apt comparisons, I should say. You can read more of Lester's write-up here.

Additionally, the band has posted the DJ Mix from its November gig at the Nomad World Pub over at its MySpace Blog. In addition to local talent like Mystery Palace, the mix also features nationally known acts. Check it out there.

Bodies of Water is out now. Listen to "Who You Gonna Run To?" at the top of the post.

Solid Gold MySpace Page

The Hood Internet - "Single Foxes (Put A Wood On It)" (Beyonce vs. Fleet Foxes)

*MP3: The Hood Internet - "Single Foxes (Put A Wood On It)" (Beyonce vs. Fleet Foxes)

The Hood Internet delivers another great mash-up: Beyonce vs. Fleet Foxes. They put it under the "didn't work" category, but it's just kinda awesome still.

Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody" (Tenzin Remix)

*MP3: Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody" (Tenzin Remix)

This is fun. "Use Somebody" is such a beautiful song, so it's nice to hear a remix that plays to the song's strengths and breaks things down a bit.

Kings of Leon on MySpace

MGMT - "Kids" (Pet Shop Boys Remix)

*MP3: MGMT - "Kids" (Pet Shop Boys Remix)

Honestly, I haven't supported many of these recent MGMT remixes. However, this Pet Shop Boys remix of "Kids" has a special spark that keeps me listening.

MGMT on MySpace

Top Ten Songs On Elbo.Ws Reviewed In 50 Words or Less: 12/01/08--12/15/08

(Photo by C. Davey Wilson)

Since this is a few days late, what you see here may not reflect what's currently on Elbo.ws right now. With that out of the way, here they are:



1. The Raveonettes - "Come on Santa"

Download: The Raveonettes - "Come On Santa"

The hazy echo and fuzz-drenched guitars worked to amazing effect on Lust Lust Lust and other less wholesome endeavors. So it comes as no surprise that there's something lost in translation when the Danish duo tackles Christmas. However, the charm of the holidays suites the dual harmonies well enough.

Grade: B-

2. Lady Sovereign - "I Got You Dancing"

Download: Lady Sovereign - "I Got You Dancing"

"You ain't never heard of a girl that could do it like this." M.I.A. might beg to differ, but Sovereign's more aggressive flow and sci-fi futurist production help ensure the rapper's titular promise. Mission accomplished, if only because she followed someone else's game plan.

Grade: B

3. Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal"
Download: Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal"

A blogger favorite makes a resurgence just in time for best-of season. There's more than a strong appeal in the impeccable, siren-like harmonies. However, structurally, "Hymnal" grows repetitive upon multiple listens, which allows for monotony to slowly creep into an otherwise celestial folk-pop song.

Grade: B

4. Alela Diane - "White as Diamonds"

Download: Alela Diane - "White as Diamonds"

Though Alela Diane is unquestionably borrowing from past freak-folk progenitors like Karen Dalton and Catherine Howe--and even her contemporary Joanna Newsom--she also creates a compelling folk-rock atmosphere of her own, consisting of a solid stomp of a drumbeat and Appalachian musings.

Grade: B+

5. N.A.S.A. - "Gifted" (Kanye West, Santogold, Lykke Li)

N.A.S.A. - "Gifted" (Kanye West, Santogold, Lykke Li)

Not sure exactly where the South or North American part comes in, as this collaboration between two rappers and a singer sounds a lot dance music that wouldn't be out of place in the European Union. Also, it sounds like Lykke Li is in the song for about two minutes. But these three artists coming together proves to be promising enough to make future ones a tantalizing possibility.

Grade: B+

6. WAVVES - "SO BORED"

WAVVES - "SO BORED"

Making a last-ditch effort to get on the uber-lo-fi movement that encompassed breakthrough artists in 2008 (Titus Andronicus, Times New Viking), Wavves don't have the rambunctious Clash-meets-Springsteen vibe of the former, nor the melodic strength of the latter. So what remains? Here's a hint: peep the song title.

Grade: C

7. Little Joy - "No One's Better Sake"

Download: Little Joy - "No One's Better Sake"

One of the year's most pleasant--and, sigh, yes, joyous--surprises continues to yield more tasty musical fruit, as Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti combines the hungover charm of his day job with classic reggae vocal inflections. With more songs like these, this little joy will become bigger and bigger.

Grade: B

8. A.C. Newman - "Submarines of Stockholm"

Download: A.C Newman - "Submarines of Stockholm"

The second single from his sophomore solo LP, the New Pornos frontman finds himself in familiar, quirky territory as his brand of bouncy, la-la-heavy power-pop is prominently displayed. This song has an appealingly off-kilter hook, but after 6 albums--including 4 with the Pornos--you have to question how much Newman can milk this sound.

Grade: B-

9. Twiggy Frostbite - "Lanterns and Stars"

Download: Twiggy Frostbite - "Lanterns and Stars"


This ghostly, piano-based ballad from the Swedish pop trio aches gently, while the vocals warble in and out of tune. The vocals are cringeworthy in the higher register, so it's a great testament to Twiggy Frostbite's sense of songcraft that they're able to come up with something great using a spare, poignant approach to the arrangements.

Grade: B+


10. The Problems of Being Pure at Heart - "Everything With You"

Download: The Problems of Being Pure at Heart - "Everything With You"

Finally, a band that thinks Isn't Anything is as great as Loveless.

Grade: A-

Video: Sad Clown Bad Dub 4 Trailer

One of the best features of the upcoming God Loves Ugly re-issue is the free bonus DVD. The disc, originally issued as a limited edition in the Sad Clown Bad Dub series (number four, if you're curious), contains "2 hours of live performance footage, backstage shenanigans, several special guest appearances" and three music videos from the original LP. Above is the trailer for said DVD, via an Atmosphere MySpace Bulletin.

God Loves Ugly will be re-released on January 20th.

Saturday: Military Special @ Eclipse Records

Things To Do This Weekend

FRIDAY

- Dance Band and Mystery Palace @ the Turf Club

*MP3: Dance Band - "Pedal Power"

- Chooglin' @ the 7th St. Entry
- Lawrence Arms @ the Triple Rock Social Club
- Soul Asylum w/Melismatics and A Night in the Box @ the First-Avenue Mainroom


SATURDAY

- The Hopefuls CD Release Party @ the First-Avenue Mainroom

*MP3: The Hopefuls - "Drain the Sea"

- The Parlour Suite and Meredeth Fierke @ the Turf Club
- Naked Raygun @ the Triple Rock Social Club

*If you think your show is a thing to do this weekend, please send the show information, a link to an mp3, and a link to your myspace page to info@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com, at least a week in advance.

Bear Cat - "Red Panda Blues"

*MP3: Bear Cat - "Red Panda Blues"

Hailing from New Zealand, Bear Cat have taken it upon themselves to address the issue of saving and protecting the endangered panda ("Bear Cat" is the latin translation of "Panda"). These dudes are hardcore. However, the assumed novelty of their panda-time forte goes beyond kitch, they write great pop songs; pop songs that touch on the issues -- of pandas.

Bear Cat on MySpace