- Chris Koza – Dark, Delirious Morning
In 2005, after the release of his debut album, Exit Pesce, Rob van Alstyne of the Pulse reviewed Chris Koza as, "an under-the-radar-music-stunner-phenomenon." Shortly after, he won BEST NEW ARTIST (both by the jury and the critics' choice) from the Minnesota Music Awards committee. His follow-up album, Patterns, garnered even more press – including a nod in the Star Tribune, which compared the widespread appeal of his music to the widespread appeal of pornography. His latest, Dark, Delirious Morning, is a beautifully crafted logical next step for Koza, who creates worlds in his mind and paints vivid pictures with lyrics and melodies. His attention to detail is evident in the disc's refined sound. City Pages contributor Bob Longmore describes the album's appeal. "At the heart of each song is a simple melody, but like a latter-day Elliot Smith, Koza layers on instruments and sounds, creating mood and intensity." Longmore also comments on Koza's magnificent story telling. "Each story is filled with imagery so strong you can feel the accordion game tickets in your pocket or smell the bourbon and dirt at the track." Chris Koza's journey is one worth embarking on. Pick up Dark, Delirious Morning and groove towards a bright, lucid afternoon.
- A Night in the Box – Write A Letter
Imagine yourself at a Southern Baptist church in 1940, except the choir is a group of white kids from Minneapolis who don't necessarily sing about Jesus but evoke such an emotion in their audience. With unavoidably toe-tapping, hand-clapping, hook-laden bluegrass, A Night in the Box captivates both local rock fans and seasoned lovers of a down-home southern sound. Original members Travis Hetman, Alex Dalton, and Clayton Hagen were joined by violinist Kailyn Spencer to round out the quartet and their eclectic mix of instrumentation (including banjo, fiddle, guitar, and drums). Write A Letter, the band's sophomore full-length album, was recorded in three days and "[adds] a mixture of accessible pop hooks with their quintessential gritty sound," according to their label's (Afternoon Records) website. Pick it up and stomp your feet!
- Doomtree – False Hopes
Doomtree is a sensational local hip-hop collective, oozing with talent and love. It's members share an unwavering penchant for teamwork, support, and artistic expression. Their latest, False Hopes, is not to be confused the respective False Hopes EP's from members Dessa and Cecil Otter. This False Hopes is a collaboration among all members, and contains the rarities and b-sides that didn't make the cut on their much anticipated upcoming album. From the group's website: "So, friend, consider this sack-full of songs not as a true album, but rather a collection of "specials" that didn't quite fit in with the family. They are all beautiful in their own right, but a few unfortunate idiosyncrasies […] have prevented them from meeting the Doomtree Family Gold Standard and making the proverbial A-team." Each member of Doomtree is multi-talented and brings something special to the table. They are: Cecil Otter (emcee/producer), Dessa (emcee/vocalist), Mike Mictlan (emcee), Sims (emcee), P.O.S. (emcee/producer), Paper Tiger (producer/DJ/graphic designer), Marshall Larada (producer/DJ/visual artist), Lazerbeak (producer/musician), Turbo Nemesis (DJ/Engineer), Emily Bloodmobile (producer), and Tom Servo (producer/DJ). Their combined force is undeniable. Pick up Doomtree's False Hopes and rejoice in love and hip-hop.
- Romantica – America
Romantica is a local band whose genre is best described as Americana, although it encompasses a much broader range of pop, folk, alt.country, and R&B. Lyrically, they're in a poetic category all their own. From the band's website: "Romantica manage to deliver an understated heart-to-heart in an envelope of melodic charm and sarcastic wit: too smart to be sentimental, too sweet to be taken too seriously." Frontman Ben Kyle was born and raised in Belfast, Ireland – a biographical anecdote that holds weight in Romantica's lyrical themes and musical sounds. Kyle met bassist and "multi-instrumentalist" Luke Jacobs in college, and later added percussionist Mark Hedlund to form what Minneapolis music fans now know as Romantica. In 2004, they released their debut album, It's Your Weakness That I Want, an aptly titled array of instrumentally inventive love songs. 2007's America is the band's second studio endeavor, released on 2024 Records. City Pages' Sarah Askari delivers a succinct description of the new album, "America [is] an album of lush, richly orchestrated pop-folk made rural by twangy pedal steel and keening fiddle parts (courtesy of occasional Golden Smog collaborator Jessy Greene)." For fans of Sufjan Stevens, Johnny Cash, Wilco, and the Replacements.
- Crescent Moon w/Big Trouble – Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble
Heiruspecs' Sean McPherson had a plan. With his brother, Steve, the two set out to form a band that revisits the sprawling instrumental covers of yesteryear. The result, Big Trouble, covers classics and modern day favorites and promises to "blow your mind softly." Big Trouble has toured the Twin Cities, bringing grooves to the stage in their own right, as well as backing for artists like Joanna James, P.O.S., and Crescent Moon (Odd Jobs, Kill the Vultures, Roma di Luna). Their collaboration with the latter went so well, they decided to record an album together: Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble. Chris Riemenschneider of the Star Tribune says, "the six-track disc finds Crescent spewing out dark and weary-sounding tunes over gritty, smoky, bluesy and raw rock 'n' roll." So go out and get in big trouble!
- Muja Messiah – MPLS Massacre
Local hip-hopper, Muja Messiah, wants YOU on his growing list of Myspace friends. A connoisseur of knowledge and a Brooklyn Park Native, he began his career in a local rap group called Five Percent Nation, developing his penchant for teamwork that has carried him through to his most recent endeavor, hip-hop quintet Raw Villa. Born Robert Hedges, Muja Messiah has been known to play with names. His long-running stage name is based on the Arabic word for "soldier," (Mujahideen) and the not-so-subtle image of a Messiah; fighting for deliverance. In December of 2007, Muja was voted one of VIBE magazine's "51 Best Myspace Rappers," a prestigious honor in today's fast-paced, online-community driven culture. On his latest release (with Raw Villa), MPLS Massacre, Muja compiles 27 tracks of pure mix-tape goodness. The disc is, essentially, a catch-all for the B material, not suitable by Muja himself for his highly anticipated "official" album out this summer. But don't be fooled, MPLS Massacre harbors numerous A tracks, including a remake of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," a collaboration with fellow local rapper, M.anifest. Minneapolis Star Tribune's Chris Riemenschneider sums up the vibe of MPLS Massacre quite nicely, "[the album] features a mix of thug-leaning tracks, a few party anthems and one political thinker." Muja seeks to acquire one million Myspace friends in time for the release of the aforementioned album, Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy. Kill multiple birds with one stone: support local hip-hop, check out the buzz, and help a starry-eyed dreamweaver reach his goals of numerical stardom.
- Romantica – It's Your Weakness That I Want
Romantica is a local band whose genre is best described as Americana, although it encompasses a much broader range of pop, folk, alt.country, and R&B. Lyrically, they're in a poetic category all their own. From the band's website: "Romantica manage to deliver an understated heart-to-heart in an envelope of melodic charm and sarcastic wit: too smart to be sentimental, too sweet to be taken too seriously." Frontman Ben Kyle was born and raised in Belfast, Ireland – a biographical anecdote that holds weight in Romantica's lyrical themes and musical sounds. Kyle met bassist and "multi-instrumentalist" Luke Jacobs in college, and later added percussionist Mark Hedlund to form what Minneapolis music fans now know as Romantica. In 2004, they released their debut album, It's Your Weakness That I Want, an aptly titled array of instrumentally inventive love songs. The disc features cameos by legendary local musicians Jessy Greene and Darren Jackson (Kid Dakota). For fans of Wilco, Ryan Adams, and Damien Rice.
- Homegrown (Various Artists) – Silage: Foreclosure & Eviction
Local radio listeners will undoubtedly know the name: Homegrown. The local music show, 10 years strong, ran on KQRS and later DRIVE 105 before becoming a casualty of the airwave wars. In its infancy, Homegrown consisted of one local song, played during Mei Young's all-request third shifts on KQRS – a tradition that began on October 29, 1996. From there, it grew into a one-hour local music specialty program featuring live performances by local artists that aired on Sunday nights. After over 10 years of cultivating the local music scene and stressing the importance of local music, Homegrown commenced their final broadcast on May 6, 2007 after a fatal radio format flip. Silage: Foreclosure & Eviction is the staff's Swan Song; a love letter to those who made their ground-breaking radio show possible, and a thank-you to the artists who filled their airtime. The disc features 21 tracks recorded live on Homegrown and a variety of artists and genres. Artists include: Haley Bonar, Brother Ali, Cloud Cult, Little Man, Dosh, MC/VL, Trampled By Turtles, P.O.S., Charlie Parr, and many more. The lingering magic in Studio B will resonate through your speakers as you pay homage to a hometown giant, and rediscover the local artists who make the Twin Cities a booming cultural epicenter.
- Brother Ali – Shadows on the Sun
Local rapper-turned-national superstar Brother Ali is a truly unique voice in a sea of homogenized superficial hip-hop. Everything from Ali's beliefs to his physicality set him apart and infuses his music with an unparalleled message. A legally blind albino Muslim-convert, Ali has faced his share of adversity, but shows strength with his confidence and optimism. He began listening to hip-hop and performing at a young age, taking every opportunity he could to play an open mic and inspire an audience. He owes his success to his perseverance; Ali approached star-making local label Rhymesayers with a demo tape in 1998. His career took off after the 2000 annual freestyling competition Scribble Jam, where he emerged as a true talent. When his debut full-length, Shadows on the Sun, was released in 2003, it became an instant classic. His lyrics centered on otherwise unexplored territories in hip-hop: albinism and Islam. Produced by Atmosphere collaborator and fellow Rhymesayers artist, Ant, Shadows on the Sun is as catchy as it is poignant. After the album's release, Brother Ali began to garner national attention. Reviewed by trendsetting hub Pitchfork Media, the website had nothing but praise for the rapper. "A Molotov cocktail of Nas' chipped-toothed storyteller, Slug's introspective emo-thug, and Common Sense's wordplay aficionado, Brother Ali has clearly studied the album structures of mid-90s masters." Other publications followed suit and Brother Ali became a sensation. He has since released two follow-up albums, Champion and Undisputed Truth, the latter of which made numerous national bestseller lists. His live performances are filled with raw energy and define him as a true artist. Whether you're a fan of Rhymesayers or have a fondness for Ali's later records, pick up Shadows on the Sun and see where he began and take a lesson in how it's done.
- Charlie Parr – 1922 Limited Edition
Folk troubadour, Charlie Parr mixes country with blues, with folk, and with soul. Recorded with an old school sound, Parr evokes serious emotion with a simple strum of his guitar. He currently lives in Duluth with his wife and his two young children. His first album, 1922, illustrates Parr's progression as an artist. While the original pressing is over and gone, Charlie's back with a limited edition version to cure your cravings. A must have for fans of Parr, or the genre in general.