Lists

Spunky spelunkers take FantaSuite prize

Filed under: Lists

Mike Isabella, manager/co-owner/designer of the FantaSuite Hotel in Burnsville, runs down their most requested theme rooms just in time for a Valentine's Day getaway. Even he's baffled by the popularity of number one: "I don't know. It's a cave."

1. Le Cave
2. Caesar's Court
3. The Grecian
4. Casino Royal
5. Arabian Nights

Posted by Lindsey Thomas at February 8, 2006 2:14 PM | Comments (1)

 

Radio K's Top 7 Lists for 2005

Filed under: Local Music , Local Music , Local Music

From our email, here are a series of Top 7 lists compiled by the hosts of Radio K's various specialty shows, from punk to hip hop to world music (770 AM, 100.7 FM, 106.5 FM):

Radio K International -- World Music
Sundays 10am-Noon
Radiok.org
1 Seu Jorge "Cru" (Wrasse)
2 Amadou & Mariam "Dimanche a Bamako" (Nonesuch)
3 various artists "Rio Baile Funk: Favela Booty Beats"(Essay)
4 Balkan Beat Box "Balkan Beat Box" (JDub)
5 DJ Dolores "Aparelhagem" (Crammed)
6 Nortec Collective "Tijuana Session Vol.3" (Nacional)
7 Konono No.1 "Congotronics" (Crammed)

Out of Step -- Punk & Hardcore
Sundays 2-4pm
Outofstepradio.blogspot.com
1. The Clorox Girls "This Dimension" (smart guy records)
2. Big Business "Head For The Shallow" (wantage usa)...

3. The Buff Medways "Medway Wheelers" (damaged goods)
4. The Real Losers "Music For Funsters" (trick knee productions)
5. Regulations s/t (havoc records)
6. Hard Skin "Same Meat Different Gravy" (tko records)
7. M.O.T.O. "Raw Power" (criminal iq records)

Now Like Photographs -- Epic instrumental music
Sundays 4-6pm
nowlikephotographs.com
1 SAXON SHORE [The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore] Burnt Toast Vinyl
2 TRISTEZA [A Colores] Better Looking
3 EL TEN ELEVEN [El Ten Eleven] Bar/None
4 FRIENDS OF DEAN MARTINEZ [Lost Horizon] Aero
5 RED SPAROWES [At the Soundless Dawn] Neurot
6 THIS IS A PROCESS OF A STILL LIFE [Light] Firefly Sessions
7 FOXHOLE [We the Wintering Tree] Selah

Rude Radio -- Ska, Reggae & all things Jamaican
Saturdays 10am-noon
1. Damien Jr. Gong Marley -- Welcome to Jamrock
2. The Debonaires -- Longshout
3. Go Jimmy Go -- Girl With the Fishbowl Eyes
4. Umbrella Bed -- One Small Skank for Man
5. The Drastics -- Premonition
6. Madness -- Dangermen Sessions Vol. 1
7. Bedouin Soundclash -- Sounding A Mosaic

The Beat Box -- Hip Hop
Saturdays Noon-2pm
Radiok.org
1 DangerDoom-The Mouse and The Mask
2 Atmosphere-You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We Are Having
3 Common-Be
4 Kanye West-Late Registration
5 Perceptionist-Black Dialogue
6 Ernie Rhodes-Orbital Effect
7 Slug and Murs-Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet

Some Assembly Required - Tape Manipulations, Digital Deconstructions, Turntable Creations & sample-based music, sound art and/or mashups.
Saturdays 2-3pm
http://www.some-assembly-required.net/

In no particular order:
*Aggro1 -- "Behind these immigrant eyes"
This internet-only mp3 release is finally giving
Freelance Hellraiser's "Smells like booty" a run for its "ohmygod I can't believe how well that works together" money. Not sure about the exact release date, but most online references point to it being new this past summer (2005). Also not sure just exactly who Aggro1 is -- his online presence is minimal (all we can say for sure is he is a guy, he's from Ohio, and he's a rising star in the world of mashups and bastard pop). The track mashes Kelly Clarkson ("Behind these hazel eyes") and Led Zeppelin ("Immigrant Song")!
http://www.aggro1.com/

*Negativland - "Favorite Things"
Off of their 2005 CD, "No Business." Celebrating 25 years as a band - Negativland releases their FIRST album of 100% recycled music. This CD is actually just one part of an impressive (as always) book/multimedia release about file sharing, downloadable music and the collapse of the music industry. My pick off of this album has been a favorite since seeing them perform it live at First Avenue over five years ago. Brilliant!
http://www.negativland.com/nobiz/index.html

*Party Ben - "Never Feel Good"
This one mashes "Feel Good Inc." by the Gorillaz and
"Never There" by Cake, and has been online since around May, 2005. Party Ben also hosts and produces "The Sixx Mixx" a popular mashup/bastard pop show heard on Live 105 in San Francisco.
http://www.partyben.com/

*Twink - "Hip Hopera"
Out on Seeland in November, 2005 -- Mike Langlie usually works with children's toys (specifically, toy pianos) to create music - this time out he's working with countless children's records, instead, to create a funky sound collage. His press release put it best: "Bits and pieces from hundreds of vintage children's records mix with modern beats for a deliriously fun time."
http://www.angelfire.com/stars/twink/index.html

*Dean Gray - "Novocaine rhapsody"
Mashing "Novocaine" by Green Day and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, this bastard pop mp3 is from a now-famous mashup record by Dean Gray, called "American Edit," which was released online on November 18, 2005. This album serves as yet another example of how a major label (trying to shut down a creative work because it challenges their total control of one of their copyrighted works) turns their own cease and desist letter into one of the most powerful press releases ever - resulting in a giant backlash which ended up getting the mp3s into countless more computers and iPods all around the world. Warner Brothers just wanted to remind us that there's no such thing as bad press, apparently! Dean Gray is Bay Area Mashup DJ's Party Ben and Team 9 - Party Ben is originally from Minneapolis!
http://www.americanedit.net/

*Jason Forrest - "My 36 favorite punk songs"
Off of his 2005 release "Shamelessly Exciting." Forrest finally drops his old pseudonym ("Donna Summer") and takes full responsibility for his frantic, beautiful cut and paste music. One of my favorites off of this 2005 records is "My 36 Favorite Punk Songs" on which we get to hear Forrest's 36 favorite punk songs, chopped up, rearranged and composed to equal something completely different -- and perhaps even more engaging. Some Assembly Required will feature an interview with Jason Forrest on January 7 (on Radio K, Saturdays at 2PM).
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/f/forrest_jason/shamelessly-exciting.shtml

*DJ Cal -- "Wicked whatever"
DJ Cal is Calle Hanson, Swedish Mashup artist and former computer game sound engineer. His track "Wicked Whatever" mixes Shakira and Chris Isaak. Another contestant for unbelievably smooth mix of contents!
http://www.robootlegs.com/Site/content.php?content.5

Some Assembly Required airs across the US and Canada on two dozen college, community and public radio stations, and will begin the ambitious project of archiving its first two years in syndication by podcasting all of its old episodes, beginning January 2nd, 2006! Check out the Some Assembly Required blog for more information about the podcast of episodes from the program's second year in syndication. Some Assembly Required continues to air new episodes in the Twin Cites on Radio K - Saturdays, 2-3 PM."
www.some-assembly-required.net/blog

Soulful Science -- House Music
Saturdays 5-7pm
Radiok.org
1.Fat Freddy's Drop-'Roady'[Based On A True Story](Sonar Kollektiv)
2.Jamie Lidell-'Multiply(Hot Chip's Mouth Remix[Multiply Remixes] (Warp)
3.Mark Henning-'Skiffle Freak'[Yeah But No But](Freude-Am-Tanzen)
4.Bryan Jones/Scud Bloom-'Devotion' [Devotion] (Aroma)
5.Mathew Jonson-'Return of The Zombie Bikers' [Return of The Zombie Bikers] (Wagon Repair)
6.Rithma-'Here Now' [Here Now] (Shakedown)
7.Slope-'Want'choo Longa Feat.Ovasoul 7'[Komputa Groove] (Sonar Kollektiv)

Locust Lecture -- Goth, darksider, industrial & heavy metal
Saturdays 7-9pm
Locustlecture.org
1) Mono No Aware / Kataku / Hands Productions
2) C/A/T / The Prisoner / Crunch Pod Media
3) Venetian Snares / Meathole / Planet Mu
4) Sir Alice / ? / Tigergushi/Kwaidan
5) Foetus / Love / Birdman
6) Sheep on Drugs / F**k / Invisible
7) :Wumpscut: / Evoke / Metropolis

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at January 3, 2006 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

 

Radio K's Top 77 Records of 2005

Filed under: Local Music , Local Music , Local Music

Here's Radio K's Top 77 albums of the year, based on listener votes. Since the email didn't distinguish between band name, title, or label, let us know if there are any errors below:

1. Broken Social Scene, Broken Social Scene (Arts & Crafts)
2. Low, The Great Destroyer (Sub Pop)
3. Gorillaz, Demon Days (Virgin)
4. Sufjan Stevens, Illinois (Asthmatic Kitty)
5. M.I.A., Arular (XL)
6. LCD Soundsystem, LCD Soundsystem (EMI)
7. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm (Vice)
8. Sigur Ros, TakkŠ (Geffen)
9. Sleater-Kinney, The Woods (Sub Pop)
10. M83, Before the Dawn Heals Us (Mute)
11. The White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
12. Stnnng, Dignified Sissy (Modern Radio)...

13. Black Mountain, Black Mountain (Jagjaguwar)
14. Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary (Sub Pop)
15. Deerhoof, The Runners Four (Kill Rock Stars)
16. The New Pornographers, Twin Cinema (Matador)
17. The Hold Steady, Separation Sunday (Frenchkiss)
18. The Go! Team, Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Columbia)
19. Iron & Wine / Calexico, In the Reins (Overcoat)
20. Belles of Skin City, Ha-Ha Boardroom Think Tank Tantrums (TGNP)
21. The Decemberists, Picaresque (Kill Rock Stars)
22. Spoon, Gimme Fiction (Merge)
23. Seu Jorge, Cru (Wrasse)
24. Devendra Banhart, Cripple Crow (XL)
25. Dosh, Powder Horn (Self-Released)
26. Stars, Set Yourself on Fire (Arts & Crafts)
27. Out Hud, Let Us Never Speak of it Again (Kranky)
28. Caribou, The Milk of Human Kindness (Domino)
29. The Blind Shake, Rizzograph (Learning Curve)
30. Annie, Anniemal (Big Beat)
31. Atmosphere, You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (Rhymesayers)
32. The Soviettes, LP III (Fat Wreck Chords)
33. Danger Doom, The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph)
34. Four Tet, Everything Ecstatic (Domino)
35. Kanser, Self Titled (Interlock)
36. Ladytron, The Witching Hour (Ryko)
37. Big Business Head for the Shallow Hydra Head [no idea what's what here]
38. The Black Angels EP (Light in the Attic)
39. Kill the Vultures, Kill the Vultures (Locust)
40. Chariots, Congratulations (Troubleman)
41. Metric, Live it Out (Last Gang)
42. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, it's Morning (Saddle Creek)
43. Digitata, Sexually Transmitted Emotion (TGNP)
44. Architecture in Helsinki, In Case We Die (Bar/None)
45. Of Montreal, The Sunlandic Twins (Polyvinyl)
46. The Fall, Fall Heads Roll (Narnack)
47. Death Cab for Cutie, Plans (Atlantic)
48. Death From Above 1979, Romance Bloody Romance (Vice)
49. Goldfrapp, Number 1 (Mute)
50. Animal Collective, Feels (Fatcat)
51. Dungen Ta Det Lungt (Kemado) [no idea what the band name is here]
52. Falcon Crest, Taste the Thunder Raise the Flag (Not Bad)
53. Blood on the Wall, Awesomer (Social Registry)
54. The Mars Volta. Frances the Mute (GSL/Universal)
55. Adult, Gimmie Troube (Thrill Jockey)
56. The Midnight Evils, Breakin' it Down (Estrus)
57. The Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree (4AD)
58. Spaghetti Western String Co., Quiet Mob EP (Self-Released)
59. Sims, Lights Out Paris (Doomtree)
60. Fischerspooner, Odyssey (Capitol/EMI)
61. The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Pushin' On (Ubiquity)
62. Gay Beast EP (Self-Released)
63. Halloween, Alaska, Too Tall to Hide (East Side Digital)
64. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Naturally (aptone)
65. The Fiery Furnaces EP (Rough Trade)
66. Sicbay, Suspicious Icons (54 '40 or Fight)
67. Lemon Jelly, 64-'95 (XL)
68. Hockey Night, Keep Guessin' (Lookout)
69. Andrew Bird, The Mysterious Productions of Eggs (Righteous Babe)
70. Cloud Cult, Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus (Earthology)
71. 400 Blows, Angel's Trumpets and Devil's Trombones (GSL)
72. Ohmega Watts, The Find (Ubiquity)
73. Xiu Xiu, La Foret (5RC)
74. The Raveonettes, Pretty in Black (Columbia)
75. Broadcast, Tender Buttons (Warp)
76. The Most Serene Republic, Underwater Cinematographer (Arts & Crafts)
77. Fog, 10th Avenue Freakout (Lex)

Posted by Peter S. Scholtes at January 3, 2006 10:45 AM | Comments (2)

 

Songs for the deaf

Filed under: Local Nightlife , Local Nightlife

For the last five years, Arzu Gokcen has divided her time between shaking stages with local punk bands (like the Selby Tigers, So Fox, and the spankin' new Spider Fighter), and giving us non-musicians a spotlight with Staraoke. Starting this week she adds a regular Wednesday gig at the Leaning Tower of Pizza Uptown to her three-nights-a-week run at Grumpy's Downtown. We asked the lady with the killer scream--and the even killer-er wig collection--for some insight into what it's like listening to karaoke every other night. Here are her picks for the most overdone tracks, as well as her forgotten favorites.

Songs I never need to hear again
1. "Me and Bobby McGee" - Janis Joplin
2. "Love Shack" - The B-52's
3. "Stay" - Lisa Loeb
4. "Like A Virgin" - Madonna
5. "I Got You Babe" - Sonny and Cher

Songs I wish people would do more
1. "The Breakup Song" - Greg Kihn Band
2. "I Got You" - Split Enz
3. "Destination Unknown" - Missing Persons
4. "Living After Midnight" - Judas Priest
5. "Kickstart My Heart" - Motley Crue

Posted by Lindsey Thomas at November 21, 2005 10:53 AM | Comments (1)

 

Sound Unseen by the numbers

Filed under: Lists , Lists , Lists , Lists

Attendance for the 6th annual Sound Unseen's top 6 films
1. Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley - 680
2. Born To Boogie - 275
3. ReBirth of a Nation w/ DJ Spooky - 262
4. Be Here To Love Me: Townes Van Zandt - 259
5. Favela Rising - 247
6. Scene Mpls - 189

Overall number of seats sold
2004 attendance - 8400
2005 attendance - 9600

Posted by Lindsey Thomas at October 19, 2005 1:48 PM | Comments (0)

 

It's good to see you back in a bar band, baby

Filed under: Lists , Lists

In this week's Seattle Weekly, Craig Finn peels his iPod from the sticky tour van floor and enlightens us with "The Most Gonzo Jams of the Most Gonzo Decade." Of GFR's promise to "help you party down," Finn says, "Probably the first 'scene unity' song, long before hardcore. They just want to help. Minor Threat, move over." Click the SW link for more commentary.

1. Boston, "Rock & Roll Band" (Sony; 1976).
2. Kiss, "Room Service" (Casablanca; 1975).
3. Grand Funk Railroad, "We're an American Band" (Capitol; 1973).
4. Steve Miller Band, "The Joker" (Capitol; 1973).
5. Styx, "Come Sail Away" (A&M; 1977).
6. Van Halen, "Little Guitars" (Warner Bros.; 1982).
7. Ted Nugent, "Free for All" (Epic; 1976).
8. Thin Lizzy, "Cowboy Song" (Mercury; 1976).
9. Black Sabbath, "War Pigs" (Warner Bros.; 1971).
10. Cheap Trick, "Southern Girls" (Epic; 1977).

Posted by Lindsey Thomas at October 12, 2005 1:36 PM | Comments (0)