In a surprise that coincides with the kickoff of Celebration 2018 at Paisley Park — and as the world prepares to mark two years since Prince’s sudden death — the original studio recording of Prince’s song “Nothing Compares 2 U” has been released by the icon’s estate. “Nothing Compares 2 U” is best-known in the […]
When you think about production, you might zoom right to the flashy stuff — the bass bombs, the twisted drops. But Shrimpnose makes a different kind of beat. As you’ll hear on his new album Sullen, his work is fuzzy and mellow, crackling with snaps and touchy syncopation. Since moving to Minneapolis from Buffalo, Minn. almost three years […]
Although the artist formerly known as Jay Smart, J.S. Ondara, has self-released a handful of home recordings via Soundcloud — notably, covers of HALEY’s “Kismet Kill” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” both of which received steady airplay on the Current — it wasn’t until this winter that he released his first official single, […]
After teasing a “big surprise” and sharing many never-before-seen family photos on her social media accounts, Tyka Nelson is marking the 59th anniversary of the birth of her brother, Prince Rogers Nelson, today by releasing a new song and video in tribute to him. Titled “End of the Road,” the song takes the listener through […]
The Monks, a blistering and unapologetically bizarre punk band made up of a group of former GIs from the American Midwest, spent most of their short mid-1960s career gigging around the same clubs in Germany as the Beatles. They cut a record, spent some more time in the studio recording never-to-be-released material, and then returned home […]
Some “making of” stories are more significant than the next. On the less captivating side, there are the songs that take steady work, their authors adjusting minute details at every turn. And then there’s “First Take” by local artist Dua, featuring a beat by Ness Nite compatriot Mike Frey. Dua has been creating art for […]
Lil Yachty is from nowhere near the Midwest — the “bubblegum trap” star hails from Atlanta — but he’s basically a hometown sweetheart thanks to his song “Minnesota.” Today, St. Paul’s Allan Kingdom dropped a remix of our state’s eponymous song, laying throaty raps over the plinky beat and shouting out Purple Rain. The first lines? “I been […]
At long last, Hippo Campus have announced their debut full-length album. Landmark will be released Feb. 24, and a first song — “Boyish” — has already been released, with a new video added today. In tandem with the album news, the band announced a pair of headlining shows at First Avenue’s Mainroom, on March 11 and […]
Fresh off performing with the Revolution at their three sold-out First Avenue reunion shows and stopping by to record a session for the Local Show at the Minnesota State Fair, André Cymone will release a new four-song EP titled Black Man in America this Friday, September 30. Careful listeners of the Local Show may already […]
Legendary drummer and Prince collaborator Sheila E visited the Sabanthi Community Center in South Minneapolis this morning (the very same building where Prince attended Central High School in the 1970s) to announce the “Purple Philanthropy Sheila E. Benefit Concert,” happening October 23 at Orchestra Hall. When plans were being solidified for the October 13 Prince […]
