Frank Ocean

Divine Fits at Varsity Theater, 4/4/13

Divine Fits With Split Single Varsity Theater, Minneapolis April 4, 2013 As soon as word got out that Divine Fits affectionately name-checked Minneapolis in one of their initial singles, "Would That Not Be Nice," there has been a buildup to the moment when Britt Daniel would sing that wistful line ... More >>

The 2013 Grammy Awards played it safe and got it wrong

If the Grammy Awards are indeed 'Music's Biggest Night,' then it's no wonder that the industry itself is in so much trouble. Despite the Academy's best efforts in recent years to draw the "alternative" music fan into the mainstream self-congratulatory love fest that is the Grammys -- even going so f ... More >>

The 2012 Pazz & Jop poll, including my ballot, is live!

The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll officially signals the death knell for any more opinions on 2012 music. But before we spend too much time evaluating Justin Timberlake's return and the ascent of Willow Smith, here's a last, fond look at the year that just concluded.On the one hand, raw ... More >>

My mom reviews Pitchfork's top tracks of 2012

By Justin BakerWe just wrapped another year of wall-to-wall critics' lists, and the Pitchfork staff provided a carefully curated subset of hip music of last year. How does this music sit with the rest of the population? To  partly answer that question, we asked someone untainted by current musi ... More >>

The Lumineers to get Saturday Night Live bump, more Mumford & Sons comparisons

Ever since the Lumineers' hit song "Ho Hey" started showing up on airwaves in late December 2011, it's like you can't go anywhere without hearing it being blasted from somebody's headphones or store speakers. Locally, you can hear this juggernaut song on the Current, Cities 97, and KDWB, and pr ... More >>

Salon Saloon: Heavy 100 year-end review

Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, Punch Brothers, and more

How to Dress Well

Polica's top 10 albums of 2012

Polica have already landed on plenty of "best of 2012"-type lists for their Give You the Ghost accomplishment of earlier this year. But, in addition to the ability to curate their own work extremely well, they've got an ear for other strong albums that came out this year. Tipped by Brooklyn Vegan, h ... More >>

Chris Kluwe is Salon's Sexiest Man of 2012

Chris Kluwe's year of winning continues -- weeks after playing a key role in defeating Minnesota's proposed same-sex marriage ban, the Vikings punter has been named Salon's Sexiest Man of 2012.Salon's eccentric Sexiest Men list is about "real men" who represent "more than Ryan Seacrest gross and gen ... More >>

Oliver White, St. Paul minister, named 'Brave Thinker' by The Atlantic magazine

The Atlantic magazine has included St. Paul minister Oliver White in its annual list of 21 "Brave Thinkers."The list spotlights prominent people who have risked their "reputations, fortunes and lives in pursuit of big ideas."White, who spoke out in favor of gay rights, appears in the November-issue ... More >>

The Afghan Whigs at Varsity Theater, 10/28/12

The Afghan WhigsWith WussyVarsity Theater, MinneapolisSunday, October 28, 2012"What else you got? I want you naked in three more songs," the Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli called to the adoring person who threw a sparkling black scarf onstage amid "What Jail is Like," from 1993's Gentlemen. "I'm not jokin ... More >>

Halloween costume ideas, 2012: Music icons

At this point, Halloween is pretty much upon us. If you haven't picked out a costume for all those parties and concerts this weekend, then it just so happens you're in luck. Instead of rocking the tired Jimi Hendrix look or that blase Elvis jumpsuit, go for something a little more modern, relevant, ... More >>

Afghan Whigs turn a new leaf

Greg Dulli opens up about vices and the band's reunion

The Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli on meeting Frank Ocean and the art of the cover

The Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers frontman Greg Dulli is undoubtedly smarter and deeper than the internet. He connected a love of R&B's brutal underbelly and the visceral outbursts he had inside decades before Napster turned everyone's music tastes into rotisserie fare. Still, a steadfast fa ... More >>

Local Frames: New videos from Liars, the Japhies, Twin Cities Funk and Soul All-Stars, and more

As the Twin Cities music scene grows, more and more artists are creating music that demands our attention. Combine the music with talented filmmakers locally and beyond, and you have a fruitful mix of distinct skills that generates more locally connected music videos than ever before. While it's im ... More >>

Let It Be Records' history isn't Target property, former owner says

See Also:Let It Be Records Is ClosingThe triumphant return (almost) of Let It Be RecordsTarget won't stock gay R&B star Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, cites "guest demand"Target is stiff-arming Let it Be Records' former owner for the "It" from the store's old marquee. After 16 years in the locati ... More >>

The Weeknd announce last-minute Skyway Theater show

See Also: Frank Ocean & the Weeknd at Lollapalooza, 8/4/12 The Weeknd at First Avenue, 6/17/12 After easily selling-out First Avenue back in June, it's quite apparent that the atmospheric R&B of the Weeknd clearly has an audience here in Minneapolis. And that passionate bond is only going t ... More >>

25 gorgeous GIFs from Lollapalooza 2012

See Also:Ten things your Lollapalooza outfit says about you[Slideshow] Lollapalooza 2012 Day One: The Music[Slideshow] Lollapalooza 2012 Day Two: The Music [Slideshow] Lollapalooza 2012 Day Three: The Music[Slideshow] Lollapalooza 2012: The PeopleReady for some GIFs? To quote Ozzy Osbourne, "I can't ... More >>

Twin Shadow talks about the success of Confess, his fiction, and music videos

See Also:Best of Lollapalooza day two: Twin Shadow, Franz Ferdinand, and moreTwin Shadow at the Entry, 10/01/11The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Twin Shadow at the Triple Rock, 04/25/11 George Lewis Jr., better known as Twin Shadow, recently released his sophomore album, Confess, to a round of ap ... More >>

Frank Ocean & the Weeknd at Lollapalooza, 8/4/12

See Also:Lollapalooza 2012 suspended, resumed after dangerous weather conditionsTen things your Lollapalooza outfit says about youThe Weeknd at First Avenue, 6/17/12Frank Ocean & the WeekndLollapalooza at Grant Park, ChicagoSaturday, August 4, 2012In case you haven't been paying attention, R& ... More >>

Best of Lollapalooza 2012 day two: Twin Shadow, Franz Ferdinand and more

See Also:Best of Lollapalooza 2012, day oneLollapalooza 2012 suspended, resumed after dangerous weather conditionsFrank Ocean & the Weeknd at Lollapalooza, 8/4/12The second day of Lollapalooza 2012 could not have been more different than the first. A bunch of noted cancellations -- B.o.B, Alabam ... More >>

Best of Lollapalooza 2012, day one: Afghan Whigs, Die Antwoord, and more

See Also:Ten things your Lollapalooza outfit says about youBlack Sabbath at Lollapalooza, 8/3/12M83 at Lollapalooza, 8/3/12The first of three days of music in the hot cauldron of Grant Park in Chicago is now one for the history books. Black Sabbath (or at least three-quarters of them) got back toget ... More >>

Lollapalooza Day Two suspended due to dangerous weather conditions

Update: According to a new press release from the festival: "Lollapalooza will resume at 6:00 PM following a brief postponement due to dangerous weather conditions and warnings. Today's updated schedule can be found on Lollapalooza's official website."Bands will begin playing again at 6:30 with a re ... More >>

Target's gay wedding registry ad doesn't signal changed stance on marriage amendment

SEE ALSO:- Target tries to atone for anti-gay missteps with new pro-marriage equality promotion- Target won't stock gay R&B star Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, cites "guest demand"- Target's gay problem keeps getting worseTarget may be running an ad for its online wedding registry featuring two g ... More >>

Target won't stock gay R&B star Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, cites "guest demand"

See Also:Lady Gaga dumps Target over anti-gay donationsTarget coverage on BlotterFrank Ocean has just released arguably the hottest R&B album of the year in Channel Orange, but don't go looking for it at your local Target store. The Minnesota-based chain has unwisely decided not to stock the tit ... More >>

Best nationally released albums of 2011

​It's a good thing we waited until the last week of 2011 to publish our final best-album lists, since a few bands managed to eke out stellar releases just this December (the Roots' undun and the Black Keys' El Camino in particular made their way onto a few staffers' lists). With only a few da ... More >>

Odd Future at First Avenue, 10/12/11

Photos by Erik Hess​Odd FutureOctober 12, 2011First Avenue, MinneapolisAs I figured, waiting in line I noticed a young crowd for Odd Future (the show was all ages, and was finished by the time most of-age shows even have doors); some from slightly out of the city limits, some with their mothers, a ... More >>

5 most ridiculous lines on 'Watch the Throne'

​Kanye West and Jay-Z's collaborative effort Watch the Throne sees two of rap's hugest artists team up to become even more hugest-er. Prior to listening, I had mixed feelings about the whole concept: Both rappers are so gigantic and rich and bored that I figured the album would be like an episode ... More >>

Kanye West, Jay-Z rap over Otis Redding sample on new single

​"Jay is chillin', 'Ye is chillin', what more can I say?" might just be the most descriptive line off new single "Otis," which features Kanye West and Jay-Z trading verses about how awesome, rich, and powerful they are over a hiccuping loop of Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness."&nb ... More >>

Frank Ocean smoothes out Odd Future, Fever Ray trusts wolves, and other new musics

​You can peep the interwebs regularly, check those flight controls with neurotic consistency (you know who you are), and still have days (days!) that yield nothing worth looking at. Good content doesn't grow on polygonal trees, you brats. Luckily, today wasn't one of those boring ones.