(Cover art by RiGBY) "This is cool, i just was looking for a video of mordecai and rigby xd" is one of the top comments on the YouTube page for RiGBY 's debut single "Daisy." I'm unsure if the band's name is a genius marketing tactic aimed at unassuming fans of Regular Show , but it hardly matters. The Twin Cities quartet comes roaring out the gates with a song that will draw you in, regardless of whether you're into slacker cartoons or not. "Daisy" has been a long time coming. For the past two years, the only ways to experience RiGBY's music was to catch one of their many live shows or to download their free demos off of Bandcamp. Their murder-fantasy of a lead single finally came crashing into existence earlier this month.  Drawing equally from the annals of punk history and from contemporary bands you might find on Epitaph, "Daisy" is a song best played at ear-splitting volumes. It's gloriously feral music that would i...

Things have changed up a bit since we last heard from Zaq Baker . The Minneapolis piano rocker teased towards his sophomore record (titled  Good Kid Manic Summer  at the time) with a pair of video   performances in the winter, but now his plans have been adjusted. Instead of a spring release for Good Kid , Baker is planning to release a different album, titled Cardio , sometime before the end of 2020. "I Wanna Be Your Night Owl" is our first taste. He retains a sense of youthful earnestness on the song, which shouldn't be surprising given the teenage melodrama that has informed his music since 2017's Housewarming  EP. Baker describes the song as telling "a simple story of yearning, a little crush, and staying up late." All of this is immediately evident from the title alone. A veritable murderer's row of collaborators help enliven the piano-driven elegance of Baker's storytelling. Musicians from all across the Twin Cities contribute — Kremblems ...

Toronto's Scott Downes has been busy over the last decade. He's released several albums with the bands blue moon and iris ; now, he's stepping out with a new solo project, Thirty Cent Fare . Compared to those projects' respective jangle and haziness, "Split the Ceiling" is as bright as the noontime sun. A pop punk-flavored jolt of caffeine is flowing through the veins of this song. Downes' guitars are gleaming as they dash in and out of the percussive backdrop. A sharp and unambiguous lyrical direction pairs well with the bouncing rhythms. Some of the first lyrics — "Hi, how are you? / I miss you again" — summarize the core ideas in only a handful of words. The inevitable clinging to the past that comes in the dissolving of a relationship is a relatable haunt for most people. Downes splits the difference between that clinging and the forward momentum that comes from letting go. By the end of "Split the Ceiling" it seems that Downes has...

Joel Drzycimski 's music and Ear Coffee have gone hand in hand since the beginning. Some of those early cringe-worthy articles that I wrote featured Joel's old band Cureton and a few of his side projects. All of those songs ranged from parody Christmas music to quirky pop-punk jams to scathing critiques of the religious culture  we witnessed going to college. It had been a while since we heard something from the sonic chameleon, but now Joel is back with the single "Plastic." The track feels at home among the ska-punk of the late 90s and early 00s. Its bouncy guitars and walking basslines propel it through Joel's musings over the existential dilemma of growing older and the consumerism that comes with it. References to targeted marketing and various social media influencer products are thrown in a nihilistic glee as the track's chorus ends with "hail to my plastic god." "Plastic" shows Joel's songwriting chops haven't dulled in the...

The Shackletons have cemented themselves as a band that has consistently put out fun rock music over the last almost half-decade. Songs like 2018's "Genevieve" and 2017's "Minnesota Girls" are anthems reminiscent of acts like the Hold Steady, complete with composite characters set in local sites. However, since the release of the last year's single "Happy Boring Life," the Shackletons have been relatively quiet until now.  "Exactly What It Looks Like" ticks off all the boxes of what we expect when listening to a Shackletons track - fun shout along lyrics, riffs for days, and all the energy the Campbells can spare. The single opens like a stream of consciousness journal entry that almost picks up where "Happy Boring Life" leaves off. Vocalist and guitarist Collin Campbell sings about having the want but not the wherewithal to bring what he wants to fruition.  From there, the songs seems to become more scatterbrained as it pr...

  There's nothing more potent than a well-placed "woo" in an emo song. "Serenity," the latest single from Minneapolis' Fox Theory proves this  On the surface, "Serenity" is a glowing ode to the sun-kissed freedom of summer. Singer/guitarist Jack Daily's chorus puts it in simple terms: "serenity," "wonder and peace." A prototypical day of cheap beer and driving around with friends - what more could one ask for? Quite a lot. "Serenity" is Fox Theory's most direct song to date. Gone is the strange mysticism of prior releases like  River Kids  and even " New Beginning ." Daily, Harris Worthman (drums), and Nathaniel Rozinka (bass) have settled into an essential groove that allows them to toy with the sounds of Midwest emo while still making what is ultimately a pop song. The trio revels in the sound they're creating, playing to their strengths instead of overcomplicating the song. The woozy lyrics em...

  (Cover art by Keegan Burckhard ) At its best, Bobby Rethwish 's music transports you to a technicolor dimension outside of time, taking in bits and pieces of a multitude of sounds and eras. His second single in two months, "THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN MEANING," does just that. In just around two minutes, Rethwish crams in a generation's worth of ideas. Chipmunk soul samples are thrown in alongside hypnagogic synths and 80s drum machines. In a testament to the strength of the songwriting and production, you could show "THERE'S MORE TO LIFE" to people from at least four decades and it would be guaranteed to get them dancing (or at least bopping their heads). Nostalgia is used to push the song's sound forward rather than as a crutch. Just like "MOONFACE," Rethwish is speaking directly to an unknown individual. His voice (even with all the effects) is that of a friend, disarming with its humor and genuine in its desire for their improvement...

(Cover art by Grover Hogan ) Following their smoldering June track "Taste," Minneapolis' premier funky, sexy trio Static Panic is back with single, "Spice Rack."  Ro Lorenzen's breathy opening vocals pull you close in a single motion before you can think, "Wait, this song isn't about cooking!" A bouncing synth bassline propels everything forward while Ro reads from her list of epicurean delights. The song indulges heavily in the band's electronic side to create a pulsing bop of breakbeats and additional percussion that keeps you from wanting to stand still. It continues to builds to climax before pulling back from the edge. Ro's playful vocals get turned up to eleven during the breakdown. "Did I hear you correctly when you said you want your baby back" is asked with a goosebump raising giggle. "Well, this roast is one roast you can't set and forget, alright?" is spoken with a knowing wink and nod before building...

Following up their January single, 26 BATS! is back with the next track from their forthcoming EP, Sweet Fang . This time the genre-fluid quintet is back with "National Anthem," a scathing look at the American existence and the privilege that "us white folks" enjoy on a regular basis.  "National Anthem" hits you from the get-go as Bailey Cogan paints a picture of the apathetic middle Americans. "Mom's drunk and dad's watching TV / I think they're stuck doing the same thing," Cogan laments. The situation is a common occurrence in the Orwellian existence that seems to plague our world. Cogan croons over a smoldering r&b ballad continuing to pick at society's failures with its unflinching look at Flint Michigan and unrestricted consumerism. The track is unrepentant in its criticisms choosing brutal honesty in the hope that it may lead to future change before the world ends.  " National Anthem " is out now. Liste...

Live music may not be a thing currently, but we still have new music and new projects popping up that we can hopefully see live in the future. The first to bless us is the new art-rock project from Braden Fischer (formerly of Bob Ross Mob Boss, currently of Baumgardner), Kinsey Nephele, and Greg Siganos (Pinched.), Try Not To Breath . "Stationary" is hauntingly beautiful from the get-go. Wilting guitar leads are underpinned by a fizzy bass rocking back and forth. It almost feels like that bass is the only thing keeping the whole song from just floating away. The whole affair turns up the 90's lo-fi slacker vibes as Nephele's vocals come in. Her voice is just close enough to be heard but stays aloof among the haze of guitars and drums. It's not until the last few seconds where we can hear Braden and Kinsey's overlapping duet, leaving us with a final line, "I find no peace in sleep, no stillness in silence, no calm for my heart." Try Not to Brea...

Photo courtesy of The Florists I don't think that it's an overstatement to say that  The Florists  make some of the most interesting music in the local scene. The trio of Jo Kellen, Jared Hemming, and Luke Michaels released their sound collage of debut record, Prayer Starter  in March of last year. Now, the band is ramping to release its follow up full-length Hold It Together in just under a week. While I don't think The Florists had any sort of knowledge of what the world would look like when they released the self-titled single, it's hard to deny the eeriness of putting out the song "Hold It Together" amid a pandemic. The single is primarily rooted around the chanted line "Hold it together / It's gonna be alright." Damn, do they get the most out of those seven words. The track slowly devolves from a simple drum beat and synth bass line to a surrealist look at what noise music can add - I'm pretty sure there's a slide whistle b...

(Cover art by Michaela Rose ) Fox Theory are back with their second single of 2020. Following the trend set by " New Beginning ," "Mallory" is an exceptionally catchy emo-punk song with profundity hidden inside. Most of the lyrics are the same, repeated constantly throughout the track. The invitation "Marry me, Mallory / every time I close my eyes" only grows in genuineness with each recurrence. It doesn't matter if it's an expression of romantic dedication or something more figurative. Over an ecstatic riff, Jack Daily never lets his voice match the musical intensity, instead remaining subdued as he offers devotion. "Mallory" segues into a magnetic verse section about a minute in. Harris Worthman's drums go from driving to almost pummeling. However, the song remains at a gentle simmer. Daily mourns the melting snow and another "day of defeat." He switches the tone back to optimism with the aphorism "Life...

The Get Together is an exceptionally funky and fruit-loving project based in Minneapolis. They've been going the NATL PARK SRVC route and putting out a series of EPs over the last several months, starting with Lemon  last year and Melon  in early 2020, and continuing with the forthcoming Orange . I'm not entirely sure if new single "(Please Hold)" is an interim single or if it belongs to one of the EPs. However, I am certain that it's a smooth new jam from an exciting new band. On "(Please Hold)", there is a pulsing beat around which everything else is orbiting. It starts with droning keys, expands with slick bass and drums, and reaches its full form with Ethan Huffington's detached vocals and cyclical lyrics. The use of phone sound effects on a pair of "hold music"-inspired interludes and throughout gives the track a conceptual edge and its title. One could sink into the resonant vibey energy that the quintet brings. Listen to ...

Every once and a while, we get a new Colin Bracewell song. Each single follows a path of exponential growth, briefly tantalizing listeners before leaving again. "20+ Years," Bracewell's third song in just over a year, is his best yet. Immediately, "20+ Years" sets itself apart with how full it feels. Prior singles, solid as they were, sounded solitary. There were minimal embellishments, mostly leaving things bare and letting the music speak for itself. Now, there's an actual band bringing the songs to life. Bracewell has recorded with other musicians in the past (and plays live with a quartet), but "20+ Years" is a full-band song through and through. Any traces of the folk found on "Little Secret" have been mostly erased and replaced with a harmonic rock influence. Bracewell pairs wistful reminiscence with ringing guitar chords, allowed to vibrate through the song's walls. "20+ Years" is another exciting sample of B...

(Cover art by Billie Renaux) Here's some of that emo that was hiding from my year-end list . Right off the bat, Sonic Sea Turtles establish themselves as capable songwriters, capturing the specific melancholy and self-loathing of Minnesota's infinite winter. The quartet put out their debut EP Sound Pollution  just last August, but they've kept relatively active with releasing new songs (at least for a DIY band). While "First Snowfall" may describe the sky's initial offering of cold and sleet, the emotions are all-too-familiar. "The winter is holding off the spring" isn't the response of someone encountering a new, frozen reality; it's someone who casts their mind back to years of prior understanding and weight. However, there's a slight uplift at the end of the song's harmonious chorus — "construct a fire when it gets cold / there is still summer under the snow." The framing of the seasons simultaneously establishes t...

After the release of their 2018 EP Slow Dancing Beyond the Silverdome , the purveyors of folk-influenced indie rock, and resident meme lords,  Fragile Canyons  are back with their new single leading up to the new album Here It Is which will be out later this month. Playing like one long run-on existential thought, the album's title track "Here It Is" has the band waxing about the seemingly endless cycle of living in an imperfect world. Whether it's knowing that those in charge do not have your best interest in mind or having to take part despite knowing better, bandleader Andy Engstrom spends "Here It Is" wrestling with how flawed even the most responsible consumerism can be. Each chorus Engstrom comes to terms with this reality, and over a lilting, almost hypnotic instrumental Engstrom sings, "First accepting the blame / Then admit who you are / Where does your money come from." Here It Is will be out on Friday, November 15, and Fragile C...

Over the course of the past year, Oklahoma has proven themselves to be capable of many facets of indie rock. The few singles released ahead of debut record Fever Dream  had the band showing off their ability to make up-tempo bops. Now, with "Ballerina," they've gone into slow-burn mode. Instead of the Killers, they're embodying a different band that hit it big in 2006 - Snow Patrol. Down to the gentle melody that starts the song, this is Oklahoma's "Chasing Cars." They nail the quiet-loud-quiet dynamic between verses and chorus. Both resonate with a potent dose of romance and emotion. It seems that the band is set to capture the sound of the mid-aughts in a bottle, like a firefly, with Fever Dream . Personally, I'm excited to see what their version of "Kids" sounds like. Fever Dream , featuring "Ballerina" and more, is out this Friday, Oct. 4. Ballerina by Oklahoma

My first thought was, "Oh no, this better not be another Beatles cover." Thank God it's not. The Argument is a trio of Minneapolis high school kids with musical abilities well beyond their years. After releasing their debut EP Heart of Gold  (no relation to Neil Young or Heart to Gold) last year, the band is bursting back onto the scene with "Come Together." On the back of Dom Winterbauer's sleek bassline, vocalist/guitarist Lydia Wisti incites a riot of indie flavor and delicate forcefulness. She presents her argument (ha) with precision in each verse and the bridge. The chorus gushes relentlessly from the floodgates, spreading whitecaps of interwoven harmonies and bright guitar chords.  While Wisti may stand at the song's center and command the listener's attention, there's a reason that the cover art depicts a bass. Winterbauer's fluid plucking acts as a conduit between Wisti's intensity and drummer Stella Robinson's under...

Extremely lavish Minneapolis quintet Sal Paradise are back with their first song in nearly a year. It's an absolute dream. "St. Paul Lights" floats by on a cloud of light guitar and tug-of-war drums. The song never fully dissolves, even as the relationship depicted in the lyrics does. Sal Paradise always find a way to blur the lines of their sonic palette (despite only nine songs released in total). A piano arpeggio sprouts up here, a sudden solo from Robert Northrup's guitar declares itself over there. Harmony drapes itself over the subtle chorus. Sal Paradise presents itself here as the soundtrack of a resplendent spring night that only exists in a smoothed-out version of your dreams. Sal Paradise will release their debut EP, Table for Two , on March 23, 2019. It will feature "St. Paul Lights" and probably some other songs. Listen to "St. Paul Lights" below. St. Paul Lights by Sal Paradise

( photo courtesy of The Shrinking Violets Facebook page) All hail punk music. It lights a fire beneath you and gets you moving at any expense. The debut single from Minneapolis' The Shrinking Violets does all of this and more. Wielding a toolbox of fuzzed-out riffs and pleading emo vocals, "Holding You Back" insists on letting you go. The staccato guitar line blazes as frontman Joe Cristo bows down at the altar of garage rock. Impeccable melodies bleed into each thumping note. The dichotomy of chugging power-pop chords and narrow shredding is vitalized by guitarists Joe Lunaburg and Jon Laczniak. But of course, what's a good punk song without a rhythm section crafted from pure steel? Fez Felzan's drums thud with glee; Bobby Volpendesta's bass plugs into the groove and spaces out.  The Shrinking Violets have churned out a stand-out first single. Each element meshes together with unfair ease. In under three minutes, the band establishes itself at ...