Switchblade Comb

Two Cow Garage
Speaking in Cursive
Suburban Home
2008

http://www.myspace.com/twocowgarage

1. Your Humble Narrator
2. Brass Ring
3. Folksinger’s Heart
4. Bastards & Bridesmaids
5. The Heart And The Crown
6. Wooden Teeth
7. Skinny Legged Girl
8. Glass City
9. Not Your Friends
10. Swingset Assassin
11. Funeral Drag
12. Sadie Mae
13. Swallowed By The Sea

Two Cow Garage is another band that I’ve been aware of for quite awhile but never had a chance to listen to until recently. After hearing and loving the two songs on the Suburban Home sampler I received from the Revival Tour I decided to check out the newest release and I’m glad I did. Speaking in Cursive is 13 songs and 42 minutes filled with stories of youthful regret, late night booze binges and lost loves that we can all relate to. They may not be reinventing the wheel with their Uncle Tupelo meets Jawbreaker sound but they do it better than some other unnamed contemporaries. It’s a little more punk than Lucero and a little more country than Gaslight Anthem with nods to the Old 97′s and Reinventing Axl Rose era Against Me! capped off by lead singer Micah Schnabel’s gruff, sometimes off key delivery which give the songs a heartfelt urgency and conviction that would be missed out on if the album was recorded a little more “professionally.”

Albums like this don’t need a lot to be said about them other than the fact that it’s perfect music to throw on the turntable and listen to while drinking a pint of Jim Beam and lamenting the fact that, try as you might, you can’t write something as simple and relatable as this group of twenty somethings from Columbus, Ohio. And I mean that as a compliment. Well done sir’s.

Favorite Tracks: Your Humble Narrator, Folksinger’s Heart, Not Your Friends, Swingset Assassin

Humble Narrator (live)

Swingset Assassin (Micah Schnabel solo)

From the When Giants Walked The Earth split with While I Breathe I Hope, due out December 5.

Repo! The Genetic Opera opens in Minneapolis at the Lagoon Cinema on November 7.

Muja Messiah
Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy
Black Corners/Koch
2008

http://www.myspace.com/mujamessiah

When it comes to hip-hop, Minnesota can be a tough market. With a wealth of talent like Atmosphere, Brother Ali, Doomtree, Heiruspecs, Big Quarters, etc, etc, it’s hard to make a name for yourself. Muja Messiah has exploded onto the scene this year thanks in part to his solid live shows and excellent mixtape MPLS Massacre. As far as his debut Thee Adventures of a B-Boy D-Boy I’ll admit it took me a few listens to fully appreciate the catchy hooks and stories layered throughout, but give this record a chance and you won’t regret it. Thee Aventures isn’t just one of the best hip-hop records to come out of Minnesota this year, but nationally as well. If you can’t find it in your local record store yet, Koch will be re-releasing Muja’s debut in stores across the country on November 11.

1. Introspect
2. Tha Madness
3. Get Fresh
4. So Far So Good
5. Give It Up
6. What’s This World Coming To
7. Niggitivity (skit)
8. Beautiful
9. U Betcha
10. Black Honkie (skit)
11. Pulling Stings
12. Growing Pains
13. Lights On/Lights Off (skit)
14. B-Boy D-Boy
15. At All Cost (My Economics)
16. Royalty
17. Pretty Gurrl
18. Cause & Effect
19. Patriot Act
20. Look At’em Go (bonus track)

“Get Fresh”

“What’s This World Coming To” ft. Slug

“Patriot Act” ft. I-Self Devine

I’ve been hesitant to post anything about the nearly two decade in the making release of the new Guns N’ Roses album since there have been so many false release date rumors over the past several years. However, with a press release by G N’ R’s camp confirming Chinese Democracy‘s imminent release and Dr. Pepper going through with their promise (kinda) to give everyone in the U.S. a free can of soda if the album comes out this year, I figure that maybe the record will actually see the light of day this time.

According to Best Buy’s website, who have exclusive distribution of the album here in the states, Chinese Democracy will be foregoing the regular Tuesday release date and instead come out on on Sunday, November 23, giving it an extra two days of sales to go towards first week numbers. It will be available on CD, digital download, and vinyl (with free download option) and can be pre-ordered now at BestBuy.com. Of the 14 tracks on the album, 11 have leaked in one form or another over the last few years, many in multiple versions.

To redeem your free can of Dr. Pepper, all you have to do is register online at drpepper.com on November 23 and you will receive a coupon for a free 20 oz. Dr. Pepper. The catch? the coupon will take approximately 6 weeks to arrive, is only valid for 24 hours, and expires Feb. 28.

Chinese Democracy tracklist:

1. Chinese Democracy
2. Shackler’s Revenge
3. Better
4. Street Of Dreams (f/k/a The Blues)
5. If The World
6. There Was A Time
7. Catcher N’ The Rye (f/k/a Catcher in the Rye)
8. Scraped
9. Riad N’ The Bedouins
10. Sorry
11. I.R.S.
12. Madagascar
13. This I Love
14. Prostitute

STREAM: Guns N’ Roses – “Chinese Democracy” (first single)

Also, this is kinda, sorta, not really, but almost, a small Arrested Development reunion.

Mojo reported earlier this week that Wu-Tang would be playing First Ave. in December. Well here’s the rest of their tour dates for those not living in the frozen tundra of Minneapolis.

Wu-Tang Clan 2008-2009 Tourdates:

11.29 – Portland, OR – Roseland Ballroom
11.30 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
12.01 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
12.03 – San Francisco, CA – The Grand Ballroom
12.04 – West Hollywood, CA – House of Blues
12.05 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
12.06 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
12.07 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee
12.08 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
12.10 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
12.14 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
12.15 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
12.17 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues
12.18 – Rochester, NY – Main Street Armory
12.19 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
12.20 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
12.21 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
12.23 – New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom
01.01 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
01.02 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s
01.04 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
01.07 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva
01.08 – Richmond, VA – Toad’s Place
01.09 – Greensboro, NC – N Club
01.10 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
01.11 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
01.12 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
01.13 – Columbia, SC – LEVEL
01.14 – Atlanta, GA – TBA

Live on Drinking With Ian.

From the upcoming full length, Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder, due out October 28.

Cradle of Filth plays First Ave. on January 26.

Eagles of Death Metal will be at the Electric Fetus in Minneapolis for a free in-store performance on Saturday, November 8. Time TBA.

(And if you’re into him, Tom Morello will be doing a free in-store at the Fetus on November 11 at 6 PM.)

Thanks to Cake in 15 for the above info.