Jayber Crow - Two Short Stories - O My God When I Drop Dead

2 guys with a banjo and guitar.  This is pretty much what I love about folk music reduced to a single song.  I don't even know if it's ultimately happy or sad, but it doesn't matter because I just can't stop listening to it.

http://music.for-robots.com/archives/002385.html

The Dutchess and the Duke - She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke - Strangers

Guy-and-girl folky awesomeness.  I've pretty much been listening to just this song all morning.

Available here:
http://blog.tsururadio.com/2008/07/maybe-were-not-strangers-after-all.html

Amie Miriello - I Came Around - Brand New

So I have a certain predilection for the angry-girl-songwriter genre.   

"You speak, it's like everyone listens
and it's not because they want to
but because you're insane"

Kind of like Ani DiFranco, overproduced a la Liz Phair. In a good way.

Marching Band - Spark Large

Despite a lot of great music happening lately, I've probably listened to this album twice a day for the last week or so.  The instrumentation is quick but the vocals tend to be pretty languid, so the overall effect is this weird kind of happy serenity. (Is this some kind of general Scandinavian-pop style mechanism?)  This is totally music to hold someone's hand to.

First track is here:
http://insomniaradio.net/2008/07/30/marching-band-for-your-love/

And the third track is in 3/3/2. What more could you want?

Doomtree - Doomtree

So, I just got back from the Doomtree show (http://www.doomtree.net/) . Their new album is pretty great, and if you're interested in the Minneapolis hip-hop scene, it's a great way to hear a lot of people all at once. (I've previously recommended P.O.S., who's part of the Doomtree collective, and while I continue to think he's their strongest MC, seeing them all simultaneously is an experience not to be missed.)

(As an aside to my previous post: I attended the show with the aforementioned David Brusie, whose website is now up (http://davidbrusie.com/) and you can download the title track.  Also, you can check out his fly shoes. (I will also recommend that he titles his next album, "The Aforementioned David Brusie".))

David Brusie - Flyover State

I have been fortunate enough to work with some remarkable people, and those of you who are in Minneapolis have likely met David Brusie at some bar or party.

http://cdbaby.com/cd/davidbrusie

I can't stop listening to "Understood" and "Eyes Shut Tight".

He's playing at the 331 Club in NE Minneapolis on 8/14, and on 8/24, at the Dinkytowner.

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Saw these guys a while ago, opening for Blitzen Trapper, and holy cats were they good. 

http://pitchfork.tv/videos/fleet-foxes-white-winter-hymnal

Bearded folky dudes singing in a style more old-school than you'd expect. This is the kind of music you have going on in the background, and when the cd is over, you immediately start wondering why everything seems bleaker. 

They put on a great show, and they make you believe.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - Intervention

That organ! I'm working on absorbing the lyrics. There's something rather dark here.

POS - Audition

I saw POS a few years ago when he opened for Atmosphere.  At the time, I thought, "This guy is really pretty good."

Then he released Audition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLMHPeibm2g

A punkrock drummer becomes an M.C.  He's part of Doomtree in Minneapolis, which mainly means you'll never know if he'll secretly show up and play as part of some random show.

From the 4th track, "Stand Up (Let's Get Murdered")
I ain't white, and there’s laws for that,
so I use color safe bleach at the laundrymat.
and deal with it, you see how my squad react,
we keep our hands warm with the damn patriot act.

The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

The Hold Steady is my current Favorite Rock Band of All Time.  Their previous album (Boys and Girls in America) is one of my favorite albums of all time, and this one is right up there with it.

Stuck Between Stations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cem1ME-OvQ (from Boys and Girls in America)