Britt Black
Blackout
Label: BoDog Music
In stores: July 25
Twenty year-old Canadian Britt Black (a.k.a. Brittin Karroll) is like the Joan Jett protege Joan never knew she had (they met the first time this summer). But the influence is obvious, especially on the chorus of the appropriately titled single, “Jet Black Heart.”
But Blackout has more to it than […]

[Read more →]

The Format
Dog Problems
Label: Nettwerk Records
In stores: July 11, 2006
The music scene in Phoenix this year is hot - har har. No, but seriously, everyone is loving this new disc, Dog Problems from Arizona’s The Format, and maybe we should all take a lesson and spend a little more time in air conditioning this summer listening […]

[Read more →]

Set your TiVo. Pearl Jam played a packed house at NYC’s Avalon in late May for a taping of VH1 Storytellers.
If perhaps you were a little burnt out by their latest arena tour, this may be an opportunity to find that intimacy you’ve been craving. Airs Saturday, July 1 at 10 p.m. EDT. […]

[Read more →]

Billy Talent
II
Label: Atlantic / Wea
Canadian hardcore punk/alternative rockers Billy Talent officially released their second album this week (although it leaked on June 19 and many of the tracks were available previously from soundtracks, giveaways, etc).
Compared to new songs of their many Warped counterparts, tracks like the first single “Devil In A Midnight Mass” and […]

[Read more →]

Priestess, the drunken-stoner-pop-metal group from Montreal, is coming to Minneapolis on 7/2 at Ascot Room, and we happened to get our grubby little fingers on a few autographed copies of the boys’ new album, Hello Master.
Perfect Porridge will give one of these beauties to the first three people who e-mail us the lead singer’s first […]

[Read more →]

Ferry Corsten
L.E.F. (Loud Electronic Ferocious)
Label: Ultra Records
In stores: July 11, 2006
L.E.F. is the name of a new concept by Dutch DJ, remixer and electronica hero Ferry Corsten. It’s a party; it’s an album; it’s an experience.
We’re not sure we get it (Minnesota is a far cry from Amsterdam, after all), but we’re humoring him. […]

[Read more →]

The Surfactants
The Surfactants
Label: Xero Music
Hailing from Minneapolis and Duluth (MN), The Surfactants brought together their 40 years combined musical experience with a vast range of computer programming know-how to record their self-titled debut. And it’s fantastic.
As a farrago of blurps, beeps and boings permeate the dissonant background of each track, a rabid guitar and […]

[Read more →]

Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC) hits the Twin Cities this weekend.
BMRC (not to be confused with BRMC) encourages youth volunteering by providing the opportunity to earn free concert tickets in exchange for four hours of community service (and not the court-mandated kind, thank you very much).
Sign up for July 1st to help Friends of […]

[Read more →]

Wires On Fire
Wires On Fire
Label: Buddyhead Records
Buy at iTunes Music Store
FREE MP3 Download “Death To Jeff Lynn” (MP3, 192kbps)

The Bleachers
Suspicion
Label: Village Industries
Buy at iTunes Music Store
FREE MP3 Download “Invitation” (MP3, 192kbps)

Dirty Rig
Rock Did It
Label: Escapi Music Group
Buy at iTunes Music Store
FREE MP3 Download “Suck It” (MP3, 192kbps)

[Read more →]

Hojas Rojas
KILLMEILOVEYOU
Label: Magnolia Recording Co.
In stores: July 11, 2006
After a year working on their debut album, KILLMEILOVEYOU, Minneapolis electro-artrockers Hojas Rojas have scaled Mt. Influence and upon descent, returned with an album rooted in blues, folk, modern rock and yes, even some electronica.
Modeled after Pet Sounds and The Soft Bulletin — but thrown for […]

[Read more →]