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Spooky Black becomes Corbin: This week’s Minnesota record release roundup

by Aaron Bolton

December 16, 2014

Corbin

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Spooky Black has changed his stage name to his real name, Corbin, for his newest collaboration with WeDidit and thestand4rd. With the name change, Corbin has come out with a more aggressive delivery on the new track "Worn." The angelic voice of Spooky Black still hides in the track's eerie production, but Corbin ends up screaming cathartically towards the end of the track, a completely new approach for the breakout singer. Prior to his debut tour as Spooky Black with thestand4rd, he left many guessing who Spooky Black was—but once again Corbin, or Spooky Black, has left us guessing. Will this be the start of something new?

Orange Mighty Trio

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Genre-busting instrumentalists the Orange Mighty Trio have released a seasonal EP: Breakin' Up Christmas. The opening "Tango Around the Christmas Tree" sets the playful mood; the EP also includes OMT takes on classics "Let It Snow" and "I Wonder as I Wander" as well as the wide-ranging title track. If you've worn out your copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas and are ready to take the next step with atmospheric, adventurous, accessible holiday jazz—well, as we like to say here in Minnesota, you could do a lot worse. The Orange Mighty Trio will celebrate the EP release on Friday at the Cedar.

Verskotzi

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Singer-songwriter Joey Verskotzi will be releasing his second full-length, Waving, this week. Verskotzi and his band have changed it up this time around, going for a more electropop sound, and Verskotzi hits all the high notes on tracks like “Sleepless One” and “Mayday.” Verskotzi will join the American Scarecrows this Thursday at the Turf Club for the Waving release party.

Sex Rays

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The rock ‘n’ roll fueled garage-rock power-trio the Sex Rays have followed up their recent 7" release with She Thing. This two-track release is a little more psyched out than their previous releases. “She Thing” stays true to their garage rock roots, but still is a change for the band with its psychedelic guitar solo towards the end of the track. The track “He’s Trying To Work It Out With His Girlfriend, And then the LSC Kicks In…” is the more psychedelic of the two tracks, with odd samples and tension-filled guitar work. The band will be at Palmer's on Thursday for the release show.

RONiiA

The new collaboration on Totally Gross National Product, RONiiA, comprises Nona Marie Invie (Dark Dark Dark, FUGITIVE), Mark McGee (Father You See Queen, Marijuana Deathsquads), and Fletcher Barnhill (Joint Custody, FUGITIVE). The trio produce a spacious electrified sound on their debut self-titled LP. “Last Words” is a catchy track with its drum driven beat, but Nona’s vocals float above the track’s production and give this track depth. Roniia is available now.

Aaron Bolton is a senior at the University of Minnesota. Currently he is a co-host on Radio K’s Off The Record and is the music reporter at Radio K. He hopes to continue a career in music journalism.

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.