MY TOP 20 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2008!

I love reading "Best of" lists at the end of the year, it's always a good way to discover new artists, so I thought I'd give my 2 cents. Here is my list of the 20 albums I listened to the most this year!! Let me know what you think, and add some of yours in the comments. In no particular order they are:

NERD- SEEING SOUNDS

MGMT- ORACULAR SPECTACULAR

GIRL TALK- FEED THE ANIMALS

LIL WAYNE- THE CARTER 3

VAMPIRE WEEKEND- VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Q-TIP- THE RENAISSANCE

DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH?- YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO

GNARLS BARKLEY- THE ODD COUPLE

KAYNE WEST- 808'S & HEARTBREAK

THE BLACK KEYS- ATTACK AND RELEASE

CRYSTAL CASTLES- CRYSTAL CASTLES

EL GUINCHO-ALEGRANZA

HOT CHIP- MADE IN THE DARK

BECK- MODERN GUILT

SANTOGOLD-SANTOGOLD

TV ON THE RADIO- DEAR, SCIENCE

RAPHAEL SAADIQ- THE WAY I SEE IT

FLYING LOTUS- LOS ANGELES

DIPLO- TOP RANKING

RATATAT- LP3

Eagles of Death Metal Still Sexy at Fine Line

It was a surprising sell-out crowd at Fine Line Saturday night, and Eagles of Death metal frontman Jesse ‘Boots Electric’ Hughes was as fired up as the first frat boy in the keg stand line.

With full locks, porn-stache and neckerchief, Jesse led his Eagles through the hits and then some – seemingly surprised at his relevance after his band seems to have soared to their greatest heights a few years ago.

In all fairness, it is hard to top Mischa Barton skanking through a strip tease to ‘Flames go Higher’ during the O.C.’s heyday.

Even with indy-dearests Blitzen Trapper playing in the sister city that night and Queens of the Stone Age stud muffin Josh Homme off hitting his gravity bong elsewhere, EODM owned the stage – Jesse even avoided falling of it, unlike a recent stop in Salt Lake City – cockblocking every dude in the joint.

Through classic jams and possible future ones from the latest release ‘Heart On’, the crowd stayed every bit as sexy as the swaggering band (save for the gray-mohawked guitarist). Jesse gushed all show about how he loved his job and those in attendance, stopping short of offering mustache rides to all as his shirt advertised -- later vowing to “burn this MFer down.”

EODM can still handily compete with the latest Left of Center sweethearts, and still has enough oats to sew any stage on the indy rock circuit. Even after those days are gone, they can play my basement beer bust any damn time – just don’t steal my girlfriend, Boots.

RIP: Star of the 4 Tops and "Little Shop'

The Great Levi Stubbles (given name) helped vault R&B imprint Motown to every turntable in America. Today the Four Tops frontman died at the age of 72.

Tell me you cant hear these playing in your head as you read: "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", "It's the Same Old Song", "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)".

Smile-inducing fun fact: Stubbs was the voice of carnivorous space plant Audrey II in the 1986 film version of "Little Shop of Horrors" (Feed Me Seymour!)

May Stubbs live on via reincarnation in the progeny of Dirtbombs frontman and D-townmate Mick Collins.

M.I.A. Preggers!

Our dear Maya is with child. She and fiancee Ben Brewer of NYC's The Exit are expecting their first child soonish. I would love to go to that Baby Shower.

Eugene Hutz - on his tour bus - the INTERVIEW

This past June, I sat down with Eugene from Gogol Bordello. Here is what happened:

mmmmm bop.... lal la ooo wop

Hansen stopped by Fox 9 studios last week and - no kidding - there were a group of staffers that got to work early to see the former teen pop sensations. As my mother said, "They look like nice boys!" Don't they though?! They were mom, they were. Enjoy.

OMFG! Blair Waldorf!

The month I was born, Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes was #1. Not quite sure what that means to Ian Van Tuyl, but I hope I am ferocious, precocious and that I got what it takes to make a pro blush. ANYWAY, my birth song and GOSSIP GIRL (who doesn't love that show?) have finally combined into one product. Behold Leighton Meester (who was born in a Texas prison and whose Popstrology song is Prince's Kiss) sing this classic ditty:



For those of you not so impressed, here is the original video:

SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS INTERVIEW

We were lucky enough to sit down with the Queen of Funk, Ms.Sharon Jones, of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings at the Minnesota State Fair on August 21st. Check out what she had to say!

10k Beats at Oktoberfest!!

Eugene Hütz - Live on his tour bus - June 12

My year was made last night. Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello sang a song for us on his tour bus before his incredible show at the Cabooze. I interviewed him for about 30 mins on camera and he let us tape the entire show. Stay tuned for concert footage and his interview. I will even tell you about getting cussed at and then apologized to in Russian. Maybe even about how his mustache feels on your face. Fabulous.
Enjoy!
AliRose

The Go! Team on Fox 9

I had SO much fun with the Go! Team's Ian Parton and Ninja! We talked, heard Ninja's first song she ever wrote, did a Conga, and laughed and laughed while she danced in front of Fox 9's weather wall. All that will be available soon! In the meanwhile, check out what aired on Fox 9 this morning:

EL-P INTERVIEW-TRIPLE ROCK-5.16.08

Hot Chip 4.18.08

Owen & Felix of Hot Chip spoke with us after their sound check on April 18 before their sold-out show at First Ave. Enjoy.

From the archives: Black Lips

The notorious Black Lips sit down - almost even behave themselves - with Leif before their Triple Rock Social Club show last November. The indie rock idols share tips on pigeon punching, mustache upkeep and surviving Tijuana. Be sure to check out the exclusive gonzo hipster cam concert footage.

M.I.A. AT THE MYTH

Wow! Just got home from the M.I.A. show at the Myth in Maplehood. It's right between Buffalo Wild Wings and Toy's R Us...yeah that one...anyways, despite the Twilight Zone venue...this was one of the best shows I've seen in quite some time! It was a cross between a 90's rave and Pee Wee's Playhouse...The place was packed full of teeny boppers and Uptown hipsters ... I will have more details in the AM, as I'm sure AliRose will too. In the meantime here are some clips from the show!

RNC and Rage: Fight the War, Folk the Norm

By now we all know RATM is planning to play and ruffle feathers in both DNC and RNC cities during the politickin' -- but rumor has it RATM guitarist Tom Morello and Steve Earle are playing a Labor Day protest show at Harriet Island in St. Paul. Here is the Kenyan Harvard grad performing as The Nightwatchman at Bonnaroo.

2008 Battle of the Bands: The Blend

For more info on The Blend, click here.

2008 Battle of the Bands: The Run*

For more info on The Run*, click here.

Battle of the Bands WINNER The Evermore Escape

10000 Beats congratulates The Evermore Escape - winners of Fox 9's 2008 Battle of the Bands! Check out their performance live from the Fine Line July 24th. Big ups to The Run* and The Blend who came in second and third. Stay tuned for more video from the show!

Get Your Celtic Kicks with Scythian @ O’Gara’s

They played one wicked barn party in Maple Grove last night – tonight they hit the stage at O’Gara’s. The jig-inducing jams are so infectious you may find yourself following Scythian down blarney stone path to Milwaukee and beyond this weekend. They will play two ninety-minute sets starting at 7 p.m.

Kanye West-"Champion" Video

Here is an Olympic inspired video for Kayne West's "Champion" directed by Neon!


Kanye West "Champion Video" Official Directed by NEON from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

I went to a Fight and a Hip-Hop Awards Show Broke Out!

Did you expect anything less at Houston's Ozone Awards? Mike Jones -- who? -- MIKE JONES was involved in a scrap with a lesser known area MC Trae suring the show. Fellas, fellas, can't we all just sip some Lean and get folded peacefully? Here is a first-hand expert witnesses account, at least I think that's what he's saying, pass the purp and enjoy.

N.E.R.D.-EVERYBODY NOSE REMIX

N.E.R.D.-Everyone Nose(Remix)-Featuring Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco & Pusha T. Directed by Hype Williams!

GNARLS BARKLEY-"WHO"S GONNA SAVE MY SOUL"

Check out the creepy new video from Gnarls Barkley. The video is directed by Chris Milk.

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

SPREKEN DE HIP HOP

This is one of the coolest music videos I've seen in a while!! I have no idea what they're saying, but god bless em! The group is called Open Mike, and they are the best thing to come out of Germany since Kraftwerk! The video is a one take shot using 3D effects.

FLYING LOTUS

Flying Lotus is my new favorite band of the moment!! Check em out! Download their music!!

RATM INVADE MPLS!

Rage Against the Machine will be playing a rare show at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sept. 3! It just happens to be the same week as the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $60.

Rage guitarist Tom Morello will also perform with country-rocker Steve Earle at a union rally Sept. 1 at St. Paul's Harriet Island, the first day of the convention.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND-Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

Vampire Weekend have done it again with a great new video poking fun of their image!!

Lollapalooza 2008: Unfiltered with 10000 Beats

Take Leif Knutson’s video tour of Lollapalooza 2008. He was reppin’ 10000beats hard amid the rock royalty and Chicago heat, and even managed interviews of varying sound quality with festival founder Perry Farrell, Ting Tings and Patrick of the Black Keys!

Hope you enjoy the decadence as much as we did…

Lolla-Poor-Loser = Kanye

So the Obama intro was likely a tease created by Kanye himself -- the jerk didn't even allow ANY photogs in the pit! The hometown clown couldn't even muster 35k people on his side of the Grant Park Lollapalooza finale(NIN took the lion's share on the cityscape side with about 40k).

Anyhooo, my backstage interviews with PERRY FARRELL, TING TINGS and BLACK Keys to come shortly! Thanks to SPIN mag for the free Soco!

LUDACRIS-POLITICS (OBAMA IS HERE)

Here is the Ludacris-Obama freestyle that has all the media a buzzin'!



Lyrics:

I'm back on it like I just signed my record deal
Yeah the best is here, the Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet, it got sex appeal
Never should have hated
You never should've doubted him
With a slot in the president's iPod Obama shattered 'em

Said I handled his biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer
Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant

Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
If you said it then you meant it how you want it have a gut!
And all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,
watch us win a majority vote in every state on my man

You can't stop what's bout to happen, we bout to make history
The first black president is destined and it's meant to be
The threats ain't fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
So get off your ass, black people, it's time to get out and vote!

Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped
Ball up all of his speeches and I throw 'em like candy wrap
'cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant
and you the worst of all 43 presidents

Get out and vote or the end will be near
The world is ready for change because Obama is here!
'cause Obama is here
The world is ready for change because Obama is here!

HOLY MOLEY THE GO! TEAM

Just got done interviewing the Go! Team. The Fox 9 Morning News will run a clip tomorrow morning around 8am - and we will have the entire adventure online tomorrow afterwards. The pic above is the three of us in a conga line. Oh yeah.

Back from Corn Country

Hey I'm back! Took almost a week to recoup from an emergency trip to Iowa. After several visits to the Coralville Target with my sister (lots of Swiffer products purchased), a Margarita induced hotel room karaoke session (in a medieval theme hotel no less), a trunk full of pirate booty and various leather goods (no joke), Medicare is now my family's best friend and I am safe and sound in Minneapolis. Gotta tell you, Mamma Mia helped me recoup. So did the tip from
David Holl about El Guincho. I will post a little more in the morning, but here a video from his fantastic album Alegranza:


And here he is with Architecture in Helsinki:

Fox 9's Battle of the Bands

10000 Beats attended Fox 9's Battle of the Bands on Thursday and will have exclusive footage of the competition very soon! Check back!

Throwback Thursday!

Here are a couple hip-hop videos from yesteryear! Damn I feel old!

Das Efx- Mic Checka


Tribe Called Quest- Electric Relaxation


Digital Underground- Humpty Dance

New Chemical Brothers "Midnight Madness" Video

This video is crazy!! It's directed by Dom and Nic. Check it!


Also, here is another classic Chemicals video from their last album!

Oh...My...Goth!

Hey Jackass, like raunchy, rude, rock 'n' roll bone-bending stunts and gag-inducing challenges performed to the gnarliest of degree...seen it all before? Not with hot punk Rrriot Grrrls as the players. They truly tread water (also snot, puke and a myriad of bodily fluids) in an ocean of retarded sexuality, but that's just nit picking isn't it? Check out "Rad Girls" on FUSE network, you won't be sorry -- or will you? Either way you can't help but watch. Above is the most safe for work sample I could find. Love you Ramona, Clemmie, Munch!

It must be Pop Music Day on 10K Beats

OH NO! My absolute favorite MTV reality star/boy-bander/flat iron owner Ashley Parker Angel and his model/finance/baby mama, Tiffany Lynn called off their engagement! Shuttle to the 5:45 min mark - barf.
Ashley's rep told Us Weekly, "The two remain close friends as they raise their two-year old son Lyric together."

Glen Hansard's cover of "Cry Me A River"

OMFG! Breaking News!

Madonna is attempting to create the perfect pop trifecta of ALL TIME!!! Britney and Justin on stage - AT THE SAME TIME - with her in Miami during her final performance of the Sticky & Sweet tour. A source at the Sun reports, “Madonna is always trying to raise the bar and Britney and Timberlake on the same stage would be perfect. They have both been asked but I think both are a bit reluctant. Britney would find it all a bit emotional and JT might not fancy it."

Justin, if you are reading this, plleeeeaaaasseeeee request to perform this one together:

RADIOHEAD HOUSE OF CARDS

Radiohead have done it again with a groundbreaking new music video. The band decided to forgo the use of cameras for their latest single, House of Cards. Using 3D video acquisition systems from Geometric Informatics, and 64-element, 360-degree LIDAR from Velodyne, the band was able to create a clip that eschews traditional video recording for haunting, complex data visualizations.

Check out the making of the video!

How cute is this!!??

Even if you are so totally over this song, you got to admit, it's pretty cute:

Who doesn't like watermelon!?

According to a source at Britain's Daily Mirror, Jay-Z requested a watermelon sculpture of Beyonce's... ahem... melons at an expensive Nigerian Resort. Hov helped Rihanna with Umbrella (pictured) before performing Crazy In Love with Lady B at the Africa Rising Concert in Abuja this weekend. The Daily Mirror reports, "One giant watermelon was split in two and ornately carved into a mould of Beyonce's boobs. Two cherries were used as nipples."

Hope for the day yet

The Zombies' Care of Cell 44 always makes me feel better when I am having a bad morning. Something about the way Colin Blunstone sings, "We'll get to know each other for a second time" is so hopeful and assuring. Since I locked myself out, spilled coffee on my shirt, missed my bus AND left my iron on, I've listened to it a few times this morning. Enjoy.



The Carleton Singing Knights


Of Montreal/Axe Riverboy

Dream Job

As I was hunched over my laptop last night watching hour six of my Friday Night Lights weekend marathon (don't judge) I realized my true calling in life!!!! I just KNEW the Dillon Panthers would help me find my path!!! My plan is this: to take Alexandra Patsavas job and become puppet master #1. Can't wait to start.

To help plan how you spend the 30th

Here is one of my favorite concerts a emporter:


And here is a live CSS performance on BBC2:

Durrty South Revisited

Got an awesome mix tape today from DavidFourEyes - Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, UGK, Bubba Sparxx, some Three 6 Mafia, I think a little Cassidy - made me think of other Southern bangers I find pretty awesome.

This song always always makes me laugh:


I quote this one on a daily basis (lame clean version):


And while this doesn't evoke the same image of sizzurp sippin, I can't forget my boys from Virginia Beach:

International Day on 10000 Beats

I saw Mongol with my mom last night. While it presented a story that was a little simplified, it was great to watch the landscape, hear the language, and the clothes! Oh the clothes! I'm a total sucker for anything "ethnic" looking - especially things that would make me look like a total idiot. I finally retired my Mexican peasant shirt after it was referred to as a "deal breaker." Sigh. Someday, I will go to Ghana and have my own kente woven and will be able to die a happy woman. Back on topic, there was a lot of throat singing in the movie and it made me wonder what modern Mongolian music sounds like? Well folks, I give you Tatar:


A You Tube commenter translated the song as such: "this song means - one boy loves his classmate /girl/ but she dumped him and so he become .... really bad person, he was good boy, cares his parents... everything because of that girl. this song wants to tell us about love and if someone loves u, mayebe u should think about it and respect him/his love..."

Can't tell what I like best. The throat singing...


Or the hip hop? One thing I do know is that T-Pain should pay special attention to the latter - maybe he could learn how not to use that vocoder so much...

And then they'll say, "good luck"

While this is certainly not my favorite Dylan, Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35 is absolutely appropriate. This one's for you, Dicky. You know I have been there.
xo AliRose

10KBeats Get Holy, Roll with FCAP

Young, local faves First Communion Afterparty throw their CD release this Saturday night in the 7th St. Entry.

We at 10KBeats will be taking video, chatting with the stagefull of "Velvety Jonestowners" between raising our palms to the sky.

Got a question for FCAP or just want to buy us a drink? Drop us a line.

Check out some of the gnarliest local concert posters and of couse their whole vibe right here.

Video of the Week- THE BPA- "Toejam" Featuring David Byrne & Dizzee Rascal

Check out Fatboy Slim's racy video, "Toejam", the first single off his new side project album, The BPA (Brighton Port Authority) It features this years most unique duo of David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal!

Teriyaki Boyz invade the US!

Teriyaki Boyz is a side project headed by Nigo, founder of A Bathing Ape, and featuring 4 MCs who are already established figures in the Japanese Hip-Hop scene. For their first album, "Beef or Chicken?," the group teamed up with a who's who of producers including, Adrock of Beastie Boys, Cornelius, Cut Chemist, Daft Punk, Dan the Automator, DJ Premier, DJ Shadow, Just Blaze, Mark Ronson, and The Neptunes. Their first single HeartBreaker, which was produced by Daft Punk, is a slower version of the Daft Punk's song Human After All. Their album will be released this year under Def Jam Recordings and (B)ape Sounds. Check out some of their videos!

Happy Birthday to me

Tomorrow is my birthday and I couldn't have wished for a better early birthday present than this little jem I found on YouTube:

Pretty sure this was an episode where the West Bev kids get over their initial prejudice of South Central and attend a school dance where all are brought together by the freestylin' of one David Silver. What I like most about this clip is if you break up the line dance step by step, Brenda, Kelly and especially Donna's moves are that of dear M.I.A. I spent this spring trying to dance like her, little did I know I could have just watched 90210.

99 Problems and Noel Gallagher ain't one

When I almost interviewed Dizzee Rascal in April, I was going to ask him about his grumbling over Jay-Z's headlining Glastonbury Festival. He was concerned with his crossover ability - as if he should be talking about that! Anyway, Diz wasn't the only one irritated at Hov headlining the predominantly Rock festival. Noel Gallagher in 100% pure Oasis pissy form, blamed Jay's spot on the bill for the festival's slow ticket sales and as quoted in Spin, "If you break it, people ain't gonna go. I'm sorry, but Jay-Z? ... No chance, I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. No way. No. It's wrong." Too bad for Noel, he seriously underestimated Mr. Carter's chutzpah, who came out this weekend on the Glasto main stage with an electric guitar and sang over Oasis' Wonderwall before slamming right into 99 Problems. The man understands his audience - he also put his spin on Rehab while rapping in front of a projection of Damien Hirst's famous skull.

Revisting Night Ripper

I have been listening to the last Girl Talk album this afternoon and in the past five minutes I have been bopping my head to The Pixies, Luda, Yin Yang Twins, Weezer, Biggie Smalls, Neutral Milk Hotel and the OC theme song. My favorite songs + my guilty pleasures = Night Ripper. If you haven't read Nick's post about the new album, Feed the Animals, read it here & download that shit! Imma take a listen now....

In case you missed it...

Here is Eugene Hutz singing "Soul Warrior" from his tour bus on June 12. That's me in the corner, red as a lobster. Here is a link to my post about sitting on his bus.
xo AliRose

THE CALENDAR IS BACK!

I will be updating the calendar on a daily basis again. I promise. Check it out on our sidebar.
xo AliRose

She has "a crazy connection with God"

Another good case of the Mondays - this time I bring you something pretty good. Heidi Montag wants to release a Christian album! UsWeekly.com (yeah, I read it) reports:

"I have been the most religious person since I was 2 years old. I always felt this crazy connection to God," says Montag, who identifies herself as "kind of non-denominational Baptist."

On her sex tape scandal the budding Christian singer says:

"God knows the truth in all of this, and at the end of the day, that is the only thing that matters. Jesus was persecuted, and I'm going to get persecuted, ya know?"

Yes, Heidi, I do know.

GIRL TALK "FEED THE ANIMALS"

Our favorite mash-up artist has released a new album Radiohead style. It's a "you name the price" type album, costing you from Zero- $10 Dollars. Go to this link to download GIRL TALK'S FEED THE ANIMALS

It's 14 hyperkinetic tracks feature hundreds of samples that jump around from Jay Z to Faith No More,  Rick Springfeld to Rick Ross, MIA to Tag Team, Roy Orbison to Deee-Lite...it doesn't get any better than this!!

Lets go lets go lets go lets go

Last night, I attended the 48 Hour Film Awards to celebrate Rootin Tootin & the Rootin Tootin Gang (big ups to Nick & Kevin for winning best director!) The party was at the Annex downtown and was in attendance by a couple hundred filmmakers and A/V club alumni. We were all caught off guard by the opening musical act by a girl named Stacy B and her two dancers (couldn't have been over 17 and wearing only black bras and jeans.) WHO IS STACY B? Everyone wuz buzzin' (actually most people in the audience looked like this.) Well let me show you - you tube clip from an earlier performance:

What a sad mess.

With all the press on Amy Winehouse, I haven't thought it necessary to write about her here. But having just read Claire Hoffman's piece in Rolling Stone today, I can't help but bring her up. Listening to "Rehab" sounds different to me already - like listening to Nevermind after Kurt killed himself. She is a fleeting, explosive, destructive mess who couldn't have made Back To Black without being that way. She'll be here for a little while longer, and while she is, I'll spend my energy being appreciative that she is whatever she is. Here is a longer, better digestion of the article - in the meanwhile, Rehab:

The Wailers @ MN Zoo

Nick & I just interviewed Family Man and Elan from the Wailers tonight before their set at the Zoo. Stay tuned for their interview - we talked world hunger, their new album, reggae: past, present & future and finding yourself through one love.

Rock The Garden: 6/21/08

Special thanks to Dr Kyle for sending us pics and a review of last Saturday's Rock The Garden.

If you like your rock and roll full of excess and anarchy, a concert that promises to start promptly at 4:30 p.m. and produce no trash might not sound like the event of the summer. Rock the Garden, a concert in celebration of the Walker Art Garden’s 20^th anniversary and sponsored by local public radio station The Current, was touted by local media just as that.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Bon Iver was the first act. I wasn’t sure his atmospheric folk would translate well to a large outdoor stage. The band got to rock out some in between vocal sections and the set slowly developed towards more up-tempo songs. I heard a few people singing along to “Skinny Love,” a song that has been getting heavy rotation at The Current. Bon Iver would be more suited to a dark, small club but the band admirably pulled off a very good show by understanding the venue and letting loose.

Local band Cloud Cult was next. The band is known for its ecological sensitivity that fit in well with the concept of a zero-waste event. The band usually puts on a tight, emotional show and this was no exception. On-stage artists were painting while songs from the last two albums were mixed in. “Take Your Medicine” continues to sound even better live than it does recorded.

By the time The New Pornographers started the sun had moved behind them --making it difficult to look towards the stage. The sound was muddy at first but did clear up through the set. The band didn’t play particularly well but when a band doesn’t know which members will show up for any particular show you don’t expect a well rehearsed gig. They played favorites from older albums as well as a few songs from their last disk.

Within two minutes of being onstage, Andrew Bird had bowed and plucked the violin, sang, whistled, and played guitar. He used a sampler heavily throughout the concert and with this played his first song solo. A drummer and guitarist joined him on stage for the second song. With the small band some memorable melodies from his recorded work were absent. The frequent sampling made many of the songs sound cold, and technical difficulties ensued later in his set. A new song sounded like Graceland-era Paul Simon with loops. The crowd cheered the song then voiced their displeasure at having the music stopped.

After this slow start, the remainder of the show went very well. Andrew Bird is an amazing whistler and multi-instrumentalist and he was able to overcome the previous problems to connect with the audience. He had one encore and closed the day with violin and whistling to ease people into the summer the night. The concert ended promptly at 10 pm.

For an outdoor concert the sound was quite good and I was amazed that each act started and ended on time. Though the music delivered, the venue didn’t offer the perfect Minnesota summer night.

Other then walking through the Walker or the Sculpture Garden the location could have been any street in Minneapolis or St. Paul. Had they placed the stage at the other end of the street people wouldn’t have been staring into the sun and the background would have been the Basilica and the sky-line instead of condos.

The lines for the bathrooms were about 30 minutes by the time The New Pornographers started and the wait for any food was 45 minutes. People waited two hours for Chipotle burritos. It was easy to spend entire sets waiting in lines. Luckily, there were no lines for beer so many people just kept drinking their Summit on empty stomachs. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see people loot the burrito tent and urinate on sculptures, but nothing that rock-n-roll overtook the masses.

Cloud Cult @ Rock The Garden:

The Worst 100 List Ever?

We've clearly got a case of the Mondays here at 10KBeats, so we'll continue the negative savagery until morale improves. If you just watched the Celine video below -- don't swallow that puke bubble yet!

Check out this "Top 100 Albums of the Last 25 Years" list compiled by Entertainment Weekly -- just another reason you should only get your musical taste from an indie source. Many worthy albums charted, and our local little lavendar boy tops it -- but this ought to have true music fans fuming through Friday. Have a glance, spit, repeat.

Worst cover song ever?

Total Guitar has given this little ditty courtesy of Madame Celine the honor of being the worst cover song ever. At least watch the first 30 seconds... her facial expressions alone are worth losing street cred points.

Ms Winehouse and my father have another thing in common

I won't tell you what the first thing is, but here is the second. Bang up job Amy.

Kiss me one more time

June 12 was just a dream. After spending considerable time figuring out how much bling was blingy enough (decided on gold bambi and grandma's charm bracelet) and applying coat after coat of red lipstick (the permanent kind, which I have found to be both a blessing and a curse), Nick & I drove to the Cabooze for our interview with Eugene Hütz. I had the advert for the Gogol Bordello concert on my bulletin board for over a month, and with a combination of anxiety and excitement, was really really looking forward to sharing the same space with my favorite band from the East.

Greeted by their tour manager, he escorted us through the outdoor stage and put us on their bus. One foot in and we were transported into what I can only describe is as if Wes Anderson wrote and directed Zoolander. Row upon row of traditional instruments and neon clothing layered the seats of the bus, with a handful of beautiful, international musicians warming up for the evening's festivities. They pointed us to a closed door at the back of the bus.

Sergey Ryabtsev, Yuri Lemeshev & Eugene were tucked in the back nook, playing guitar, violin and accordion, when Nick & I unknowingly interrupted them. After a brief hello, Eugene said, "Let's do this." Nick then opened his camera case and suddenly opened a cacophony of "fucks," "motherfuckers" and what I can only imagine to be more colorful curses in Russian. (It was explained to me once that there are much more satisfying words in Slavic languages.) Eugene believed we were doing a print interview, and was upset at the extra time and energy it would take to record it. Bless violinist Sergey, who put out the fire and left Nick & I alone, as Eugene splashed water on his face and put on a fabulous purple jacket and headband. As you can imagine, I was freaking out.

Eugene came back fresh as a daisy and gave us one hell of an interview. Without giving too much away- we talked Brazilian markets, Mehanata, and his appropriated porno business in Kiev. He sang “Soul Warrior,” and making me the happiest girl on the West Bank, kissed me on both cheeks. His mustache tickles. He also apologized profusely for getting upset in the beginning – Gogol Bordello was playing a Tom Waits set with Les Claypool the following day at Bonnaroo – they hadn’t learned any of the songs and we had crashed their first practice! Oops.

Les Claypool & Gogol Bordello at Bonnaroo:

Stay tuned for the interview and concert footage...

Bonafide Hustler Making Her Name: MIA RETIRES!?

What a coincidence that I was shopping for neon nail polish in Uptown this afternoon when I got a call from Leif saying that MIA retired last weekend at Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee.

She went out with an encore of Paper Planes alongside Nigerian rapper African Boy, and as quoted by the Nashville Edge,

“This is my last show, and I’m glad I’m spending it with all my hippies. Thanks for coming to my last gig.”

If this is more than a publicity stunt, I am really glad I saw her at the Myth a few months ago - she put on one hell of a show. And, as Leif said, "We still have Santogold."

Paper Planes @ Bonnaroo:

How How How Have I missed this!?

I watched a couple of episodes of Weeds last night. What a coincidence that I read about this collaboration this morning...

Good Morning Minneapolis

Gotta appreciate a decent song with a decent video from the poor lil sis of Beyonce.

My second place on earth will be hosting three of my favorite bands

The State Fair runs a close second to the Hall of North American Mammals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, as my favorite place on earth. I have been to the Fair nearly every year I have been alive, and my mother & I follow a strict itinerary each time we attend. It, of course, includes lots of fried food, lots of beer, and the Amateur Talent Contest. In all 27 years of Fair fun, it has never included concerts I look forward to seeing all summer. This year, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Gnarls Barkley, and the Black Keys are all playing the fairgrounds. Take that Lollapalooza!

Lolla Fallout: MPLS Wins!

With Perry Farrell's Lollapalooza HQ being Grant Park in Chicago the past few (and next few) years, many top-shelf bands that matter have been playing warm-up and cool-down gigs in Minneapolweird, as it's the nearest/hippest town down the road. Being a Lolla attendee yearly (look for the shirtless man in the sailor cap), I miss these shows -- past ones include Ween, Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley -- but hope you non-traveling types can get a lick of the hot hot mess that is Palooza. Here are this year's Lolla Pop treats hitting the Twin Cities:

Wed 07/30/08 CSS First Avenue

Wed 07/30/08 The Go! Team First Avenue

Sat 08/02/08 Nine Inch Nails Target Center

Mon 08/04/08 The Ting Tings Varsity Theatre

THA CARTER III & SEEING SOUND

YOUNG WEEZY & NERD dropped new CD's on Tuesday!! They are on complete opposites of the hip hop spectrum...and they do not disappoint! Both albums leaked online weeks ago, but these are two artists I urge you to support! So go out there and buy their CD, or download from itunes you cheap bastards!

Check out a live video of NERD performing Spazz!

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

Yesterday's Releases

Hey scenesters! Hey! Hey! Scenesters! Name the artist I'm thinking of and win...

Didn't think you could. Here you go failed hipster -- study here with 6-10-08's album releases: http://www.newmusictipsheet.com/

Truth, Covered in Obscurity

I've got this friend who makes me feel -- with his air guitar, he could win the Championship in Finland. Problem is, he thinks he it will shred his credibility in the landscape business. I assured him, the people attending at the Varsity Theater will not be the same people owning the strip malls you will be furnishing with foliage. I encouraged him to wear a mask and perform, as costumes have often overshadowed another competitor's superior performance, right, Bjorn Turoque? Well, here's to hoping I can get the shy closet Quadropheniac on the damn stage -- I'll arrest myself, I'll wear a shield...

-Leif

Grandmaster Flash TONIGHT at Epic

For 10 bucks, the DJ set alone will be well worth the money.

Rock n Roll High School

I am midway through Rock n Roll High School for the first time in 4 years. Love it. Here is my favorite scene - haven't we all been in this frame of mind before?

INTERACTIVE MGMT VIDEO

MGMT has released a new video for 'Electric Feel.' In December they released an interactive video for the same song that lets you adjust colors and backgrounds! You can go here to download it.

Kanye West-Flashing Lights Video-Vers 3

Kanye "Never content with just 1 Video" West has released his third version of a music video for "Flashing Lights." I really like this version, but I still prefer the first one with the scantly clad model beating Kanye with a shovel! Yikes! Let us know what version you like!

Version 3:

Version 2:

Version 1:

GO SEE MUJA MESSIAH TONIGHT

At the Dinkytowner. Good show it will be.

In the meanwhile, I found this video on YouTube this afternoon. Been listening to Neutral Milk Hotel all day. It must be the rain.

Stephen Merritt on My Fox Atlanta

Probably one of my favorite interviews on you tube right now. Stephen Merritt is my hero.

If you don't believe in his genius, click here.

"As You Turn To Go." My favorite love song of all time - from The 6th's album Hyacinths and Thistles.

Birthday Suits: May 23, 2008

When Birthday Suits took the stage in First Avenue's 7th Street Entry, I wondered, "Wow, what the fuck are they so mad at?" I quickly realized their foes were bordem, complacency. Just see the clairvoyant "Twin City Bridge is Falling Down" -- which was written pre-35W collapse!!!

Cherry Blue, the 16-minute-33-second-long scorcher of an album, unveils a barrage of staccato, nose-thumbing, kick-a-hole-in-the-sky spaz punk.

Two-fifths of defunct raucous ethnic punk outfit Sweet Jap reference influences from Minor Threat to The Mothers of Invention to Weird Al Yankovich and have found a new amalgam of music I find best coined as “tardcore.”

Guitarist Hideo Takashi and Drummer Matthew Kazama share vocals – at times in doo-wop fashion – in a lispy Asian accent so real and expressive that it may at first seem intentional and laughable. Not that they give the tiniest #&*$ what you think.

They keep it real as Hennepin and 7^th Street after bar close live and on the album, and fill a stage so full of life force -- the likes of which I have not seen since the Stooges played Grant Park.

10000 Beats filmed the entire show. Lots of footage coming soon...

Heavy Metal Parking Lot

Classic. I realize we should have done something like this for Sound Set. It would have been amazing. Next year...

Photos / video from Sound Set 08

We should have more clips soon - but in the meanwhile, here is an Atmosphere snippet from Sunday's Sound Set:



And some pics we took of Muja Messiah, Doomtree, & Atmosphere:

Sound Set 2008

My sister sat me down on Monday and gave me a lecture about how I need to start dating nice guys. I know I should, but I have found nice guys in the past, well, a little boring. "You have a problem," she told me.

I found myself at Sound Set on Sunday, feeling the same way about Minneapolis hip hop as I do nice guys. I know I should like it - I really know I should like it, but our local genre’s expressive feelings irritate me. It is super uncool of me, but I just don't want a man to be sensitive in hip hop.

It's the bravado, theatrics, confidence and swagger I love most about rap, and I suppose its glimmer of danger. My sister will tell you the qualities I find myself attracted to in men are the same, and start exciting and end destructively. What I haven’t wrapped my head around yet, is why misogyny and violence are integral to my favorite songs and why –aholic has become such a familiar suffix. I do have a problem.

Her advice was to practice dating nice guys, by going out with nice guys - that perhaps through the act of getting to know them, I'll find someone who likes himself, has a job, calls his mother (not too much, just enough), and is fun to hang around with. "Ok," I promised her, "I'll give it a shot."

Likewise, I am going to start practicing listening to local, sensitive rappers. Hey, nice guy, burn me some Atmosphere and Brother Ali – will you?

I don't know if this is going to work.

WEEZER-PORK & BEANS MUSIC VIDEO

Weezer have released one of the greatest videos I've seen in quit some time!! It's for "Pork & Beans," the first single from their new album which is due in stores June 6th. The video is a love letter to viral videos and features a host of You Tube stars including Minneapolis' own Tay 'Chocolate Rain' Zonday! Check out Weezer's You Tube channel as well...it features behind-the-scenes clips from the making of the video and an introduction from the band.

.

MYSPACE!!!

Become our friend on Myspace!!!!!!! Follow this link.

Lollipops, Stress, and Blunts

Kanye West just remixed Lil Wayne's "the song you either love or hate" Lollipop song! He says "tell the girls like doritos that's nachyo cheese!!" Tell us what you think!

Check out the new video "Stress" by Justice! It's directed by Romain Gavras. Very edgy and dark compared to Justices' last couple videos.

justice stress (official video)
by 75_prod

In Music/Movie News:

Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) has replaced Martin Scorsese as the director of a Bob Marley documentary due to "scheduling conflicts".

According to Reuters, Demme's addition to the project has been welcomed by the Marley family, including executive producer Ziggy Marley.

The film is due to be released in 2010, the 65th anniversary of Marley's birth.

Scorsese recently made the Rolling Stones concert film 'Shine A Light' and also directed the Bob Dylan documentary 'No Direction Home' while Demme shot the recent Neil Young documentary 'Heart of Gold'.